The Hurt Family's European Vacation- Paris

After spending half a week in Stockholm, we continued the Hurt's European Vacation in the city of lights, Paris.

  

Belle is ready to go to Paris

Belle's usual way of traveling...zzzzzz

We began our Parisian experience in a French restaurant where we dined on traditional French food.  Doug was the most adventurous one and ordered escargot.  Belle was happy with her pomme frites.

While on our way back to the hotel, we quickly understood why Paris was called the City of Lights.

The Paris Opera HouseThis is the Opera House where Phantom of the Opera takes place

While in Paris, we were able to see all the highlights of this beautiful city.

  

Belle getting ready for a day of sight-seeing

 Cyle and I began our tour at Montmartre.  Located on the right bank, the views from the top of the hill were amazing.  We felt like we could see all of Paris.

Atop the summit of Montmartre, is the beautiful Sacré-Cœur basilica.  

After walking around Montmartre, it was time to meet up with the Hurts.  

Waiting for the subway

Belle's subway tickets

One of the biggest items on our to-do list while we were in Paris was to visit Notre-Dame Cathedral.  I've now seen Notre Dame several times, but every time I see it, it still takes my breath  away.  Notre-Dame was built alongside the Seine beginning in 1163. Restorations and alterations have been made since, but the cathedral still has a similar appearance as when it was first completed in 1345. 

After touring the cathedral, we passed a crepe stand and couldn't pass it up.  

I had a Nutella crepe...it was delicious.

Walking along the Seine.

The Pont de Arts bridge, also known as the "Love Lock" bridge.  A couple writes their names on a padlock and locks it onto one of the bridges. They then throw the key into the Seine River as a symbol of their undying love.  The only way to break the seal of love brought on by this love lock act is to find the key and unlock the padlock, which is almost impossible as the keys are at the bottom of the Seine.

We did not have a lock to add to the bridge.

For lunch, we sat outside and enjoyed ham and cheese paninis.

Our next stop was to visit the tomb of Napoleon at Les Invalides.

This picture was taken atop the Pont de l'Amla bridge, which is the bridge where Princess Diana was killed in a car crash.  The monument, the Flame of Liberty, is a full-sized, gold-leaf-covered replica of the new flame at the upper end of the torch carried in the hand of the Statue of Liberty. 

We of course had to see the  Eiffel Tower.
  

Another must-see on our list was the Palace of Versailles.  The palace of Versailles was the center of political power in France from 1682, when Louis XIV moved from Paris, until the royal family was forced to return to the capital in October 1789 after the beginning of the French Revolution.  The palace was meant built to impress, and it does not fall short of its goal.  

Train ride to Versailles

Belle had to be put in the baby bjorn carrier for our tour of the palace

I’m going to start by saying Versailles is not the most pleasant of places to visit. It’s crowded...Very crowded.  The weather that day was cold, windy and rainy, and we had to line up for 45 minutes to pass through airport-like security to enter the palace.  By the time we got to the palace, we were cold and wet.    If you overlook the crowds, the Palace of Versailles is as regal and lavish as you could imagine. Enormous canopied beds, exquisite artwork, marbled walls, and gold in every direction you look. It’s easy to see why the French felt resentful of the privilege enjoyed by the aristocracy, passionately beginning a revolution.

The Hall of Mirrors

While we were in Paris, we enjoyed some fabulous French food and wine.  However, I was thrilled to find a Chipotle.  I love Mexican food and cannot find good Mexican food in Sweden, so Chipotle tasted exceptionally good.  It was funny because the whole restaurant was full of Americans who were living abroad and wanting to find a taste of home.