Amsterdam ~ Paris
Rijksmuseum
Sunday was another sunny, “crisp” day, and it was up & out to the Rijksmuseum.
They have a great app for families with little puzzles for the kids to solve, which takes you to many of the highlights of the museum.
Charles and Aisling were great sleuths, navigating around the museum and picking up clues :-). Aisling been found her way into a Vermeer and Charles imagined himself silting the high seas…
Reward for successfully navigating the puzzles was some coloured quills and a hot chocolate, before heading back to the hotel to grab our things and catch the train back to Paris.
We’ll definitely come back in the spring!
Getting into our Paris groove
Monday morning was back to school, with an excursion to the Kapla Centre planned for Charles on Wednesday.
And did we mention the flood?? Ah yes, massive flood of the Seine (and many other French rivers).
As you can see from the attached shot, navigating the roads beside the river a little tricky at the moment unless you’re in a submarine.
Even houseboat owners finding it tricky to get home after a trip down the shops for a morning croissant…
The flood wasn’t the only rising tide that week unfortunately. More than half of Charles’ class came down with gastro on Tuesday night so the Wednesday class excursion was a bit of a fizzle.
We blame the chocolate mousse they’re all so fond of in the school cafeteria!
Fortunately a short lived illness and Charles was back to school on Thursday, freeing us up for a bit of exploring.
We walked halfway around Paris in our usual fashion, and booked another lunch, this time at restaurant 24, which turned out to be another big hit with a great lunch menu in a tucked away location full of locals.
Then it was off to the Irving Penn photography exhibit in the nearby Grand Palais.
Impressive exhibit, particularly the fashion photography (he married his favourite subject…) and portraits where he talked his subjects into cramming themselves into a narrow, confined spaces which apparently allowed their personalities to emerge more clearly 🙂
Aisling meanwhile was well into her Paris groove, whether it was discovering a “cubby house” in Galleries Lafayette, or scooting past the flower shop on the way home from school every day…
Simon’s sculpture also making some progress, with wire frames for the rock features taking form.
The other sculptors in the class are all quite accomplished, but at the same time very humble and full of encouragement.
In general to date we’ve found the French to be very welcoming of us. Not in an “invite you round for dinner” way mind you, but always willing to lend some help or advice, curious about us and why we’re here, and keen for our stay in France to be an enjoyable one.
Made it to Friday and Australia Day! Hooray!
Celebrated by watching some more of the Australian Open and with Friday family dinner out at Suffren restaurant, a generous 60m from our front door (we are very spoiled for choice!).
Great family friendly staff, and a great meal had by all. Again observing the rule that it’s not an ice cream unless it’s as big as your face…
Pompi-who?
Saturday was chilly but we fired out nonetheless, to the Centre Georges Pompidou.
Always good for some inscrutably chic design installations, this time they had a kids’ space where the goal was to make your kids disappear (very popular with parents).
Great fun had by all, including riding to the roof for the sweeping views and afternoon tea on hot pink couches that proved very popular with her highness…
A very Parisian end to a very Parisian week 🙂