Paris Pit Stop

I don’t think that “Paris” and “pit stop” should probably ever be in the same sentence, but I’m getting caught up in the fun of using alliteration. 🙂  Anyway, we bid a fond farewell to Annecy almost 2 weeks ago (on Wednesday, November 9).  While there were a few snowflakes in the air the day we left, we had a beautiful view from the train of tree branches and fields covered in snow as we traveled north toward Paris.  

Train ride to Paris

Our time in and around Paris (which was less than 48 hours!) included:

• a super nice commuter who helped us get unstuck from the turnstyle (too many bags to pull through before the door closed!),
• another lovely commuter who guided us to the right track as we stood waiting on a track with no train,
• coming up from the platform escalator to see the Eiffel Tower in the far distance lighting up the night sky right behind G and L,

First view of the Eiffel Tower (It’s a straight, vertical line right between G and L above the back of the white car…look hard… 🙂 )

• super accommodations, hospitality, and dinners (and a pancake breakfast!) provided by Mike’s Gustie friend, Chad, and his family,
• hide-and-seek and movies for the 11 and under group,

• a night-time tour of the city via mini van (so cool to drive right along the Seine, under the Eiffel Tower, next to Notre Dame, and in front of the Louvre, etc.),
• live jazz (including Chad on the trumpet),
• rose-petal gelato cones,
• a visit to the gardens and Palace of Versailles as well as the vacation “cottages” and Marie Antoinette’s hamlet and farm!

Palace of Versailles and Gardens, etc.

       

After packing and repacking and packing and repacking, we were comfortable (sort of) that we were going to pass the weight restrictions required for our flight to Finland, and we were on our way!