PARIS 2024

Part Two: Nine Days of Sports and Sites in the City of Lights

After our three days in Nantes, we took the train back to Paris for our nine night stay in a large apartment in Saint Germain Des Prés. The apartment was lovely and spacious and in a perfect location. There was a cafe right downstairs, we could walk to countless bistros and to two different metro stations. As soon as we checked in and settled our gear, we walked down the boulevard to Les Deux Magots. It is an historic Paris cafe once frequented by Ernest Hemmingway. If you have followed my blog before, you may have noticed a number of Hemmingway references. We didn’t set out to do a Hemmingway pilgrimage, but he keeps showing up! Wherever he lived, he enjoyed the cafe culture. (See Pamplona, Ronda, and Dancing in Havana posts)

In Paris, a lot of places can claim that famous writers, artists, musicians, actors, etc. ate and drank there. Yet these provincial establishments retain their local charm and do not exploit their guests by price gauging or serving substandard fare. They value their reputation.

Another Paris icon that does not disappoint is Cafe Angelina. We enjoyed a delicious brunch there and the menu had something for everyone. I recommend making reservations in advance.

Planning ahead is crucial when traveling with a group of nine, including children. We prioritized our time based on the availability of tickets to the Olympic Games. We downloaded the Paris 2024 Apps for tickets and transport. We were alerted when tickets were released and then we would get on the website. Usually, there was a limit of four or five tickets to an event. We put the information on the “Paris 2024 Family Calendar” and we signed up for our preferences. The adults shared “kid duty,” so that all of the adults had an opportunity for a special night out. The system really worked well.

We enjoyed a nice balance of sporting events, museums, shopping, dining, and relaxing at “home” playing cards and watching the Olympics on TV. Everyone had an opportunity to suggest an outing and for the most part all desires were met.

The city of Paris hosted a fantastic Olympics. The intent was to integrate sports into Paris’ iconic settings and bring the Olympics to the people. The parks of Paris became sporting venues, the streets were race routes for running and cycling, swimmers swam in the Seine and international fans were everywhere. The vibe was friendly and fun!

We felt completely safe and welcomed. Transportation to the venues was efficient and easy. Most sites were an easy walk from the subway. A multitude of volunteers moved spectators quickly through security and into their seats. Bathrooms were clean and plentiful. Fans filled the stands and the volunteers could attend events by flashing their volunteer credentials.

We attended sessions of volleyball, badminton, wrestling, beach volleyball, table tennis, swimming, and water polo. The athletes were amazing: the best in the world in their sport.

Bill and I enjoyed a special night at the Swimming Finals with our daughter Christine, a double silver medalist in swimming in Beijing 2008. We wore our USA shirts and saw Katie Ledecky win the gold medal in the 800m Freestyle and the US mixed medley relay break a world record. But for us, the best part was sharing the experience with Christine. who chatted with the American family next to us and eventually revealed to them who she was. At the end of the meet she asked, “Would you like to see my medal?” She reached into her purse and to everyone’s shock and delight pulled out a silver medal wrapped in a sock!

We all enjoyed a guided tour of the Louvre. Our guide was knowledgeable and fun and although the tour lasted almost four hours, it didn’t feel like it. The kids held up great and so did the Grandpas! Other popular outings included the Orsay, the Orangerie, Napoleon’s Tomb, a Seine River Cruise, and a day in Montmartre.

Some of the adults took a cooking class that included shopping in the market, making a meal, and then enjoying it with French wine. A group of us ladies shopped at Galeries LaFayette and made a stop at the USA House where Christine had full access.

John wanted to experience The Moulin Rouge, so six of us signed on for an evening there. Christine volunteered to do a movie and pizza night with the kids. The Moulin Rouge is for tourists these days, but the dinner was decent and the show was marvelous. Good idea John!

We celebrated my 69th birthday and our final night in Paris with dinner at a French-Japanese fusion restaurant. We couldn’t believe our time was over, but we all agreed it was a great trip! Thank you Jackie for your vision! And thank you Paris for the great memories!

Next Post: Geri and Bill cross the Channel and Visit the UK.

Note: My recommendations are based solely on my own experiences. I am independent and unpaid.