Saint-Germain-en-Laye

We have less than 3 weeks left in Paris (then we travel for 2 weeks).  We are starting to feel a little anxiety about getting to see and do everything we would like.  Not to mention the anxiety about having to go back to our normal lives.  I'm afraid that too quickly this experience will feel like a distant memory.

But for now we'll make the best of the time we have left.  This weekend we decided to take advantage of the de-zoning of metro passes on weekends and go to Saint-Germain-en-Laye which is the last RER stop on the line into the western suburbs of Paris (the Wilmette of Paris for our Illinois friends).

The Chateau de Saint Germain was owned by the royal family of France and was the birthplace of Louis XIV.  Today it is the National Museum of Archaeology.   The chateau is surrounded by a beautiful garden with a view of Paris off in the distance.

It is hard to see in this picture, but
you can see the Eiffel Tower behind
the hill on the right.

Enjoying the view

These are pictures of some of the art displayed in the garden.

No idea what this is

Yes, that is a floating bed. 

An injured elephant.

We found a sandwich shop for lunch.  Finding lunch is a two part challenge: first you have to find food that is affordable for a family of five; then you have to find a place to eat.  Church steps usually seem to work well.

Inside the archeology museum.

Human skeleton from a really long time ago.

Isaac shooting a bow and arrow.

The chateau courtyard.

Leaning Tower of Pisa and leaning Luke.
Have you noticed the stuffed whale around
Luke's wrist?

Early sculptures of women.

On our way home we stopped in La Defense, a western suburb of Paris.  Nicknamed "le petit Manhattan" La Defense is a large business and shopping district.  We were there on a quiet Sunday afternoon.  I liked some of the art work and seeing something so completely different from our normal Paris sight seeing outings.

La grande arche de la defense. 

Another view of la grande arche.

Thumbs up.

straws?

We came across this unicycle gang.

Have we ever posted a picture of the "Up" chair outside our front door?  We don't have the key to turn it on, but every time we come home one of the kids sits on it and pushes the button thinking maybe this time it will work.