It’s been close on 20 years since my last in Paris or France for that matter. So I have seen many of the Paris tourist sights already. But with extended family and kids we had to visit them again. I had just forgotten the about about the tourists & crowds.

Our old foe the queue has been following us everywhere and today when saw the queue for the Catacombs and found out people had been waiting for 2.5hrs in the rain, we gave up. I have to say I’ve been impressed with how well the kids have coped with the queues and I didn’t have to bribe them too much either.

I realise being a tourist in Paris in summer comes at a price, crowds and queues are simply the extra cost you need to factor in. So we have tried to get to the sites like Versalles, Euro Disney and the Louvre at times where we could avoid crowds. So if you wish to avoid other tourists visit off season is my only advice.

I had never been to Versalles and I found it very impressive and so opulent. I really enjoyed one of the videos shown in one room explaining how the palace had been used from the 1800s up to today including many feature movies like ’Dangerous Liaisons‘. If you like to know what other films were filmed there, a detailed list can be found on Wikipedia.

So it shouldn’t have surprised me that they would have a contemporary art display in and around the grounds but it did. The contemporary art, whilst good to be on display in a contemporary art gallery didn’t look right in Versailles. I’ll get over it, I know.

The kids were so exited about visiting Disney Paris. We decided to only visit one park and chose the Walt Disney Studio. Our friend was there to great us at every turn, the queue. I thought we were prepared too. I read and re-read the Unofficial Guide to Disney Paris App (or search for Unofficial Guide to Paris in the app store). In the end the kids had a great time and there were many highlights for them but I felt we didn’t get to go on all the rides due to the park closing at 7pm. Plus I really missed having good coffee. We used the Fastpass (highly recommend) but there were too many people. Now I just need to convince the husband on our return to Paris after Cuba to go to the other park. Ok, ok, I have been rumbled, I WANT TO GO TO THE OTHER PARK.

I am one of those people who graze museums and art galleries. Not stopping at each picture, sculpture or art piece but skim viewing. Apologies to any artists out there. I wanted the kids to see some of the Egyptian artifacts (as they have a step-grandfather who is Egyptian) and anything to do with knives and stuff. Choose the Medieval moat underneath the Louvre. The moat was impressive, to me alone I am afraid. Plus no knives nor swords were to be found.

The Egyptian artifacts did impress them. I guess it was due to their size. Geez I hope it is not because the French or British raiding the treasures of Egypt over time that has caused their woes of current political or financial nature. Oh for Greece for that matter too. I could not believe now much of the Louvre was dedicated to Egyptian or Greek treasures.

Our Paris stop-over has come to an end and we are off to Cuba tomorrow. Not sure how much internet data access I’ll get. Wish us luck…ok wish me luck. I might fret without internet data.

Louis XIV statue at Versailles

Gate at Versailles

Bike rider at Versailles

Hall of Mirrors at Versailles with contemporary art

Hall of Mirrors at Versailles

Bronze vase at Versailles

Busker on our RER train to Disney Paris

Mickey Mouse at Disney Paris

Disney Paris gates

Stunt show at Disney Paris

Entrance at the Louvre

Under the pyramid at the Louvre

Greek marble heads at the Louvre

Louvre Egyptian mummies

Mona Lisa does not smile

Medieval moat under the Louvre

Paris Cafe