Two Little Sprouts and a Little Flower: Roadtrip!

A couple of weeks ago we took a weekend trip to Paris. It was a last minute thing, so the train tickets were extremely expensive. So, we gassed up our car and drove!

Our fearless driver

This was our first roadtrip since Grayson learned how to use the potty. We were just 10 minutes outside of Brussels when he got this pained expression on his face and started yelling "poopies, poopies." We veered off at the next exit and stopped and the nearest gas station. No potty. So we turned around and headed to the next one. Grayson's cries of "poopies, poopies" were getting stronger, so I started coaching him in lamaze breathing techniques. Finally we arrived at the next gas station. It had a stereotypic gross, disgusting, make-you-want-to-throw-up gas station bathroom. The kind of bathroom that actually makes you long for the days of diapers. But it did the trick and we were on our way.

We would have never had the guts to drive to Paris, were it not for this ingenious little device - the GPS. In a calm and melodious voice our navigator told us exactly were to turn, which lane to be in, and when to turn around! Driving through Place Concorde and then right by the Eiffel Tower was a bit surreal. After about 3 1/2 hours we made it to our hotel and crashed (in bed, that is, it was pretty late).

The next morning we headed straight to - where else - the playground.

Next we went to Starbucks. I'm building up a nice collection of city mugs and just had to have the Paris one. You can see that our priorities are in order.

Finally we made it to the Musée de l'Orangerie, where the highlight is a series of water-lily paintings by Monet that were painted especially for the museum's oval rooms

Outside the museum is a bronze of "The Kiss" by Rodin.

After making Grayson suffer through the umpteenth museum since moving to Europe, we rewarded him with a ride on the horsies

Next we took a stroll and passed by the Paris Opera House, where Phantom of the Opera was based and filmed

Next we ventured to the gothic Saint Chapelle

This is the lower church, where the poor people worshipped

And this is the upper church, where the wealthy worshipped

The next morning we were up early . . .

For months I have been wanting to visit the Sacré Coeur and the bohemian neighborhood that surrounds it (Montmartre). This is where struggling artists such as Henri Toulouse-Latrec, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh lived, worked, and partied. It is also home to the famous Moulin Rouge. With Grayson as our guide we headed out.

First stop - this little boulangerie (bakery) recommended by my friend Sév, who used to live in this neighborhood. They have the best baguettes - crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.

Next stop - the merry-g0-round (did I mention Grayson was navigating?)

We arrived at Sacré Couer in the middle of Sunday mass. That's why travelling Moms and Dads carry lollipops. We were able to catch a glimpse inside while Grayson sucked away.