The Lainas Family has Arrived!

On Friday, the Lainas family (part of it) arrived in Paris. After a 2-hour flight delay and a bit of a stressful morning getting from the airport to the hotel via the RER, I met them at the Louvre! We saw Mona Lisa, of course, and explored other exhibits. Because it was pouring, we didn't get any pictures in front of the entrance to the Louvre, but we will be heading back before they leave. After the Louvre, they checked into their hotel and had their first sandwiches on some very fresh baguette! I also took Mom and Dad to a pâtisserie...they were speechless! It must have taken them a solid 20 minutes to decide what they were going to order. Dad also tried joking around with the owner...nice try, Greg, but the French don't understand your humor. Anyway, after resting in the hotel for a bit, we saw the Eiffel Tower at night and then climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. The rain has finally stopped and the sky had cleared for a beautiful night. Afterward, we had some delicious hot wine and desserts on the Champs-Élysées, and Karen and I had drinks at a bar in Place St. Michel. 

Saturday was a perfect day! It was the most beautiful day Paris has had since I've been here. We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and then headed to Notre Dame. Mom, Dad, and Karen climbed to the top of Sainte-Chapelle while I booked their trip to Normandy. I met back up with them at Notre Dame, and then we walked around Place St. Michel, and I took them to a café that sells the biggest, most delicious meringues in Paris! From here were did some shopping in the Latin Quarter and had delicious crêpes at a restaurant with a beautiful view of the Panthéon. We visited the Luxembourg Gardens, and then I headed back to the Cité to relax. Mom and Dad went out for a bit at night, but Karen was out cold! Today (Sunday), Dad and Karen are in Normandy, and Mom is exploring Paris on her own time. I'm inside studying...