The first thing people ask when they find out we're spending a month in Paris this summer is, "Are you taking the kids?" Of course we are! First off, they are 2 and 5 years old. So who would possibly sign up to watch them for a month while we galavant in the City of Light? Secondly, we're really looking forward to sharing a month in this amazing city with them and exploring it as a family.
The first time I went to Paris, I was 28 years old, unmarried, and hadn't had children yet. It was winter and I traveled there alone, stayed for 9 days in a youth hostel, tried out my (very rusty) French language skills with mixed success, soaked up as much as I could, and moved on to other places in Europe via my Eurail Pass.
This time will be different. Very different, indeed!
Fast forward about 10 years. I'm heading there with my two kids and husband. We're going in summer and spending June-July based out of an apartment in the Marais. We're taking 6 months of French language classes to prepare. Our plan is to (gasp!) bypass a lot of the museums and spend time in the parks and discover what the city offers to delight kids and adults alike. Getting to know Paris is the sole purpose of the trip -- not merely a stop on a European tour - and we intend to savor each day there.
Yes, we'll see the sights. But our plan is not to hit museum after museum at the expense of the kids enjoyment and our parental sanity. Our hope is to relax and live close to the ground. We want to get to know the *real* Paris and spend time, not in long lines waiting for entrance to the tourist attractions, but rather, buying groceries at the marchés, swimming at the municipal pools, and exploring the city's amazing parks.
Tickets are booked. Only five months until we arrive in Paris. I'm excited for the trip and for all that we'll discover along between now and then.
