95 degrees and no a/c

Oh my goodness.  It has been so hot I haven't been able to think about anything else.  Yesterday it reached a final high of 95 degrees, and today the high is like 91.  I haven't stopped sweating in 48 hours.  I couldn't sleep last night even with my fan on full blast right at my face...so today should be a very interesting day.  I don't know why we had this heat wave, as tomorrow the high goes back down to 70 or 75 for the next week.  I know that I will appreciate winter much more having experienced this.  Fortunately, my line on the metro has the new trains and is air conditioned.  Although I can't say its absolutely comfortable.  

Charlotte and I met up last night after work for a final Eiffel Tower picnic before she leaves on Friday.  I hate she's leaving, but she's a little bit closer than Ashleigh so a visit is a bit more probable.  Who knows?  Maybe I will find myself flying to Norway?  It was a wonderful evening and although it started off relatively warm, we finished around midnight to a very cool temperature.  It was perfect.  

We shared a bottle of wine, fruit and veg, and a very crazy man who wanted a kiss from Charlotte.  We discussed how the big dipper is called Carl's wagon in Norwegian, and the difference in groseilles.  Hilarious.  I only had my iPhone with me, so didn't get excellent pictures but they weren't too shabby.  I am not sure that I will ever get tired of looking at the Eiffel Tower.  I'll share with you a few of my favorites.  

Yesterday after school amidst all the heat, we had to make cookies for Marie-Césare's birthday party at school today.  They have a party before the end of the year for everyone who has birthdays in the summer so I volunteered to help her make some cookies.  We made a basic sugar cookie with icing and decorated it with pink sugar crystals, sprinkles, and candy she picked out.  

Despite the boiling hot kitchen, they turned out pretty cute I thought!  I can't wait to hear how everything went after school today.  Going to go hop in a cold shower before I have to hit the pavement.  So ready for cooler weather tomorrow!  

I hit up the sales in Paris on Friday morning.  The summer week of sales seemed to pass much quicker than the winter week of sales.  But maybe thats because there are much more interesting things on the summer sales.  I have been eyeing this certain pair of sandals in a storefront on my street since they were put out the beginning of April.  I went back the 2nd day of the sales to see what the price was.  Okay, so they were only 10 euros off, not very much of a sale, but I decided to scoop them up before they ran out of my hard-to-find-in-France shoe size.  After a quick run in Galaries Lafayette, H&M and Zara I went over towards the Louvre to meet Samantha Cox, one of my best friends from high school.  She has been doing a study abroad class for the past month, spending a little bit of time in different European cities.  Just so happened they spent 3 days in Paris, and I'm so glad we were able to meet up!  I love the Louvre, so I was happy to tag along.  I had to get to work, so I left them for a few hours and met back up with Samantha and her friend Jessica in Montmartre after work.  We had a delicious dinner of Beouf Bourguignon and red wine and passed a while on the front steps of the Sacre-Coeur...one of my other favorite places in the city.  There was a huge ramp and scaffolding set up blocking most of the steps for next weekend.  Some world champion rollerblader is attempting to rollerblade from the top of the stairs, all the way down to the bottom of the hill...and it looks scary!  The scaffolding stands probably 20 or 30 feet off of the ground and it looks like he would dive down so fast and run into buildings.  Hmm...I guess that I know what I'm doing next weekend!

It was so good to spend some time with her and catch up.  Everything has changed in both of our lives and a little face time was so worthwhile!  Saturday I woke up early and went to Marie-Césare's school.  It was the fête des parents...a huge carnival at her school.  They had all kinds of games set up, a "raffle, food and drinks, and of course a face painting area.  All the parents and kids were there, Chloé worked at one of the games while I took Marie-Césare around to play a little and have her face painted.  

Cléo getting her make-up done.

And Marie-Césare

Mischka, Cléo's extra super cute little brother....don't you love his red kicks?!

