Oh friends, it feels so sad to come to today – my final summary of adventures from our Paris trip.
I’ll ease myself gently out of Reflecting on a Super Fun Vacation mode by coming back tomorrow with a roundup of what everything cost.
Day Seven (Saturday)
Hooray. A day for sleeping in! We all woke up naturally – by this point we were mostly adjusted to the time change – and left our apartment in good spirits for our final day trip. We arrived at the train station ahead of schedule, so Indy requested time for car watching on Avenue Foch. He could. not. get. enough and literally asked – I think only half jokingly – Can you tie me to a bench and leave me here to watch cars all day while you go to Auvers?
Can you imagine the optics of that parental decision???!!!
Um, no. But we can spend 15 minutes looking at cars now. That seemed to appease him.
And then we were off to Auvers-sur-Oise, the last residence of Vincent van Gogh. What a delightful trip! I was surprised the kids were so enthused, but I think they appreciated the lack of crowds.
It was surreal to see so many of van Gogh’s famous paintings come to life in a town that has, in some ways, changed very little in the last 150 years. It was a quiet, sleepy Parisian town which only added to the appeal of the situation.
To start we stopped at an incredible patisserie right across the street from the train stop before heading out to see a few points of interest I had highlighted before we left for Paris.
For anyone reading here who might be going to Auvers, I’d say our only misstep was not going to the tourist information centre when we arrived to pick up a map. Scattered throughout Auvers-sur-Oise are a series of signs/paintings next to the actual location where van Gogh created that particular work.
The highlight for John was seeing Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption. He loves this painting and to stand in the very spot van Gogh would have been standing while painting the church was a profound moment.
I just got shivers looking at how closely the “today” picture mirrors what van Gogh would have seen in 1890. He painted this church about a month before his death.
With no fancy cars to see, Indy moved on to finding trees to climb.
Next we walked to see the gravestones of Vincent and his brother Theo. Theo died less than a year after Vincent in the Netherlands but his wife eventually exhumed his body and had it shipped to France so he could be buried next to his brother.
Père-Lachaise was a marked contrast to van Gogh’s tombstone. There was a single yellow flower and nothing else that would set this plot apart. The ivy blanketing the stones is from Paul Gachet’s garden; his son planted it between the gravestones so that Vincent and Theo would be united in death.
Will you look at this – the kids found yet another spot to become human statues! It is officially a family “thing”.
We walked from the cemetery toward to Château d’Auvers (in the vicinity of where van Gogh shot himself – not exactly uplifting). There is a trail that leads through a field where he painted another landscape scene. We didn’t dilly dally – despite the sunshine it was extremely windy on this trail and I was cold!
There was a small labyrinth at Château d’Auvers and Indy amused himself for longer than expected looking for – and I quote – “special rocks”.
This will obviously be more photogenic once all the shrubs and trees are green and the flower gardens are in bloom.
We wandered back to the heart of the town and stopped outside Auberge Ravoux. This was where van Gogh rented a room and it was here he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 29 July 1890…or did he? There is renewed controversy surrounding his death, with some convinced it was more likely accidental manslaughter based on surviving evidence.
The bottom level of this building is still an active restaurant; you can pay to go see the room where van Gogh boarded/died, but we were content to view the location for free from the street.
Directly across the street there was another opportunity to compare his painting vs. current reality.
We had just missed the train back to Paris, so we found a patch of sunlight and ate the sandwiches we had packed for a picnic.
We still had plenty of daylight left when we got to Paris so we took the kids to Galeries Lafayette to see the beautiful architecture (they couldn’t have cared less) and the rooftop view (about which they cared slightly more). This is one of the best – free! – panoramic views of the city.
The impressive building behind us is Palais Garnier – more about that location on our final day.
We found Belle more pizza per her request and John got a chicken sandwich. I can’t remember when or what Indy and I ate. Formal meal times mostly flew out the window this trip as we stopped wandering when we were hungry, allowing different people to request different things at different times.
