As we close out Sam's great adventure in Paris we decided against joining this mess on the Champs Elysée
I think Sam is slightly disappointed and was hoping for a more exciting NYE in Paris - but that's what he gets for traveling with two old women! He's still awake though - which is a record for the trip! I think the crush experience visiting the Mona Lisa helped temper his idea to be on the Champs or at the Tour Eiffel - probably that and sore feet!
Yesterday and Today were more open itinerary's - to allow for some wandering and photo taking. I think it worked out well.
We started our day, and continued our trip tradition of eating at good cafés, with a wonderful petite dejeuner at the famous Angelina's alongside the Rue di Rivoli and the Louvre. Good food, great atmosphere, feels so French! Oh and chocolat chaud to die for! To let you know how good it was - we didn't eat again until about 4:30 pm!
The decorations and pastry at Angelina's - Deb and I wanted to touch the tree and sample!
Today was shopping and chocolate day! But it's hard to shop for chocolate when you're stuffed. But if you're wondering - of course I accepted the sample! And yes we're all coming home with chocolate - well hopefully some of it survives the plane trip!
The chocolate stores are always beautiful but Patrick Roger also has some great sculptures!
We continued Sam's history lesson by learning about the guillotine - Sam thought it was invented by the French but they merely perfected it during the revolution. It was in use by the Germans and Flanders and English in Middle Ages with evidence of its use "back into antiquity". The French Dr who recommended for the Revolution was trying to improve the humanity of it. Imagine - and it's named after him and the poor guy was against its use fundamentally! See what you can learn in Paris with the interweb! And in case you are wondering about the context - we frequently cross or get off at the Condorde metro stop and square - where famously King Louis and Marie Antoinette, in addition to thousands of others, were decapitated during the revolution
Because of today's open itinerary (and due to anticipated rain) we were able to take a detour and visit the Petite Palais (gratuit!). Sam took advantage of the change to sketch a statue - which I helped point out due to its form, depth, and complexity -- and of course it's proximity to a bench Deb and I could rest on! It was, even for me watching him, a cool experience. I hope he had fun!
Sam sketching Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux's Monument au maréchal Moncey
It was time to shop! Although I think for these two it's always time to shop! We went across the Champs and saw the hordes of people already arriving - Yikes! We headed to a large open mall - Galeries Layfayette. It was jam packed full. Amazing. Their "mall" concept is an open one which is interesting and easier to stroll around - well except the 100,000 other people who also thought it was a good day to shop. They did have a cool tree in the center, and I was glad to escape the experience alive!
Back to the Madeline, a church we had explored earlier in the day. Beautiful church and Sam and I shared a giggle, luckily the nun that went by did'nt crack our knuckles! We escaped the rain into a nice café overlooking a flower market and enjoyed our last meal in Paris!
Headed home, our 5th time on the moving sidewalk, and Sam just about has the metro system down now! So he'll be all set when he returns!
For New Years we celebrated with a glass of vin rouge (don't worry Beth - Sam had a non-alcoholic cocktail) and a shared desert. We're listening to some whistling and shouting from the Place de Republique - hoping we last until midnight!
So Bonne Année tout le monde. Let's hope 2018 starts out smooth and easy for our trip home!
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