phantoms and ballerinas

There were three things on our Paris list that did not get done...one of them was going to the opera at the Opéra de Paris. We packed dress up dresses and fancy shoes and pretty necklaces and earrings but sadly there  never seems to be the  time to do every single thing on any one journey and so the opera night was not to be. But, don't fret for us quite yet because we did manage to make a day time excursion into the Palais Garnier and behold all of it's splendor. What an absolutely fantastical, gorgeous, amazing place it is. And one day when I return to Paris, in the wintertime of early 2014, I will attend an opera or maybe a ballet in this wonderful building.

And oh yeah, the other two things that we did not get to, a visit to Père Lachaise  cemetery and an adventure down into the Catacombs, will be done one day too...

Chantilly daytrippers

While in Paris Jenn and Madison and I took a few day trips. On one of our last days we decided to go to Chantilly.  We caught a train from Gare du Nord  for just a few euros and less than 30 minutes later we were in the small town of Chantilly enjoying the country air. We strolled through town to the château  and then around the grounds and then back through town again. It was pleasantly uncrowded and peaceful.

I love this door. The color and the heart cutouts, too cute.

Now I want to plant hollyhocks...

Inside the château is a museum and since kids in France get in free to just about everything it was a perfect spot for a field trip. Lots of little girls that I saw there were wearing kerchiefs on their heads. And they were adorable.

 

 This tree reminded me of the ones in the Lord of the Rings movies...it looks as if it may start talking and walking any moment.

 So many swans! This family was particulary friendly...which freaked Jenn out ;-)

 There are something like 14 wallabies living at the château. Well, living in a habitat in the forest about a 15 walk from the château. Odd but true.

 Another of the many diversions at the  Château de Chantilly is a maze with all sorts of little hidden enclosures...a big chess game, a pair of springy horses, picture boards and so on and so forth.