Monday, July 21, 2014

Bastille Day in Paris

Bastille Day in Paris was spectacular!  We had the best time exploring the city, eating crepes and seeing the sites.  Incredible city!

Everybody's favorite...Eiffel Tower


The love locks bridge.  All three bought a lock and wrote someone's name on it :)








After putting our love locks on and checking out the Seine, we headed to the Louvre.  Honestly, with three little kids who don't care that much about art, it was a pretty quick trip.  







Rug rats in front of Mona Lisa....


Kennedy practicing her Top Model poses in front of the Napolean art.





Then we went out to the Tuileries Garden that runs from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde.  Gorgeous!


We were standing around, trying to decide what to do next, when President Hollande's motorcade drove by. 


Then we headed over to the Eiffel Tower.


Snack break...




We decided to climb to the second level.




When we got back down, there were some break dancers putting on a little show.  When it was over, Kennedy  decided that they should teach HER how to break dance.




Once it gets dark, around 10, the Eiffel Tower glitters for 5 minutes, at the top of every hour all night.  It's beautiful!


The next morning we watched the big military parade go down the Champs de Élysées.  Total zoo, but the kids loved it.  Their favorite was the flyover that let off red, white and blue smoke.  








Afterwards we made a quick stop by the Cathedral Notre Dame


The biggest Bastille Day attraction in Paris is the fireworks show at the Eiffel Tower.  To get a spot at Champs Mar--the best view, you have to get there pretty soon after lunch, so Ethan and Kennedy spent the afternoon hanging out over there, and the older two and I jumped on the subway and headed to the Arc de Triumphe.



We climbed to the top.  Awesome view of the city!




By the time we made it back to Champs Mar, it was so crowded, I could barely find Ethan and Kennedy....but luckily we did!

The fireworks and concert were awesome!


















Such a fun weekend!

The next morning, the kids and I ran into horrible traffic and almost missed our flight to Charlotte--stressful!!!  We got to the airport way too late, but the nicest US Airways employee EVER helped us out.  I could've kissed her for letting us on that flight.  We are so happy to see friends and family :)