Paris in Spring - Biking with My Babe to the Eiffel Tower

Sunday was Jacob's one free day (except for a dinner meeting) so we had the whole day to play.  We started the day with breakfast at the hotel and then rented some bicycles to tour the city.  Jacob had been to Paris before but didn't get to see the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame because of a busy schedule so that was our goal for the day.

 Sainte-Odile

 So, this was how we encountered the Eiffel Tower.  We had no idea that the Color Run was finishing up and we arrived just in time for their rave.  It was SO loud and we had the hardest time pushing the bikes through all of the people.

 A little girl in my Sunday school class told me to look out for mimes so I took this picture for her.

 Just riding along Champ de Mars.

 This is the only picture of the two of us from our trip and I look pregnant.  Ha!  The way I am standing made my belly stick out and I look like I am resting my hand on it.  Oh goodness.  I am definitely not pregnant nor plan to be so don't let this picture start any rumors ;).

 Les Invalides.

 Eglise Saint-Francois Xavier

 I LOVE wisteria.

 Saint-Sulpice

 Palais du Luxembourg.  We had to dismount our bikes to go through the gardens.

 The Pantheon, which is currently under construction.

 Saint-Etienne-du-Mont.  Rapunzel does not live in the tower.

 Southern facade of Notre-Dame.

 Crossing the Seine.

 Just enjoying a little coffee outside Notre-Dame on a perfect spring day.

 Notre-Dame

 Saint-Chapelle hiding behind the gates of Palais de Justice.

 This building is amazing!

 There is no way to do this stained glass justice.  1,113 scenes from the Bible starting in Genesis all the way to Christ's resurrection.

 Name that Bible story.

Just riding my bike.

Paris in Spring - Poissy & La Defense

For Saturday's adventures I decided to trek outside of Paris for a trip to Poissy so that I could see Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye.  I asked the concierge how long it would take to get there and he told me an hour and a half.  25 mins later I was in Poissy.  I probably should have gone back and let him know it wasn't very far.  In fact, it's closer than Versailles.  I arrived by train to this quaint little town and started walking.  I didn't have a map but figured the only reason people came to Poissy was for Villa Savoye so I would just ask my way in the right direction.  It worked.

Villa Savoye.  I realize most people will not find this building fascinating but when it was built in the late 20's/early 30's, Le Corbusier was setting the stage for the modern movement and idealized his "5 Point of New Architecture."  So, it's kind of a "must see" for architects (or those of us who are close to being architects).

See - I really was in France.  I didn't steal all of these pictures off the internet.  Speaking of selfies - the selfie stick is very popular in Paris.

 I loved this little nook in the Savoye's son's room.

 After I left Villa Savoye I walked the streets back into town along this very old wall.

 I had a birthday girl on my mind that day!

 These buildings were adjacent to Parc Meissonier.  This particular one is the abbey enclosure.

 La Collegiale Notre-Dame

 I got off the train a few stops before my hotel so I could spend some time checking out La Defense, Paris' business district.

 La Grande Arche.  To give you an idea of how huge this thing is, look at the people on the steps for scale.

 There are a number of sculptures as part of the "open-air museum."

La Defense de Paris, 1883.

 La Defense is a straight shot to Arc de Triomphe.

 It got a little windy and cold as I crossed the Seine to get back to my hotel.

We did a quick, cheap dinner for lamb gyros and then stopped at the grocery store for ice cream.  We sat on a bench and shared it and then gave the rest to some homeless men.