Sunday, April 13, 2014

Schedules

Sometimes you just have to go.  I'm not a good "traditional" tourist.  Not the "let's spend all day in a museum".  The "Let's go here and do this."  I'm more of a:  "Okay, we are in Paris - all I know I really want to do is go up the Eiffel tower and take the boys to the Louvre."  Everything else, we will stumble upon - or someone will tell me "Oh, you must go here".  

If I had set an itinerary, I’m not sure this is what it would have looked like.  But I’m glad it turned out this way. 

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Arrival in Paris from the EuroStar
Got to Dave’s apartment via the metro – in a country where I don’t speak the language with my kids.
Waited a bit to find Dave (my running buddy) – Lily and her mom arrived about the same time. 
Boys and Dave went to park.  Girls walked over to park – all walked Eiffel tower.
Dinner at a local restaurant around the corner.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Scottie (the chef) arrived at 10am for us to go to the market.
Market – bought lunch and ate in park across from Eiffel tower
Back to apartment to drop stuff off
Started walking to Notre Dame.  Ending up renting bikes and riding through Paris
Notre Dame
Small Café
Apartment for dinner Scottie had prepared

Thursday, April 3, 2014
Sacre l’Cuere (didn’t leave the apartment until 1)
Lunch at small café
Dave flirts with a 6’8” black transvestite in red suit whom we name Lola.  He goes home to take a nap.
The rest of us go to the Eiffel Tower – walked to the second level.  Kids and Lily’s mom take elevator to top.
Stayed until dark and the lights started changing.

Friday, April 4, 2014
Dave and I go get our race packets
Boys and me to Louvre
Lily, her mom, Dave to another museum (need to look up name)
Dinner party at the house with all of us, plus Dave’s French tutor, her daughter, son & his girlfriend

Saturday, April 5, 2014
Lily’s mom and kids head to run 5k – pickpocketed, Lily’s mom caught guys – morning spent in police station with guys and “boat thieves”
Dave running command central then goes to bed while
Kids and mom’s go to Champs Elysees to see arc de triomphe. Walk down the street
Kids and Lily’s mom go see gardens
I eventually leave them and ride metro back to try and save my legs.

Sunday, April 6, 2014
Paris Marathon – start time 9:45 – finish time 5 or so hours later….
Kids and Lily’s mom at mile 18
Tutor’s daughter comes over to apartment for visit
Celebration cocktails at apartment
All go out for dinner

Monday, April 7, 2014
Depart apartment to take boys to airport for first international flight alone
5 hours later, I return to apartment
Sore – not as bad as I thought I would be, but tired
Lily, her mom and Dave go to Luxemborg Gardens
I took a nap. 
Dinner at home prepared by Scottie

Tuesday, April 8, 2014
(Boys have brutal re-entry day home!)
Train day trip to Monet’s house and gardens
Late night dinner (are we having breakfast?)

Wednesday, April 9, 2014
2 mile run for Lily’s mom – walk for me.
Lily and her mom depart for the next part of their adventure.
I set on the terrace and read a book.  At some point Dave joined me.

Thursday, April 10, 2014
Day in Reims (Champagne)
Tour of Notre Dame Cathederal Reims
Tour of Tattinger Champagne
Lunch
Running back to go to Veuve-Cliquot
Train back to city
Dinner at apartment

Friday, April 11, 2014
Run in morning
Realizing the tunnel I had run through was the tunnel where Princess Diana had been hit – went to see the memorial
Visit the American Cathedral
Paris Opera
Paris shopping
Latin District
Dinner and singing
Arrive home 1:30am!!

Saturday, April 12, 2014
Awoke way too early
Packed
Headed to metro.
One change of metro.
From metro to train station, foiled a pickpocketer (he picked the wrong girl)
Paris to London (traveled with students)
London to DC
DC home……….

As we know, if we had this written down BEFORE, we wouldn't have believed it.  No wonder I’m tired.



All the details and fun incredible stories to come.

2 comments:

  1. Now time for the recovery and return to life in Denver...maybe not slower, just different scenery.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a fabulous whirlwind exciting time! Cannot wait to hear more details and lots of fun incredible stories!

    Rest up!

    ReplyDelete