Oh, where to start. Well, I just got back to Barcelona after spending the last 8 days with my mom in Disneyland Paris and Paris. It was SUCH a fantastic trip...seriously, everything was just perfect. I was a little worried going into the trip, because I have been looking forward to it for so long, but I knew that even if everything was absolutely terrible- it would still be a blast with mom. So I guess I will start at the beginning... The dads and kids flew out Friday morning, leaving me with some final packing up to do. (We had to completely pack up our apartment, as someone else had rented it for the week). I finished packing and fell asleep watching Ratatouille...to prepare me for my trip. Woke up VERY early Saturday morning and hopped on the train to the airport...the flight to Paris is really easy...luckily I checked right before I left- I was not flying into the major airport in Paris, but the smaller one, so I had to quickly figure out my transportation to the hotel I was staying in. I had one night in Paris by myself- mom didn't fly in until Sunday morning. I got a hotel on Priceline, so it was a little bit out of the center of the city (I had to take a bus, a train, switch trains, and then walk a km)...the area was a really cute residential area. There was a very cute patisserie close by that I had my dinner Sat night at, as well as breakfast Sunday morning.
I woke up on Sunday and caught a train to the OTHER airport, where mom was flying in. Timing was perfect and I was waiting for her when she came out...oh man, it was sooooo nice to see her! 
We started finishing each others sentences immediately. We hopped on the Disney bus to our hotel. We stayed in the Newport Bay hotel, which looks pretty identical to the Yacht and Beach Club in Disney World. We got in the line to check in...and they didn't have our reservation. I hadn't printed out my confirmation, because I don't have a printer, and somehow mom left hers sitting on the computer at home...so we tried to use their computer to get into our email- umm, the keyboard is different in France! The letters and punctuation was all in different spots...very confusing, and still wouldn't let us log in. FINALLY, she found the reservation- they had spelled my name wrong...it was under Patel. She saw that we were staying for a week and was like "ummm, you know our park is smaller than Disney World, right? Most people only stay for 3 nights...but you are here for a week...that is very strange". Yeah....kind of strange to hear from a castmember. So we got in the other check in line...and they had put us on the Admiral's Floor. Which was awesome. Meant we got a free breakfast away from everyone else every morning and they had little tea and treats for us every afternoon. We spent the first night exploring the hotels and Disney Village. We had dinner at the restaurant in our hotel...and went to bed at a pretty early time.
We started finishing each others sentences immediately. We hopped on the Disney bus to our hotel. We stayed in the Newport Bay hotel, which looks pretty identical to the Yacht and Beach Club in Disney World. We got in the line to check in...and they didn't have our reservation. I hadn't printed out my confirmation, because I don't have a printer, and somehow mom left hers sitting on the computer at home...so we tried to use their computer to get into our email- umm, the keyboard is different in France! The letters and punctuation was all in different spots...very confusing, and still wouldn't let us log in. FINALLY, she found the reservation- they had spelled my name wrong...it was under Patel. She saw that we were staying for a week and was like "ummm, you know our park is smaller than Disney World, right? Most people only stay for 3 nights...but you are here for a week...that is very strange". Yeah....kind of strange to hear from a castmember. So we got in the other check in line...and they had put us on the Admiral's Floor. Which was awesome. Meant we got a free breakfast away from everyone else every morning and they had little tea and treats for us every afternoon. We spent the first night exploring the hotels and Disney Village. We had dinner at the restaurant in our hotel...and went to bed at a pretty early time.Monday morning we woke up bright and early to get in Disneyland early- the park opens at 10am, but if you are staying in a Disney resort, you get in at 8am...so we had much to cover in our magical extended hours. We did the Fantasyland rides, Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain. The Space Mountain is a lot different than Disney World...it goes upside down...and shakes your 
brain around in your head so that you never want to go on it again. Yeah...we went on the ride once the whole time we were there. Since it was a National holiday in France, we were thinking Disneyland would be pretty crowded that day, so we headed over to Hollywood Studios at 10am, when it opened. We went on Tower of Terror, Rockn Rollercoaster, the tram ride, saw the High School Musical street show, Star Tours, etc. Pretty much did the whole park...except the Crush rollercoaster, because they said there wasn't a fastpass..and it was an hour long line (we found out later that it does have a fastpass...jeez, c'mon people...know your park!). We had an awful lunch...I made reservations at a variety of restaurants, but only for one meal a day, thinking we would do counter service for the other meal...we had one counter 
service meal that was gross and decided to stick to the sit down restaurants. We had dinner at Walt's on Main Street. SUCH a cute restaurant...each room is themed after the various lands, but very subtly...I made the reservations so we would be eating right during the daytime parade, and requested a window seat. So we ate our meal, overlooking Main Street, right while the parade was going by. Perfect. We stayed late in the park...caught the night time parade with all the lights and then the fireworks...which were special fireworks for the holiday- Bastille Day- it is the French Independence Day.
