Taylor Creek Adventure Wednesday and the Botanical gardens

 We tried the East entrance of Zion on Wednesday and had one of our best hikes yet.  Such a perfect day

Finally visited the botanical gardens in St George too.  The break in killer hot weather has been such a relief. 

Daddy Daughter Date to Paris

 Paris with Eliza

Eliza and I went to Paris,France from May 4- Sunday May 8th.  Originally Eliza was planning to go to Korea, but COVID got in the way.  She still had credit on Air Canada and so she decided to go with her Dad to Paris.  What a blast. 

We left on Wednesday May 4 in the morning from the Las Vegas and had Burger King breakfast sandwiches to start out our Journey.  

We then went to Montreal and slept on their rolling crazy-surprisingly comfortable seats for our layover. Afterward, we went to Putine in the Montreal Airport.

Next we arrived in Paris.  Where we immediately turned around and around in the Metro station and did not know what ticket to buy or where to go.  Fortunately a French lady helped us out and showed us what we needed.  We traveled by bus - and then walked for a full hour- we were tired.  We saw a naked man running around the streets and we finally arrived at our little hotel,   "THE Moxy" where we left our belongings and then went to try to figure out the Metro again and get to destinations.

The above picture is our little breakfast buffet in our hotel.  IT was delicious.  We then tried to understand the metro/bus routes and we got lost a few times.  We ended up near Notre Dame Cathetral (under constr.)

 

We we took a few pictures and acted like we were in the right place and not tired and hungry.   Above is a picture of how Eliza was really feeling on the inside.   (hehehe)

Somehow we managed to get to the Llouvre and we were given a guided personal tour with a small group of people.  It was about 3 hours.  It was extremely interesting.  I was so tired at the end that I had to sit down.

Eliza was a trooper.  Mona Lisa was unimpressed by our marathon tour - but she sure kept spying on us.  We could not hide from her gaze.  Freaky.

Here we are alone in a tunnel on the metro after we had to get off and wait for the next ride - as you can see you can get lost really fast - even when you are traveling to a big place like Versaille.  I kept trying to speak to people in Spanish - and they just looked at me funny until I found a group of Spanairds - they appreciated my great accent.  The French not so much. 

Our next day we went to the Musee d'Orsay.  It was beautiful.  There we got to see many impressionist paintings and sculptures and were able to see some beautiful Van Gogh paintings also.

Next, Eliza's favorite, Versaille.  And yes Dad eating an EXPENSIVE Macaron- after he dropped it on the ground.  No way was that 2 dollar Versaille macaron was going to be wasted.  Delicious.

Next up was the Arc de Triumph.  We walked all the way to top - and that is a ways up there.

Our Next day was our last but ultimately our best.  The Food tour, the Rodin museum and finally the Eiffel tower followed by a river cruise on the Siene.  But first we had to get lost.. again.  Eliza's lost angry face.

 

Three things Parisian's are proud of their food  1) Freshness, 2) Origin, 3) Artisan

This is Nick our food guide bringing us fresh dark French chocolate.  Delicious.  Next up a lemon sponge cake from this "paissier" -  pastry professional.  My ultimate favorite was next - a fresh cream puff.

We saw where Picasso spent 5 years of his life at Le Bateau lavoir - mixing with the other great artists and impressionists of the era.

Also on the food tour we got to see the Sacre Coeur - The Sacred Heart Basilica of Paris, and click on the video and you can hear a man singing "Every step you take" from the Police.

This last picture from the tour with from "Le Moulin de La Gallete."  The subject of one of Renoir's most famous paintings of 1876.  Next up the Eiffel tower

Last. the seine cruise

The only thing that we did not get a picture of was a last and most infamous meal on the Champs el eyse at FIVE GUYS burgers and fries where I heard "Ain't that America" while I watched as 30 employees who looked Carribean make the freshest burger I have ever eaten.   Parisian hamburger is 1) Fresh, 2) Origin (cows out back) 3) Artisan.  We tried to go to church the next day but I believe the congregation had Stake Conference.  :(

Being on a trip with Eliza helped me feel so proud of her and her accomplishments.  I was surprised at how resilient she was and how fun it was to be with her.  Eliza is a great travel companion.