Paris 2010 - Day 2- 25 November 2010

Definitely didn’t feel like Thanksgiving when we woke up in our flat in Paris!  Thought we would get an early start to the day so we were up and ready to go by 7:30.  MK and TK were still fast asleep at their hotel down the street and didn’t get up ‘til we woke them!  Took a quick trip to the grocery store and bakery down the street to round up some items for a Thanksgiving breakfast, Parisian-style.  The apartment quickly came in handy as we prepared breakfast in our own place.  We had quite the spread of croissants, pan au chocolat, ham/cheese quiche, coffee and OJ when MK and TK arrived.  It was all delicious!  I even made up for last night by splitting a chocolate cream éclair with Dad this morning!  What a great way to start the day!

Today we headed out to take full advantage of the Museum Pass with Mom and Dad.  Armed with Rick Steves books and audioguides, we started our tour at Notre Dame.  The inside was typical Gothic, and dark with the beautiful stained glass rose windows.  I think I found the architecture outside even more impressive with its flying buttresses and gargoyles.  After a quick detour to the Archeological crypt below ground in front of Notre Dame, we jumped in line to climb to the top of Notre Dame. The view of Paris from the tower was excellent.  We took plenty of pictures of the city below as well as the famous gargoyles.

Back down on the ground, we walked to Sainte Chapelle a view blocks away.  This chapel was built to hold Christ’s crown of thorns after they were purchased by King Louis IX.  Since it was located next to Palais de Justice, security getting in here was extra long as several "lines" merged into one scanning area.  Joe was especially frustrated since an Italian man kept yelling in Italian and tried to push his way past us several times.  The long wait was worth it, though, when we viewed the stained glass in the chapel.  The only down side was that the main altar was covered for restoration for the next few years.     

The Conciergerie was another interesting exhibit to see right near Sainte Chapelle.  Here we saw where Marie Antoinette and others prisoners were held before they were brought to the guillotine to be executed.   

Thought we could make it to the Musee d’Orsay before dinner, but the backpack check area was too long a wait for us to see anything.  Decided to save the museum for another day and head back a few blocks for our Thanksgiving dinner at The Moose.  A diehard Patriots fan, Lisa had suggested we go to this Canadian sports bar to watch the game and have a traditional American meal.  Lisa and Benson flew in this afternoon and met us at the Moose for dinner.  Hard to believe the last time we saw them was the sunny and muggy day we left their Montegalda apartment in mid July.  

Dinner at The Moose featured a salad, turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, green peppers and onions, and a strange pink block of stuffing.  Food was okay, but not quite the endless feast we’re use to having at home.  Pecan and pumpkin pie are not my thing either so dessert was a bit disappointing.  Everyone did get to watch the Pats defeat the Lions on several flat screen TVs with mostly New England fans, including the couple from Medford behind us.  Our Eskimo waitress from the Yukon Territory was also relatively accommodating when it came to TK’s many requests for the evening. (You are going to put the American football on all the TVs, right?)

Although it was a bit cold, we decided to walk back to Rue Moufettard.  I spotted a Grom near the Moose and insisted we stop for dessert.  Wanted to get their hot chocolate, but apparently they were sold out so I figured I had to get some chocolate fondente gelato for tradition’s sake.  Didn’t have to twist Mom’s arm to get one, too!  We walked along the Seine on our way back, and passed right in front of Notre Dame.  Joe even set up his tripod so we could get a group photo.  Great pictures!  Everyone was tired when we returned so we all went straight to bed again.