brain around in your head so that you never want to go on it again. Yeah...we went on the ride once the whole time we were there. Since it was a National holiday in France, we were thinking Disneyland would be pretty crowded that day, so we headed over to Hollywood Studios at 10am, when it opened. We went on Tower of Terror, Rockn Rollercoaster, the tram ride, saw the High School Musical street show, Star Tours, etc. Pretty much did the whole park...except the Crush rollercoaster, because they said there wasn't a fastpass..and it was an hour long line (we found out later that it does have a fastpass...jeez, c'mon people...know your park!). We had an awful lunch...I made reservations at a variety of restaurants, but only for one meal a day, thinking we would do counter service for the other meal...we had one counter 
service meal that was gross and decided to stick to the sit down restaurants. We had dinner at Walt's on Main Street. SUCH a cute restaurant...each room is themed after the various lands, but very subtly...I made the reservations so we would be eating right during the daytime parade, and requested a window seat. So we ate our meal, overlooking Main Street, right while the parade was going by. Perfect. We stayed late in the park...caught the night time parade with all the lights and then the fireworks...which were special fireworks for the holiday- Bastille Day- it is the French Independence Day.Tuesday we went to Disneyland all day. We did all the 
classics- Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Phantom Manor (Haunted Mansion), Buzz Lightyear...several times...my mom is weirdly competitive about that ride/game. We had lunch at Auberge de Cindrillon...the Inn of Cinderella. It was a way too expensive, but very nice character meal. The price did include an appetizer, main dish, dessert AND drinks (yes, they serve alcohol in the Disney parks here). After lunch, I made 
surprise reservations for mom for a private tour. I looked all over the Disneyland Paris website and couldn't find any information about any special tours they do...I tried calling people, emailing around...finally, found a single sentence about the possibility of there being a tour. So I called the reservations line, they passed me around to a few different people...and finally it was made...phew. Well, I think that since they don't have it on the website and make it so difficult to find, no one has ever done it before. We walked in to City Hall to check in and they all looked a little concerned "what? someone is doing a tour...uh-oh, go find so and so that speaks English and have her learn the script really quick"...seriously...it was bizarre. So finally this lady comes out and says she is our tour guide and it is just the two of us on the tour. And then takes us outside, and points out the stores on Main Street. Points at the train station and says "there is the train 
station...because Walt liked trains"...took us through the different stores, pointed out the rides. I was realizing that with the little bit of research I did before the trip, I knew more about the park than she did. Every time she wasn't sure what to say next, she would tap the side of her head...it was funny. We asked several questions...some of which she knew, most not. She did tell us the story of the Phantom Manor though, which really helped the ride make more sense...it is quite a bit different than the one at Disney World...and the story is tied to Thunder Mountain, which is fun. I got to thinking that maybe I could do the English tours in the park on the weekends...so I got information about their casting center, and figure I'll go make a stop in when we move to Paris...I doubt I'll be able to work there, but how cool would that be! After the tour we played some more and then had dinner at the steakhouse in Frontierland.
classics- Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Phantom Manor (Haunted Mansion), Buzz Lightyear...several times...my mom is weirdly competitive about that ride/game. We had lunch at Auberge de Cindrillon...the Inn of Cinderella. It was a way too expensive, but very nice character meal. The price did include an appetizer, main dish, dessert AND drinks (yes, they serve alcohol in the Disney parks here). After lunch, I made 
surprise reservations for mom for a private tour. I looked all over the Disneyland Paris website and couldn't find any information about any special tours they do...I tried calling people, emailing around...finally, found a single sentence about the possibility of there being a tour. So I called the reservations line, they passed me around to a few different people...and finally it was made...phew. Well, I think that since they don't have it on the website and make it so difficult to find, no one has ever done it before. We walked in to City Hall to check in and they all looked a little concerned "what? someone is doing a tour...uh-oh, go find so and so that speaks English and have her learn the script really quick"...seriously...it was bizarre. So finally this lady comes out and says she is our tour guide and it is just the two of us on the tour. And then takes us outside, and points out the stores on Main Street. Points at the train station and says "there is the train 
station...because Walt liked trains"...took us through the different stores, pointed out the rides. I was realizing that with the little bit of research I did before the trip, I knew more about the park than she did. Every time she wasn't sure what to say next, she would tap the side of her head...it was funny. We asked several questions...some of which she knew, most not. She did tell us the story of the Phantom Manor though, which really helped the ride make more sense...it is quite a bit different than the one at Disney World...and the story is tied to Thunder Mountain, which is fun. I got to thinking that maybe I could do the English tours in the park on the weekends...so I got information about their casting center, and figure I'll go make a stop in when we move to Paris...I doubt I'll be able to work there, but how cool would that be! After the tour we played some more and then had dinner at the steakhouse in Frontierland. Wednesday was our first Paris day...we jumped on the train- 45 min to Paris. 
