We started today with a tour of the Louvre- called Muse Clues, a tour specifically geared for Alec and Bella (okay kids in general) Anyway, our tour guide Inga, a former New Yorker who has found her more French side guided Alec and bella through their 1st Art Detective investigation.
It was a nice tour where Bella and Alec were tasked to solve 11 clues through answering questions in and around the museum. Each clue was set among different periods of history including French Medieval period, Italian Renaissance, and Mesopatamia. And, along the way they learned nuggets of art history that they will likely always remember...how and why Venus di Melo is so popular (her movement is captured in marble like no one else could do)- why De Vinci's Mona Lisa was so special (a shift in portraits from only profiles to front view--and that she follows you wherever she is and finally-that she is smiling, apparently a rare change in portraits until De vinci dared to be different) and viewing the stones of the initial foundation of the Louvre when it was a fortress in a moat built 800 years ago (that was cool for such obvious reasons). At the end, because they both were full "art detectives" that broke the code, they happily received their treasure- but only after having to request it in Francais.
After a quick recuperation at the apartment, we headed to the Eiffel Tower to view the Parisian skyline in all its beauty-- Alec screamed at delight at the possibility and Bella hopped skipped and jumped over to the Bateau-Bus boat which would be the beginning of our journey there.
Upon arriving at the Tour Eiffel, we found lines around and around and around and around and around and around loops which seemed to never end. Watching this long snake of a cue was an obvious issue for all of us, how long can we wait on this thing? Well- can you guess what we did?
We walked around it, viewed some expert soccer kids twist and move the soccer ball in ways I never knew possible-- like the parisian soccertrotters or something, anyway, that was cool. Then, we bought some souveniers at the trinket shop and then bought an ice cream.
By this time, we realized the reality of the "what do we do now" question was fully understood. We would NO WAY wait and was now looking for a way out. But Alec, poor Alec had his heart of hearts set on this journey, and asked about every possible way, every doorway (exit doors looked empty to him) and wondered whether Mommy could make a phone call and we could get in... What a resourceful and smart but not very correct son I have. Anyway, just as he began to cry, and cry and get quite upset, my daughter Isabella spotted a dual horse carriage about to depart from the Park. She told me and actually reminded me that 2 years ago (she keeps count) I promised her in Princeton NJ that we would take a carraige ride next time... but the next time never came around as it was a Winter buggy and a short season. Anyway, we all looked at each other and decided a horse buggy ride would do nicely, and Alec actually stopped tearing and got excited.
We took the ride through the 7th Arrodisement, waving at the onlookers and trying to figure a new way to see the Eiffel Tower without the long lines. Well, we enjoyed the ride, and Alec asked at least 7 different times, in 3 different ways, whether and when we could go--I had to be honest, I said I don't really know...
Speed ahead to dinner at the apartment (Pieter and I got Indonesian take out-- it was very good) and we are browsing away on the Internet seeing if there are other ways to get into this steel wire tourist trap without having the trappings of hell long waiting lines.
Found something!!! It just so happens that on Pieter's upcoming birthday, on Sunday July 19th, the restaurant on the 1st level (58 Tour Eiffel) 58 meters above ground, had an open dinner reservation at 6:30 PM for 5. It actually allows us to have a decent dinner (not too expensive, and there is a kid's menu) with ADMISSION to the 1st level of the Eiffel tower included....
So, plans have been made, we will be there, and finally our kids will view the view!!!!
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