Peach Seed Monkey

Paris is a big girl.
She’s been on her on for a long time. After 2000 years of rites and passage, she has not always made the most compassionate choices where other folk are concerned—even her own folk—yet she’s still around to share her story. She grew up fast, once launched from her birthplace on Île de la Cité, now a destination for the 500,000 visitors who come every week to take from all Paris has to give.

Two weeks ago, at the end of June, my husband, daughter and I joined the throngs for seven days: taking pictures, taking in the views, art and food, and taking time (when smart) to appreciate details of ancient & modern Paris.

I was last there in 1983—a far cry from this trip, a graduation present.  As we left the City of Lights for Amsterdam, I felt the sadness that comes with leaving a place coupled with all the emotions of launching our own big girl out into the world of college this fall.

This is Part 1 of three Paris posts: mostly, galleries of  pictures I took that will tell their own story of our trip, with a few travel tips/links thrown in. After that I’ll move on to Amsterdam…

Amuse-toi bein!

We stayed in this apartment in the Le Marais, a very old, now trendy section in the 3rd,
found on VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner)
http://www.cobblestay.com/paris-vacation-rentals?property=Picasso-Museum-Marais-041

Yes, it rained, and we forged ahead!

Spoke with her as she waited for South African Week fashion show, but did not seize my chance to go…WHAT was I thinking! This was down the street from our apt on rue Vielle du temple.

Inside Notre Dame, we light candles for my family.

Le Metro ~ included in the Paris Pass.

92 steps up to the street from the bowels of metro…

…elevator available but what a mob scene…this was more fun!

Close up from the tour bus ~ FAME RESTRAINING PEGUSUS: my favorite of four glorious gilt-bronze statues by Emmanual Frémiet ~ watching over Pont Alexandre III.

From the top of L’Arc de Triomphe

View from Les Cars Rouges bus—a Hop-on-Hop-Off tour. We did Paris Pass package to save time & money seeing the sights & museums. 

Montmatre

Our day at Chateau de Versailles; 1.5 hours on the RER train from Paris.

Versailles water show set to music.

Thanks for taking my tour!

Stay tuned for Paris: Part 2 ~ FOOD