Last 5 days in Paris! What a way to end a vacation.

Hello from the city of lights.  Paris, France has been Jerry and my favorite place on earth since we came here the first time in 2005.  There is something energizing about the city.  Energizing, filled with beauty, and truly special.

Besides the iconic landmarks, there is art and beauty everywhere.  The city does a wonderful job with flowers everywhere, the streets are cleaned daily, the cafes are cleaned right away, statues are everywhere, its just nice (especially for a big city).  And, I know you have heard differently, but the people are SO nice!

So we arrived from Annecy yesterday and immediately came to our new apartment by taxi.  It is a 2 BR 1 bath (that's fun with 4 adults), but otherwise spacious and in a nice neighborhood.   Right down from the Invalides on the West Bank. (A first for Jerry and I).  First pics of the apartment.

Invalides- Which houses the Military Museum and Napoleon's tomb

Our bedroom

Living room

Dining room

It's spacious for Paris.  About 3 times as big as Donald's apartment.  We set out for the Eiffel Tower, just a few blocks away.

Found it!  Dee and Dave took off to climb the tower and we.... 

...had a glass of wine with fries!

We didn't know when they would get back, so made plans to just wing dinner.  Jerry and I went out alone to a little neighborhood bistro and they came back later.

Friday morning we decided to get on a "Hop on- Hop Off" bus that goes to the various monuments on a continuous loop.  We've seen the buses but never done them.  It was great!  We sat on the top and rode around town in the sunshine!  

This is a gas station.  No big corner lots here.  Just pumps on the sidewalk.

Lady Diana memorial by the tunnel where she was killed.

typical corner bistro

Boules game in progress

Of course, the arc

Itty bitty smart car

Traffic on the Champs Elysse

Louis Vuiton

Five guys right on the Champs!

Flowers everywhere!

traffic, traffic, traffic

The oblisk.  This is where Marie Antionette got the axe.

Parliment

We all got off at Notre Dame and toured.  It is gorgeous!

The Rose Window

Sending prayers for Patty.

St. Chappelle  Built by Louis IX in 1242

St. Chappelle church.  Amazing stained glass windows.

all 4 sides are stained glass and rise over 50 ft.

The Altar houses the "Crown of Thorns" worn by Jesus during the Crucifixion. 

Beautiful Annecy!

Hello!  Welcome to one of the cutest towns in France!  Annecy.  Which is on the Swiss France border about an hour east of Lyon.

Pedestrian friendly

canals and swans

Flowers everywhere!

We arrived on Tuesday and only had one "real" day in Annecy.  On Jerry's bucket list was a boat ride on Lake Annecy, one of Europe's largest freshwater lakes.  About around 10 miles long. We were ready!

18 mph wind, it was nippy!

Inside was for wimps!

Good to be out on the water again!

These are the boats we didn't take.  Ours was MUCH smaller!

Para sailing on the lake.  The water is 11 degrees C.

One of the many castles we went by.

The Alps

We sold the cabin and bought this!

The boat ride took about an hour and we were thoroughly frozen when we returned.  Time for a hot chocolate!  (I was all about wine but got shot down) Which only in France can you get the real thing!  Hot milk, sugar, and chocolate!

We met at 7:00 for dinner.  Now in the midwest that sounds late, but most restaurants don't open until 7PM after closing at 2:00 from lunch.  Jerry was too tired (and didn't feel the greatest after his hot chocolate) to go to dinner tonight.  He just stayed in the hotel and read the paper on his ipad.  Dee, Dave, and I went to a place called Chez Ingalls, which was a great place.  (Insert food Photos here)

Lovely Veloute (cream soup) made with Cauliflower and garlic

Oops!  I forgot to take a picture of the plat.  Dave and I had lamb shank and Dee had a veal pot au feu (roasted in a little pan with vegetables) that had veal marrow bone on the side.  AND she ate it! She's not in Iowa anymore, Toto.

We are now on the train to Paris while you sleep.  It is 10:00 AM here, 3 AM your time.  When we get back, its going to be hard to switch times.  

I'm blogging, Dave and Dee are eating chips and watching the scenery and Jerry is talking to whomever will listen.  We arrive in Paris at 1:17 and then taxi to the apartment in the 7th Arrondissement.  Stay tuned for the last chapter of our fabulous trip.  We come home next Tuesday.  Au Revoir!