Planes, trains and automobiles
We have been here for three days now and they have been filled with so much that this is my first opportunity to write anything. Our airplane trip was not without it's adventure. We arrived with lots of time, we got our boarding passes easily and then happiky sought a little food before boarding. It wasn't until I went to pull the pass out that I discovered that the agent had made a mistake and my husband was boarding twice but I wasn't at all. ARGH. However it did get sorted and we did board and we arrived in Paris, found our bags and our pre-arranged ride.
The apartment we rented is just off a street that I would have described at a major one but my cousin who grew up describes as a minor one. When she showed me a major street I had to agree. Apparently having traffic and stores doesn't warrent major status - for that you need six or more lanes and a huge roundabout and perhaps a few parkettes in the middle. Regardless, to get to the apartment you enter a red door between two extremely laden shops whos wares overflow out onto the street, and through a narrow passage into a courtyard, Our place is a glass ground level oasis of quiet. Four levels, the lowest has a bedroom, the ground floor the kitchen, living area and a three piece bath, the next up another bed and bath and finally a loft. The children claimed the loft and have made their fortress there. No adults allowed - or at least no adult comments about their housekeeping decisions! It is light and airy and perfect for the whole crowd.
We were the first to arrive , then my cousins from germany arrived but quickly left again to go collect the last member of our group from the train station. It was almost 10:30 Saturday evening before we had everyone together gathered around the table happily eating camembert and bread and drinking Champagne. What a great way to start the vacation here.
Versailles and the "son" king
Our first day here and immediately we are leaving again. But only as far as Versailles which is outside Paris. We take the Metropolitan for the first time and discover that the great pass tickets we purchased online don'y all work and can easily hiccup as we attempt to go through automated turnstiles. Of course it's Arthur who has the difficulty first and this combined with his frustration and mounting fear means the day could well be a disaster. But he pulls himself together and we eventually arrive to discover that everyone else chose today to visit too. The line up to enter is huge. Not a problem say my cousin we have special passes that allow us to jump the line - except that they don't. This is now now longer the case and we are now looking at a line up the is snaking down the entire first courtyard (which is the size of a city block), back up and then down again and each line appears to be moving but not super quickly. There is no way Arthur can make it through that. we are now stuck. Our first place to see and I can't see us getting in. Then Angela ( who truly deserves her name) points out that if there is a separate entrance for handicapped people - perhaps we can use that for Arthur because it is his autism that is the problem. It works and they allow all of us to enter with him. I have never asked for more than patience when helping my son but for the first time we have a small advantage as a result.
Of course all those people are also in the palace and it is a series of jumps from one clear space to another for my son. But he discovers that Lous XIV did manage to acquire some of the amazing purple marble and he spends his time counting purple marble busts and urns. The Hall of Mirrors is wonderful. The giftshop is a must but it is in the garden we find the real gem. A fountain with moving parts puts on a beautiful display to music and both the kids are delighted. Actually all of us are, and we watch the show twice. Miriam doesn't want to leave and walks backwards for as long as she can to watch it a third time. By the time we are leaving it is now 7pm and we have a long trip back so we stop and eat at a lovely outdoor cafe and enjoy sitting down as much as we enjoy the food. And for my daughter who loves escargot - she is allowed a plate of 12 all to herself- this is heaven.
Herding cats
Moving seven people through anywhere can be both easy and difficult. It takes them longer to agree on where they are going, longer for everyone to be ready, and longer to even just walk from a to b. But when you add souvenir shops, confusing streets (even for the native born) and a couple of changes to your plans - it can be a recipe for frustration. Regardless we saw Sacre Coeur, MontMartre, the Comedie Francois, the left bank of the Seine and Notre Dame. We missed Saint Madelaine and an amazing local food market which had my cousin, who is guiding us through her home city, near tears in disappointment. But we walked everywhere and by the time we got home everyone is exhausted and happy to shed shoes and socks. That evening we had dinner at the apartment and collapsed on the sofa to admire all our purchases today. Miriam and Arthur bought dragons and Miriam shopped for souvenirs for her friends while Garland found a hat for his father. And I searched through all the artists stands for a small pirce for my mother. I am happy to report i found something I hope she likes -but as I know my friends are giving her a copy of this blog - i will say no more now.
Today we are going to split up a little. during the morning and afternoon those of us who want to will go looking at some lovely thing while the children stay home and get their blogging done and relax a bit. But this evening we all going to the Arc de Triomphe, the Tour Eiffel and a trip along the Seine at night to adnire the view. The kids are excited. And so am I.
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