The kids were keen to have another early night (read: eat cereal in front of the TV), but first we did a little shopping. The LEGO store (John and Indy) and Sephora (Belle and I). This was Belle’s first time visiting Sephora (mine too), and it was extra fun that our first visit happened to be in Paris. I bought her lip gloss and a bottle of face serum she wanted to replenish as her main “souvenirs” from Paris. I also caved and spent $.15 on a bag because it made it all feel far more official and fun.
John and Indy picked out a LEGO set as our main family souvenir, and it is now built and awaiting a place of honour on a picture ledge we plan to hang in our family room.
After dropping the kids off at the apartment and resting for a bit, John and I walked to Trocadero to see the lights come on.
It never gets old.
It is so spectacular and magical and ALL OF THE THINGS. We enjoyed the view and then walked back to the sushi restaurant we had enjoyed the previous night…and it was closed for the Jewish Sabbath. We decided to wander for a bit and managed to happen upon an even better sushi restaurant, complete with a revolving belt. It was lots of fun and delicious.
Day Eight (Sunday)
Our trip was winding down and, of course, that was precisely when we discovered a local patisserie that served the desserts of my dreams.
This tarte au citron was one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life. I do not throw that title around lightly.
Their hot chocolates and café au laits were incredible, too. The kids asked to be left back at the apartment – their loss, our gain; our time alone together talking over French patisserie was one of the highlights of the trip for me.
After picking up the kids we decided to head back to Montmarte; it was our last day with a metro pass so we wanted to make good use of our freedom!
Once we arrived we made a quick stop for hot chocolate and crepes…in view of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. Paris is so cool!
John and I didn’t eat, but the kids had nothing but glowing praise for this place.
We planned to take the funicular to the the top (included in the metro pass) but the lines were RIDICULOUS. Montmarte was extremely busy on the weekend, which made me very, very thankful we had crossed off most of our planned adventures on a weekday.
We wandered through the streets with no particular destination in mind. We bought a few souvenirs for the kids to bring home for their friends. When we came to the main art market (Place du Tertre), we ended up buying a small line drawing to add to our collection (€40). It was unique and unlike anything we own. The artist was sketching the whole time we were with him and he had personality to spare.
I had heard glowing praise about Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. It was supposed to offer incredible views of the city, have a “temple”, and two suspension bridges. Well. The view was fine, but the “temple” and bridges were cordoned off so our cross-city metro ride was mostly a waste of time. Win some, lose some. In the summer it would be a lovely place to picnic.
We headed back toward our apartment, walking the length of Champs-Élysées for the first time on our trip.
Belle and I window shopped while the boys admired cars. None of us bought anything.
Belle and I ended up heading back to get some groceries and go to a café together while the boys – and you’re not going to believe this – sat on Avenue Foch watching cars.
The kids wanted to chill in the apartment, so John and I gladly went for an evening stroll around Paris together.
IT WAS MAGIC.
M.A.G.I.C.
Our first stop was the Louvre/Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.
Then we walked along the Seine all the way to the Eiffel Tower.
Eventually we ended up at the same sushi restaurant (Matsuri) we went to on Day 8. And thus ended another fantastic day of adventures.
Day Nine (Monday)
How could it possibly be our final day?
When we arrived the trip seemed to stretch so far in front of us. And now it was almost over?
Determined to squeeze the last drops of enjoyment out of our time, John and I went to get coffee and a pastry at our new favourite spot (Chez Meunier) while the kids stayed back at the apartment watching Dude Perfect. After a very leisurely stay at the café, we picked them up and walked down the opposite side of Champs (for, you guessed it, more car spotting). As we wandered we talked about the trip – Top Five Lists (rides at Disney, things you’ve seen, friends you’d want to bring to Paris, favourite things you’ve eaten here) and other interactive conversational games. We did this for HOURS. I was definitely “talked out” by the end but it helped solidify memories for the kids and is a special memory for me from the trip.
