J. (being perhaps the smartest man alive in addition to being the world's best husband) let me climb back into bed and curl up under the covers upon our 6:38AM awakening and go right back to sleep! The extra hour and 20 minutes of rest helped immensely!
We headed to Disneyland Paris and arrived around noon. We would have arrived about an hour earlier but there was some kind of security action and the train we rode was delayed a bit while they walked the tracks carefully. Once we realized it was a possible threat, we relaxed and let them do their thing.
Of course multiple incoming trains having nowhere to go led to huge crowds and it got a bit scary at times. The tracks were packed with people and it felt like a mob scene. Some people resorted to using empty strollers as 'weapons' and pushed their way through to get on the trains (once they started arriving and departing normally).
The park was....well, some parts were spectacular. The theme was 'Swing into Spring' and the park had some of the most beautiful floral decor I've ever seen. It was also completely fitting that it was the first sunny, blue-sky day we've had here - it felt beautiful all around. In the perfect weather, I added another lifetime Disneyland memory when I exited the restroom to hear "Surry with the Fringe On Top" and felt just so, so happy to be there.
But...overall, I have to pronounce the experience as disappointing. I thought Disney would create a Paris Disneyland - but they didn't. It is an exact (mostly completely close) replica to Disneyland in Southern California. After walking through Main Street and heading to Adventureland and being stunned at how 'same' it felt, I felt all choked up that we'd wasted a day to do this. We are in PARIS and we're spending a day in a place that looks just like where we've spent time every five years (at least) since we were married. J. (ever the optimist and the most perfect balance to me - he always has been and always will be) pointed out 'but this is likely the closest most of these people will ever get to America - and we have the other Disney Studios park to look at and that does look different from what we've seen before).
There were other disappointments: no corn dogs on Main Street. Few other 'matching' Epicurean delights. No New Orleans so no beignets. And the pins....here's the thing: I collect Disneyland pins and have for decades and I was so excited about going to Disneyland Paris thinking I would find some really unique, cool pins from the park. Hardly any. One rack in each store and the only thing Disneyland Paris about them was the words stamped on the card the pins were pinned into. So, so disappointed. Even though the back of EVERY receipt shows 'Pin Trading' as a fun activity, there were no pins to be found. I did finally find one pin that spelled the word Paris and it has Mickey in it. That's it. I was just so sad to realize there's nothing special about the place.
I did mange to do a little shopping and in the end, we decided to skip the Studio park too. Sore feet; sore hips; general disappointment and a strong desire to get 'home' before commute traffic made the train ride a(nother) crowded mob scene.
High points of the day: discovered French macaron. OMG - where have these delectable bits of goodness been all my life? My sister gave me a kit to make them and I can't WAIT to get home and try it!! They are like magic for your taste buds. Shopping was fun and successful and I got a couple really special things to remember the Disneyland Paris visit - so that's nice. Spring was the theme and there were a lot of really cute/pretty items that I couldn't resist.
And finally, dinner - we went to Le Souffle which is just a few steps from our hotel and it was fantastic. Maybe it's the wine talking - but it was a wonderful meal. And a great bottle of wine.
Now it's time for sleep. Tomorrow, we are going our separate ways for most of the day - we just both have things we want to do and the other doesn't and to me, that's a testament to one of the many reasons why we are together 25 years: we let each other be and don't feel compelled to blend/merge every facet of our existence. I'm looking forward to a day of bus riding and museum going - but not necessarily the same places J. wants to go. We'll reconvene for dinner -
Though disappointed in Disney, we're still madly in love with Paris. Seriously. To the point of thinking about living here for a few months each year. Doesn't that sound magical?
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