More of Kate and Carter in Paris

During this trip with Kate and Carter we returned to some of our favorite spots and also did some new things, including those Carter hadn't had time to do before.  We went to the apartment of Victor Hugo in the Place des Vosges.  When Claire was here, I discovered a "secret" entrance into Place des Vosges.  It is now our favorite way to enter.  The Hôtel de Sully is on Boulevard Saint Antoine and has a large garden in the back.  In the back corner of the garden is a doorway that empties into the covered walkway of Place des Vosges.  We can't wait for leaves to appear on the trees.  Winter has lasted way too long!

Kate and Carter at Place des Vosges

Garden of Hôtel de Sully

Covered walkway at Place des Vosges
Near Entrance from Hôtel de Sully

Victor Hugo's Home

We wandered through the Marais after seeing the Victor Hugo home.  We walked by our Paris Ward on rue Saint Merri and over to rue Nicolas Flamel for a picture for Carter's mom, Michelle.  We all love Harry Potter and it was cool to discover that Nicolas Flamel was a real person-a French alchemist and writer who lived from 1330 to 1418.

Entrance to Paris Ward Chapel

Rue Nicolas Flamel

Kate can't be in Paris too many days before we make the pilgrimage to Ladurée.  Kate and I love macarons so much!  They are really a treat and at 2.10 euros each, we have to make them last.


 

Kate and Carter at Ladurée

Kate and our Macarons.

Behind our apartment and up the hill is the beautiful church Saint-Etienne-du-Mont.  It is right by the Panthéon.  It is one of our favorite spots to visit since it is so close to the apartment.

Saint-Etienne-du-Mont

Kate and Carter in Front of the
Beautiful Rood Screen

Kate and Carter at the Panthéon

We walked down rue Sufflot from the Panthéon to Luxemburg Gardens right before closing time.

Looking Towards the Panthéon from
Luxemburg Gardens

It wasn't too far a walk from there to our favorite crêpe place on boulevard Saint Germain at Odéon.  They make them fresh and don't skimp on the fillings.  They put a whole banana in a Nutella-banana crêpe!

Waiting for Crêpes

Carter did not have time to go to the Louvre when he came to Paris for a few days in July 2014.  An artist was copying the famous Ucello painting while we were there.  So interesting to watch the process.  We walked up rue de Rivoli after seeing the highlights at the Louvre.  I have the Louvre tour for visitors down pat now.  There is the shorter version and the longer version, both with homemade baguette sandwiches half way through for a much needed break.  Museums are exhausting!

Louvre

Artist at the Louve

Italian Gallery at the Louvre

Joan of Arc Statue on rue de Rivoli

A trip to Paris would not be complete for Kate without going to the original Angelina's on rue de Rivoli.  It's not exactly Carter's "cup of hot chocolate" but he was a good sport about it.  Angelina's hot chocolate is intense!  We tried their macarons with our hot chocolate and both agreed Ladurée macarons are definitely superior.

Counter at Angelina's

Getting that last bit of hot chocolate

Kate at Angelina's

Another day we went to the Orangerie to see Monet's water lilies and the other impressionist paintings.  Then walked across the river to the Musée d'Orsay for more art.


Monet's Water Lilies

Kate's Favorite Water Lily Painting at the Orangerie

Kate and Carter at the Orangerie

Church at Auvers-sur-Oise by Van Gogh

Bedroom in Arles by Van Gogh

Carter took Kelly to a Paris Saint Germain-Metz soccer match on Saturday so Kate and I had some shopping time.  We went to Au Printemps, one of our favorite department stores.  As a bonus, it has a Ladurée boutique so of course we had to pick up a few more.  Printemps has new floors with food and restaurants to compete with Le Bon Marché.  We went out on the rooftop and had a beautiful view of Paris.

Paris and la Tour Eiffel

Garnier Opera House

Kate on the Roof of Printemps

We took in the view of Paris from our balcony Saturday night and again Sunday morning.  We are so lucky to be able to see the Eiffel Tower and Nôtre Dame off our balcony.

