The Longest Day

We all felt well rested (some of us more than others...) and were very hopeful that our suitcases would arrive today.  I've probably racked up about $30 in phone charges to AA's luggage desk at CDG.  We knew they were supposed to arrive this morning, so we decided to stay in our quartier but not before Aidan snapped photos of the pigeons on the roof:

 We planned on going to a bakery that Ines recommended yesterday, but we turned the wrong way on Rue St. Denis and were too lazy to turn back.  Instead, we found a lovely cafe, Cafe Lazar (Paule Emilie, they have a champagne happy hour!), that was amazing.  I could go there everyday.  I know that we go to at least 3 cafes a day (no joke), but I could start every morning at this cafe.  Aidan loves to drink chocolat chaud while I have my allonge.  Melinda's a pro at ordering a 'carafe d'eau'.

Aidan reading about Gettysburg

cafe allonge

Aidan explained to us that this is how the British drink their hot chocolate

After our lovely breakfast at the cafe (we've yet to go grocery shopping, but that's definitely on the list or we won't have any money come Spain!), we walked through the neighborhood because we wanted to stay close in case the taxi driver who was supposed to deliver our luggage called us.  We needed to change some dollars and it took us longer than expected to do the math to compare which change bureau had a better rate.  We really needed Sis's math!  It took us waaaaaaaay too long.  Way, way too long.  But we got to visit our neighborhood fountain, which is also becoming a favorite place of ours.  AA called to say the bags would be delivered sometime between 11:30 and 2.  So we headed home around 12.  Aidan and Melinda took naps.  I decided to wait outside, since our apt is on the top floor and we don't always get good cell service (and that was one call I didn't want to miss).  I was outside from 1 until 2:30 waiting and reading.  I didn't want to walk back up seven flights of these stairs any more than necessary...

During my long wait, I became quite good friends with the businessmen whose office is next to the door to our building.  They even brought me out a chair and we had a good conversation about nothing.  Finally, around 4, the luggage arrived.  We lucked out though because our delivery driver carried ALL the bags up the stairs!!!!!!

Originally, we had planned on visiting the Musee d'Orsay and the Rodin museum before our 8 o'clock appt at the Eiffel Tower.  We discovered that our nearest metro stop was closed for rennovations, so we started walking.  Aidan was a mini-Parisien and ate a 1/2 baguette while walking.  He even kept it wrapped in the white wrapper!  It was super cute.  We took the metro to the Tulleries.  And we saw lots of stuff like:

We made it to

 and only got about an hour in before it closed.  We'll be back there soon. Because our Eiffel Tower tickets were for 8 and it was 5:30, we decided to walk along the Seine from the museum to the tower, which is about 2.5 miles of gorgeous river views, questionable outfits, bike riders, people making out, bateaux mouches, and lots of trees.

Aidan partook in lots of pigeon chasing.  One of his most favorite activities here.

He also enjoys taking awkward selfies.

We had a quick bite at a cafe, which Aidan liked.

Then we went to the Eiffel Tower, which he liked taking pictures of but hated going up.  As he said, "It's not that I'm afraid of heights, it's that I don't like the falling down part."  Melinda got to spend time at the summit. Aidan and I spent about 30 seconds.  

We finished up the night at a cafe by Anne Sophie's house.  On the way there, we snapped this picture especially for Aunt Amy...

p.s Many of the photos in our blog were taken by Aidan.  He wants me to tell you that most of his pictures are of pigeons.