We no longer had our metro passes so we were determined to walk as much as possible and save the cost of metro tickets! We ended up in the Latin Quarter, stopped for some food…and then met up with Suzanne. As in our beloved blogging friend.
YES. I MET THAT SUZANNE (and her husband + Clara) IN PARIS!!!
Also, #HairTwins!
We had less than an hour to hang out (but we managed to squeeze in sampling cream puffs from Odette together – we were in Paris after all), but Clara and Belle were literally linking their arms and whispering to each other a few minutes after meeting and begging for addresses so they could start pen-palling.
It was adorable.
Suzanne was every bit as lovely in person as I imagined her to be and my only regret is we didn’t have more time to hang out in Paris together!
After walking Suzanne and her crew to their next stop, we strolled along the Seine, bought a few final souvenirs, and made our way to Palais Garnier.
Of all the things we did in Paris, I consider this to be my big “splurge.” You can visit the opera house during daytime hours for a relatively low price (€40 for the whole family). But I had read that the grand staircase was always covered in crowds. Plus, since we weren’t going to Versailles, I wanted to be able to “appreciate” the opulence without a huge gaggle of tourists (of which I know I am one). In the end, we opted for an after-hours mystery tour. When the opera house closes for the day, they offer a few guided tours that take you through a near-empty Palais Garnier.
Instead of €40 we spent €104 (*gulp*) but it was worth every extra penny.
We had a very engaging tour guide (William) who talked about the history of the opera house (opened in 1875), how the legend of a phantom came to be, and then took us on an hour-long exploration of the building.
The grand staircase was everything I had hoped it would be – stunning.
We actually got to go inside Box #5 which isn’t available for rent and is designated for the “phantom”.
The interior of the private boxes were beautiful and everything was covered in red fabric – floors, walls, and furniture.
We walked back down the main staircase for a chance to sit inside the auditorium.
When we arrived at the opera house there was a big sign outside saying that there was no access to the auditorium. This is very common since it’s an active opera house and they don’t let people in during rehearsals. I knew there was always a good chance we wouldn’t get to see inside the famous spot, but I was still very bummed (they don’t announce in advance when you will/won’t be able to view the auditorim).
Turns out, that didn’t apply to the after-hours tour groups!!!!!
Hooray. It was opening night for the opera Il Viaggio, Dante and I thought of Diane frequently during this tour!
The tour guide told us many interesting facts that I can’t remember now (but I remember they were interesting!), we got to see the famous chandelier (which did fall in 1896, killing a woman in the auditorium, inspiring part of Gaston Leroux’s 1910 Le Fantôme de l’Opéra), and the whole thing was an experience I would 10/10 recommend.
Once outside we made our way to the nearest metro station and headed for our apartment to pack. What an incredible trip, with memories to last a lifetime!
What an incredible priviledge it is to be able to see the world, expose our kids to different cultures and languages, and make special memories that will be treasured by all of us for the rest of our lives.
Especially Indy, what with all those fancy car sightings…
Your turn.
- When you visit a museum or other tourist spot, do you typically book guided tours? (Palais Garnier was the only guided tour we took while in Paris.)
- How much do you think this trip cost? 9 nights + 2 travel days for four people – food, flights, transport, accommodation, activities, souvenirs. I’ll accept guesses in CAD, USD or EURO, just specify the currency in your answer (sadly, there is a big discrepancy). Whoever is closest to the actual numerical value by 8 pm AST Monday will win bragging rights AND I’ll mail them a souvenir from Nova Scotia.
- Would you have stepped on the “cursed” stair in the opera house?
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Wow- what a trip. So much beauty!
I rarely do museums, but I don’t think I’d do audio touts. I don’t like wearing headphones/ear buds.
I’d step on the cursed stairs- I’m not superstitious.
