Paris - Joy and Appreciation!

Our 31st anniversary happened to fall during the same week that the boys were away to Camp Helaman, and since that left only Lissie at home with us, Tracy and I decided to let her tag along with us to Paris for a couple of days. She had been dying to go there for quite a long time (though she cannot convince me that she has been deprived in anyway) and I think she liked pretending that she was an "only child", if only for a couple of days.  Here she is at a cafe near the Eiffel Tower. She ordered (in her best French) some pasta and then chocolate mousse for dessert. 

Afterwards, we stood in line for an hour, climbed to the second level of the tower, then took the elevator up to the top -- and that was when I really wished the boys could have come with us.They would have enjoyed this amazing structure and the climb and the view. Lissie was in heaven. The tower puts on a sparkling light show every evening at 11:00 and 12:00 and we happened to be on our way down when it lit up the first time.  It was exciting and Lissie insisted that we race down to the bottom so she could take a picture. (Imagine us all running down those tower steps!)  We arrived to the bottom just in time for the sparkling to stop, but not in time for a picture!

The next day we took the Metro into the city, and then we started with a visit to Notre Dame.  We stood in another long line to gain entrance to the towers, bought some crepes, and climbed!  We enjoyed the beautiful view and an up close look at a few gargoyles.  Then we walked and walked and walked  . . . with a stop at the outside of the Louvre, then the Musee D'Orsay (a three hour visit), and then a ballet performance at the Paris Opera House -- La Fille Mal Gardee. It was wonderful!

An anniversary kiss on a bridge in Paris

Here is Tracy helping me change into heels for the ballet

I highly recommend this delightful ballet.  It was beyond excellent!

It was quite delightful to have Lissie along with us for our anniversary trip to Paris.  She seemed to love every second of it -- the metro rides, the walks and the climbs, the art galleries . . .  and it made the trip even more memorable. Thanks for coming with us, Lucky Girl!