Vacation Pictures (Amsterdam, Disneyland Paris and Paris)

This year dh and I both turn 50 and we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. To celebrate we went on an adults only vacation to Amsterdam, DLP and Paris). Thought I would share a few (ok, a bunch) of pictures from our trip.

We started in Amsterdam, dh has been there twice before and just loves the city. We stayed at the Doubletree which was great. Close to the train station and trams and right on the water. 

We arrived on dh's birthday and had an amazing dinner that night to celebrate.  It was a chef's tasting menu (you pick the number of course but the chef decides what you will eat.  We got some free entertainment when a guy tried to snatch the purse of another customer.  A waiter and two customers chased him down and kept him there until the police arrived.  Dh at Café Daalder...

The houses along the canal were amazing.  Although, I couldn't believe how crooked some of them were.  I was told they are built on stilts, some of which are made of wood.  You can to imagine that if you drop a ball in one of these it's going to roll across the floor.

We visited the Anne Frank House.  I was surprised by how modern it appeared on the outside.  It was pretty amazing inside, especially when you imagined everything that transpired inside.

My favorite place in Amsterdam was the Rijksmuseum.  I loved the descriptions they had with each piece of art...in addition to the general stuff (artist, date, medium, etc.) they often had a short story.  This was one of my favorite pieces.  It's of woman's ice skating race.  The woman who won had taken off her jacket and left her arms bare.  It caused such a scandal that woman's ice skating was banned for years after.  This was in 1809...

After Amsterdam we went to Disneyland Paris.  I am pretty sure dh was just indulging me by going.  But, I am a huge Disney park fan and couldn't skip it.  I know it gets a bad rap (especially when folks compare it to the US parks), but I loved it.  Great cast members, clean, hardly any smoking, friendly guests, etc. 

Disneyland Hotel...you walk under the hotel to get into the park.

The castle...it was amazing.  Much larger than the US castles and you can walk under and see the dragon (which somehow we managed to forget to do!)  Bummed about that.  They have EMH for hotel guests (two hours before the park opens to everyone else).  The park was practically deserted for those two hours.  I think there were 20 other folks waiting with us for the gates to open at 8:00 am.  We walked straight to Peter Pan and it was a totally walk on with empty cars.  LOVED IT! 

They do an amazing show in the evening (Dreams).  The project the show onto the castle and water sprays and set off fireworks.  I thought it was better than any of the shows I have seen in the US. 

Big Thunder was amazing.  It's longer than the CA version.

Indiana is an outside roller coaster with a loop.  I love coasters, but thought it was a little rough (gave me a headache).

I thought their Phantom Manor (Haunted Mansion) was better than either US version.  So beautiful when they sun sets.

If you have a Toy Story loving child the Studios park has an amazing Toy Story area with some unique rides.

Slinky Dog Ride

RC Racer...loved this one, just wish it was longer!

I think the food is better in the US parks.  But, the theming of the Chez Remy (Ratatouille) restraint was super cute.  It's like you have been shrunken down to rat size.  We also ate at Blue Lagoon (similar to Blue Bayou) and Walt's (like a wannabe Club 33).

After Disneyland Paris we went to Paris.  You all were nice enough to reassure me that we wouldn't have any trouble getting along there not speaking French.  Dh was still a bit worried.  But, the all knowing Peas were so right!  Once we said bonjour with our obvious English accent, everyone switched over to English.  Everyone we encountered was super friendly.  We would love to go back.

We stayed at the Astor St. Honore Hotel.  We found it super cute and the beds were so comfy.  Hotel staff was excellent.

We did a skip the line tour of the Eiffel Tower through Fat Tire Bikes.  Very worth it, for both the skipping the line part and the excellent guide.  I was expecting the Eiffel Tower to be underwhelming...I thought it would seem small.  But, the opposite was true.  I loved the views from the second level.  Wasn't as crazy about the top level (didn't feel the views were any better up there or that it was worth the wait for the elevator to get up there).  We ended up walking down since the elevator waits were so long.

We went to the Orsay, Louvre, Rodan and the Musee de l'Armee.  There were so many other places on our list, we just ran out of time!

Musee de l'Armee - we were told they just recently re-gold leafed the dome. 

The Louvre was overwhelming...seriously could have spent so much more time here.  They said if you spent 3 seconds looking at each piece of art it would still take you three months to see everything.  We started with the Mona Lisa, although getting in there was like being in a mosh pit at a concert.  It was the only place I encountered rude people...shoving and pushing tourists.  I felt a little sorry for the other paintings in the room, it's so crowded you can't really spend time looking at them.

I was a bit obsessed with taking pictures of the feet of the Greek statues.  My dd's second toe is longer than her first and she feels very self-conscious about it.  I must have taken 20 pictures of feet and kept texting them to her.

We rode the giant Ferris Wheel.  Nice views of the city from up there.

We did a night cruise along the river...timed to arrive at the Eiffel Tower at 11:05 pm when the twinkle lights go off.  So worth it!

We were upgraded to first on the way back...such a treat!  Those lay flat beds are the bomb! 

If you have made it this far, thanks for indulging me!