My guess: $2000 us. Probably too much, as I know you’re thrifty. But as I don’t travel, I have no clue what things cost.
Again, thank you for sharing these amazing pictures. I’ll never get to Paris, so I’m happy to see it through others eyes.
It really was such a wonderful trip; feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the kids <3
I prefer to have a guided tour (with a real human) most of the time. But I will admit that it can be nice to start and stop an audio guide at will instead of having to keep up with a set pace.
I can't remember if I stepped on it or not, but I'm not superstitious.
what an amazing trip! i really love Paris, it’s so romantic and beautiful, isn’t it? I love how much you did with the family and solo with John! we did the opera but without the tour, when girls are older, maybe I’d do the tour.
guess on the cost? I’d say 4000 USD?
There is something truly unique about Paris! I already can’t wait to go back 🙂
You did such a good job scheduling your trip. I’m impressed. I sure enjoyed all the pictures. My guess is 7000 US but what do I know. I’ve never even flown before.
I’m so thankful everything ended up going smoothly. There is always the risk of flight delays, issues with accommodations or someone needing medical help while abroad. With those big issues never materializing, we were able to settle in and really enjoy our time.
Amazing experience for all of you. We saw Phantom in NYC, but I’d like to see it from that box. Portugal has been great so far. Windy Sagres yesterday, Tavira this week.
I was so excited to see your photo from Algar Seco! That was a spot I wish we had spent more time at.
It’s rainy and cold here in Nova Scotia today; you’re not missing anything!
Looks like you all had a fabulous time in Paris. I think I last went when I was about 8, so a good few years ago now.
I’m guessing that you spent around CAD 3,250 but really have no idea beyond what you already said you spent on the flights
I do wonder if the kids will end up there again? I assume we may never be back as a whole family (Belle is starting high school next year and I suspect future trips will be to different locations). But I know they’ll carry these memories with them for a lifetime! It’s an unforgettable city.
It was so much fun to meet you and your family, Elisabeth!!! A trip highlight for sure! I wonder where in the world we will meet next?!
Your photos are so gorgeous. I am taking notes for our next trip (whenever that might be) — the Palais Garnier and Gallerie Lafayette didn’t make the cut this time, but I definitely want to see them in future. Your trip to Auvers sounds amazing, too! What a fun way to connect with a favorite artist.
Question for you: HOW did you get so many photos where it looks like you and your family are touring Paris alone?! You are so good at capturing moments where there are no other tourists and I am super impressed.
I just can’t believe we didn’t plan this at all and still managed to have trips that overlapped.
Auvers was a huge highlight for John. van Gogh is by far his favourite painter and it was really amazing to actually walk where he walked and take in the scenes he would have been painting.
Ha! Well, as always I’ll admit that many of the best pictures are taken by John. We are patient to wait for crowds to clear, but we also look for alternate angles. For example, there is a particular centre median where people line up to get pictures in front of the Arc d T. It’s a zoo! But if you go slightly off center across the street…there’s no one. And there ARE lulls in the cars going around, so you just snap a dozen pictures and keep the one without cars. And sometimes we will take a picture “up” over the heads of tourists so it can look like no one is there, but they’re actually below the bottom of the picture.
Yay for the meetup with Suzanne! Cool Bloggers Unite!!!
I always opt for guided tours over just wandering around on my own. I learn so much, and I’ve found that most tour guides REALLY love their work, and I love to be around passionate people.
I’ve seen the O.G. Phantom of the Opera movie many times and I’m obsessed with every last little detail of the movie. I knew that the set designer worked in the real Opera House and that it is true to life, but I’m not sure that I’ve ever really seen pictures of the real thing before. I would have gone for the same tour that you did, and considered it to be money well spent. It tickled me no end that they don’t rent out Box 5.
Welcome home! What a great vacation.
Exploring something with a really engaging tour guide is very, very hard to beat!
