Tales from the Tower and Sidewalk Solitude

First stop after the first 'flight' of stairs

The MetroKing on his throne

Another great weather day has us setting our sights on the Eiffel Tower.  As usual the fun is in actually getting there.  Two different metro stops, where we have to switch at stations!  Wow, if Pierce had his way we would go the 'long' way around and switch 50 times before arriving at a destination.

Pierce is thrilled to get the newer train car on the first ride, which means no driver up front, sort of like a    Disney people mover, which means you can spend a fraction of the cost by cruising around on new Metro trains than hitting up Disney Paris.

After positioning himself to ensure first car status, we are off and riding with Pierce and a train buddy in the drivers seats.  This French kiddo has no idea that Pierce doesn't speak French and regales him the whole time with excited delight on all things train.  Pierce nods and smiles and I guess two 6 years do indeed share an international language for all things train.

The elevated metro to the Eiffel Tower is the old school one, but the views suffice for Pierce to be pleased.   A quick walk to the giant tinkertoy of Paris and we are met with not an entirely bad line to go up, but as previously mentioned lines are our arch nemesis.  We take a look at the line to walk the stairs (nearly nothing) and opt for that instead.

Bathroom envy

Good idea for exercise and sights.  While Mitch and I sweated our way up the steps, Pierce practically bounded up the xxx steps.  A stunning view awaits and we enjoy the scenery a bit before taking the elevator down.  Check it off the list, and add another adventure that was amazingly fun and one that I didn't really have any intention of taking, such is travel with a 6 year old as cruise director.

Another couple metro rides finds us for lunch by the Sorbonne, with the intent to cruise Luxembourg Gardens afterwards.  We instead have a delicious and leisurely lunch, preceded by some great street music.  Both the bar and bathrooms at the restaurant leave Mitch and I with design envy.  A zinc bar with a stellar tap line is exceptionally well done.  We also harbor fantasies of redoing our main floor bathroom in Metro stop fashion.  And hey tons of people have long used metro stops as a bathroom, so it makes sense.

Christmas glory at Galeries Lafayette

Finding the gardens closed after our long lunch with hop the metro back for a second round of roller coaster riding at the Champs Elysees Kindlemarket.  It's a mob scene, but super festive and the roller coaster line is short.  Mitch and I indulge in a few Christmas ales, while Pierce does a few rounds on the nighttime coaster, which he swears goes faster at night.

As if our day is not already full enough we kept it going on another two Metro trains to check out the indoor displays at Galleries Layfette, a humongous, luxury monstrosity of a department store.  The place is pumping and for good reasons the Christmas decor is inspired.  And with that much Haute Couture as the sidekicks to the decor, it's a smashing success.

Another couple metro rides and we are back home and beat.  Paris is jumping on a Saturday night, but we are calling it early.  Take out is in order and there's only one place we want.  Falafels from Rue de Rosiers.  It's only about a 8 minute walk or so and I volunteer for the job.

One of the few things I enjoy is walking Paris by myself.  It's so magically cool with a side of a little grit that makes me want to just wander it all in silence, at my own pace.  Could be the equivalent of what a walk on the beach does for some people.  I need a city sidewalk as my atmosphere.

Our go to Falafel shop and a reason for a walk