Last of Paris and on to Venice!

The next morning Neil and I got up early while Jules slept in and went for a pretty darn epic run--nothing like running down the Champs-Elysees early in the morning before anyone is out and then up to the Bois de Boulogne to join all the other runners! 




Total heaven and I could have run around the park for hours more. 

I gave Neil a very hard time about cutting off the top of the tower in this picture. 

Then back home! Very handy to have the palace so close as it meant that the streets around our Airbnb were usually barricaded so it was easy to cross etc. (Slightly intimidating with all the soldiers right outside the door, but on the other hand it felt very safe!) 

We grabbed some Lime bikes once we rejoined Juliet and had a delightful hour or so biking along the Seine and through the Tuilieries tunnel. 

Then we grabbed lunch near the Musee d'Orsay...

A few photos of things that caught my eye (probably the same things I loved on our last visit, but c'mon, look at that expression on Joan of Arc's face!). 

I can never get enough of being totally awestruck by the detail that sculptors can coax from stone. 

Or the light playing over the paint in the silk, lace, and jewels here. 

Love love love the view of the Louvre through the clock. 

Another favorite that always makes me think of my girls. 

Requisite Rodin stop at the Gates of Hell to compare to the bronze version at the Rodin museum. 

I just love sculpture SO much. 

This special exhibit was absolutely fascinating; tons of fashion houses here working on products. 

I watched this woman build half of a handbag. So so so cool and so incredible to see her skill with the leather. 

And one more sculpture; that contrast between the elderly woman and the newborn baby just gets me every time. 

Okay. I order steak tartare ALL THE TIME but this one, I think, did me dirty. I was so sick the next day. 

Last walk through the Tuilieries! 

Paris in the spring was just as incredible as you'd think. 

And our last morning! 

These were absolutely exquisite but as I was eating mine, I started feeling really awful. 

We went up to the Sacre Coeur and my stomach was just not having it; I felt so horrible and ended up lying down on a bench for an hour or so. 

Then I felt a little better and tried some gelato; I ate a couple of the lemon-flavored petals and then had to pass the rest off to Neil. 

By the time we got to the airport I felt like I was dying. Thankfully I had my horrible unpleasant stomach interlude in the airport bathroom and NOT on the plane. I felt super weak and exhausted for the rest of the day but I didn't feel like I was going to throw up all over the world any longer so that was a plus and I was able to enjoy the view of the Alps! 

By the time we landed in Venice (our flight had been delayed) I was so tired I could barely walk and these signs were totally killing me! 

We had to wait probably half an hour for the water taxi and then another half hour to get across the lagoon and then the dock we normally would have taken was under construction, so it was a long walk in the dark to our Airbnb. Neil carried my bag as well as his own and I was so thankful because I could barely put one foot in front of the other at this point. I may have cried a little when we got into our Airbnb and I saw this bed; I don't think I've ever been so happy to see a flat surface. 

Quick check of work email and then passed out! 

Goodnight, Venice! 

 

Versailles & Tour Eiffel

Versailles! The last time we were here was very stressful, so it was nice to know the ropes this time and work to make it a more enjoyable day. We caught the train from Paris bright and early and were there when the palace opened. 

A peek into the royal chapel 

I think that after about ten minutes at Versailles it's very easy to understand why the French Revolution happened. 

The ceilings are usually my favorites in places like this. Just incredible. 

Requisite photo of the painting of Louis XIV

The Hall of Mirrors really is incredible, and it was nice to see it without lots and lots of people. 

Honestly I think this is a place that speaks for itself, not a lot to add with photo captions! 

I love the ostrich feathers at the corners. 

And the requisite photo of the famous Marie Antoinette painting. 

Jules contemplating the last of the State Rooms before we headed out to the gardens. 

This time I made sure to come on a Saturday so that the fountains would ALL be on! 

The gardens here are so satisfying to my order-loving brain. 

We walked through the upper gardens and then went down to catch our lunch reservation at La Flotille on the canal. It's amazing how exquisite a simple salad and sandwich can be when the ingredients are all so carefully chosen and absolutely at their peak. 

Then we rented bikes (learning from last time!!) and pedaled over towards the Trianon. 

I love this breezeway. 

And the marble inlays on the floor. 

Jules and I were giggling over how much this looked like the Lorax. 

More very orderly flowers on the way to the Petit Trianon. 

For some reason I really loved this sign about Admirable Trees. 

I really enjoyed seeing the inside of the Petit Trianon (we didn't have time on our last visit) but apparently I liked the flowers more. 

Then over to the Queen's Hamlet, aka Peasant Disneyland. 

After the stifling opulence of Versailles, I can totally understand Marie Antoinette's desire to escape court life and just pretend to be a shepherdess. 




Very very tranquil and adorable. 




Then back on our bikes--we biked around a LOT and I really loved this part of the day. We looped the canal a few times and did some biking through teeny little (slightly scary) woods trails; it was a perfect spring morning. 











Then we took the train back to Paris in time for our dinner reservation prior to our Eiffel Tower reservations. 

I wasn't blown away by our dinner (thanks a lot Michelin guide) but I LOVED these pastries we picked up later so much that we went back to the same boulangerie the next day. 

Also kinda hate to admit it but Costco's palmiers are better. 

This was a very long day, but Juliet's request was seeing the Tower at night, and it was beautiful so I'm glad we opted for the later time! 

Selfies from the top during the sparkle--can you tell it was VERY windy?!

If I recall correctly, we were there long enough to catch the sparkle from both on the tower and below it, which was really cool. 




Then we walked back from the Tower to our Airbnb in the 1st, which was a pretty long walk but it was a beautiful beautiful night and we had our pastries! A pretty darn perfect day.