Franck joined us about an hour later for some games and good times, and everyone was getting a little tired and cranky so we decided to jet before clean-up time.  Franck and Chloé left for Belgium almost immediately after, as I was staying the night with Marie-Césare Saturday night and most of the day on Sunday.  They went to pick up some furniture they had bought a month earlier, and boy I can't wait to show you the good stuff they brought back.  Saturday afternoon Marie-Césare was so tired, but she just wouldn't let herself fall asleep.  Sooo we went to the library, park, etc.  just trying to wear her out so maybe she would go to bed early.  I had invited Charlotte over to Franck and Chloé's for dinner, because its her last weekend here and I hated for her to have to spend her last Saturday at home with the kids!  We made up some pasta and a tomato tart, and chocolate chip cookies for dessert.  Thankfully Marie-Césare fell asleep around 8 so we were able to enjoy the evening.  

Sunday morning she woke up around 7:30, which was pretty late considering how early she went to bed.  We laid around and watched Nick Jr.....Dora, Diego, and the Wonderpets (thank goodness there's no Fresh Beat Band here) until around 9:30 when I decided we should get up.  We had to make it out to the Jardin d'Acclimitation before noon, to enroll Marie-Césare in her riding lessons for next year.  Yes, that's right, she will be taking horseback riding lessons on Wednesdays next school year.  Since they don't have that in the city, we have to travel to the outskirts to take these classes.  That is one long haul for a tired, hot, 3 year old...I'm anxious to see how its going to go.  She will also take ballet at 9 in the morning from a studio near their house.  The Jardin d'Acclimitation is like a theme park for kids, whitout a theme.  There are just a bunch of kids rides, pony rides, a small water park area, restaurants, and swingsets.  Its really great for kids to have a place like that here, even though it isn't right in the middle its still fairly convenient.  After we enrolled in her class, we waited in line for what felt like an hour just to ride the ponies.  It was worth it though, any chance to mount any kind of horse and she is at her absolute happiest.  

It was about 80 degrees yesterday which has been the hottest day of the year so far.  We ducked into the shade at any chance possible and took full advantage of the "misters."  She thought it was dangerous because she said it was smoke, it took a good 15 minutes of convincing her that it was water.  Looking down into my bag for the last drop of water to drink I realized we had gone through 3 bottles already.  I decided it to be a good time to take a lunch break so we stopped for some much needed water and chicken nuggets.  Also a fine treat since mom isn't so keen on nuggets and fries.  

I had 2 tickets left, so I told her we would ride one more thing, then the train that goes through the park, then we would leave to go home.  She chose the indian canoes.  Which was probably good because the guy handed her a paddle to push her canoe along and she had to ask me how to use it.  Because where else would she learn a skill like using a canoe paddle?  

After the train we started the hike back to the metro.  I have figured out that if we "play the wolf" it gets her places much faster.  So I growl at her and act as if I'm going to catch her and she takes off running....a few of those and we get to our destination much quicker.   

Us on the train

The next photo is not an addition that they bought in Belgium, but one that they picked up in Paris.  I will never know what their style is in this house...other than very "French."  A very mish-mash or hodge podge-if you will, of things.  

Yes, it is a bowler hat. A very small bowler hat that is a legitimate light fixture.  It hangs about a foot away from the ceiling and looks very very peculiar.

95 degrees is the high today.....woooahhhh it is HOT.  I'm leaving my 7th floor apartment soon because I can't even stand it.  I don't know where I'll go, but anywhere has got to be better than here.  Anywhere with air conditioning.  McDonald's?  H&M? No, that's not a good idea...I'll just spend money.  Maybe I'll go browse every item at the supermarket.  Tomorrow its going to be 85 degrees which is a little better, then Wednesday back down to 70 degrees as the high for a few days.  Wish it would make up its mind...and preferably the colder the better!

And a huge Happy Birthday shout out to my Granny today!! 

