The Eiffel Tower

We went to the top for Benjamin's 13th birthday.

Winston looking down from the first level.

This is at the very top. It was cold, windy and rainy!

A family photo.

On the stairs.

This is Benjamin in the elevator. You can only take the stairs to the second level and then everyone have to take the elevator to the top. It is quite the ride. The elevator is crammed as full as possible with people. You can watch as you go up and come down. Jason did ok!

Nora looking at the top.

One of the views.

My sweet family.

To Market To Market...

On Saturday, we walked to the weekly market to buy our groceries. It is amazing, everything seems so fresh. The market is in indoors and outdoors. The kids took turns pulling the basket.
There was lots of fresh fish. The crabs and lobster were still alive.

We could have bought a whole rabbit, fur coat and all. The butcher smiled at Nora as she took this photo.

Lots of the poultry still had its' feet and head attached.

This was in the middle of the street. Some kind of parade float. The tail was made out of read peacock feathers.

The butcher ground our beef for us. We purchased fresh vegetables, olives, strawberries, cheese. Such a fun, cultural experience. It was packed with people and they all have little carts to pull their purchases home.

The Inside of Our French Home

The living area.
This is where we eat.

The steep steep stairs.

Jason cooking away in the kitchen. The oven is in the brick, and the fridge is below it.

Another view of the kitchen.

Our French Home

The views from outside.
This is the view as you walk up the house, If you follow the walkway to the right, you come to the front door.

The front door, and the little door below is the laundry room.

This porch is where we sit out side when it is nice. We eat lunch together and read here. There is a lovely garden in the neighbors yard. The kids have enjoyed the spiders on their webs. I showed them how to catch a bug, throw it into the web, and watch the spider go to work. I did this with Nicole and David when I was little. The spiders are big and remind me of ones in Oregon.

This is the little swing set tucked in the yard. Nora is learning all kinds of new tricks. We are praying for no broken bones!!

Lunch

I (Michelle) went into Paris by myself. So fun just to wander the streets. I bought this sandwich for my lunch and ate in front of the Notre Dame.

Nora and I waiting for our Gyro.

A Gyro topped with fries. Meat, tomatos, letuce, taziki sauce, deliciousness.

Benjamin's favorite treats.

The Tour of the Sewers

The tour of the Sewers of Paris was very interesting and very very smelly. We walked on a grate, under which the raw sewage was flowing. There was a series of posters giving the history of the sewers as we walked along.

We saw three live rats down this tunnel. If you can enlarge this photo, there is a rat right in center of the tunnel. Creepy!

These are the exit signs, this one was posted the wrong direction.


This a ball that they use to clean the sewers.

Looking at the raw waste.

We ended with a walk along the Seine river and came upon the Eiffel Tower. Benjamin took this photo.

Hot Chocolate

I think coffee is from the devil, actually I worked in a little coffee shop when I was in Seminary- The Coffee Nook in Lake Oswego, OR and loved the smell, loved preparing the drinks but have not been able to enjoy the taste as many times as I've tried. BUT, I do love the Hot Chocolatay... Here are the photos of this little place I read about- you have to brave this narrow street with busses FLYING past you but once you get inside it's magical. I also got to enjoy a pastry- the lady behind the counter said it was not sweet- it was the Pig in the dough- just what I want- Pig in the dough... It was terrific....