Chris and I decided to spend the last few mornings doing the tourist/historical tours. We spent one day at Les Invalides. We did the audio tours and learned as much as we could about Napoleon and Charles de Gaulle.

Napoleon's tomb

The following day we went to Ile de la Cite- which means island of the city. I was surprised to see that there is a beach on the right bank of the Seine- people were sunbathing on the sand.

We stopped at La Conciergerie, which is a former royal palace and prison. The first photo is called the Hall of Guards- built @1350. It is amazing to see how beautifully it was built and how it has been preserved.

In the cellars is where hundreds of prisoners during the French Revolution were taken. It is also where Marie Antoinette was kept during the Reign of Terror. This is a picture of her cell where she stayed before she was executed on the guillotine.

We also went to two art museums - Centre Pompidou and Musee d'Orsay. Pompidou is a museum of modern art and has an exhibition on Roy Lichtenstein, where as Musee d'Orsay holds mainly French Art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, and furniture.  It has the largest collection of impressionist pieces in the world by painters such as Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh.  I have to say that Chris and I much preferred the latter.  We had a difficult time appreciating some of the "modern art".

Centre Pompidou

Musee d'Orsay

There really is so much to see that we need to find a different approach on our visits. Rather than see things geographically ( the history, architecture and historical figures get all jumbled together that it gets a bit confusing)- we are thinking perhaps to view Paris historically- starting in the middle ages followed by the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. I think we will appreciate and understand the history of Paris much better!

Kids are now finished with summer camp.  I am very happy with the program. The kids learned a bit of french, made lots of friends, explored the city and are becoming a bit more well-rounded...which is exactly what Chris and I had hoped for.  Below are photos of camp.

Olivia (at top), Alex (bottom left) making chocolate

Luciana painting

Luciana and Emilia making cupcakes

We enjoyed our afternoons  with the kids at the Jardin du Ranelagh- a short walk from their camp.  It is a park that includes a playground, a marionnette, and pony rides. It also has two rides for the kids that cost 1Euro for 5 minutes. One is a swing and the other is a brass ring carousel. This was Emilia's favorite.  There are a large number of iron rings and a few brass ones.  It takes some dexterity to grab a ring  as the carousel rotates but Emilia was quite good!

Alex and Luciana on the swing

Luciana is always singing this adorable song. Emilia starts it off and Luciana finishes it in the second video.

Olivia is doing well- misses gymnastics as it doesn't start until September.  She seems to have grown up quite a bit these weeks- a lot less drama and a lot more enjoyable! Alex ate his first green salad and the kids are enjoying our nightly desserts.  We went to a restaurant called  Creperie Les Artistes in Ville D'Avray.  Hands down the best crepes we have ever had!    Next week we are spending the week with the kids - should be lots of fun stories!