“Can we make a snowman?!“
Motivation
Paris worked for both pregnancies so it was time for our daughter to see the city of lights “outside of mom’s tummy.”
We’re kept the annual trip experiment going though the cos was dropping “France 2018” to “Paris 2018.” No Normandy. No Loire Valley. Just one of our favorite cities.
We went in targeting Gothic architecture and the Middle Ages since we’d previously struggled with those areas. We came out loving everything about them and looking to keep learning more about architecture on future trips. The kids had seen our photo books from 2012 and 2014 but now they were old enough to appreciate the Venus di Milo, Monet’s Water Lilies, the Eiffel tower, and so much more!
Itinerary
1. Paris
Planning
- much more artists with the kids
- Napoleon, Reign of Terror and Manet & friends for grownups
- Rick Steves Spain guidebook
- public transport and Uber only
- Woven wrap baby carrier and backpack
- long underwear for kids; scarves, gloves, and wool hats for all
- Snacks, snack, snacks, and 1 new little toy for the 16-hour flight
- Airbnb across from Notre Dame (best ever!)
- Smarthistory videos downloaded
- one Context tour, one free walking tour
Memorable Moments
- kids sketching Venus di Milo and Winged Victory at the Louvre
- classical music concert at the Sainte-Chapelle
- kids’ first time with snow
- sailing boats and playing on the playground at Luxembourg gardens
- daily gelato
- making friends with other kids at Notre Dame park
- zero line at the Louvre!
- finding Hannibal statue in Tuileries garden
Lessons Learned
- “Green days” still worth weight in gold (i.e., parks and nature only)
- portable art station = best museum idea yet
- location, location, location for Notre Dame view and bells and nearby bakeries and restaurants
- dress for the weather!
When we return…
- Cluny museum, maybe not Picasso museum
- more walking tours (maybe not pricey Context tour)
- Normandy, Loire Valley, other daytrips
- warmer months:)