New Years' Eve 2010

We thought Paris sounded like a fun place to spend New Year's Eve.

Chocolate fondue

I don't know what was going on in this picture, but I love Jeff's expression.

We decided to climb to the highest point in Paris, so that we would have a good view of any fireworks displays. We climbed lots and lots of stairs to the reach Sacre Couer before midnight. Great picture, huh?

Did I mention that we had a four year old with us? She was a trooper and kudos to Jeff for hauling her much of the way up and down the hill.

It was still so overcast. This is all of the Eiffel Tower that was exposed.

Waiting patiently for what would surely be an awesome New Year's celebration.

Wait for it, wait for it...


And here you have it. Happy New Year?

It was pretty cool to see the bottom of the Eiffel Tower sparkle, but there were no fireworks. None. The hundreds of people there all seemed to have the same reaction we were having. Disappointment.


We schlepped our way back to our hotel, and there we admired the magnificent fireworks displays from around the world as each major city rang in the New Year.

London's was amazing by the way.

Paris, the first (cont)

Arc de Triomphe. It's way bigger than I thought.

The arc is in the center of a huge roundabout. There are at least twelve major roads that intersect here. Thankfully there is an underground walkway to cross to the center.

Don't know why this guy looks so horrified. He's located at the top of the arc.

Sacre Couer from the top of the arc

Eiffel Tower from the top of the arc

LOTS of stairs to reach the top.

Us standing in front of the eternal flame under the arc.

Crepes always taste better when you can see the Eiffel Tower.

(Notice the man to Hailey's right. There are tons of these guys in the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower. They all have small blankets spread out to display their miniature Eiffel Towers. You can negotiate a bargain for these, and you can work a better deal the closer you are to the Eiffel Tower. I just said Eiffel Tower a lot of times.)

Despite having tickets to the top, we only made it to the second level. The top was closed thanks to the ice. The River Seine is in the background.

Champ de Mars in the background.

Paris, the first

Because we can, we decided to drive to Paris for our first time.

This is about all we could see of the White Cliffs from the ferry terminal

Posing with some giant Chupa Chups on the ferry across the English Channel.

It was so overcast that we never could see much more of the Eiffel Tower than this. It's just next to Hailey's right hand.

Me and the Louvre. We didn't go in this time. One more reason to go back...

I think this was supposed to look like she was holding up the Louvre, but there were too many people to get a good shot.

Hopscotch in the courtyard around the Louvre

Pont des Arts. Apparently couples attach a padlock to the bridge and throw the key in the river.

Notre Dame. The pictures from inside are underexposed and blurry, but I added them so that we can remember what we saw.

 

 
I think it was at this point that Hailey complained that Notre Dame is boring.

Femur from a saint or a Pope. Not sure which. Also not sure what purpose saving an old bone serves.

Ice cream at Berthillion remedied Hailey's boredom.

Despite the dreary atmosphere, the city is beautiful. Before we went, I was told that the best thing to do in Paris is to just walk around and see the city. I didn't get it then, but now I understand.

Christmas Eve

My family's tradition has always been to make homemade pizzas on Christmas Eve. Jeff's family tradition was chili on Christmas Eve.

This year I made a compromise dinner. Chili pizza--it wasn't too bad.

Hailey is modeling our homemade hotel Christmas tree. I went through a ton of glitter glue on that thing. If you click on this picture, and then zoom in, you can appreciate the itty bitty Christmas lights that Jeff cut out of construction paper.

No homemade Christmas cookies this year, so we left some Tim Tams.  Hailey and Jeff left a letter for Santa.

Santa visited our hotel room.

London One, Day Two

Our hotel had a wonderful and very extensive breakfast buffet that was included in the price of our room. Nice surprise for us. The morning wait staff was very kind and brought Hailey the mug of "warm chocolate" that she requested.

Posing with the London taxis

Notting Hill tube stop

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
(The Christmas Market here was WAY better than the one in Leeds.)

At the top of one of the big slides

Hailey is either pulling Santa's beard or trying to sweet talk him. Or both.

Gingerbread cookie decorating

Posing with the lone snowman

Not-great picture in front of Harrod's

Hailey doing her annoying and slightly endearing "squatty walk" in the middle of Harrod's

Cool window display

Giant Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square
(This Christmas tree has been donated to the people of London by the people of Oslo every year since 1947. The tree is decorated in traditional Norwegian style with the lights running vertically rather than around the tree. And now you know.)

Being scared of the lion at Trafalgar Square

Hailey with the glass-box nativity at Trafalgar Square

I was a little amused at Joseph's relaxed posture in this nativity.