Provence en été

The train ride down to Avignon was relaxing, I closed my eyes most of the way and pretended to sleep.  The weather in Paris was about 20 degrees and rainy when I left, and in Provence it was 27 or 28 and sunshine all week!  I arrived around noon to a very happy Marie-Césare and we went to a restaurant called Le Vieux Four in the heart of Provence.  It was a very nice restaurant, with a pretty pricey menu.  After we took our places at an umbrella canopied table outside, it was then I was told it was Padi and Didou's 40th wedding anniversary.  So, here they are, celebrating their wedding anniversary with their 3 year old granddaughter and her au pair.  What a celebration.  There were 3 prix fixe menus to choose from, and the tasty modern southern French menu was certainly the hardest decision of the day.  After a good 30 minute wait, our entrées came.  I started out with a cold cucumber soup with a scoop of olive oil sorbet in the middle, served with an olive tuile.  The olive oil sorbet was one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth.  It was made with olive oil from the region and was so creamy, it melted in your mouth.  The nuttiness of the olive oil contrasted well with the saltiness of the cucumber soup, so much so that I wanted to sop up every last drop with a piece of house made poppyseed bread.  You could immediately taste the difference in the olive oil from the region and the stuff you buy in masses from the supermarket.  It was after we left that I realized I should have asked for a pint to-go.  The second course was a roasted pork tenderloin served with apricot sauce and vegetable risotto.  The apricots and vegetables of course being fresh from the area.  Dessert was just as delicious:  a mixed fruit glass served with star anise chantilly cream, roasted almonds, groseilles (gooseberries) and a melt-in-your-mouth butter tuile.  I'm not a big fan of star anise, but with the fruit it worked well....and they are big fans of anise in the south of France, so you never know if your next bite will taste like licorice or not.  

After this delicious 3 hour long anniversary lunch we went into St. Remy to ride Monsieur Victor's carrousel.  She rode about 5 times, the last one of course being a free ride.  I guess she has built up enough frequent rider points since the beginning of her vacation last week!  St. Remy was a totally different place in the summer!  All of Aix-en-Provence was.  Everything is green and flourishing.  The vegetables have been lying in the sun hours upon end, just bursting with ripe colors and textures.  There were actual fields of bright yellow sunflowers, which I had never seen before...only in photos!  They were incredible. Their colors were truly magnificent in the sunshine with the yellow contrasting on the deep blue sky.  Fields of lettuce, radishes, artichokes (I don't know where I thought artichokes came from but I've never seen those bushes either!) tomatoes, strawberries, melons....ah! It was incroyable!  

We got back in the car to head back to the house in Maillane.  Marie-Césare immediately wanted to put on her bathing suit and go swimming, and I chose to occupy the lawn chairs with my new book.  I'm glad I didn't decide to swim with her, because she just wanted to get wet in the basin.  I'm not sure there would have been room enough for us both.  

I couldn't believe that there was a pool at her disposal, and she wanted to splash around in a bucket.  Me being the swim geek I am, I knew this had to change.  After a couple of hours lying around the yard, Didou went in to make dinner.  Tomato salad with fresh cucumbers and fresh homemade herbs de provence.  Not the kind you buy from the supermarket that have been sitting on the shelves in those little tins for months.  We also had pizza with cheese, olives, walnuts, and fig oil.  YUM.  Dessert in the summer is always fresh fruit...if its a special occasion, a little bit of ice cream on the side.  Apricots, strawberries, peaches, you name it, you got it.  

I was amazed at how pretty the house looked in the summer.  It was very French country in the winter, but now with everything green and in bloom, in looked even better.  The vines over the doorway were lush, and the outdoor table and umbrella are a great summer eating spot.  

The next morning, Marie-Césare crept upstairs to wake me up at 8:30 am.  If she hadn't I'm not sure what time I would have woken up.  The sheets that were on my bed were soft linen, and tucked so tight that after 3 days it looked like I was never even there.  Marie-Césare is very sweet in the mornings so I didn't mind being woken up by warm hugs and bisous.  We had breakfast outside on the table, which is sometimes the best part of the day because guess what there is at breakfast?!? Padi's confiture!  Om nom nom.  The bread is really just a way to get the jam into your mouth.  Prune and orange were the pick of the day and I gladly gobbled up both.  Didou wasn't feeling so well so Padi took her to the doctor after breakfast.  Marie-Césare and I colored until the sun came out over the pool, then we went for a swim.  We lathered up with sunscreen and donned our hats and flip-flops.  I dove right in sort of forgetting about Marie-Césare.  She wanted her float, and I couldn't believe at 3 years old she still had this ginormous yellow buoy.  She should have at least graduated to water wings by now.  I put her in her float and we putted around the pool for an hour or so.  

