Our first hotel was on the Rue Champs-Élysées, near the famous Arc de Triomphe. It had a very narrow elevator:
If you go to Paris and visit the Eiffel Tower, we recommend purchasing a ticket to walk up the stairs to the second level, then riding the elevator to the top. The wait for an elevator from bottom to top looked to be over 3 hours. The wait for the stairs method: None. There are a mere 688 stairs to the second level.
Tokens of enduring love locked to a bridge across the Seine, with the famous Pont Neuf in the background. We were told the city comes by every couple years and cuts all the locks.
Sacré-Coeur basilica. We walked up to the rotunda level and enjoyed great views, as the church is on the highest hill in Paris. We also explored the crypt beneath.
A few more notable Paris sites: Sainte-Chapelle church, the Moulin Rouge cabaret, and the Louvre museum.
We also met up with our high school friend Paul, who works part-time as a walking tour guide while studying for his Master's degree in the city.
Our favorite visit turned out to be the gardens at the Palace of Versailles. Covering nearly 2,000 acres are water fountain displays set to music, immaculate flower beds, intricate tree arrangments and plenty of Renaissance sculptures. You can rent a boat and enjoy the Grand Canal at the center, or rent a golf cart and tour the expanse with haste. We preferred the leisurely route, walking though the working farm on the north side of the property as well as touring Marie Antoinette's portion of the estate.
Now we're back home, improving the back yard and preparing for Benjamin's arrival at the end of October. We look forward to seeing family and friends again this fall.
