Paris in the Rain

I was nervous about taking the boys to Paris by myself. And for a myriad of reasons, I had no reason to be nervous at all. It poured off and on all day yesterday and while you think that could have ruined the day, it actually made it such an adventure. Raining and avoiding puddles meant the boys weren’t picking on each other as we walked. It meant we were all running, laughing, soaked and less people were out. It rained the most as we climbed the Eiffel Tower and look out on Paris (which made it hard to see of course), but the boys didn’t care (so that meant I didn’t care either). The Eiffel Tower did not disappoint and was a great way to wrap up the day. 

Before that, we took advantage of the Batobus which we road up and down the Seine and hopped on and off at our leisure. A recap: 

• We grabbed food from the grocery store for lunch and breakfast 
• We took the metro to the Louvre (did not go in) and bought an umbrella ☔️ from a street vendor 
• We stopped at a park off the Batobus and had a “picnic lunch” standing under a tree trying not to get wet (I dropped the lunch meat which we washed offf with water). T-man spied an umbrella in the trash - good enough for us though! 
• We learned how to use the public toilets and T-man got his shoes soaked during the cleaning cycle 
• We checked out Hotel de Ville and then walked to Le Centre Pompidou (Apprently D-man’s shoes were based off its design). 
• We went to Las Halles which D-man found fascinating and ordered ice cream and coffee from a kiosk at McDonald’s (also deemed as cool by the boys)
• We got back on the Batobus and road it to the Eiffel Tower 
• We walked up to the 2nd story and took the lift from there (the boys enjoyed the 1st floor which was covered from the rain, no crowds, and also had some interactive games) 
• We took the metro home, made a tactical error on the stop, got soaked again and ended up at a bar/cafe for pizza and drinks (and smokers) 
• Home by 11:30 

Our first night in Paris we walked to a quick food place and had dinner and then walked to gelato and then down to see Notre Dame and the Seine. It was a two mile round trip hike, but with the sun setting around 10:00, we weren’t going to bed.  We played the alphabet game and actually found a word that started with X!  I was glad to get out and see some things and the boys were great. 

Easy dinner 

Gelato of course 

Notre Dame 

We made it! 

Wrapping up the Alphabet game in style 

The Louvre 

We see it! 

Notre Dame from the rainy Batobus 

Walking in the rain to the “picnic” spot 

On the Batobus 

Hotel de Ville 

Le Centre Pompidou

Deemed very cool by the boys 

Taking it in 

Pretty cloudy up top 

Pouring the entire time we were at the Eiffel Tower 

I love this photo 

Eiffel Tower sparkling in the back