Then, I decided that we should start jumping.  So, I got us both out of the water, and I did a huge cannonball into the water.  Then, I told her it was her turn.  We argued back and forth for about 15 minutes on whether or not this was a good idea...and she was rather scared.  I told her I was right here and nothing was going to happen..ya know, the typical things you tell a child when they feel as if they are about to go under water.  Finally, after much anticipation, I got her toes to the edge of the pool, and she went for it.  

And of course, with that giant float on, nothing happened and she lived through it.  Whew. I was worried.  We learned lots of English words for the pool, swimming, jump, float, and then I taught her how to cup her hands so that the water doesn't go through so she can pull herself along.  She had the kicking part down pat, but the hands were another story.  When Didou and Padi returned, we had lunch. Tomato Farcies with risotto.  One of my favorites!  We hung our wet clothes out to dry in the sun and went upstairs to take a nap.  I started reading her Eloise, and she passed out within 10 minutes. Thank goodness because that book is long!  I never realized how lengthy it was.  We ended up sleeping for 2 1/2 hours....longest nap I've had in awhile!  I didn't even think I was tired but that's what you do in the south-eat and sleep.  

Padi, Marie-Césare and I went to St. Remy to ride the carrousel, and to let me have a look around the town.  Most of the shops were closed because it was Monday, but it was nice to be able to have a look.  

Dinner was homemade paté en croûte (paté wrapped with a delicious puff pastry shell), prosciutto and melon, fresh shelled peas, fat slices of tomatoes, cheese, and strawberries for dessert.  We popped in an episode of Caroline for Marie-Césare and Didou went to bed.  A couple of episodes later, Didou came back out and started going off because Marie-Césare wasn't in bed.  It was only 10, but I guess I can see her concern.  She snapped at Padi and kept sighing these huge sighs so he would get the point.  He is just a grandpa who's granddaughter was him wrapped around her little finger so when she asked for one last episode of course he said yes!  It was so funny.  

After breakfast outside on Tuesday we immediately hit the pool.  After a good while of using the float, I asked Padi to bring out her water wings.  It was a slow moving process, but I coaxed her to put them on. She then wanted her float too, and I explained it doesn't work like that.  I held her for awhile with her wings on, so she would get the feel of it.  I eventually let go and her head bobbed down into the water a little bit.  She took it like a champ and came up spitting and wiping her eyes.  I think she liked having them on, and she was free to do more in the pool.  It was then that having her hands cupped together made swimming so easy!  

We played lots of games and splashed around for quite sometime.  After lunch of veal cutlets, homemade fries, fresh green beans, and radishes (with salt and butter...which is how they eat them here.) we played around in the yard a little bit catching butterflies and even found a coccinelle (ladybug) and gave it a home in a jar for awhile.  Padi had made some sort of a swing, so we both took a turn on it (my turn being very short as I was afraid it might collapse, but she found it quite enthralling to push me on the swing...) We took a 3 hour nap (woah!) and listened to the hum of the cicadas as we fell asleep.  

After our lengthy nap, we went back to St. Remy for ice cream and another trip on Monsieur Victor's carrousel, and I had a chance to do some real shopping.  I bought lots of goodies for the ladies in my family...as Provence is a shopping paradise.  

Our last night's dinner was pasta with fresh tomatoes, olive oil, olives, herbs de provence, pine nuts, and prosciutto.  For dessert?  These strange looking gooseberries.  The groseilles or gooseberries I've seen in Paris are tiny, red and deliciously sweet.  These were a Eurasian variety, and looked a lot like little hairy grapes.  They were a bit tart, with the texture of a grape for sure.  I liked these, although I prefer the taste of the regular ones.

Didou and Marie-Césare playing 'cowboy'

Wednesday morning we went to the market in St. Remy.  It was huge and absolutely packed elbow to elbow and full to the brim with people.  There wasn't even space to take a photo!  Everyone within 200 kilometers was there.  We stayed about 30 minutes, got what we needed and headed out!  It wasn't even worth the fight.  We picnicked on the lawn before our train at 2 pm.  Marie-Césare always loves picnics because that means there will be chips!  

