We aren’t much better than yesterday with our colds. We didn’t set an alarm for this morning but hoped to get up around 8 and head to the catacombs. Instead, we got up around 10 and we made it to the catacombs at about 11:30. First we dropped off a package at the post office and spent a ridiculous amount of money sending home gifts and stuff so we don’t have to carry it through the UK.

Street art

Subway performers. This was new for me. Puppets. It was so strange, you couldn’t look away. See photo evidence below.

We had heard the line for e catacombs could be as long as 2 hours but we didn’t believe it. They sell a pass online to “skip the line” and they let those people in first. Only 200 people are allowed in the catacombs at once so the “skip the line” people go first and then the other suckers waiting in line fill in until they hit 200. We thought about buying the special passes but it was close to 90€ ($100) compared to 24€ if we waited in line. In hindsight after waiting in line for THREE HOURS we should have spent the 90€ or done something else. We did enjoy the company of a family from Toronto while we waited in line together. This was especially exciting for Asa since he is a Canadaphile. Here are the pictures from the catacombs. They were really interesting and unique but not sure I would do it again.

Read this if you want to know how why the bones are there.

The skulls and femurs are arranged in an artful way and the rest of the bones are thrown behind the wall that is creating by stacking them. The title is a quote from Nole.

We went to an American restaurant for (a very late) lunch.

Then we left it up to the kids. Go to an interesting playground or go to play in a fountain. They chose the playground at Nelson Mandela Park. The playground was interesting because it has a timed entry on the hour and a recreation staff person leads games (or kids can free play). No parents are allowed. While we waited for our timed entry, Esme and Nova played on the little kid playground.

Our view from the playground.

Big kid playground rules.

I couldn’t go inside so I took pictures from outside like a stalker. Then Nova and I left to do some shopping before the shops closed. I saw a dress in a window earlier and went back to try it on. Unfortunately it was too small but Nova wanted to keep shopping so we went in a few more shops on our way back home.

Shop owners pug kept Nova company while I looked at clothes.

Nole and the other kids came back on the Metro separately and we got back to the apartment around the same time. Not sure if we will eat dinner tonight or just snack since we had lunch at 4pm. We have some packing to do and then I think we will all try and go to bed early. Our Eurostar to London leaves at 10am so we better set an alarm tonight!