Tourist Advice

Tourists have given us some of the most useful advice that we have used so far.  One couple suggested the museum pass – that while evil because you have to squeeze things into a shorter space – were a great buy because they allowed us to bypass almost all of the lines to get tickets for the museums that we went in. 

Today’s adventure came via a Pittsburg family that we met on the Metro.  They told us about a place called Parc Floral on the outskirts of the city.  Inside the park are lakes, stages, cafes, all kinds of playgrounds, and – most importantly – a ropes course. 

We had planned to climb the Eiffel Tower today, but slept in instead and decided to check this place out.

Owen has tried ropes courses before and had liked them, but been quite timid.  I wasn’t sure how the boys would react to this course – a true course in the trees.  Both were very excited when they saw what it looked like and happily put their harnesses on.

Neither hesitated on any part except for a few seconds before the zip lines.

The lower levels were about three feet or so in the air.  A height that was fun, but not scary for the boys (or the younger kids who were doing the course – I did not see one frightened child for the almost-three hours that we were there!)

After the first level, Owen moved on to a new level that he thought was the second level of the course, but quickly accented to a great height – and a very long zip-line.  He ended up being on the third and most advanced/highest level!)  The scariest part was the first zip-line, which he did- even though he was a bit nervous. (There is one continuous cable throughout the entire level that you cannot get unattached from, so there is no way a kid could accidentally unhook themselves completely and fall – but it also means that there is no possibility of going back!)

Here is the 2nd zip-line that is much lower than the first on the level-three section, but still pretty scary.

 

Jack found the beginning to the real second level and was thrilled that he was allowed to go on it.  (There he is at the top with the orange shorts!)

One more of Owen doing his fancy moves…

Both boys did a second go on the 2nd level and really wanted to go again.  But we had been there for several hours already and the place was closing in a little while. 

Also, Mamau and I learned that the shops really do close at noon on Sundays!  So the lunch that we had planned with ham sandwiches and cheese on baguettes, had to be given up for applesauce and cookies until we got home and could buy a baguette on our street which is over-touristy and never closes.