I hope you make it to Paris and get to do an opera house tour. It was 10/10 fun.
Suzanne had told me that you would have an overlap, and I have been so excited for you to meet each other!!! What fun is that!
Wow, what an amazing trip you had, my friend. I would also 100% splurge on the opera, how incredible. I have loved reading about all your adventures!
I know, right? What are the odds? Apparently very, very good!
Now I’m just twiddling my thumbs until you go to Paris and I get to relive the magic of the city through your adventures <3
So many incredible things here. YOU MET SUZANNE!!! That is so, so cute how Carla and Belle became immediate friends. SO cute. I hope they continue on as pen pals.
The Van Gogh town- I would love that. It’s funny that the grave is so modest. I love that you and John had some evenings to walk around Paris without the kids! And, the opera house. What a cool tour.
If I tried to guess at the cost I would really be taking a stab in the dark. I haven’t been to Europe in years, and have never traveled there with a family of four. Plus i have a feeling you had some tricks up your sleeve to save all sorts of money on this trip! I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s post (but sad that the trip recaps are over!)
The immediate spark of friendship between Belle and Carla was so fun. I thought it might be a bit awkward but…No!
We didn’t go into the trip planning to do some solo outings but it really added to the depth of the trip. We didn’t have to play word games or doll out mini M&Ms at strategic intervals to keep pint-sized humans happy. And the kids LOVED staying home and watching TV.
We do try to find ways to save money, but France is not cheap! Our biggest savings, as always, are on our flights.
I LOVED the Opera House when we went. So amazingly beautiful.
If anyone gets to Paris, it is a must stop.
And I would have loved to see the town where Van Gogh was. What a nice tour.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
Neither John nor I had been inside the Opera House before and it was a really great adventure to cap off our trip.
A blogger meet-up in Paris?!?! How amazing!! What a beautifully documented trip, Elisabeth! The Van Gogh part is something I’d so love to do someday – how amazing to see the real-life perspectives and compare to the paintings themselves…. Thank you for sharing!!
I couldn’t believe that Suzanne and I ended up being in Paris with our families at the exact same time. We only overlapped for a day – so our time together was short and sweet – but it was SO FUN!
There is something so cool about seeing art “come to life”. I’m so glad we were able to fit this in to our Paris trip.
Paris sounds amazing, I have been there in my early teens as well and I will always cherish those memories. This was more than 25 years ago and it was only for a long weekend so ofcourse it was nice to read your posts and remember that trip but also get to know some news things that I didn’t know.
I would assume not including flights this would be around 5000€ total. You had mentioned you use points for your flights, so another 460 USD for the flights including the points.
Thanks for sharing your trip
Even though you haven’t been to Paris is many years, it really is an unforgettable city! I’m so glad you have such fond memories <3
I’m going to guess $8000 (USD)! I’m shooting a little low from my initial guess because I know you’ve managed to get flight deals in the past.
As for your other questions – I would not have stepped on that stair, though I wouldn’t call myself superstitious either! I think a few ghost stories lend some character to a place, so I’d like to do my part to maintain that.
Regarding tours – I have been on tours that I would probably not recommend or repeat, but I’ve also regretted not doing a tour in others! In Prague (a city I’d highly recommend if you’re looking for another European getaway), the tour of Prague Castle was fine, but nothing to write home about. On the other hand, I saw a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter there that I now wish I had done instead! Ah well – I suppose I’ll have to go back! 🙂
Ha! I love your perspective on while not being superstitious, appreciating that by “buying in” it helps perpetuate a fun myth/legend.
I’m trying to think if we’ve done any tour I regret? We don’t generally do many. John and I did two free walking tours (you tip them at the end) in Paris with local guides in 2019 and they were fantastic – especially the tour we took of Montmarte with a woman who had grown up in that area of Paris. We did a guided tour of the Colosseum, and that was fantastic. We did a guided boat tour and a sailboat cruise in Portugal and they were great, though less “guided” in the sense that it was more about the scenery than the facts.
