Paris

I recently took my niece and nephew to Paris.  Just the 3 of us.  I have been wanting to do this for some time.  The two of them are approaching middle school age and once they're in middle school, phhtttt...they will want nothing to do with Zia Bobiya.  I wanted to share my passion for travel with them, just as my parents did with me. 

We saw everything -- Eiffel Tower.  We took the tour and went to the top.  I toured the Tower 20 years ago, with my nephew's mother -- my sister.  Back then, we had no money so we took the stairs!  But it was too cold on this day and for me to put two 11-year olds through the stairs would be tortuous for me. 

Hall of Mirrors at Versailles

The Gardens at Versailles

I have always wanted to see Versailles.  I guess I just never got around to it.  I heard that it was super easy and accessible by train (which it was) and this time I made sure I took Christian, my nephew, and Carolina, my niece with me.  It was just beautiful.  On this day we got to see the many rooms of this famous behemoth 'home' of Louis XIV.  I have always heard the gardens were large, but this picture just depicts a corner.  If you look out back from the chateau, it just goes as far as the eye can see. 

The Louvre

Venus di Milo

Of course, we had to see the Louvre.  The kids said that was the first thing to see when we arrived.  Good thing we got there early enough because the crowds were small.  We also saw the Venus di Milo and the famous Code of Hammurabi in the Egyptian wing.  The latter was significant because (I found this out) the children were studying about ancient Egypt back at home!

Napoleon's Tomb

We also got to see the Invalides, the military museum and the church in the back that housed Napoleon's tomb.  Note the size of the tomb.  Due to Napoleon's diminutive size, he wanted to make sure that in death, people would look UP to him.  He is entombed within 7 coffins. This one is the largest and made of marble. 

In all, it was a great week and we got to see so much more -- Notre Dame, Jardins de Tuilleries, Musee d'Orsay.  We ate and drank well too.  More on that in my next entry!

Links:
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/
www.chateauversailles.fr
www.louvre.fr
www.musee-armee.fr