Our plans had been constantly changing in the preceding week of our departure. However we had purchased tickets to the essential sights - The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. The list looked something like this...Much discussion took place. Lots of things to consider - opening times, location / transport, and the constraints of luggage shaped our plans. Eventually we settled on going to Parc d'Acclimatation on Sunday afternoon.
It was straight forward trip from the train station to the parc on metro line 1 except that Katy and I became separated from Andy and Ella. In the hustle of getting on, the cabin filled up with Katy and I left on the wrong side as the doors closed. We waved the others goodbye and patiently waited the 5 mins for the next train. Some 25 mins later, we pulled up to the platform and were reunited. Not a great start but a good life lesson!
Climbing out of the metro, we parted ways once again although this time it was planned! Keen to get rid of our backpacks, Andy headed off on a side trip to drop them off at the apartment while I walked on with the girls to the parc.
Entry to the parc took much longer than expected with a decent line at the ticket office. The Parc d'Acclimatation can be best described as a cross between a fun fair and amusement park. We headed to the aviary, played on the forest adventure playground then on to the farm animals before halting for crepes.
As Ella was waiting to do the high ropes course, Andy joined us. Unfortunately Katy was too short to do the high course and she didn't want to spend her tickets on the lower one. Ella whipped around the rectangular course quickly.
Andy and the girls then had a fun time on the Flying Chairs.
Next we again joined a queue for the Speed Rockets, a rollercoaster. It was excellent!
Closing time was quickly approaching so we headed to Wild Immersion, a virtual reality film exploring wild life on five continents. A fun experience!
With possibly just enough time for one more ride, we split up. Ella and Andy went off to the free jump launching herself from the second level (~5m) tower onto an air filled mat. Meanwhile Katy wanted to go back on the Flying Chairs so I joined her. And so that ended a fun filled afternoon.
Ella had teed up a restaurant for dinner conveniently located near the Eiffel Tower. After a short metro trip, we emerged from the Trocadero station and walked through the wide esplanade of the Palais de Chaillot to find the tower looking beautiful in the evening light. Dodging the multitude African guys selling tower statues, we wandered down through the Jardin de Trocadero and across the Pont d'lena skirting around the base of the tower all while snapping lots of photos.
Dinner at an Italian restaurant nearby was delicious. Then retracing our steps past the Eiffel Tower, which was now lit up, we caught the metro to the apartment. A super day and lovely way to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary!
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