However i want to write down about our last few days too. We arrived Tuesday afternoon last week, and after dumping our bags at 24 Rue Champ De Mars (7th) we quickly went for a look-see to the Eiffel Tower around the corner. It had a massive impact as expected. Talia went bananas and was giggling a little uncontrollably. Gaby & Hannah were a bit dumbstruck and were saying 'i can't believe we're seeing the EIFFEL TOWER!'. Hannah now, whenever she gets bored, asks "Can we go to the Eiffel Tower?". It was getting late and we'd been flying that day so all we could muster was a walk under the tower, saying 'no,no' to the spruikers trying to push mini eiffel towers on us, and a spin on the carousel beside the tower. By the way, at the moment the Tower is lit up every hour for a few minutes with sparkling flashing lights. It is really spectacular - see the video upload on picasa below.
The next day (Wed'y 16th), and thankfully a clear day, we actually went up the Tower. We began by all of us standing in the long line for the lifts, and then Talia asked 'i thought we were going to walk up?' - she'd remembered i'd talked about it earlier... So up Talia, Gaby & I walked to the 2nd floor (about 35min's) and Rochelle, Elisa & Hannah got there about 15min's before us. It was actually a lot of fun walking up and is quite intriguing walking up thru the steel work. Every flight of steps there are information boards about the tower and its history which thankfully also gives you a moment to catch your breath.
We had lunch on the 2nd storey and then went all the way to the top. Strangely despite going up from approx 200m to 300m the view doesn't change all that much. From both vantage points: a. it's still a long way down, b. you can see every part of Paris, & c. it's still a long way down...
After coming back down we walked across the road to the Trocadero, where pre-xmas they have setup a 'Village Noel' of mini cottage-shops to tempt you with cute gifts and places to eat. (Today we found an even larger Village Noel setup at the Grande Arche in La Defense.) Night was beginning to approach (4.30pm), but just below the main steps of the Trocadero, there is an ice skating rink setup so T,G,E&I all went for a skate - the girls went really well, and i'm a natural of course. When Hannah started to 'lose it' (cold &/or tired) around 5.30, we marched back home stopping briefly at a Village Noel cottage for some yummy vegetable soup. By that stage we'd spent the entire day in and around the Eiffel Tower. It was terrific.
On Thursday we woke to snowflakes falling, and in no time there was a few inches deep of snow outside our door. It was beautiful and the girls were so excited by it. The girls couldn't wait to get out into the snow as we went to the Louvre. I must say, the Louvre was a bit arduous - for all of us - but certainly there were great moments. We went straight to the Mona Lisa, which we all found impressive - especially with the throngs of people milling about. Then we went for lunch... Amazing how food is a necessary part of a days travelling. After lunch we walked thru the Egyptian rooms and the girls were really interested to see the mummy that i'd been telling them about. They knew it would be intriguing and a little scary, which was exciting, but when it was finally a few inches in front of their faces i think they were a little 'taken aback'. It is awesome and sensational. We finished off the Louvre with the Venus de Milo, a beautiful work of art and i think a nice way to finish off. Although when i asked the girls if they thought she was pretty, their considered opinion was that they didn't necessarily think she was particularly good looking (after having another careful & considered look at her face, she does look a little blokey - plus she's a sz.14 - sorry V.)
Friday was a rather quick day, but a BIG day - Hannah turned 3! After taking it slow in the morning and opening some little presents we had bought her from a children's bookshop at the Louvre, we went to the Jewish district for our pre-shabbos shopping. We took the Metro to Rue de Rosiers in Marais and had a kosher lunch, then quickly picked up our Shabbos groceries and came back home. It's the first time i've been to this area of Paris and it is gorgeous. Walking these streets it is easy to imagine how bustling it would have been in the 1930's prior to 75,000 Parisian Jews being shipped off during the Holocaust.
Friday night was the last day of Hannukah, so we had 16 candles lit: 3 candles for Hannah, 9 chanukiah lights(8+shamash), and 4 shabbos lights. They were all illuminating our rear window courtyard area and it was beautiful.
Shabbat (yesterday), we spent the day mostly at home -yay!- although we did get out for a walk in the snow. We walked the long block around Ecole Militaire, which starts at the very beginning of the long Champ de Mars (the park at the base of the Eiffel Tower) - a thrill to see the Eiffel Tower from that perspective. Anyway, we couldn't wait to get home because Hannah isn't bearing up the best in the freezing cold. But our 3y.o. is still a terrific trooper and she has a very understanding soul.
Shabbos was nice and today was a long but rewarding day. If we can get up early enough tomorrow we'll go see the Palace of Versailles. The girls want to see the Hall of Mirrors.
We'll take it easy though...
BonNuit
P
Latest update from the Steinbergs In Paris...
Web photo album: http://picasaweb.google.com/steinbergpicasa
Blog online: http://steinbergsinisrael.blogspot.com
GoogleMaps Steinberg Israel Tour: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=101845790702321945414.00046ae3bb9b8c8d66f12
Skype Paul username: 'paulsteinberg'
Skype Steinberg Family username: 'prsteinberg'
Time: Melbourne Aust (AEST) minus -10 hours (e.g. Melb 10am=J'lem 1am)
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