Saturday 7/23/16

It rained heavily last night, but that was okay because we were inside and it was our last night.  We had just over an hours ride to the airport this morning.  Fortunately, the car rental return is just across the street from the terminals.   We got our boarding passes, got rid of our luggage and had a very easy time going through security as there was a special line for families traveling together.  Our flight was short.  I sat next to a young man (9th grade) from Melbourne, Australia.  His father is French and he comes here every other year to visit his grandparents in Toulouse.  He must be a great kid as his favorite subject is math!  We took a taxi van to the apartment that we are renting for the few days we are here in Paris.  We are located just a block away from the Place de Vosges, which is the oldest planned square in Paris.  It was built between 1605 and 1612.  The surrounding grand buildings are all of red brick - very impressive.  Dave and I took Dan and Ella to the square so that Nick and Laura could have some quiet time to figure out dinner plans, etc.  We walked along one side of the square which had all of the art galleries and had a contest about the weirdest painting or sculpture - there were several in contention for first place.  We ate at a small restaurant a few blocks away.  We found a bakery that they had been in on a previous trip here and Dave and I volunteered to go out tomorrow morning for fresh croissants for our breakfast.  Dave and I are relaxing at the apartment while the others have gone for ice cream - we were just too full.