I think it would be fun to do a guided tour of the Louvre. I think if I ever went back, that’s what I’d want to opt for! I bet I’d learn a lot of interesting tidbits.
Prague was on our list! We wanted to go Prague, Vienna, and Munich in a single trip, but the weather this time of year is so unpredictable. I really, really want to get there (and John will be visiting later this year, so she can scout it out for the family).
What an amazing final few days!! I love that your kids are old enough that you were able to do some one-on-one adventures with John!!
I don’t know that I’ve ever had a guide in a museum, but I would’ve loved a guide in the Palais Garnier! I went to a ballet there on one of my solo trips to Paris, which was an amazing experience. I have done lots of walking tours, though, and I have learned way more than I ever could’ve on my own!
How fun that you got to meet up with Suzanne during this epic trip! Her daughter looks so much older from behind than what I had envisioned! I got to meet Suzanne one of my work trips as well. She is so delightful in person.
Lisa, it is life changing! I didn’t even plan on doing that, but the kids were keen and we left a cell phone and IT WAS SO LIBERATING. And everyone stayed happy. It was like a trip inside of a trip.
I didn’t know you went to a ballet at Palais Garnier. I bet that was incredible.
It was a highlight of my trip to meet Suzanne, for sure. Maybe we can organize a blogger meetup in Paris some day. I can’t imagine a nicer setting!
I am gobsmacked. Your photos, the architecture, the pastries (why aren’t more French people fat or diabetic??), the adventuresome spirit, the tremendous amount of walking, the ability to communicate in a country with a different language, the sheer beauty. . . just gobsmacked and almost speechless. Thank you for sharing!!
Awww. You’re too kind, Jana.
It really was a fantastic trip. The kids are pretty awesome travellers, and that makes a big difference!! And John and I have very similar travel styles as well, so I think it helps we’re all aligned on how we go about things.
It felt like the right mix of adventures and down time (especially for the kids the evenings they stayed home to watch TV and chill).
Paris is such a gorgeous city, and it was especially fun to see it through our kids eyes.
I enjoyed reading this recap so much; I’m sad it’s over! What a lovely adventure. It sounds like everyone in your family found something amazing to enjoy.
Well, I think you know how to get the most bang for your buck, so I’m going to guess $3000 USD. (Wishful thinking?)
I love guided tours. I’ll book them whenever it’s possible.
I’m not superstitious, but I probably wouldn’t step on that spot!
This trip really did seem to have something for everyone! I can’t think of much I would change (except maybe making it 5 degrees warmer each day!).
Other than Auvers-sur-Oise you did most of the same activities me and mine did on our last trip to Paris. I felt all those wonderful memories of my own, flooding back. The cakes, the coffee, the places, the sights and smells, feeling humbled walking around all that stunning architecture. We did do the Opera house, and I wish now, we’d done the night tour seeing everything without all the crowds like you did.
And yes, we’ve booked personal and guided tours of museums and places we’ve visited before, as like you found out, you can get to see things only available to the tour. As for would I step on the “cursed” step? Yeah, probably.
Once again thank you for sharing your trip, and all your spectacular photos with us. I’ve been taking notes of all the names of cafes, and places I’d love to see on my next trip, thanks to you. So many things to see, so little time.
There really does feel like limitless potential for adventure in Paris but I’m glad we got to see the main sites and then some with the kids.
I can’t wait to hear about your adventures when you make it back to Paris!!
Oh, I bet. We saw plenty of the main sights but still, there were so many others that we just never got to, like Versailles. But then, I think I would prefer Van Gogh and Monet over Versailles. But that’s me.
And yes, I can’t wait either.
Is this your first blogger meetup? And you did it in PARIS? That’s amazing!!!
