Paree!

Off to St. Pancreas to catch the Eurostar. The kids flew through customs like champs! Most took advantage of the ride to take a much needed 2 hour nap but a few stayed up and enjoyed the views of the beautiful French countryside.

On arrival we immediately jumped on a bus and met our city guide Isabelle. She was very informative and give us some great insights on the city. We drove around Republic square, the Ritz, the Louvre, D'Orsay, Place d'Concorde, Tuleries, and ended at the Eiffel Tower. Then check in! We're in a good hotel a bit outside of the city center. With everything going on downtown I think its a good thing. Dinner was flammekueche, a square, thin crusted bread dough covered with a cream and cheese sauce then meat &/or vegetable toppings. It's a traditional dish from the Alsatian area of France. They just keep serving more boards of flammekueche until the kids are full. Then comes the dessert flamms topped with shaved chocolate or apples.

The final stop of the night was Montparnasse. It was the replacement for the Eiffel Tower and at first everyone was just trying to be nice about the idea. Once they were at the top they had a great time. I think they were happy with the choice. This is the tallest skyscraper in Paris and just a mile or so away from Eiffel. After a surprisingly smooth and swift ride to the 56th floor you exit to a floor with panoranic view of Paris. Then you can climb a few flights of stairs to an open terrace on the roof. Amazing. As Rudi said, this place has the one thing the Eiffel Tower doesn't, A view of the Eiffel Tower! We're just back to the hotel and finished bed check. Everyone is safe and accounted for!