THE WEEKEND!!!!

Woo hooo!!!! I LOVE the weekends.  I LIVE for the weekends.  ESPECIALLY when those weekends are SUNNY in Paris!!!!!!!! Yes, I love Paris everyday...even the negatives.  But when it is sunny, I'm with my friends, and its potential coat-taking-off weather...its a million times better!! We just danced and twirled around in circles all weekend which was so nice!  

Saturday morning the girls went to Saint-Chappelle, and I met them at Notre Dame afterwards.  Since it was a be-a-u-ti-ful day we decided to take our chance with the 200 some odd stairs up to the top of Notre Dame.  On the way up we passed a gift shop and I bought possibly one of the most touristy things I have gotten since I've been here.  What is it?  Paris pasta.  It's pasta in the shape of Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe.  Okay....how cute is that?! 

We marched on up the stairs behind an 80 year old grandma just taking her grandchildren out for a day in Paris.  When I'm 80 I only hope that is the kind of excursion I can take my grandchildren out on.  The views from the top were breathtaking.  It's great from the Eiffel Tower because you can see everything else...but to look out from Notre Dame and see the Eiffel Tower-its indescribable!  It was rather smoggy, but you could still see for miles.  

We then discovered you could take a few more stairs and see the bell tower...pourquoi pas?  We've already made it up this far, what's a few more?  The bell was massive weighing in at 13 tons.  After seeing all the gargoyles possible, touching the bell at Notre Dame, and climbing our thighs away for the day, we decided to descend.  Who would have thought that coming down was just as difficult as going up!!?  

The door leading up to the bell tower.

Blue skies, nothing but blue skies from now on! 

We headed over to the Musée Rodin, as that has been on our list for a couple of months.  Since this week is fashion week, the museum was closed for the Dior fashion show on Friday.  You can see the remnants that blocked our view of the garden here....although I'm sure it was a beautiful show, I only wish I had the tickets to get in....andddd the outfit to wear to such an occasion!  

Hotel Bîron, which is where the actual museum is housed was built in the 18th century.  It was remodeled in 1993 but still has the most of Rodin's tapestry and furniture.  His most famous work, The Thinker.  

The gardens at the museum were so gorgeous, and I'm sure are even more gorgeous when the million rose bushes lining each walkway are blooming!  (Not to mention a lot more bees.)  We sat on a bench trying to figure out our next plan of action and ending up basking in the sun for much longer than necessary!  We crossed over through Les Invalides to a small restaurant for late lunch/dinner and after back across the Seine to the Champs Elysees.  I had to babysit at 7:15 so we were really just killing time until then.  We ended up taking a really amazing photo....

It might be my favorite one I've taken since I've been here!! I love how you can just barely see the Eiffel Tower in the back.  Will we ever get tired of seeing things like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame?  No, honestly....I don't think so.  I still think its absolutely magnificent that I live here.  I. live. in. Paris.  Incroyable!