22 Hours in Paris

One of the biggest challenges for me about this trip is the limitations on planning ahead. We're following Darren around, so we're really dependent on his schedule. I might have chosen to travel separately from him if I had known the visit to Paris would be so short. Because, let's face it, the one-year-old contingent is kind of attached to his routines and nap schedule. But we had a really good time, and I ended up being glad that we came.

Baby Grant tearing up newspaper with a 3-year-old Japanese boy on the train to Paris.

Visiting Paris with an 11-month-old in September is quite different from visiting Paris with a 8-week-old embryo in February. No surprises there! Our hotel was once again close to the Gare du Nord, but I opted not to experience the Metro with a stroller. Instead I chose the Marais neighborhood as our destination, and we walked. Long walks allowed Grant to nap a little, and I got to see more of the city.

Grant eating the best falafel I've ever had, on the Rue de Rosiers (Jewish quarter)

 

The absolute best thing about traveling with a baby is the opportunity to mingle with people just living their lives. If I sat down in a park like this without the baby, it would be kind of creepy. Instead, I really wished that I knew more than hello, good-bye, and thank you in French. The lucky kids had no problem with a language barrier, and it wasn't too hard to understand when another mom pointed out to me that my kid was eating sand.

My chosen Parisian moments were enjoying dinner in a brasserie (while our last trip included several brasserie's, I can't say I enjoyed them, which was so sad!) and buying scarves. I hardly ever wear scarves, but it seemed the thing to do!

Grant's first baguette