Showing posts with label Ile de la Cite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ile de la Cite. Show all posts

Friday, July 31, 2009

Last Night In Paris

Our last night in Paris turned out to be a magical night. Our first attempt to go up in the Eiffel Tower earlier in the trip was unsuccessful because the lines were so long. We had heard that the lines were not so long at night so we decided to give it another try. Unfortunately the lines were as long as they had been during the day plus it was really cold. I wanted K to see the Eiffel Tower light up but it was only 8 o'clock so we had to figure out how to kill a couple of hours and keep two little girls awake. K had a barbe a papa and Olivia wanted ice cream so we headed to Ile de la Cite. As we were walking around there was no line for Notre Dame so we convinced the girls to go in. To our surprise there was an incredible concert underway. There was a soft glow in the cathedral because the only light was candlelight and the music was lovely, almost ethereal. The cathedral was breath takingly beautiful. After the concert we headed to Place de la Concorde because it is a wonderful place to view the Eiffel Tower when it lights up. Just as we got out of our cab the Eiffel Tower started it's show. It never fails to take my breath away. K let out a gasp when she saw it. After a strategic trip to the bathroom at the Hotel de Crillon we piled into a cab to head home. I commented that the Place de la Concorde looks so pretty at night when it is lit up and just at that moment the lights came on! We all gasped. A perfect ending to a magical evening and a magical trip.









Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Ile de la Cite

Nestled on the tip of Ile de la Cite is a wonderful little square called Place Dauphine when men gather to play boules. The square is surrounded by charming little restaurants. I love the early evening light in these photographs as the girls play while the men play boules.
A few years ago when I was in Paris with my nephews I bought them a boules set and they spent an afternoon playing boules in this little square. I sat and had a glass of wine while they played. They came back several times and ordered cokes because it was so hot. Final tab, $33 (or maybe it was euros), $5 dollars for each coke and $3 for the glass of wine!
And, oh, we had a Jake Gyllenhaal sighting. He was having dinner while we were watching the boules players. Later in the week Catherine and I got a baby sitter and had dinner at one of the restaurants on the square.

Love the guy in the red pants and Olivia's expression!