Crazy enough (for hailing from NS), this was my 3rd blogger meeting. I met Sophie (from Australia) last May, Kyria came and stayed with me for a few days last October and now Suzanne.
If things go to plan I’ll meet THREE more bloggers in 2025. It’s so much fun.
And yes, meeting someone for the first time in Paris was pretty wild! What are the odds?
Apparently…100%
What a lovely last few days! Van Gogh is one of my fave artists (his museum in Amsterdam is my fave art museum ever!), so I loved your visit to Auvers, definitely on my bucket list now. How amazing that you can leave the kids at the apartment in Paris to have a wander through local streets- definite perk of having older kids! And yay for a blogger meetup, so cute the girls got along so well.
I haven’t got any idea about the cost of the trip, so I’m going to guess $8000 CAD (although it’s probably less because of your thrifty hacks!).
Our goal is to get to Amsterdam to visit the van Gogh museum. John has been to Amsterdam many times but somehow has never made it to the van Gogh museum. We need to remedy that!
What a sensational trip! I just love all the photos, I felt like I was in Paris with you. This will be something your children will remember always. Thank you.
Thanks for such kind words! Yes, I think we will all remember this trip fondly for many years to come <3
We saw the Palais Garnier when I was in Paris last, and it was definitely a highlight for me, too! SO STUNNING. We did not do a tour, I kind of wish we had. I was surprised when you said that it was opening night for the opera, for some reason I thought that the operas were all at the Bastille location now, and the Garnier is for ballet. I looked at the calender online, and I see that MOST of the operas are at the Bastille, but some are still at Garnier. YAY! I’m SO GLAD you saw it. We blew off Versailles, we were tired of leaving Paris, and felt like this gave us a glimpse of that opulence anyway. And I LOVE the Chagall fresco.
For some reason I thought Van Gogh died in the asylum, so I was surprised to read that he died in Auvers! What a lovely town. How long was it on the train to get there? I LOVE Van Gosh. I’ve been to Giverny twice to see Monet’s gardens, I think I would like to go to Auvers-sur-Oise next time.
YAY on a meet up with Suzanne! I’m so glad you were able to make that happen! How serendipitous! Also, isn’t it lovely (TRULY LOVELY) that the kids are old enough now that you can leave them at home to chill while you and Jon go see the sights and have lovely walks? Paris is such a beautiful city for walking. <3
It is a beautiful space. I feel like eventually we’ll go to Versailles, but this is a more accessible alternative.
It took about an hour (maybe slightly less) to get to Auvers? It’s a VERY doable day trip. And since the town is small, if you go in the morning, you can have most of the afternoon and evening back in Paris.
I thought about Giverny, but March is just not the time to visit.
IT WAS TRULY LOVELY. I can’t think of a better description. It was lovely.
Gah, I am a bit sad that this series is coming to an end. I enjoy your attention to detail!
My guess is that you all spent $9,500 CAD.
It made my day to know you’re disappointed the series is coming to an end!
Wow, wow, wow!! I feel like the pacing of this trip was just perfect. Plenty of big impressive sights and also plenty of time just spent wandering and spending time together. What a game changer to be able to leave the kids “home” to chill so you and John can have some dedicated time together. That’s the dream!!
And oh my goodness, the opera house tour looks phenomenal. I actually have never seen the entire Phantom of the Opera (although I know the music) but I think this was well worth the splurge. We had a similar scenario in Venice where we were hemming and hawing about taking a gondola ride (super touristy, and I think it was 80 euro or something for a 30 minute ride when we already had all-access passes for the vaporetto/water taxi). But we did it and it’s one of my favourite things we did there.
I would absolutely play along with the chipped step story. Not that I believe there is any truth in it, but I would do my part to preserve the lore!
So wonderful that you were able to meet up with Suzanne and Carla and even better that Carla and Belle hit it off so well. It sounds like they are kindred spirits anyway, but I wonder if some of it was the fact that they both were in a foreign country and were so glad to see a friendly English-speaking girl! It’s just the best when the children of your friends become friends themselves.
