Sunday Bird Market, Paris Plage and Bateau Mouche

I took my turn for a morning run along the Seine, past the Louvre and through the Jardin de Tuileries.  It felt more like sightseeing than exercise, and so nice to be out and about before most of the crowds.  It also feels good to work off some of the baguette, cheese, Nutella crepes and wine.   After surviving Sullivan's usual morning shenanigans, we escaped the apartment and found the Sunday Bird Market (Marche aux oisaux) which is part of the Marche aux fleurs near Notre Dame on Ile de la Cite.  

Three stages of chickens were a real hit, and we discussed how we'd have to get a bird if we moved to Paris.  Lots of gorgeous little birds to admire (below).

We walked and window shopped on the quiet street down the middle of Ile de St. Louis, Ile de Cite's less known neighbor, with the most prized real estate in Paris.

Sully enjoys riding his Skuut bike everywhere; here he is on a raised cycle track on his way to l'Hotel de Ville.  Nik is jealous of all the cycle tracks and the fact that he doesn't have a bike here.

Here is l'Hotel de Ville, Paris' city hall, as I understand it.  The mayor of Paris has his office here.   In the foreground is a Bateau Mouche (fly boat), one of many tour boats on the Seine.  (Read on for our own Bateau Mouche ride today.)  We were looking for a cool grassy optical illusion globe that we had seen online before we left home (http://thingsthatmakeyouhappy.com/2011/07/08/who-to-believe/), but apparently it has been replaced by the sand volleyball court and kiddie paddle boats (see below) for Paris Plage.

We spent a good 2 hours at the beach along the Seine at Paris Plage (beach).  This was so cool!  This extends along a ~6-bridge stretch of the Seine, and there is an amazing amount of trucked in sand to play in and lounge on.  Madeleine and Henry took turns burying each other; Nik and I drank some wine.  We were right next to two large sand sculptures compliments of DisneyLand Paris.  There are lots of deck chairs, beach umbrellas, even bean bags for lounging in.  It all last for one month, then disappears until next year.

Sully enjoyed the FREE paddle boat ride in front of the l'Hotel de Ville, part of Paris Plage.  We just had to get him on the schedule and come back at the appointed time, then he got to paddle around for 20 minutes.  Interesting contrast to the way things usually work at home, with shorter rides but instant gratification being more common.  This is another temporary fun thing just for this month.  The sand volleyball courts are in the background.  By the way, he paddled enough that he got a blister on his right thumb that subsequently popped.  Now, he can barely use his right arm at all and he's nearly consumed our supply of band-aids.  

Our final adventure for the day was a Bateau Mouche ride on the Seine.  This is an hour and ten-minute ride and a very international event, as we were joined by other tourists from all over.  We were seated near a group from China, and as you will see below, they were VERY taken with our blond "baby" Sullivan.  They asked to take pictures with him, and we bribed him with ice cream to comply.  He did a great job, and we just cracked up at how excited these women were to pick him up and get their pictures taken with him.

I get my time with the celebrity, Sullivan.

 Nik and Henry with some of the many (large!) house boats on the Seine.

We returned to our neighborhood via RER train and Metro.  Sully is excited every time we get to take the Metro (same with Underground in London).  Today he got to ride 2 boats (including the paddle boat) and 5 different trains, including transfers.  What could be better?  He is really doing quite well, all things considered.  He's difficult when we are in the apartment, but usually once we head out, he has a great time and acts very well.  Madeleine and Henry too are doing great, and really enjoying things.  We occasionally just need to remind them of good manners and not to act the part of loud obnoxious American children.  We have not heard complaints of being bored or tired (yet), though Madeleine has requested more parks/ playgrounds.  Geocaching and photography have really helped to keep them engaged and motivated.  Of course it helps tremendously too that there are countless things to do in Paris.  I don't think we will run out in our two weeks here.

Until tomorrow... when we plan to visit the Centre George Pompidou/ Centre Beaubourg (inside-out modern art museum).

A bientot,

-E