Christmas Trip-France

Dec. 19th: We got on a train from Stuttgart to Paris. We had to take an earlier than planned train because of the strike in Paris. The only available time was at 9:10. We got into Paris thinking we would be early to our hostel. Not so. With the strike in Paris, many trains and buses weren't running. We immediately got into line at the station to buy a ticket for Saturday to get us out of France. The line was LONG! I asked a worker if we were in the right place to buy tickets. She took me to the front of the line and to a machine. All the people in line were wanting to switch their tickets because of cancellations. We found out we couldn't do what we needed at the machine, so the woman took us to a lady at the desk. We had just skipped 50 people in line!! Thank you, Lord! That saved us hours of waiting. She got us tickets for Saturday to Geneva, but 8:18 am was the only train not full on the only train that wasn't cancelled. We bought tickets and then headed to wait for the bus. We ended up waiting for a bus for an hour that was never coming. Again, the strike. We had to get a taxi and paid $40 Euros to get us to our hostel.

Our hostel was great! Great common area, great kitchen, great room. We only had four beds, but we knew that and knew John would sleep with me. Everyone relaxed while I went to the store and got groceries. We then headed out to the bus. Anna stepped on Kate's boot on the way and broke the heel. Kate's boot was flopping the whole time she walked. Took a bus to the metro. We got out at the road leading to the arc. We had some dinner at a cafe on the way. Bought Kate expensive shoes at the Adidas store. Finally made it to the arc de triomphe. We walked up the stairs to the top. Great view and got to see the Eiffel tower with all the lights. Headed to the metro. There was supposed to be a Christmas market at La Defense, but when we got there, it was closed. Fortunately, there was a Chipotle right there!!! We have missed good Mexican! Getting back to the hostel was tricky. The metro was fine, but the bus was so crowded! The kids were constantly being shoved or hit with bags or people. We were all glad to be back at the hostel.

Dec. 20th: We knew we had to be up early to head to the Louvre. Our tickets were for 9:00. We had breakfast at the hostel (stuff from.the grocery store) It was raining. We again took the bus, again it was crowded. We did make it to the Louvre around 8:30. We got into line and listened to Rick Steves tour of the Louvre while we waited. We got in about 9:00. I'm so thankful we had tickets. The line for buying tickets was so long! We only did the Rick Steves tour of the Louvre which was only one section. That took us two hours. We then had hot chocolate and a croissant at Angelina's (the one inside the Louvre).

After the Louvre, we walked to Notre Dame and Saint Chappelle. Because of the fire, you can't go in Notre Dame, but we could see the outside. The inside of Saint Chapelle was stunning. We went to Shakespeare & Company bookstore after that. Anna bought a book. Headed back to the train to head to the Eiffel. That was actually easy. Took the RER C. Getting inside the Eiffel was also easy. We had tickets and again I'm so glad. The line to buy tickets was LONG and it was very cold and windy outside.

Going up in the Eiffel tower was scary, but exciting! We went all the way to the top. It was windy and raining, but then the sun came out. We also saw a rainbow. John was scared of the top. We took our time on each floor. On the first floor, we stopped in a bistro to buy macaroons. Another family with three kids stopped to talk to us. They were an m family from Guinea (Bart & Andy w/Pioneer Bible Translators). They had been in France for a month for medical stuff for their son. We talked for an hour. By the time we left, it was late and the kids were all hungry. Anna had a headache. We tried to get a bus, but they were all so full, we couldn't get on. All three kids kept crying. We finally saw a van taxi and decided to take it. It was expensive, but the kids were falling apart.

We got back to the hostel and I went to get food. The kids got into PJs and relaxed. Came back and fed everyone. We went to bed after that, all so tired from a full day of walking and waiting and trying to navigate Paris in a strike.

It was SO windy at the top!