I’m so happy with how the pacing went as well. It IS hard to find the right balance between structure and wandering, seeing new things, chilling at the apartment. It is a lot easier as the kids get older and being able to leave them at the apartment while we did a bit of exploration as a couple was just amazing.
Well now I know I want to do a gondola ride when we go to Venice!!
You saw the Opera House!!!!
Phantom of the Opera was my gateway musical and I’ve always wanted to see the inside of the opera house.
I love the moments before a show when the crew is just doing their checks and what not. It’s such a soothing time.
What an awesome trip you’ve had. I’m glad you splurged and took the Opera House tour!
We saw the Opera House!! And it really made me think of you so much, Diane <3
Next on my to-do list is actually see an opera (or ballet) there.
I loved these trip recaps – what an amazing trip! And what are the odds of meeting Suzanne and her family in Paris of all places?! Wild!
I don’t normally do audio tours because I never want to cough up the extra money, lol, but sometimes I will when I think they will add a lot to the experience.
I know, right? It was so fun and adds something extra special to our (first – it WILL happen again) meeting.
Deliriously beautiful. And Suzanne! In Paris!
I love the quirky stuff kids want to do like watching cars.
The whole Van Gogh experience put a lump in my throat.
Auvers was really special and probably John’s favourite part of the whole trip, so I’m glad we were able to carve that out as a half-day trip.
I KNOW! IT WAS SUZANNE! IN PARIS!
And yes, the watching cars thing was a huge hit!! Who woulda thunk?
What an incredible experience and I am sure the kids will remember it forever. So many memories. And you all looked so happy.
How crazy to mee Suzanne in Paris.
we rarely do guided tours but when we do we are always amazed how much we learn. We should probably do it more often.
Elisabeth, how wonderful that you got to Auvers AND the Grand Opera! I have not been to either place and they are going on my list. Paris is sneaking up my list of “places I need to go and soon”. 🙂
Also, this article on Van Gogh’s last painting and some of the turmoil it has caused in Auvers was just published in the NY Times. This is the gift link – it should not be behind a paywall. I thought you and John might enjoy reading about it since you were just there! https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/15/world/europe/van-gogh-tree-roots-france-auvers-sur-oise.html?unlocked_article_code=1.BU8.E9TG.do8yJXin1pbq&smid=url-share
I am sure it was thousands of (well-spent) dollars to have such a wonderful trip. It was all worth it, I suspect.
And a meet up with Suzanne! I am so happy you got to meet. I am not surprised that Belle and Carla got along so well – after all, their mothers get along VERY well, so why shouldn’t they? 🙂
Thank you for sharing this lovely, lovely trip with us. <3
Oh Anne, I hope you get there. Both are such beautiful places.
Thank you SO much for sharing that article. I read it and immediately shared it with John.
I shouldn’t have been surprised the connection between Belle and Carla was so immediate but still, it was heartwarming!
I am so glad you and John enjoyed the article! I thought you might. 🙂 There is another interesting one – let me know if you want the link – on how there are now so many Van Gogh forgeries that the Van Gogh museum might have to limit its role.
Oh, heck, here’s the link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/arts/design/van-gogh-museum-authentication.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Bk8.0pJT.-VopKwqw-dSl&smid=url-share
I know you love his work, so I suspect you’ll also be interested in this. 🙂
I do want the link and I just went and read it! Who knew there were so many articles about van Gogh in the NYT. What a delight. Thanks, Anne.
[…] a blogger in real life. Done! Suzanne!! In Paris!!! And I have at least three more tentative meetups planned for 2025!!!! Pinch […]
Late on commenting, forever cathing up, but I could not stop to say: YOU MET UP WITH SUZANNE! The rest of the blogosphere is forever jealous (in the best possible way) 🙂