Day Three: Our Family Is Not a Unique Snowflake

To begin, a confession: we felt a little special bringing the family to Paris. Our decision to forgo the "known quantity" vacation (aka the beach) made us feel adventurous and unique. We learned today that as an American family in Paris, we are de rigueur, a dime a dozen, and not the least bit special. From the tiny bakery near our apartment to the random pizzeria off the beaten track we were quite literally surrounded by American families, so much so that it became comical. Someone actually stopped me in the Jardins du Luxembourg and exclaimed, "Kim! Is that you?" and the girls struck up all sorts of conversations with the children they met, who were of course American. 

Despite feeling robbed of our foreign aura, we soldiered on and enjoyed our day in the United States of France.

Starting our day bright and early at noon:

The girls' first order of business was another visit to the play area we had discovered the day before. Kenny and I decided to join the fun:

 

  

Next, we walked from Invalides, through the 7th arrondissement and into the 6th where we encountered a very rude frenchman:

 

 Stopping for lunch at yet another pizzeria:

Jardins du Luxembourg:  

Watching the boats...

 And getting our own:

 An American with a sleek, speedy motor boat trying to show up the French:

Luxembourg playground:

A little PDA in the city that invented it:

 Chewing on candy necklaces:

We then made the somewhat questionable decision to travel home on the metro via Chatelet-Les Halles during rush hour. Picture Metro Center in DC during rush hour with three times the number of metro lines, over 1 km more of tunnels and walkways, and much sketchier patrons. The girls navigated it like pros and we can say we did it.

Back home, we devoured two baguettes in the form of what Eliza calls "carrot smoothies": french bread slathered with butter and topped with carrots rappees:

Between all the walking we did today (probably 3-4 miles) and the girls' playground exercise, we are hopeful their 1:30am bedtime will be moved up this evening.