He, Me, and Pari

A little over a month ago Chris started working with a client in France and since then has been taking weekly trips to Paris and Grenoble.  Needless to say he has built up quite a few fly-miles so he surprised me with a little weekend trip to join him.  (Thanks Grandma B for coming out to be zoo keeper for a few days!). 

It was a quick trip, once I got over there and he finished work for the day we really only had a day and a half in Paris but hey, as Pop's says,

"You gotta be somewhere.  Might as well be Paris."

 Yes, might as well be.  

Since we didn't have much time and Chris was a bit worn out from 20 hour days, we gave up sprinting from attraction to attraction and just took a layed back approach.  "We'll see what we see," we decided.  And we didn't mind splurging on taxi's and yummy food because it's only a day and a half.  You can't blow too much money in just a day and a half--so have a good time.

And we did.  We freshened up, grabbed our coats, our walking shoes, and hit the streets.

We wandered, we stopped buy his office, we took in the view from his balcony--to the right the Arch de Triumph, to the left the Louvre, and then he took my hand, snuck me around a corner, and into the most charming and delicious pastry shop, where my taste buds took a journey to euphoria. Chocolate filled croissants, vanilla eclairs (which were nothing like I was used to) and many flavored macaroons (which were even less like anything I was used to).

Sweet tooth satiated, we strolled along the street, found ourselves by the river, and hopped aboard a boat for a short cruise.

We past museums like this,

 cathedrals like this,

and more gardens, bridges, and architectural wonders than I can remember.  All whilst enjoying a bag of Lays potato chips--the Rotisserie Chicken and Thyme variety, never seen those before.

The next morning found us again in a pastry shop.  We ate our fill, chased it down with orange juice (because that's something healthy), and joined the masses outside Notre Dame.

Crowds or no, it was overwhelming.  My camera was a pocket size one and flash was ever so nicely prohibited so this is my best shot.

Leaving this place and thinking nothing could ever compare, we headed to the top of the hill Montmarte and the Sacre-Coeur cathedral.  Walking in I was shocked by the bright blue color of the sky on the ceiling.  Wondering how such a striking color held up over hundreds of years Chris pointed out to me that the walls were not covered with paint, but miniscule mosaic tiles. We sat in awe at the effort, and then made up for the rest by taking the steps to the roof.  It was amazing.

The whole trip was amazing, 

We strolled some more, enjoyed some street food, saw more of the city, and finished the day with a ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and the absolute best meal of my life at La Grande Cascade.

Really, amazing.  I walked the streets of Paris, tucked in my love's arm, eating pastries to my hearts content, and drinking melted chocolate till my toes simmered.  

A weekend for the record books.  Thanks Honey, I loved every minute with you. 

Incidentally, I took the same attitude toward calorie intake as to monetary exodus--it's only a day and a half, you can't ruin a month's worth of exercise and healthy eating in a day and a half. Unfortunately, as it turns out, you can.  But hey, "you gotta eat something!"

 

  

Home Again Home Again

I'm back and sorry to all two of you who might care that it took me a couple days to get in another post.  I arrived home Monday, took my mom to the airport Monday afternoon, hurried home, washed/changed the sheets and towels, and returned to the airport to pick up me sweet sister-in-law.  She's here visiting with her cupcake of a baby for the week to share some of her mad skills and teach me to sew.  It's an insurmountable task but more on that later.

So.  A clue for you.  My return flight took about 15 1/2 hours.

  

Another clue.  No, I did not go to India (sorry Christie), although seeing the time I spent on the plane I should have gotten a lot farther than I did.

The flight over took about 7 hours and the flight back was supposed to take 9 but just as we got south/east of Ireland out over the open Atlantic a computer screen up in the cockpit started flickering.  Not a big problem they said, the plane could still fly just fine and had we been over land it wouldn't have been an issue; however, regulations wouldn't allow the plane to fly over open water so after a couple hours of flight time we did a 180 and headed back to another city for a 3 hour maintenance break (and no, they did not let us off the plane).  After the plane was fixed, refueled, we took off again and finally made it home Monday morning.

But, it was WORTH IT!

More tomorrow but here's a little view from one of the cathedrals we walked/hiked to the top off.  Hundreds of very narrow, very twisty, very old stairs.  

Stranger/Friends

I was thinking the other day how funny it is that we can know someone quite well without knowing that person's name.  Like the ladies I chat with during the boys gymnastics class.  I know these ladies well, I know about their children, how they feel about local schools, what pediatricians they go to.  I know what illnesses have afflicted their households this winter, what family vacations they have been on, and how they get along with their in-laws.  we have been hanging out together 1 hour a week since September and yet we all had a good laugh last week about nobody knowing anyone's name.  Names were probably given way back at the beginning of school when we all first met but nobody really remembered and now that we have become friends, shared stories and personal information it is a bit embarrassing to ask each other for names.

Just like the lady I sat by on the airplane a couple days ago.  I know about her twin girls, her former husband, her new husband and two step sons.  I know about her sister in London, her large extended family back in India, and her mother-in-law.  We discussed the pro/cons of private vs. public school, the difference in culture between the US, Europe, and Asia, and the horrendous traffic in India.  Oh, and we talked about a good weekend vacation spot I had wanted to try that she and her husband went to last fall--sounds like it's a winner.  

And yet, after all that, sharing a close space for a time, sharing airplane pillows, blankets, and food, I don't know her name.  Funny.

Oh, and by the way, if you were wondering why I was sitting on the plane with her, it's the same reason I'm sitting with my hubby about to head home with this little friend in my pocket.

Uh-oh, gotta go.  Their calling my plane--at least they are if I understood right!  See-ya.