Bonjour.....we are in Paris!

Sometimes I had to pinch myself to believe I was really on this epic vacation.  Just thinking that we were flying to Paris was unreal.

However, the reality hit pretty fast after we landed at Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris, France.  One of the most confusing airports I've ever been in.  At one point you are in this glass tube on a moving sidewalk and as you look around there are 10 other tubes going all different directions.

Once we got our luggage, found the right place for the bus to take us to a drop off point in Paris (about 30 minutes away), we could finally look at the scenery around us.  It was about 7pm, so the day was almost over.  We took a 10 minute taxi ride from the bus drop off point and got let off at the famous Moulin Rouge.  Our hotel was only 1/2 block down the street from this iconic place.

 We never made it to the show there (although we really wanted to).  They had a dress code and, due to space limitations in our suit case, we didn't have the proper attire necessary.  Oh well....next trip!

 The apartment we rented was in the Red Light District of Paris.  Lots of restaurants and lots of strip clubs in the area.  But......there was always something happening in the area. Biggest benefit....located in awesome area for bus stops and metro station.  Made moving around the city so easy.

 Here was the front entrance to the apartment.  It was a 17th century old building with this old time door and skeleton keys to open the locks.

 It was also in a building with no elevator.  Apartment was on the 4th floor which was equivalent to 5 floors (they count ground floor as the first one) and 83 steps.  Have to say that we really got our stair walking in on this trip.

 This was looking down the center steps 5 floors down.

This was our view off the balcony, where we did enjoy a lot of time sitting on. 

 

We walked around for a bit and then found a pizza place 2 doors down and decided on a pizza and a salad.  Both were delicious, expensive, and different......we enjoyed the meal and the company and talked about all the fun we would have in Paris the next 6 days!