We decided to do
one of those tourist buses that you can hop on and off of all day...figured we would do that the first day, and then visit the specific locations we wanted on the second day. And that was a brilliant plan. We were able to jump off and take pictures where we wanted and kind of get the lay of the city. Our first stop was in Montmarte to see the Basilica-something or other. Now I realize this is my mom's first time in a touristy European city and she hasn't gotten used to the guys that try to sell you crap souvenirs on the street...but she has been to Mexico...I figured she could handle it. Apparently not...our first stop and some guys start trying to make us friendship bracelets...I say no- they won't accept no, so I let them make the bracelet- knowing that I'm nt going to pay them any money...well my mom gets suckered in with their "Hakuna Matata...ah, Miss America- your mom is so beautiful...." etc...and when they finish and say "15"...I;m thinking "okay, 15 cents isn't so bad" but out mom pulls 20 euros...and pays them for two friendship bracelets...the kind I we used to make at my birthday parties in 4th grade. Not going to let her live that one down for a looooong time. We had lunch at a little cafe along the Seine...quiche and croque monsieur...so cheesy and yummy. And then found a patisserie for a pastry later. Then we found a gourmet food shop and bough bread, cheese, fruit and macarons to take back to the hotel and eat. I am fairly certain I am going to gain 500lbs while living in Paris...I may never be able to return home. We made our game plan for the next day...make sure we hit everything we wanted.
We decided to do
one of those tourist buses that you can hop on and off of all day...figured we would do that the first day, and then visit the specific locations we wanted on the second day. And that was a brilliant plan. We were able to jump off and take pictures where we wanted and kind of get the lay of the city. Our first stop was in Montmarte to see the Basilica-something or other. Now I realize this is my mom's first time in a touristy European city and she hasn't gotten used to the guys that try to sell you crap souvenirs on the street...but she has been to Mexico...I figured she could handle it. Apparently not...our first stop and some guys start trying to make us friendship bracelets...I say no- they won't accept no, so I let them make the bracelet- knowing that I'm nt going to pay them any money...well my mom gets suckered in with their "Hakuna Matata...ah, Miss America- your mom is so beautiful...." etc...and when they finish and say "15"...I;m thinking "okay, 15 cents isn't so bad" but out mom pulls 20 euros...and pays them for two friendship bracelets...the kind I we used to make at my birthday parties in 4th grade. Not going to let her live that one down for a looooong time. We had lunch at a little cafe along the Seine...quiche and croque monsieur...so cheesy and yummy. And then found a patisserie for a pastry later. Then we found a gourmet food shop and bough bread, cheese, fruit and macarons to take back to the hotel and eat. I am fairly certain I am going to gain 500lbs while living in Paris...I may never be able to return home. We made our game plan for the next day...make sure we hit everything we wanted. 
Thursday we got up a little earlier and went to Notre Dame first...absolutely loved it. I suppose it has a lot to do with being Catholic, but just like the Sagrada Familia here in Barcelona, I just couldn't get enough of Notre Dame. It wasn't as big-wide as I pictured...and I'll be honest, the picture I had in my head was from the Hunchback of Notre Dame movie- the Disney version (every time I saw the church, I got one of the songs from the movie stuck in my head...I know, I know...crazy Disney girl). The inside was just amazing...I'll put more pictures up in my future blogs from Paris. I think that is probably where I will go to Mass when I'm there...After Notre Dame we went to the Musee d'Orsay....then on to the Louvre. It is pretty 
unbelievable how huge the Louvre is and that all those paintings and sculptures that you have seen in pictures for forever are actually there. It is also crazy when you see all these amazing paintings that you haven't ever heard of or seen before and then there is the Mona Lisa...I know it is so famous, but next to some of these other pieces of art...I don't really get it. That is probably a horrible thing to say. :) After the Louvre we went and walked around the neighborhood we will be living in next month...the Marais. It is a great "stroll around and waste a day" kind of area...lots of great shops and patisseries and restaurants...really adorable. I'm looking forward to it. After that we went to find a couple of famous cafes that old famous writers and artists used to hang out in...had some coffee just to sit there and feel Parisian. Just about everyone spoke English, and the people that didn't speak much English, def understood what we were saying and were very nice and helpful. There wasn't any snobbery. We learned the few words in french that I use in spanish, and it was really all we needed. I REALLY enjoyed Paris.
