Family Vacation, Part 1: Paris

You know how I like my blog titles to have parts to them, and colons.

Anyways, as you may have ascertained if you read our blog, my family (well, everyone except Sara) came out to visit 2 weeks ago. This is really quite the feat considering the fact that Mom lives in Yorktown, Chris lives in Atlanta, and Dad was working in Tanzania at the time. But, we managed to pull ourselves together and all meet up. Everyone flew in the London, and we then immediately took the Eurostar to Paris (because, really, who wants to see London when you can see PARIS).

We checked into our swanky hotel on the Champs Elysee (Bobby and I were excited to be travelling and not staying in hostels) and then hit the town. As always, let’s let the photos tell the stories instead of me rambling on forever.

Here's mom and Chris on every fashionista's favourite street: the Champs-Elysees. Personally, I try to spend as little time there as possible. It is beautiful, but horribly expensive (even for Paris).

Day 1 included a Bateaux Mouches boat tour of London. We found that this was a great way to see most of the major sites (as they are situated along the Seine) and get your bearings in the city.

The Gentiles (+1 Harwig, as Bobby would say) at L'Arc de Triomphe.

For day 2 in Paris, Bobby and I took Mom, Dad and Chris on our favourite thing to do in European cities: a free walking tour. We've found this great company that does them all over Europe. Personally, i've done them in London, Prague and Paris and have always found them to be great!

Me and bobby on the walking tour. At le jardin des tiuleries.

Bobby hanging out on the seine.

After the walking tour, we did something I hadn't done since I was in Paris in high school (and bobby had never done), we went to the Louvre. It was much less crowded and much larger than I remember.

Me with Venus de Milo.

Bobby with Nike, Winged Victory

Mom, Dad, and Chris at the Eiffel Tower

Day 3 in Paris had us visit the city's most famous churches (without bobby, who had to go back to London for work). First was my favourite spot in all of Paris, la Basilique du Sacré-Cœur.

Next, we visited Notre Dame. This is a view from the back with it's famous flying buttresses.

That's about it for the Paris trip. 3 days of whirlwind sightseeing and not as many naps as i'm used to on mine and bobby's vacations. Bobby had already returned to London, dad packed up and headed back to Tanzania for work and Mom, Chris and I headed down to Italy to continue our vacation.....