There was one last thing we really wanted to do while we were in Paris - see the Opera House of The Phantom of the Opera. So one last time we got up early and pushed ourselves physically and mentally to get into Paris. Our hotel was by the airport so we didn't have to lug all of our luggage into the city. But that meant yet another long Metro ride into the city. Our flight was at 4:35, so we had until 2 to get it done.
As we sat on the subway realizing how hungry we were, we realized that Notre Dame was on the airport subway line. We went the extra stop and picked up some breakfast crepes for ourselves. YUM!
Another Metro ride
There is one subway change we always seem stuck making that we hate - it says on the signs it is an 8 minute walk between the 2 trains we have to switch between. This was our 3rd time making this particular switch this trip. But we made it and arrived at the Paris Garnier Opera House. When we bought our tickets, there was a sign announcing that the auditorium was closed due to rehearsal. Tyson was SO disappointed. After seeing Phantom on broadway, coming here was his dream and we had saved it to be our Grand Finale. Luckily, it reopened by the time our audio tour led us there. We let him just stand in the box and look at the auditorium for about 15 minutes, telling him to just enjoy it and soak it in. It was fun to watch him fulfill his bucket list item.
Paris Garnier Opera House
Statue to honor Charles Garnier, the architect
The Grand staircase
The Auditorium
Watching Tyson enjoying his moment. Just in front of his face in the top picture is the Phantom's box #5.
The Phantom's Box #5
View of Paris from the Opera House
The grand reception room.
Reveling in having just seen something he's dreamed about.
Back on our 8 minute transfer between subway trains. At least there is a moving sidewalk through part of it. Jacob got really good at working the subway system. I would give him the line we needed and our destination, and he could figure out where to go. He and Tyson both loved getting us around the subways.
We don't know if it was because it was a Saturday, but people kept getting on the Subway with speakers and musical instruments. They'd play a few songs loudly and then walk around asking for money. This was the 3rd time it happened today, so these are our annoyed faces. However, this guy got lucky. (He's between our heads in the background playing the accordion.) Since we were headed to the airport, we gave him the last of our coins that we knew we couldn't exchange back to US currency. He got about 30 cents.
I don't have the words to describe what this whole European experience has been for our family. We've bonded. We've fought. We've laughed. We've grown. It feels like this has been the blessing after the trial of our faith this past fall. We all feel so sad to be leaving, yet we feel grateful to be going back to a home we love surrounded by neighbors and family we love.
Sudie! Au revoir! Auf Wiedersehen!
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