On our way home from the Dominican Republic we stayed over in Paris for three days. It happened to be New Year's Eve day when we arrived jet lagged and ready for a hot shower. This was our first time as a family to be in a country where no one spoke the native language so it took us a while to get from the airport to the train station to get into town. Really it felt arrogant to expect/hope that someone spoke your language in order to communicate.
We had a French travel phrase book but it wasn't too helpful in my hands since I thought I ordered a mug of hot water but received hot chocolate. Oh well. Once we got into town we had to scout out a pharmacy for Anna Catherine who had developed an allergic reaction on her face and eyes while in the DR. Communicating in English and gestures we were able to get some eye drops and allergy medicine. We had another stop off at a bakery to buy some chocolate filled croissants.Off to the hotel to shower and sleep before venturing out for the night. Around 8 pm we headed out for a yummy Italian meal and then joined the thousands under the Eiffel Tower to ring in 2009. I was expecting a huge fireworks display in front of the Tower but mostly it changed lighting and there were random fireworks but none rocketing high enough to shower down upon the Eiffel Tower as I had romatically envisioned. Still - it was a once in a lifetime experience 
and quite cold with temperatures well below freezing. We walked back to our hotel happily crawling in bed at 2 a.m. which was 7 a.m. Dominican Republic time. Would you believe we slept til 1 pm the next day. I don't think I've ever slept that late! 
In the frigid temperatures we explored Notre Dame and the side streets surrounding the cathedral. We enjoyed some crepes early in the day and fo
ndue at night. I kept telling my family I had come there just to eat.
ndue at night. I kept telling my family I had come there just to eat.
The next day was fogging and cold so we decided to take an hour and half bus tour of the highlights but we missed the cut off time due to a long subway trip. We tried the Louvre with huge lines and felt we weren't prepared to do it justice so we chose the Hop On Off Open Top bus Tour. (Dennis did this for me but really it was a bummer) Paris was packed, the buses were crammed, the line at the Eiffel Tower was staggeringly long and with frozen toes we unanimously decided we'd do it later. We were able to see the highlights of the city enough to see how beautifully preserved it is and inviting to return when it is warmer when we can be better prepared in advance a
nd not jet lagged to start with.
It was a teaser, just enough to convince us we'd like to go back.
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