unbelievable how huge the Louvre is and that all those paintings and sculptures that you have seen in pictures for forever are actually there. It is also crazy when you see all these amazing paintings that you haven't ever heard of or seen before and then there is the Mona Lisa...I know it is so famous, but next to some of these other pieces of art...I don't really get it. That is probably a horrible thing to say. :) After the Louvre we went and walked around the neighborhood we will be living in next month...the Marais. It is a great "stroll around and waste a day" kind of area...lots of great shops and patisseries and restaurants...really adorable. I'm looking forward to it. After that we went to find a couple of famous cafes that old famous writers and artists used to hang out in...had some coffee just to sit there and feel Parisian. Just about everyone spoke English, and the people that didn't speak much English, def understood what we were saying and were very nice and helpful. There wasn't any snobbery. We learned the few words in french that I use in spanish, and it was really all we needed. I REALLY enjoyed Paris. 
The
n we headed back to Disney and had dinner at another character meal...Cafe Mickey. They had some RANDOM characters...Smee, Sheriff of Nottingham, Tweedle Dee and Dum...not your usual characters. Friday we were back at Disney. We had a tea planned for 3:30- it was a character tea inside the park...mom and I have done teas at Disney before...always a fun little event....umm, this was the most unorganized, most ridiculous "tea". It was basically a buffet of random stuff.
They had eggs and sausage, hashbrowns (this is at 3:30 in the afternoon) and then a bunch of desserts that were really pretty gross. And pop...no actual tea. And then some more random characters came out...like Friar Tuck...what?! It was fun because we made fun of the whole thing, but so unbelievable that Disney would have that kind of event. Later that evening we had dinner at the Blue Lagoon, which is the restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride...like the Blue Bayou in Disneyland. It was a great atmosphere and yummy food. We finished our meal JUST in time to walk to Main Street and watch the fireworks.
They had eggs and sausage, hashbrowns (this is at 3:30 in the afternoon) and then a bunch of desserts that were really pretty gross. And pop...no actual tea. And then some more random characters came out...like Friar Tuck...what?! It was fun because we made fun of the whole thing, but so unbelievable that Disney would have that kind of event. Later that evening we had dinner at the Blue Lagoon, which is the restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride...like the Blue Bayou in Disneyland. It was a great atmosphere and yummy food. We finished our meal JUST in time to walk to Main Street and watch the fireworks. 
Saturday was our last day...very sad. We slept in a bit and did all of our favorite things at the parks. We made reservations at Walt's again for the parade, which was a great meal at the end of the trip. We went back to our hotel early to pack up. It was sad leaving the park...mom and I always have a hard time leaving Disney...as often as we go, it is still always sad to leave. And, of course, with her heading back to Seattle and me having another 3 months before going home...sad. This morning was a bit frantic. The schedule they have from the hotels to the airports doesn't start running until 8am...which is the time I would have liked to be AT the airport for my 10am flight. So I woke up early with the intention of taking the train into Paris and going to the airport from there, so I would def make my flight....mom walked me to the train station...and then there wasn't anyone working to buy a ticket from...we waited and waited until finally, I missed the train...so we went back to the hotel and I just had to hope that the lines would be short at the airport or I would miss my flight! Luckily, all worked out. I got in to Barcelona, had a heck of a time with my luggage in and out of trains and up and down stairs...and then had to wait for a little while for the apartment people to bring our keys. Someone tried to steal out of my backpack on the train...which was a big "welcome back to Barcelona"...I got on a train, and took my backpack off and found the front pocket wide open...luckily I didn't have anything important in there....sigh. Frustrating. I have to say, Barcelona has been nice, but I'm def looking forward to leaving and going to Paris...but I'll have a Barcelona reflection blog after we leave.
So now I am sitting in our totally empty apartment- nothing here- with all the grocery stores closed (everything closed...it is Sunday, after all)...it is weird being back.
