Unplanned Arch de Triomphe visit

So this morning started out with me searching for breakfast.  Little did I know that the pastry shop a few doors down would be closed Monday and Tuesday so off I went with 2 little ones in tow.  We walked and found a pastry shop and picked up two chocolate croissants, 2 regular croissants and a chocolate bread log thing... yummy!!!  On the way back we found a hole in the wall that I realized was a grocery store.  Picked up coffee, sugar, milk, OJ and some chocolate cereal that one of the little ones wanted.... on the way back the other mentioned he had wanted dried kiwi - well I guess that we will be shopping there again.  Came back to the apartment to eat.

We were scheduled to meet friends at Chez Andre at 12:30.  I had no idea where this was or how to get there - we decided to walk it since we had time.   Off we went.  We walked up to the Seine and crossed by the Petit Palace.  On our way across a bus with a police escort went by. It looked like diginitaries were on there but what do I know then a fleet of police vans came running by.... guess it was something important.  We had gotten lost early in the directions but I was able to navigate us back on course.  We actually arrived 4 minutes early.  For lunch we had goat cheese pastry drizzled with honey for the appetizer with a side of pears.  The main meal was roasted leg of lamb with mashed potatoes, cod fillet with potatoes, chateaubriand with french fries, and duck.  For dessert we had profiteroles, apple tart, and chocolate ice cream.  Our friends mentioned a chocolate shop they had found so off we went.  The children each picked two specialties and some macaroons.  Too many sweets so they had to wait.  We were close enough to the Arch de Triomphe that it was not worth coming back later.

Up to the Champs elysees it was and to the Arch de Triomphe etoile. 


The children did not remember watching the Tour de France on TV so they had no idea why dad and I had to walk out and walk along the cobblestone.  I read in my Frommers book that there was an underground passage to get over to the Arch - took us a minute to find it.  We picked up our tickets and headed the base.  Into one of the legs we went and then UP, UP, UP on a spiral staircase that almost caused my frightened people to stop in their tracks. 

Happiness when we reached the inner lobby and dedication.  Cool statues and pieces from 1836. 


Then up two more sets of stairs to the top.  It was getting windy but at least the day was clear - we could see up to Sacre Coeur on the hill, down to the Louvre, the Tour Montparnasse (close to our apartment), and of course the Eiffel Tower, the La Defense (dad's conference location). We did not spend much time up top.  The trip down the spiral staircase on the other leg did not seem as bad as the trip up but still scary in it own right.

Walking down the Champs Elysees we saw lots of shop names we recognized from the US.  As we approached the Place de la concorde there we little white huts lining both sides of the street.  Each was showing their wares - scarves, figurines, food, cheese, lots to see.  The Condorde has a ferris wheel next to it.  We realized we had driven that way in the taxi on our way in.  We continued to travel toward the Louvre. 

Very cool statues along the tree lined way.  As we approached the Louvre we turned to cross the Seine again.  Took some pictures on the bridge facing up and down the river. Could not see the Concierge and Notre Dame very well because the river turns there.  We wandered back down to get to the same street we came up on... this was not our original route but it worked.  Overall the walk was 7 miles.... and it only took us 7 hours or so including lunch... many tired feet. Scrounging for leftovers and what we had in the house for dinner - not very glamorous but it worked.