Chambord

   This week I decided to take the kids south to the Loire Valley.  We rented a car in our neighborhood and went directly to Chambord.  This chateau was built by king Francois I in the early 1500's as a hunting lodge. What an extravagant lodge!  We really enjoyed the double spiral staircases that wind independently up the center of the building. If two people take the opposite stairs, their paths will never cross.  Conrad said it made his brain hurt trying to figure out how it was designed (presumably by da Vinci).  After Chambord we drove to our hotel, Chateau de Pray near Amboise.  We are surrounded by horse farms and pretty gardens.

Chambord

Francois I

Our hotel Chateau de Pray

Petit déjeuner 

Kid stuff

    One can't think that teens and pre-teens will enjoy Paris' cultural, art, and food offerings all the time.  So here are a few things we've done over the last few days that the kids really liked.  I also found some pictures that I forgot to post. A bientot!

La Defense - the corporate district that lies west of central Paris.  

La Defense sculptures.

Toys R Us

Cite des Enfants is a science and industry museum for kids.  

Movie making,

being a weather man,

starring in a band

what are you feeling?

playing with water

We did some internet searches for the best burger in Paris and this food truck came up.  Le camion qui fume was indeed very good.  Conrad said it was like In-N-Out and Five Guys had an affair in Paris and this was their lovechild.

 

 Date night with my Sweetheart at our neighborhood Le P'tit Canon

Chef's table at La Cordonnerie.  This was before the chef tried to catch a falling knife and almost cut his finger off.

Les portes du jour

Le Shopping

   Bonjour mes amis.  Today we decided to explore some of the magasins on Blvd Haussmann, right near the gorgeous Paris Opera.  We started at Sephora where I was looking for my favorite mascara.  Unfortunately, the french Sephora doesn't carry it.  The kids were really enjoying sampling fragrances though.  I was also looking to smell some Serge Lutens fragrances that I have read about for years but never able to find in the states.  Sephora didn't have any of the ones I was looking for so we tried Galeries Lafayette.  This is a huge department store with the  most incredible ceiling.  They carried more Serge Lutens but mysteriously, none of the ones on my list. One of the salesmen told me I would need to go to the Serge Lutens boutique near Palais Royal.  So that will be another day.
  Later we went to the Apple store where I was hoping to get a replacement plug for my broken one.  The Apple guy told me they didn't carry US adapters but he went downstairs and came back with one that a customer left behind and gave it to me.  Bonus!  The kids of course enjoyed playing with the new iPhones and I was checking out the beautiful architecture of the store.  Much cooler than Fashion Valley Mall Apple store.
   Later in the day I decided to investigate a store across the street from our apartment called Aux Merveilleux de Fred.  I had seen a line out the door on many days and noticed through the window that they were making desserts out of meringue and other things.  It is not a typical patisserie and I don't really have a sweet tooth (especially for meringue) but today I decided to see what all the fuss was about.    So these desserts are fresh meringues stuffed and coated in flavored whipped cream and then rolled in flavored meringue crumbles.  They are as light as air and supremely addicting.  I got a sampler box of minis and one snowball sized 'Incroyable'.  They also make cake shaped creations of the same materials if you want to feed a crowd.  I can't even explain how good these things are.  Wish you were here.

Ceiling of Galeries Lafayette

Bryn at the Longchamp store checking out bags.

Welcome to the Apple store.

Side view of Paris Opera

Aux Merveilleux de Fred

Girls making cake shaped Incroyables

C'est Incroyable!!

Mom, look a Toddy dog in Paris.  Of course she is chained to the door so she won't run away :)