Meet the Muir Family: October 2015

Translation: I don't want to leave Paris. Our last full day of sight seeing is upon us in Paris and we still have lots to cram in so let's get to it!

Fueling up for our day in Paris. See that delicious looking loaf cake. That was entirely Gluten Free and I ate the whole thing by myself and all the food on that plate and didn't feel one bit guilty. Walking around Paris all day, while nursing a baby = one hungry Momma.

Fulling up for our day!

First up is the Musee d'Orsay. We are huge art lovers and impressionist paintings is at the top of our list of art to look at so next on our list was the Musee d'Orsay - the worlds largest museum of impressionist and post-impressionist art.

Enormous sculptures flanking the entrance to the Museum.

No lines for us thanks to Emily- we walked past these beauties on our way to the entrance for us which is the exit for most.

The contract of crisp colors, lighting and shade are exquisite.

Taking a break on an exhibit piece with one of the clock windows in the background.

Emily and I resting our feet.

I think Paris is growing on her!

Emily and I at the Clock wall.

The colors of this painting sucked me right in. I love sea colors.

The inside of the Musee d'Orsay. It was originally built as a train station in 1900 but later became a museum as the platforms became too small for the larger trains built in the 1930's.

Scott taking in a to scale replica of a room in the Palace of Versailles.

A ceiling in one of the countless rooms in the Palace of Versailles.

Jamie face.

This room was enormous. I just can't even picture the scale of the Palace of Versailles where there is room after room after room of over the top luxury and abundance.

Even the restaurant inside the Musee d'Orsay looked like a piece of art.

Baby face sculptures.

A Van Gogh painting.

Self portrait of Vincent Van Gogh.

Impressionist painting made entirely using little dots of paint from a brush.

A model of the city you could walk across.

An open air market during our walk around the city of Paris.

Chocolate bunnies and ducks with all the intricate details.

A very Parisian lunch.

Lunch with our Emily.

Running into this very cute playground reminded us of our other two children at home.

You can read all about the Jardin du Luxembourg Paris (HERE).

Walking through the Luxembourg Gardens.

I always have to pinch his butt to get him to smile. The residence of Catherine Medici at the Jardin du Luxembourg behind us.

Jamie was at the Gardens too!

Sisters in Paris. I highly recommend!

A real statue with a real bird.

He was just cracking himself up here pretending to be walking the grounds of his private residence while talking on the telly. Telling the people sitting to his left to not get up, it's okay if they sit there.

This pond reminded me of the one in Central Park with moms and babies taking a leisurely stroll around the city on this perfect fall day.

Catherine Medici built this residence for herself.

Walking along the side of the residence now.

Strolling through the gardens we came to the Medici Fountain built in 1630 at the Jardin du Luxembourg Paris.

A close up of the fountain. Had many gothic features.

She can't not go past this without posing like this. She's been doing it the past 12 years and we laugh hysterically every time!

Fresh oysters anyone? I like to save them all for Scott.

Next up was walking through the St. Germain de Pres Quarter of Paris. This was such
a fun part of Paris. It was shop after shop after shop that you could peruse. Many places to sit and enjoy lunch or dinner or drinks, live music, trinkets to buy etc.

Hum- which way to go?!

Ut-oh we found a gelato place. As soon as we saw this we could only think about our near death experience eating gelato on a freshly cooked waffle in Barcelona and just had to stop! And when I say "near death experience" I just mean that the gelato was so good that we could have happily died and gone to heaven right then and there after eating it.

It didn't last long. And was super delicious!

Jamie double fisting gelato. No wonder she is smiling!

This is what real hot chocolate looks like. It almost had the consistency of pudding.

After meandering through the streets of Saint Germain de Pres Quarter on Paris it was back across the Seine River to Notre Dame. The building of Notre Dame began back in 1163. Hard to imagine- and I'm still trying to wrap my head around that fact! You can read to your hearts content about the largest and most well known church in the world (here).

I wish I had a proper camera that showed just how incredible this building was. It was dripping with details.

The entrance to Notre Dame.

After Notre Dame it was back to our hotel for a quick outfit change before our sunset cruise along the Seine River.

On our Seine River Cruise passing the real gold statues of the Grand Palais.

Fun Fact- The Seine River was used by the Vikings in 885 AD to invade France.

The Eiffel Tower from our boat.

Jamie on the River Seine.

The gold flame that is a monument to Princess Diana right at the entrance to the tunnel where she perished.

Making our way by boat down the River Seine.

The Grand Palais in the background.

Scott and Jamie going under the gold bridge created as an entrance to the Grand Palais.

The entire Grand Palais bridge flanked on all four sides by solid 24k gold statues.

Musee d'Orsay.

Le Pont Neuf - One of the most famous bridges in Paris. This bridge was completed in 1604 and was very wide for its time. It is the oldest standing bridge in Paris.

Jamie with Le Pont Neuf in the background.

Notre Dame from the Seine River.

The Love Lock bridge in Paris.

A broader view of the Love Lock Bridge in Paris on the River Seine.

Above and below are pictures of The Conciergerie - is a former prision in Paris. It was part of the former royal palace, the Palais de la Cite, which consisted mainly of the Conciergerie, Palace de Justice and the Sainte-Chapelle. Hundreds of prisioners during the French Revolution wer taken from the Conciergerie to be executed on the guillotine. Even Marie Antoinette was incarcerated here before losing her head ont he Place de la Concorde.

Back to the beautiful Eiffel Tower after our Seine River Cruise.

We love Paris!

Emily is finally taking in the sites!

Oui Oui Paris.

Meringues as big as your head!

Le Bon Marche - The very first department store in Paris.

For someone who doesn't really like to shop, I'm not sure why this was so exciting for me to go to the very first department store.

Down the street to my left above is Le Grand Epicerie de Paris. It has everything you could possible need for every room in your home including a full grocery store full of exotic and small batch items- think Whole Foods but on steroids. I lusted over the cashmere throws and the plush materials you could pick out for your custom furniture or the silky threads to make bedding. I could have spent an entire day just browsing- but not buying of course!

Eating like a Parisian.

We can't resist a good raw shellfish tower.

Cafe de Paris was delish!

Jamie had the crispy duck leg with roasted potatoes and a salad.

I had some delicious liver and kidney in a yummy sauce that only the French know how to do perfectly with some creamy polenta.

We can't say goodbye to Paris without seeing the Mona Lisa. See Jamie, I told you we'd see her before we left!

On our trip home at the airport we saw someone cut the line with 5 airport workers and more than 10 pieces of luggage. It all belonged to Tracy Morgan. He was just sitting on the bellhop in that leopard coat letting everyone else check in for him.