Paris-Day 1

We took so many pictures, and had so many adventures there is no way I could fit it all in one post!  So we are going to do a daily recap of our trip to Paris. 

The day before we were scheduled to leave, R did a test-run on the local train down to the main train station in Stuttgart where we could catch our train to Paris.  He came back feeling nauseous, and with a report of 15 minutes underground on the train route.  I worried about this ALL night long (I don't do well underground!), and by morning had decided maybe we should call a taxi to take us downtown to the train station.  R made the call, and a taxi was scheduled to pick all 5 of us (and our luggage) at our house.  When the taxi arrived, it was a 5-passenger vehicle with some cargo space or a 7-passenger vehicle with NO cargo space!  We had to put little R on my lap...illegal...and scary with the way people drive here!!  But we made it to the train station, had some lunch (surrounded by pigeons, inside the train station) and made it to our train and seats in plenty of time.  WHEW!!

The train trip was great!  Very smooth ride (although our seats were facing backward)!  We were a bit surprised by the ear pain going through the tunnels, but it gave both girls (who aren't allowed to chew gum) the rare privilage of chewing gum!!  T kept it in her mouth for hours...just savoring the experience!! : )  We also discovered on the train ride that the memory card to my camera was in the computer at home...oops!  I had to borrow A's very small memory card to get us by until we could find a place to buy a memory card.

We arrived in Paris, and started looking for a way to get to our apartment.  We decided to take a taxi, and then realized there are very few taxis equipped to handle 5 people and luggage!!  We finally found one that would take us (again with little R on my lap...EEEK).  He was VERY unfriendly, and his driving was absolutely scary!!  Paris traffic is like nothing I have EVER seen before in my life!!

We made it to our apartment, got checked in with the owner, and unloaded!!  Our apartment was very nice...just perfect for what we needed!  And located just a few minutes from the Louvre, it was within walking distance of the main attractions.

Our apartment...we had already unloaded and cluttered it up by the time I got the camera out!  This was the living room with a huge sofa and a murphy bed.

Dining area...we actually ate here each evening except one!

Full kitchen.  This saved us tons of money by allowing us to prepare dinner here in the evenings.

The bedroom

The loveseat was little R's bed during our stay...worked perfectly!

The bathroom was actually quite large!

Big enough for 2 of us to get ready at the same time.

Our building...our apartment was at the very top...with 3 small balconies...it was a beautiful old building!

The dark brown doors on the left are the entry to our apartment.  After walking around Paris all day, we were always so thrilled to see these doors!!

After unloading our bags, we decided to walk down to the supermarket and buy some groceries.  R had gotten directions for 2 supermarkets that were just a couple of minutes away.  We headed out and walked, and walked, and walked...but no supermarket!!  We finally found one, and headed in.  It was the tiniest market on the face of the earth...and crowded!  It was quite the experience!  We bought our groceries and headed back to the apartment...in a downpour!  Little R was thoroughly distraught because he was wet, R was thoroughly agitated because of the close quarters in the market, and we were all hungry!  We were thrilled to see the doors to the apartment!  We went in, had dinner, and spent the rest of the evening planning our next day! 

This is a bakery we walked by on the way to the supermarket.  Their desserts looked almost too pretty to eat!!