Since the train only stops for a maximum of 5 minutes in Avignon, our goodbyes were very quick.  They blew the whistle and we hadn't even made it onto the train yet.  I pushed Marie-Césare on the train, and then moved 2 people out of our seats who weren't suppose to be there.  I tried to read a book or something to get her to go to sleep, but nothing was working.  I remember I had Finding Nemo on my Iphone and asked her if she wanted to watch it.  I told her it was in English and she said she speaks English very well and wanted to anyway, and that worked like a charm.  She was out cold within 15 minutes so the train ride was just fine.  She woke up just in time to pull herself together before we got off the train.  I loaded my shoulders with my overnight bag, her bag, my purse, and a bag full of things I bought in Provence and lugged everything to a taxi.  I didn't figure that with all that stuff plus a 3 year old the metro would be a good choice at 6:30 during peak hour.  

She was very excited to see her mother who was waiting for her when we got home.  I was very excited to get back home to my apartment, where it is quiet and peaceful, but not so excited to feel the cold weather in Paris.  I hope that I am able to go back to the south before the end of the summer and eat some more delicious fresh fruits and vegetables, play in the pool, and enjoy the sunshine.  It is always a good time there, and always new places to see and things to do!! 

See ya!

After a few days of hanging out in Paris sans Marie-Césare I am heading down to Aix-en-Provence tomorrow for a few days.   So excited about a little fun in the sun and hopefully a dip or two in the pool.  Padi told me to be sure I brought my swimsuit so I guess thats a guarantee.  Not to mention to eat up some of Didou's fine southern French cookin'.  Yum-my.  I'll be away until Wednesday...its not worth it to lug my computer all the way there.  Besides, I just bought a new book.  My first book all in French!  It's called Si Vous Recevez Cette Lettre by Sarah Blake.  The Postmistress in the English language I believe.  A bestseller here so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  It should keep me fairly occupied when I'm not teaching Marie-Césare how to swim.  ;) 

Final goodbyes

I don't do well with goodbyes.  I don't know whether its because I'm a girl, or whether I'm just over emotional when it comes to things like that or what.  And the fact that I may not see one of my best friends for a really long time makes me super sad!  I couldn't believe that Ashleigh and I had become so close in such a short period of time.  But it is here where I can thank her profusely for making my first year (give or take a few months) in Paris so enjoyable.  It is very rare that in such a few short months I was able to weed through quite a few girls to find her.  The same likes and dislikes, wanting to get out and do the same things, a companion to make me go to church, not to mention traveling with her was a breeze, and even just sitting and not saying anything.  I never even thought in the time I was here I would find good friends like I have back home but I was surely mistaken!  

Our goodbye after Saturday night dinner was quick as I didn't want to make a big deal out of it.  Knowing it could be 3 or 4 years before I actually did make that trip to Perth, Australia was tough.  I also hated that we weren't able to hang out as much that past week because with my parents in town, and all her last minute errands, it just hadn't worked out!  I brushed it off with a few tears, and then had to think of another goodbye...my parents!  It all happened so fast I barely remember it.  That next morning we were to get up early so I just spent the night there.  We woke up and were out the door by 7:30 am walking to the metro with their (heavy) suitcases and other various bags.  Cue the *womp...womp* sound now.  Line 1 on the metro was closed.  8*sd&9#!!!!!!! They have been doing extensive work on the Line 1 for months now, but I didn't notice anything on how it was closed on Sundays until 10 am.  I looked around trying to find a solution....taxi!  We were literally going 2 metro stops to Chatelet to catch the RER and the taxi driver kind of rolled his eyes when I told him our destination but I explained it was hard with our suitcases, etc.  That's his job right?  To drive people where they want to go?  SO....take us to Chatelet! 

