Europe 2015: Paris, France

April 23- Arrived in Paris and explored. Found our apartment and enjoyed some pizza we got on the way. 

After we rested for a while we headed back out to see at Paris at night (subways were used a lot)

There were street performers with fire and dance in front of Notre Dame.

                                                        The Eiffel Tower!

April 24- "Beautiful sunny days are coming to an end. We are finally preparing to see rain. Today we went to Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, and walked through Tuileries and around the outside of the Louvre, and down the river. We came home for a test. the 6 or 7 flight of stairs-- who can keep count, it's a spiral-- had Bethany collapse at the top. Haha. We found a store to get laundry detergent and we have the washing hung to dry. I made a soup of leek and potatoes and Bethany made basmati rice with lemon and ginger." -My mom via Facebook. We just had a really nice day exploring. Here's some pictures.

A breakfast in Paris~

Walking to go up inside Notre Dame!

As you can see from the picture below, doing my hair was not my top priority.

Around the corner from Notre Dame there was a weird playground with a dangerous turning table that Reuben and I would sit upon and spin and spin. There was also strange uneven monkey bar type things. I climbed all over them of course.

amazing view from the top of Notre Dame~

A blue bookstore~

a rainy street~

There were so many times where we would go to a café and drink coffee or tea and eat sweets and enjoy people watching. Just enjoying being in Europe with each other. Another favorite was to go by the bakery and grab some fresh baguettes and have a picnic somewhere pretty.

One of the days we were in Paris we decided to go to the Grand Palais. First we got in a line that was very, very long. We then stayed in that line for over an hour getting wet from the rain that would drizzle down on us. When we finally made it to the front of the line we realized we were in line for the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit. Instead of turning around and standing in yet another line for something else we went in and enjoyed some fashion. It was so interesting to see his fashion sense because it was so different. In each room there was a different theme, one had mermaid and sailor outfits on mannequins with faces projected on them making them look alive. Another was odd and original wedding dresses. 

One morning we walked to a farmers market type thing and got gifts to bring home. It was cool to see everybody selling their cheeses and fruits and other random items. I got a handmade journal from a very kind European guy. Mom got some shirts and key chains to bring to the girls at home. We tried biking but it got very scary in the traffic so we decided to head home and read. Mom and I also tried to do a chocolate tour of Paris which was delicious. Over all, this trip has been full of a bunch of random walking and exploring, getting lost, finding food to eat, and sight-seeing. I hope you enjoyed my random notes and many pictures. I am sure you noticed that we didn't plan a lot of activities and everything we did was kind of on a whim. I think everyone should take a trip where everything is relaxed and nothing is planned out it really is a different experience.

xoxo ~Bethany