JR's World Tour - 4th Stop : Paris

Once again, our stop in Paris was short and sweet.  Only two nights.  In the two years we've been here, we really haven't done the city of Paris justice.  We only go when something motivates us to go - medical appointments, visiting friends or family, piggybacking on other trips.  Of our half dozen trips to Paris, only once did we go just to see Paris itself, and never have we stayed more than four nights; usually its only two.  Before our time in France is up, I'm hoping we can take an entire week to explore the city; it really feels endless.  There are more restaurants and shops and sights and museums than one could ever fully tire of, and no matter how many times we go, I just can't get enough.

This particular two night trip was cut even shorter than normal, due to our early flight out the next morning.  But we had about a day and half to enjoy the city, so we did our best.  For me, Paris conjures images of gourmet food in lavish, belle epoque dining rooms.  And it should, the dining options here are fantastic!
Just one problem:

There he is!!!

So this is what dining in Paris really looks like for us these days:

We sprung for a room with a great Eiffel Tower view, and searched the streets for Parisian sweets, champagne, and yes, pizza.  Take-out food.  Because it's just not always worth it trying to get the baby to sit through a meal at a restaurant.  

The next morning we headed out on a nice walk along the Seine, stopping for a few minutes at the famous bridge of locks.  No, we didn't add one.  They are constantly cutting the locks off to keep the bridge from collapsing from the weight of all that metal, and knowing it would probably only be there for a few months kind of takes away from the romance of it.  So much for "forever", right?

Musee d'Orsay was our main destination of the morning.  A vast central hall, with several rooms full of paintings jutting off of each side, we wandered in and out for the better part of an hour, particularly enjoying the Degas and the van Gogh sections.  I do remember seeing a large number of grotesque paintings though; I wasn't such a big fan of the depictions of blood and death on half of the walls.  Photos are not allowed inside the museum itself, so we also entertained ourselves by counting the number of people that don't understand the meaning of this symbol

and have to be told off by the employees.  In one hour, I think I counted five.  It's not that hard people!!

That afternoon we met up with the rest of our gang for a small picnic at the tower.  In typical French fashion, we grabbed wine and a couple of baguettes, and parked ourselves in front of the Eiffel Tower for a while.  And then played dress-up with the baby:

Alas, no mustache for le bebe this time.

I never feel I've had my fill of Paris.  It may be in France, but to me, it is not French - it is uniquely Parisian and barely even resembles our city of Montpellier.  A city full of life, with surprises around every corner, j'adore Paris!