We hurled their suitcases down the stairs and shoved our way through the barriers with their gargantuan bags.  Rode the moving sidewalk without taking a step which was a new experience for me.  It actually moves verrrrrry slow when you are not moving.  Went through our next set of ticket barriers, this time Pat having a little technical difficulty getting through.  His suitcase got stuck, and the doors wouldn't re-open without someone else going through.  I tried to explain to everyone entering to come his way and people just looked at him like he had some disease or something.  It was a simple concept.  Finally this little old lady was sweet enough to give it a go and...voilà!  Off we went.  Until I realized they didn't have the proper tickets for the RER.  e*wld$%#!   They could have gotten on but when they exited at the airport it would have been impossible because it requires a special ticket.  I did NOT want them to have to go through that trouble at the airport when I could do it at Chatelet and know what I'm doing.  Since Chatelet is a ginormous metro station, I planted them in a spot and said don't move!  I began a quick sprint to find the nearest ticket machine that would sell me an airport ticket.  I had to go all the way to Line 4 entrance desk and finally I succeeded!  Not wanting them to be late for their flight, we had very quick goodbyes, an exchange of their extra euros that were left over (which worked in my favor!), and I shoved them on the next train and basically said, "Don't get off until the end."  

I had just returned to my apartment when I received a telephone call.  "Hello." "Hello...Maggie?" "Yes..." "It's Ashleigh!"  "Uhh...yes....What are you doing?  Shouldn't you be on a plane to the States?" "Well, actually, I'm not leaving until tomorrow...come over for a movie day? I'll explain it when you get here."  YES!!! I thought to myself.  I hated to be selfish because I know she was ready to get to camp, but one more day just hanging and watching  movies in our tracky (trekkie? trecky? tracky?...Ashleigh, tried to throw in an Aussie word but just couldn't pull off the spelling) pants and t-shirts?  Please!  Turns out, her flight was delayed long enough to where she couldn't make her connection flight to Grand Rapids, MI....so, the airline offered to put her up for a night in Newark.  She decided she would rather stay in Paris in her bed than stay in Newark and eat hotel food.  Good choice for me!  We watched some pretty bad French television, The Jungle Book, and some recent Disney movie in French.  It was great to spend just one last day together without anything on our minds.  

So Ashleigh....thank you for your kind words, encouragement, support, love, and friendship that you have shared with me!  We have made great memories together and I will never forget our time in Paris!  There are so many people in this world that call themselves your friend and I am so lucky to be one of them!  

I will not go to Avignon tonight

Wednesday was really the only day that they had to themselves.  I had Marie-Césare on Monday after school, all day Wednesday, and Thursday.  Friday I had to pick her up early from school and drop her with her parents at Gare de Lyon because they were going to Provence for the weekend.  I am certain mom and Pat would have loved some more time alone, but I just couldn't justify having them in Paris and not spending a lot of time with them!  (Ask them and they may have another opinion...)

They were going to come meet Marie-Césare and I at the park that afternoon, so I put her down for a nap and hoped they came in time.  She ended up sleeping for 3 hours and Pat and mom rolled in around 5:30.  Both of them were hobbling in talking about how far they walked that day.  They did, in fact, walk a lot....but on this particular day-it was NOT my fault.  I take no blame for their busy Wednesday.  I did throw Marie-Césare in the bath with some fizzy tablets mom brought for her.  Who knew such a simple thing could bring such joy?  She could not stop saying, "Wow! Wow! Woooow!  Le bain...c'est vert!  Le bain...c'est bleu!"  

Thursday began with a trip to my apartment.  Which meant 138 stairs to climb.  I don't really think about it all that much anymore, because its something I have to do, so the more I agonize over it the more of a chore it becomes.  Besides, its not THAT many...

I think they were surprised how nice my neighborhood is that I live in, and how nice my apartment is.  Its not fancy 16th arrondissement living but it sure isn't the dumps.  We shared breakfast together as my mom checked out all my drawers and window views.  

Since I'm fairly close, we popped over to the Eiffel Tower to take the long-awaited trip to the top.  The line wasn't too long, but I think the clouds hanging over in the distance kept people away.  

I have been up, but only at night in the freezing cold, and it was more interesting to go during the day. (Especially when the trees and grass are green!)  

Us at the very tip top!