Nôtre Dame

Sparkling Tour Eiffel

Love this blue sky!

Perfect Paris day

The week with Kate and Carter went by way too quickly.  At least we were able to take things at a bit of a slower pace than Carter's last trip.  Their last morning we went to our favorite boulangerie at la Tour d'Argent and took in one last view of Nôtre Dame from the bridge.  This back side of Nôtre Dame has become our favorite side. 
It was hard to say goodbye to Kate and Carter but at least we knew we would see Kate in Paris one more time during her spring break from preschool.  Kelly and I both had a little tear (okay, maybe big tears for Kelly) as we sent them to the airport Sunday morning.

Kate with her Baguette

We have had many guests and I am a bit behind on my blog posts.  As I write this, Kate is arriving at the airport to fly back to us in Paris.  We can't wait to see her and look forward to more adventures.  We just wish Carter were able to be here, too.

Kate and Carter Come to Paris





We were so excited for Kate and Carter's arrival on Sunday, March 4. 

The morning started off a bit rough.  It was the Paris Half Marathon so our street was blocked at the east end and traffic was being diverted a few blocks to the west at Maubert-Mutualité.  A few cars were finding their way around back behind our street but we were not seeing Kate and Carter's taxi.  And of course it was raining and cold.  Kelly decided he should go down to Maubert-Mutualité and try to find their taxi while I waited in front of the apartment.  And it was a good thing he went.
The windows on the taxis were tinted so he had to peer in the back seat of about a dozen taxis before he saw them.  They were so relieved he found them!  They did not have euros yet and were planning to pay by credit card.  The driver's credit card machine was broken and he would not agree to keep Carter in the taxi while Kate went the three blocks down to our apartment to get cash.  Kate was in a bit of a panic, doing her best to speak French with the driver who spoke no English, when suddenly her father appeared.  I was so relieved to see the three of them wheeling those suitcases down boulevard Saint Germain towards me.  The rest of the trip Kelly kept telling Kate, "I found you!"  And we were so happy he did.
We hurried off in the rain to the Salon de l'Agriculture for the last day of the fair.  We were trying to keep Kate and Carter awake and moving but the place was so crowded-so much more so than when we went in 2012.  When we returned home they each took a two hour nap to try to get over the jet lag and they adjusted pretty quickly.  We strolled over to the bridge to Île Saint Louis for a view of "our" side of Nôtre Dame.  It was so pretty in the evening light.  The Seine is still higher than normal and tourist boats are not running yet.

We had a great week with Kate and Carter here.  Carter had spent four whirlwind days in Paris in July 2014 before he and Kate married.  We made sure he got more sleep this time and slowed the pace at bit.  The first thing Kate wanted to do was go to the old neighborhood by the BYU apartment.

Kate and Kelly at the BYU Apartment Door

Kate in the BYU Apartment

As we started to take a picture outside the apartment, Hadley Howard, the wife of the BYU professor living in the apartment this semester, walked out of the papeterie next door.  She was so kind to invite us in to see the apartment.  Kate was thrilled to get to go inside.  She missed that familiar apartment and neighborhood.
We checked out the pastries at the "White Bakery" and walked down the rue Cler for lunch at Café Central.  We love their frites and how they are served in a tin cup.

Café Central

Sharing a Pizza

Croque Monsieur with Frites

Lively Conversation

Kelly and Carter Outside the Café



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walked over to the Champs de Mars to see the Eiffel Tower. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went next to Montmartre to see the artists.  It was fun watching a man sketch a darling little boy who couldn't sit still.

 



 





A couple of policewomen on horseback who were circling Montmartre stopped for the tourists to admire the horses.  We called Kate the horse whisperer.  The horse really seemed to like her and it was hard to pull Kate away.


We walked around the back of Montmartre to look at the last vineyard inside the Paris city limits and back of Sacré Coeur.  Another perfect day in Paris.

Sacré Coeur