It is practically unforgivable, at least in my eyes (and that of Martina's certainly) that this series of posts about her European vacation have been left unfinished these past four years. Let me try and make amends and see how far I can go this time. It's 2023, surely our happy memories of that summer of 2019 are worth revisiting and writing about.
After enjoying morning at the Van Gogh show at the Atelier et Lumiere, we decided to tick one more Paris must-see off Martina's list by taking her to see the Arc de Triomphe.
This corner of the Champs Elysee where you can find an exit of the Charles de Gaulle metro station is always crowded. Having emerged from the metro, we did not feel like going back underground again to cross the avenue to get to the Arc. A stroll along the boulevard, while keeping sight of the monument seemed like a more reasonable plan .
I had never been to Paris at the height of tourist season -- our previous visits had always been in the winter when the crowds were sparser. It was fun to see so many people, everyone seemed to be taking photos and selfies, Martina had to get into the act.
I asked Martina to pose in front of the Louis Vuitton main store -- who knows, maybe one of these days she will be back to get her very own LV purse. In the meantime, her own shoulder bag has a certain
je ne sais quoi, don't you think?
The iconic and classic brasserie, Le Fouquet's is a most popular meeting place along the boulevard.
You can't miss its bright red awning. Today the outdoor tables are all full and this being Paris you can sit and order an espresso and people watch for an hour or two without being shooed away.
Quelle surprise! If an outdoor table at Le Fouquet's is not possible, there is a small kiosk a few steps away, selling Fouquet's crepes et glaces. The perfect treat on a summer afternoon!
A vacant wooden bench magically materialized! Now we could enjoy our cones and crepes and take a much welcome break.
An eight year old can only take so much of strolling and window shopping, even if it is along the most iconic shopping avenue in the world. After a few hours, it was probably time to call it a day and head back to the apartment.
Just before we disappeared underground again, to take yet another metro ride, Martina pointed out this sign to me ... ah yes, on aime Paris!
Traveling with Kids Tip #11
Kids don't really enjoy shopping, specially "adult" shopping. The Champs Elysee may be the most famous shopping destination in the world but try explaining that to an eight year old! Buy the child a special treat before you shop and you can make the time more pleasant she waits while you get your own shopping done. And please, don't shop till the child drops.
