Sarah's street performances in Paris

I have a future star in the making, at 2 years and 7 months old!
Sarah danced through two street performances.  No prodding from me at all, she just went in front and started her cute dancing.  Indulge this stage mom, why don't you :)

Her first 'performance' was at the Fontaine Saint-Michel with a couple of tap dancers.   The second one was in front of the Opera Garnier, where a Russian guy was singing while playing his guitar.

Sarah tap dancing at Fontaine Saint-Michel.

 Her interpretative dancing in front of the Opera Garnier :)

Paris Day 6 - our last day!

Our last morning, Ravi wanted more sleeping time so Sarah and I wandered off the City of Lights on our own again. 

First stop was at the Opera, then to the Louvre Museum grounds.  We went back to pick up Ravi and we all went to the Tuilleries Gardens.  We used a local bus to drive through Champs Elysees Avenue before stopping at the Arc de Triomphe.  This time we walked underground to the Arc de Triomphe itself and explored it a bit more.

A quick taxi back to the apartment and we bid adieu to our last night at Paris.
Paris, je t'aime!

The Paris Opera was in the middle of a busy road, right above the Opera metro.

The Grand Staircase, the Grand Foyer (which reminded me of the Hall of Mirrors in Palais Versailles) as well as the paintings on the ceilings were all wonderful feasts for the eyes.

Behind us is the Grand Staircase.

View from the balcony.  The entrance to the underground metro is in front of the white truck.

My little ballerina trying out her poses with the greats.

At the Grand Foyer, which rivals Versailles' hall of Mirrors.

Sarah on the rightmost preparing to do her interpretative dance (in a separate post!)

We took a bus to the Louvre Museum and missed the stop.  We got off at the next bus stop and walked back to the Louvre.

Happy girl!

Taken by a friendly stranger/tourist.

My Sarah girl :)

Enjoying the Louvre grounds

Happiness with the doves.

The skyline above the famous Louvre.

Fun for the little girl at the Tuilleries Garden fair.

Found a bird feather on the grass and was amused with it for quite sometime.

Feeling Parisiens - sitting, reading a book, enjoying the late afternoon :)

Back to the Arc de Triomphe

Looked down at the brass plates at the Arc de Triomphe

Close up shot of the Arc de Triomphe before we headed back to the apartment.

Paris Day 5

Our fifth morning was spent in the apartment, mostly resting after the prior hectic days.  Sarah and I walked round the neighborhood and bought cheese, cured hams and fruits for lunch.

Ravi stayed to do some work in the afternoon.  Sarah and I took the metro and were off to the Montmartre walking tour by Chris of cityfreetour.com.  It was an interesting and informative tour which culminated at the top of the hill's Basilica of Sacre Coeur.  The view atop the hill overlooks Paris and the views were great!  It helped that it was a clear day :)

Montmartre walking tour started at the Moulin Rouge.

Wacky shot during the stopovers of the walking tour

Passed by the city's only remaining working vineyard; artist corners; typical Parisian cafes

Sleepy head alert (jetlag kicking in for the bunny).

Quick shot at the train.

Passed by an artist at work; Sarah tipping our friendly guide, Chris; Sarah trying to get a leaf behind the sweet couple on a bench

The Sacre Coeur atop the Montmartre hill

Taken by Chris after the tour.

My bunny and me down the basilica.

A carousel ride down at the basilica.  Of course, Sarah insisted on riding the horsie :)

After a short rest back at the apartment, we all headed to the Arc de Triomphe for some photo op.

Then another stop at Trocadero, this time with Ravi, to see the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower.

Paris Day 4

It was a packed day with the following places explored - Luxembourg Gardens for the playground, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saint Chapelle and Trocadero for a night view of the Eiffel Tower.

Sarah thoroughly enjoyed the playground at the Luxembourg Gardens, she didn't want to leave.

Watched the Three Little Pigs (in French!) puppet show also at the Luxembourg Gardens.

Walked around the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens, really nice!

Took a cab to reach the Notre Dame Cathedral.  As 2013 celebrates the cathedral's 850th year, the crowd was much more than usual.

Clockwise from left: Ravi and Sarah lighing up a couple of candles; a mass service just started; one of the tombs inside.

First shot inside the majestic Notre Dame Cathedral.  It was actually dark and flash photography isn't allowed.

Beautiful stained glass windows near the altar.

A mass service started just when we reached the altar area.  We stayed on for a while.

Walked outside the cathedral to reach the love lock bridge - Pont de l'Archevêché

Stopped by a cafe for a drink - beer and wine for the adults, water and milk for the kiddo.  After the drink, Ravi headed back home to rest while Sarah and I continued on to explore around.

Sarah and I visited the nearby Saint Chapelle.  Stunning stained glass windows although there were some windows on the left side of the altar that were under renovation.

Next, we headed to Trocadero for a night view of the Eiffel Tower.  Sarah slept right after this shot, tired from the day's activities.

Paris Day 3

The Versailles biking tour was undoubtedly the highlight of our Paris trip.  It was very tiring but highly memorable.

The day was perfect for biking.  The wind was a bit chilly and the sun was kind enough not to be too hot.

First stop was at the local farmers' market where we bought supplies for our picnic lunch - some ham slices, spicy olives, a bottle of white wine, water and some McDonalds (spicy chicken burgers for Ravi & me and nuggets for Sarah).  We skipped buying some pastries as the queue was quite long.

We pedaled along amazing gardens and forests, had lunch at the end of the Grand Canal, went in the Petit and Grand Trianons, toured Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet, and lastly visited the Chateau.

Along the stopovers, our local guide Agnes gave us a very condensed history of Versailles which made the tour informative as well as more interesting.

After biking along the royalties' amazing grounds, the Grand Palace was no longer the main attraction for us although the Chateau is indeed beautiful and very grand.

Taking the bike tour is surely the best way to experience Versailles!

Note:  As of this writing, Blue Bike Tours is ranked first at TripAdvisor's Paris activities.

Clockwise from top left: Getting the bikes from the warehouse, Agnes showing us the route, me and the blue bikes, some of our tourmates

family picture at the Grand Canal

Ravi on his bike.

Sarah and me on our bike at the Grand Canal.  Sarah enjoyed coaching me to bike faster!

Father-daughter bonding, looking for fish and ducks.

Picnic lunch at the end of the Grand Canal.  Loved, loved, loved this picnic!

A bit high at this point from the fantastic cheap wine.  Sarah's trying out drinking haha

 

The Petit and Grand Trianons.

The Petit and Grand Trianons.

Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet, a real working farm.

Animals at Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet

Biking along rows and rows of asymmetrical forests.

Last stop was the Chateau or Grand Palace.

Interiors of the Chateau.

Outside the Chateau

Superbly manicured gardens.

Hall of Mirrors, with a knocked out girl.

A great, fun day at Versailles!