Yes, mom did get one glass of champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower

I forgot how you are herded like a bunch of cows and the interesting folks you see at the top of the Tour Eiffel.  I guess in every mass tourist situation you are herded like cows (aka The Statue of Liberty-one of the worst tourist things I've EVER done) and there are so many different nationalities in one tiny square at one time that at least 15 different languages were being spoken.  The views were beautiful, and being able to point out just about everything was a proud moment for me.  I had my bearings, and I can navigate this city with great ease.  

When you go up, you are taken to the second floor, then you get on another elevator to go to the very top, then if you want on your way back down you can stop at the first floor.  I received a very quick "No, I'm tired, I don't want to stop at the first floor," from Pat so we bypassed that view.  Fortunately, there wasn't much else to see except for a slightly lower panoramic of Paris.  

That night for dinner we met a long-time family friend of mine, Eric Beuerlein, for dinner at Chez Marianne...just around the corner from their apartment.  He is teaching this summer in Brest, and spent a couple of days in Paris before taking his high school kids from Indiana on a 9 hour bus ride to the city.  And ironically, as we were walking towards the metro on the Champ de Mars earlier that day, who do we run into, but him! It was so bizarre.  I am always taken back when I do cross paths with someone I know, but it was even more weird knowing we were going to see each other that night.  I hate to say we didn't take any photos!  Dinner was...interesting...definitely not the best food I've eaten in Paris but certainly not the worst.  A friend of his in the same program joined us so even though the food was mediocre the company was great!  

Friday was a very low key day, I showed off the "Grand Magasins" Au Printemps and Galaries Lafayette.  Mom and I spent a couple of hours in Galaries Lafayette as Pat wandered around outside wondering why we were spending precious time in Paris in a department store.  Trying to explain that Galaries Lafayette is not just any ol' department store to a man is impossible, so we just let that one lie.  We were going to tour the Opéra Garnier, but as usual, it was closed for auditions and renovations.  We weren't interested in going to the museum, just the auditorium and its been my luck that when I go its always closed!  One of these days I hope my luck will turn around and it will be open!  I showed them Place Vendôme where Chloé works and the ritzy district of the 1st and 9th arrondissements, including the Église and Place de la Madeleine which I always find impressive.  

I left to pick up Marie-Césare for her train to Provence (Avignon) and we arrived at Gare de Lyon at least 30 minutes early.  For those of you that don't know French train systems, they don't announce the platform that you will be leaving from until about 15 minutes ahead of time.  SO, you have a huge crowd around the screens and as soon as its announced, hundreds of people go charging in that direction.  We were sitting patiently coloring and playing with the new My Little Pony mom brought her when the platform was announced.  Immediately I received a call from Chloé who was panicking telling me which  platform and train car they were in.  We head towards the platform immediately and I start counting the cars...8, 7, 6, 5, 4...okay something was wrong.  They were in car 12.  There is no 12!!! I check the platform to see if I'm on the right one and I call Franck.  (All this while Marie-Césare is picking her nose, telling me she's thirsty, and asking me to look at that mans funny mustache...) I hear the whistle blow....oh (insert bad words here)!!! I KNEW if I didn't find Franck or Chloé and get her on this train immediately that I was going to be making a trip to Avignon that night with Marie-Césare.  "My parents were in town....this is NOT happening!!!" I thought to myself.  I picked her up and began to run....a few seconds later and with a sigh of relief, I saw Franck in the distance.  He began running in my direction so I handed over the baggage and they quickly jumped on the train just as it was pulling out of the station.  Turns out there were 2 trains connected as one instead of just one train, so the beginning of the next train started over with car 1.  They should really note that stuff on the platform screen.  Especially for people like me who don't take TGV's very often...very confusing!  Those 20 minutes happened so fast I'm surprised I even remember them.  All I could remember thinking was, "I am NOT going to Avignon tonight."   

Ashleigh met us for a low key evening.  We shared a bottle of wine from the Cinque Terre that I brought over, and went to get falafels for dinner.  I couldn't believe Ashleigh has lived here since September and still hadn't eaten a falafel.  I'm pretty sure Pat had at least 3 of them and he was only here a week!  Ashleigh was leaving on Sunday at the same time as mom and Pat, and I'll have to say I was deeply saddened at the anticipation of her departure.  Hers more so than mom or Pat I believe.  

