Paris 2024- Big Bus, Arc, Versailles

 For Spring Break this year we were just crazy and lucky enough to be able to take our kids to Europe. The trip started out a little sketchy because our flight out was canceled the morning we were supposed to leave (Easter day). However, Ryan, after a few hours on the phone and online chatting, was able to rebook our flight to go straight in to Paris instead of into Amsterdam, so we really only lost one evening in Amsterdam but gained a few extra hours in Paris, so it worked out ok.

We got to the airport pretty early because they said they couldn't assign our seats until we were at the gate (since our flight was last minute rebooked), and we wanted the best chance to sit together we could get. So, we got to the airport and ate lunch, the kids played on this structure at the SLC airport, and we walked the whole concourse and back.

We ended up being pretty lucky to get the very front row of the economy seats, and sitting together (Hyrum and Cora were in their own row one row back to the side) so we got a lot of leg room. We were all able to sleep at least a few hours on the plane, except for Hyrum, so we weren't completely dead when we got to Paris.

We got to Paris, took a taxi to the hotel, and then set out for the number one priority: crepes.

We then got out first up-close look at the Eiffel Tower, and it's amazing!

Then we took a bus ride around Paris to see all the major sites, like the tunnel at the Louvre:

Palais Bourbon with some statues all ready for the Olympics:

Les Invalides:

And lots of other sites! We hopped off at the Champs Elysees and got an amazing French dinner. The littles had Croque Monsieur, the olders had amazing steaks, I had a Croque Madame and it was all good (though pricey).

Near us on the Champs Elysees was the Louis Vuitton hotel shaped like a giant trunk. It was pretty unique:

Then we went to the Arc de Triomphe:

We got to climb the cool stairs up to the top:

It was a beautiful view from the top, plus there was a little gift shop and museum in the middle of the Arc:

Lots of cool statues with lots of cool meaning to the French:

Then we headed back to the hotel because we were SO tired, but not before Ryan and Zane went and got us some crepes for a yummy dessert:

The next morning we got on the Metro for our trip out to Versailles:

The palace was very opulent and beautiful and ginormous:

The Royal Chapel at Versailles:

Royal Bedroom at the Palace of Versailles:

Hall of Mirrors:

Queen's bedroom in Versailles:

First macarons in France! From a shop in Versailles:

We happened to be there during the time of year when they play classical music in the gardens, which was fun. They were also prepping for the Olympics since there is an event or two there, so some of it was under construction or obstructed. Gardens and fountains of Versailles

They also had a fountain dancing to music amidst the gardens:

We also walked out to the Grand and Petit Trianon, which were cool to see. My favorite spot at Versailles though was the Queen's Hamlet. It was where Marie Antoinette built a little pretend village for her kids to learn about villager's lives and for her to pretend to be common sometimes. It was so adorable, and honestly reminded me of a real life version of Disneyland's Fantasyland.

The gardens really were beautiful, with so much history it was cool to see: