Springtime in Paris

'"And remember, also," added the Princess of Sweet Rhyme, "that many places you would like to see are just off the map and many things you want to know are just out of sight or a little beyond your reach. But someday you'll reach them all, for what you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover all the wonderful secrets of tomorrow.”
From The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

After months of planning Caitlin and I were finally going on our crazy two week vacation. First stop: Paris.

With neither of us able to use our phones (without selling our first born to pay the bill) we had arranged to meet outside her baggage claim. Easier said than done. Apparently Charles de Gaulle Airport is known for causing maze-like confusion in travelers - a fact which we were unaware of until I tried to find my way from my gate to hers. I had to ask two different people where to go. I'd like to say that we did a classic airport meeting, complete with slow motion running, but in reality I didn't see her until I was almost upon her.

Our four days in Paris were dominated by two things: Art and Food & Wine (I know that's three, but just give it to me). 

Most days went like this: We got up and, after getting ready for the day, went on a hunt for a bakery near us. Caitlin's goal was to have chocolate at every meal (a goal which she proudly accomplished, I might add). Then we would head to the sights of the day. Part ways through the day we would get a sandwich and dessert from a shop or stand (several days we also got mulled wine - if you've never had, it's a must have on a cold day). Then we'd finish touring and find a restaurant for a three course dinner and a bottle (or more) of wine. To be honest, we really just ate our way through Paris. The food was amazing and every meal seemed to taste better than the one before. We kept seeing Subways and MacDonald's and it became a running joke that we were going to stop there. But really, how can people eat that junk when they have access to some of the best food in the world? We didn't get it.

Caitlin wanted to try as many new things as possible so each night she ordered whatever unique food struck her fancy. Because of this she had frogs legs (which came attached to the frogs), mussels, and Coq au vin (that would be rooster, if you didn't know - I sure didn't before she ordered it), to name a few. She also tried creme brulee for the first time - it blew my mind that she'd never had that lovely dessert before. We took our time at dinner because once the museums, etc closed at five we felt no pressure to do anything. One evening it down poured so we sat for over three hours and consumed two bottles of wine as we watched the people rush by on the narrow Parisian street. Now that's how you spend a evening in Paris. 

We had decided to get something called the Paris Pass. For a flat fee we got access to almost every museum and sight in Paris, as well as a metro ticket for four days. Because we are both naturally cheap we took advantage and tried to see as many of the places as possible. This forced us to go places we wouldn't have known about or been remotely interested in going to, such as the Chocolate museum (it was one of the funniest places I've ever been. It made Caitlin's day because she discovered a drinking chocolate cup that had a mustache shield built in). But because 'it was already paid for' we wanted to get our money's worth. It was amazing at museums because all we had to do was to show our Museum Pass and we walked past the ticket lines. We enjoyed Musee Louvre, Musee l'Orangerie, Musee d'Orsay, and even went into the Pompidou Centre. We didn't, however, see any art inside the Pompidou. Not because we were interested but because we couldn't figure out how to get to the art! There we're any maps, and signs pointed to places that didn't lead to anything that made sense. Yet the place had crazy long lines to get in! We didn't get it so decided to leave. I think that that place is just a big joke on people who are 'hip art lovers'.

Another site that alluded us for most of our time in Paris was a place called the Crypt of Notre Dame. Time and again when we went into, and past, Notre Dame we searched for it. Nothing. I even googled it. At last, when we were about to give up, we stumbled upon a set of stairs on the far side of the square, behind a temporary structure. In the end we were glad that we had spent time looking for it. While it wasn't really a crypt, but a subterranean archaeological site chronicling Paris's history, it was really cool. The best part was the touch screens that let us explore different sites - because, let's be honest, we are really all middle-schoolers when it comes to technology - we love to touch.

It rained and was cold almost the entire time we were there, but that didn't stop us from enjoying our days in Paris. However, it also made us look forward the warmer, sunnier Barcelona.