Staying Awake Day One

We rushed through Frankfurt, Germany where our passports were stamped at customs, to board our second flight headed for Paris, France.

Madeline and I were startled awake by sandwiches being handed out by our German speaking attendant. She stayed sleeping, I forced myself awake because the boys all looked so content eating and playing on their phones.

The sandwich was unexpected. A slice of salmon between a creamy horseradish spread. I liked it. Madeline never tried it due to her slumber, Fisher got it out of his mouth the instant it hit his taste buds. Nolan and James seemed pleased.

The goal: DO NOT GO TO SLEEP UNTIL AT LEAST 8 OR 9 PM PARIS TIME.

Here's me: asleep in the taxi, except when beggars pounded the windows for money, and for the Champs Elysees and the Arch D'Triumph, James shook me for the Eiffel Tower a few blocks from our hotel. Inside the hotel, I tried really hard to stay motivated. I showered and redressed for dinner and then when I realized nobody else was ready to go, I sat down on the bed. BIG MISTAKE.

One I got out into the crisp night air, I felt good, awake. Madeline looked like a zombie walking around, the boys, still wide awake, jumping and playing and laughing as we made our way down the street to see the Eiffel Tower lit up in the night sky. Realizing our hunger, we stopped and ate at L'Dome, a bustling restaurant seemingly established for American tourists (one half of the menu with American food, the other half with French food). Eating in France with a family of five--not so easy. This is a city of romance, tables for two, etc. We need three tables to fit the five of us. Sadly, this meant, they had to relocate the two American girls who just sat down, so they could use one of their tables. However, the French waiters were joyful and happy to repeat key words in English and French, as if it were a little lesson (we enjoyed the lesson and his energy in creating the lesson). Bienvenue! Welcome! Merci! Thank you! Merci, beaucoup! Thank you very much! And on and on. He asked us where we were from, we said California. He put the credit card reader up to his head and said, "Hello? California. Hello?" We all laughed. Funny, funny!

I was surprisingly awake with James eating our onion soup and fromage (cheese) plate. Madeline was half asleep over her quiche lorraine. Fischer was in heaven with his Nutella Crepes and Nolan was happy to ask for Frites with his cheeseburger but that was as far as he strayed, however, he did have a cappuccino with his meal. 

Madeline (Do we really have to go to the Eiffel Tower tonight?) Magnificent, all lit up in the night sky! Really fantastic! A lovely lady from China took our pictures. Madeline kept asking how much longer. How much longer (until I can sleep)? But, it was too dark, except for the Tower. In fact, so dark, that I didn't even upload the one of the family. Haha!

After we brought dessert up to the room and played a little Trivial Pursuit (travel edition), we crashed hard!!! Bon soir! Goodnight!