Just wanted to make sure I documented the three of us at, perhaps, the world's most iconic landmark. This is what came of that. My face, Norah looking at something down the road, and more streetlight than Eiffel Tower... :) Wayne looks great though.
But this one's awesome.. :)
In this photo, it appears I have dislocated my cranium and placed it 4 inches in front of me - ever so gently, on Wayne's shoulder. (Why?!)
Waiting to head up to the very top of the Eiffel Tower.
Norah doling out 'tickles'.
Going up.
Cousin Suzy and Aunt Mary
(Toddler daze)
Directly below here (1,000 feet below), there was a class of schoolchildren dancing in the grass. Epic.
It was surprisingly smoggy in Paris. Didn't expect that but honestly, nothing can ruin the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
I loved these photos comparing the Eiffel Tower (324 meters/~1,000 feet) to other structures around the work. The middle dotted-line shows how they compare to the Eiffel Tower. This 12'' tall visual acts as a border around the entire ceiling periphery of the deck on the Eiffel Tower.
Here you see the Burj Khalifa at 828 meters! (roughly 2,500 feet tall) I cannot even fathom that height.
Vickie & Pete: I took this one for you. There is the "Pearl Tower" at 458 meters - still dwarfing the Eiffel Tower.
Going, down.
Norah had reached her max of sitting and waiting in lines so the rest of the group went on to the Musee d'Orsay (we really wanted to go, but in a perfect world, that would be without a toddler). So instead we walked south and took Norah back to the Luxembourg Gardens. We went there the day before and promised her we could go to the playground (we researched this place, printed out photos and brought them from Dublin).
Unfortunately, when we arrived at the park the day before, we only had time for the pony ride and while she caught a glimpse of the colossal playground, we were late for dinner and had to pull a crying toddler away. So, (again) we promised her we would take her there and had to 'make good' on that.
After the Eiffel Tower then, we decided to give her a couple hours to play.
We stopped near the Eiffel Tower in the Champs de Mars at this glamorous hot-dog stand for a quick bite to eat. It was good though and Norah enjoyed the small sandbox and feeding the birds. Sometimes, with a 3 year old, eating a sandwich on a bench is a much more enjoyable experience.
Looking back at 'the tower' with the Military school (École Militaire) just behind us.
This is misleading. I used the panoramic feature on the phone but then, stupidly, rotated a full 360 degrees. So...the Eiffel Tower faces directly toward the Ecole Militaire and yet here, they appear to be adjacent to each other. Ooopsy.
In Luxembourg Gardens again. I took a photo of this because the sculpture reminded me of a bronze statue that Uncle Dan has, in his house. Well, it wasn't until after seeing the photo larger that I notice the couple kissing on the grass. "No, I'm not a creep. I'm not taking a photo of you. I'm taking a photo of that huge Deer."
The 3rd Statue of Liberty I've seen in Paris. Hm.
This really was one of the most "Parisian" things I saw while in Paris - a bocce ball court. Most players are in their 60s and 70s and there's this air of seriousness about it all. There are men sitting on the sidelines, discussing players and making cash-bets. This is not the type of place you'd say, "Hey, can I give it a go?" For some reason I loved watching this.
Parisian Bocce Ball daily tournaments in Jardin Du Luxembourg
Loved this woman. She was one of only 3 women present and she walked in with her big clod-homper heels, big thick black-rimmed glasses and her old-school jacket. Then she appeared to mop the floor with the young guys.
We all went down this slide and because I was wearing tights, it shot me out like a bullet and I landed flat on my back, with my head a foot from the end of the slide.
"Ok...that was surprising, I hope no one saw that"
What I would do to buy that for Norah. So beautiful!
Laduree is extremely famous for their macaroon cookies (the small, round, ridiculously decadent cookies with filling inside). I never actually liked them but once I tasted these.....I got it. I understood. :) We stopped in the store and ordered a few of them, inhaled them and went on our way.
Oh this girl.
And the d'Orsay...Wayne so badly wanted to see this museum. (I did too but seeing an epic art museum like this with a 3 year old means NOT seeing it and so I prefer to just wait until we can spend 3 hours in there (by ourselves). If that day never comes, well, I can live with that too but I really hope it does).
We arrived at 4:45 pm and while the brochure said they closed at 6 pm (as did the door), the guard turned him away and said they were closed. The rest of the group had my pass so Uncle Marko could use it but Wayne really wanted to see this place.
Somehow though, Uncle Dan knew this and earlier in the day, he bought Wayne one of their massive 'coffee table books' on the entire museum! It is now one of his prize possessions and he's nearly read it cover to cover. I suppose this just means we have to go back. :)
Oh this was so sad. Aunt Mary had her heart SET on going to the Ernest Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Hotel in Paris. That evening we all met and took taxis to this part of the city. Aunt Mary was absolutely giddy to finally be going. The last two times she was in Paris, it was closed.
Now, the reason this is a special place is, 1) it's the Ernest Hemingway bar (a place he frequented), and 2) it is the last place Princess Diana was on the evening she was killed.
"1898 - A legend is Born, 2013: A Legend in Progress" Huh? What's that mean? Where's the entrance? Clearly they're just doing work on the buildings' façade... Oh, no...its closed for 3 years. That's just great.
Ok, let's re-group...
I thought these statues were kind of cute. Uncle Marko thought they were hideous. :)
So, down the street we went to this incredible Italian restaurant which Uncle Marko just happened to go to, all the time, when he was in college. He attended University in Germany so he made very frequent trips to Paris and stayed in a small hotel/hostel just around the corner from here. (this was 30 years ago, if you can believe it)
Wayne, happy as can be.
Norah having a ball with Uncle Dan.
Beautiful Aunt Mary
And the lovely cousin Suzy. Poor Suzy got sick while in Paris but she was such a trooper and never complained despite the 8 miles of walking each day. :)
Not only did they all give Wayne birthday presents, but Uncle Marko carted a whole package all the way from Seattle, complete with not one, but TWO, "I love White Center" t-shirts.
This is a great shirt because NO ONE loves White Center (in Seattle). :) Well, some have "a fondness" for it if only because it is so terrible and they survived it. (I feel this way about Renton, Washington).
In Dublin this would be the equivalent of an "I love Tallaght" t-shirt, or in Ontario, "I love Windsor". :) He has been sportin' these shirts proudly in Dublin but a couple days ago I said, "Hey, I wonder if people could construe that as some kind of racist aryan statement?" He hasn't worn them to school since.
Maybe until we're back in Seattle, this will be an "inside" shirt.
