Day 12

My Birthday! Just after midnight here Belgium we were ichatting with Chip, Quinn and Grandma.  They lit candles on a cake and sang Happy Birthday to me.  They then proceeded to eat cake and ice cream!  Pretty creative, Guys! 

 

We slept for a few hours, and were then up and packed for our trip to Paris.  Poor Rob.  We lost one of my suitcase wheels in London, and he has to roll the suitcase upright....a long way :)

The train station in Huy.  I am glad we have Paris to look forward to, or this would be a really sad picture.

We had a bit of a ticket snafu, so we had to ride "standing room only" to Paris.  It wasn't bad, it's only 1 1/2 hours.  Meg figured out a way to sit :)

We made a reservation for an apartment in the Montmartre area of Paris near the Sacre Couer.

Are you surprised at the hill we have to climb to reach the apt?  I'm not.

Again, poor Rob, having to roll mine upright :)

 

Our apartment building has the teeniest elevator I have ever seen.  My suitcase and I barely fit, if we both stand sideways!

The description online said it would sleep 4.  One bedroom (Clay and Megan's)

One rollaway (Rob)

One bed suited for a small child (Jana)

Here is Rob lying on my little bed.

Oh, how we laughed!  

We have a wonderful view of Paris!

Rob sets up his rollaway bed.  Pretty thin looking...good thing he is a good sport and can sleep about anywhere :)

Our first view of the Eiffel Tower.  It's amazing.

Some Aggies started a bike tour in Paris.  They call it "Fat Tire Bike Tours"  We registered for the Night Tour.  Here is our tour guide Andrew.  Our group met under the Eiffel Tower.

Andrew realized pretty quickly that we had 3 Aggies in our group.  He gave us an important job.  He asked us to ride in the back of our group of 24, and ride wide, to block any cars, taxis, or buses from trying to cut into our group of bikers.   He said to expect a lot of honking horns, that meant we were doing our job :)  One of us needed to wear an orange reflective vest...I gave up trying to look cool a long time ago :)  Besides, I figured it offered me extra protection :)

Here we are receiving instruction, feeling a little nervous.  It's been quite awhile since I have ridden a bike :)  

We're off!

A picture of me when I heard there was an ice cream stop on the tour!

Rob bought me a cone for my birthday!

This is surreal!

Here we are in front of the Louvre.  We saw so many things....Champs Elysees, Notre Dame...the list goes on and on.  The bike tour was great to give us an overview of what we want to see more of tomorrow.

Near the end of the tour, as it got dark, we parked our bikes and got on a boat ride down the River Seine to watch all the lights come on in Paris.  Wine was served as we cruised.  (This is all included on the bike tour)  These are my girl's and my feet :)  

One happy group of bikers!

A little birdie told the group it was my birthday, so I had Happy Birthday sang to me as I floated down the Seine.  Ridiculous, right?

Gorgeous!

After the cruise, we hopped back on our bikes, some more eager than others!  This tour was 4 hours long, People!  We rode back across Paris, in the dark, headed back to the tour office.  Us four, in the back, shielding the group from the traffic.  I had a small misshap with street barrier that racked me pretty good! (sorry to be so crass, but there is no other way to say it :)  I was glad to see the office.  But look what I got, free, because I wore the vest!!  The kids were given peanut m&ms :)

This picture was taken waiting for the subway at about 12:30am.  It's not my birthday anymore, and I am TIRED!!!