Arc d'Truimphe, Champs-Élysées, Louvre Square, Love Locks.

When I plan a day in a new city, I try to include as many sights as possible on the same day. That way, we don't have to go back to the same location more than once. I think today was the most packed, craziest day yet! Even though we saw a lot of things, it flowed really well, and we didn't have any complaints.

We started at the Arc Triomphe. The Arc is a memorial to the French who fought in the Napoleonic and French Revolutionary wars. It took 36 years to build. I wonder how long it would take in modern times. Ella just loved that it was our first look at Paris. Miles loved all the chain gates that he could swing on. It was pretty crowded, so we didn't go to the top, but just walking around it was magnificent. 

The Arc Triomphe is at the start of the Champs-Elysees, so we just started walking and walking. The famous street has lots of shops and places to eat. We strolled off the main road to grab some sandwiches and pizza but ate on the main road. We kept walking until we hit the Palace de Concorde at the end of the street. Ella was so excited to see the Obelisk at the Concorde. It is talked about in The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan—her favorite author at the moment!

You would think we would be done, but no, we kept walking right up to the Louvre. It was closed, but it was a great chance to snap some pictures without the crowds.

Miles was so happy to see a small hedge-like maze outside the Louvre in the Tuileries Garden. For weeks, he had been asking to do a hedge maze, and this was his chance. He had a ball running through it. 

After the Louvre, we decided to head back to our place but stumbled onto the Love Locks bridge over the Seine. I had just read they were taking them down and didn't think any were still up, so I was so glad we ran into them.

Miles and Ella both loved looking through them. There are so many in all different shapes and sizes! They also enjoyed looking for the keys that were thrown into the water.
We are off to the Louvre tomorrow. We better rest our feet.