Saturday mom and I woke up super early (moi, je me suis reveillée à 6 heures du matin).  And were on a train to Giverny at 8:20.  It was either an 8:20 train or a noon train, and we decided we would at least not be so rushed if we took the 8:20 train.  This was something that mom had wanted to do since they had decided to come to Paris.  I love getting out of Paris for the day, and Giverny is such a lovely place to visit.  Who wouldn't want to spend the day in Monet's gardens? 

 Well, Pat.  

I left him instructions for Les Invalides and how to get up to Montmartre in hopes that he would have as successful of a day that we were going to have.  

I was in Giverny in April at Monet's house and gardens...but everything had changed.  I thought it was beautiful before, but it was even prettier now!  Instead of the tulips it is full with greenery and all sorts of strange flowers.  So many colors and kinds I don't know how they keep track of them all!  

The water lilies and pads were out and with the reflection of the willows the pictures were fabulous.  

As we were wandering around the pond, we were looking for someone to take a photo of us.  Someone who wouldn't be too bothered and preferable spoke English.  Mom said, "Well, lets ask this little girl."  This little girl being 25 years old of course.  They looked at each other for a minute, and the 'little girl' said...."Terri?"  NO WAY.  Of course mom would know someone on a different continent 45 minutes away from Paris.  What are the odds that you meet at Monet's gardens in Giverny, France.  Turns out, she was a speech pathology student from Germany who had observed for a few months under moms German employee, Alex at the SLLC.  How bizarre!!  And yet, how cool!  What a small world we live in, huh?  She may be a great speech pathologists but unfortunately, I don't see being a photographer in her near future as our photo didn't turn out so well.  

I bounced through this field of poppies on our way back to the bus...I've always wanted to dance in a field of poppies!!!

Fantastic day spent in Giverny with just enough time left to take a quick nap and get ready for our (their) last dinner in Paris!  We couldn't ever decide on a restaurant, and once we got down to it everywhere was booked so we took a suggestion out of the book at their apartment for a restaurant just across from the Notre-Dame...L'Atelier with Guy Savoy.  Of course a meal by a well-known French chef can easily come across as 200 or 300 euros (without wine) so this was a step down but still associated with a well-known French chef.  And they had a table for 4 available so we jumped at the chance!  

We got all gussied up and walked across the Seine.  Ashleigh met us as it was her last dinner in Paris as well and I didn't want her to spend it alone.  My time with her was dwindling down to the minutes and I wanted to soak it all in!  The restaurant was clean and crisp, not gaudy with decoration.  Simple and modern with wine bottles decorating the walls.  The menu was simple not too lavish...which sometimes drowns food with all the preparation.  I ordered the lamb as did Ashleigh which was served with an artichoke gratin.  Hello....delish.  The lamb was so tender it practically melted in your mouth.  Whatever sauce it was served in I wanted to sop up every last drop with the last piece of bread in the basket on the table.  The artichoke gratin was creamy and rich and served in a piping hot cast iron dish.  

Pat had the beef, and mom the sea bass a la plancha with potato gratin.  Dessert was another favorite part and I was happy with that choice as well.  Wild forest strawberries soaked in a sugary slightly mint flavored syrup, served with mini pistachio cupcakes, strawberry sorbet, and strawberry coulis.  The strawberries were a bit tart, but the syrup on the bottom complemented them nicely.  The pistachio cupcakes were warm and soft on the inside and practically melted the sorbet which was sitting just beside it.  

Mom's dessert of lemon-cherry cheesecake was also scrumptious.  I'm not a huge fan of cherries, but these looked pretty darn good.  

With full tummies and a bit of a chill in the air, we walked back over the Seine and waited for Notre-Dame to turn on their outside lights which is always a beautiful sight.  

I bid farewell to Ashleigh which was so tough to do...and sent her on the metro back to her house because she had to leave very early the next morning to catch her flight to the US.  Dare I say that yes....I was going to be seeing her again???  In Paris????.....................