Monday morning in April. In Paris. The young family is here, more rested, ready to take on the city. And oh, do they have the weather for it! I am so glad.
I have 27 photos for you so I am doing better. Time is short though, so I'll keep my sentences on the short side.
Here we go, in chronological order, the 27:
1. Looking out the window in the morning.
I wait for them to wake up and get moving. No need to rush breakfast. (In fact, am I ever known to rush breakfast?)
By 9 we are all downstairs.
2. The girls try to figure out what's good and what's great from the selections.
3. Juniper is still wondering why she had to get up so early (at 8:30)...
The plan for the day is to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I, of course, declined. Great traveler and hiker that I may be, crowds scare me, heights scare me -- Ed laughs that my list of "things to avoid" grows longer every year. He is probably correct in that.
But I do set out with them.
4. We walk to the river...
My daughter had this great idea that we should take the hop-on hop-off boat to the Tower. It gives us the thrill of being on the river, without the need to sit through a whole long journey up and down the Seine.
5. Here comes our Seine "bus!"
6. Juniper is thrilled.
7. The three of us...
8. We get off at the Eiffel Tower stop then cross over to the Trocadero on the Right Bank. From there, you get a commanding view of the Tower, without the current temporary barricades that ruin the view on the Left Bank.
And now for a Tower overload: six Eiffel Tower photos because, well, it's rather grand and especially now, in the spring season.
9. First view -- where I'm sure you'd like to tell you I should have remembered to pack the camera hood (all the photos will necessarily be into the sun).
10 Spring blooms
11. Sisters, at the Tower
12. The young family finally with an unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower.
13. Walking down now, because they have reservations to ride the elevators to the top.
14. Meanwhile, I find a tiny cafe, far away from the crowds...
15. And sip a cup of herbal tea. With pistachio cake.
!6. I'm going to throw in one more photo -- a more traditional one of the Tower. What you don't see is the tall wired fencing all around the green space. I shot through the holes in the fencing.
Two hours later, they were back down. Kids liked it, parents checked off an important item from a "Paris musts" list.
17. We go to the Rue Cler market street on the Left Bank, and stop for lunch at Le Petit Cler.
18. Lots of good stuff: a croque monsieur (grilled cheese and ham), a salad with baked goat cheese, an omelette, some meats with bread from Poilane.
19. And ice cream from Berthillon!
20. She ordered "pear." One spoonful and she tells us: it tastes like applesauce. We all taste it. She is right!
21. Energized, playing on the Rue Cler.
22. Still energized...
23. On the walk back, Juniper relays her thoughts on the state of affairs in this world...
And now I think everyone needs a nap!
But not for long. Evening is fast approaching and I promised Primrose I would go with her to Yves Rocher before dinner. (In case you're not familiar with it, it's a French cosmetics store that targets a middle income customer.) She's been eyeing my lipsticks and wishing she had brought hers along for the trip. I told her she could choose a color at Yves Rocher.
24. She chooses a very appropriate for her complexion color.
We meet up with Juniper and the parents at Cafe Varenne for dinner.
Oh, Cafe Varenne! I am monstrously attached to this place and I don't think I've been in Paris once in recent decades, without stopping here for a meal. Usually lunch, but this time my daughter suggested dinner. It was a great call.
25. Thank you for this picture, sweet daughter of mine!
It is the season for white asparagus. I order a plateful (among other things).
26. Traditional French foods reliably and deliciously well prepared. And the world's greatest waiters.
We sat next to a gentleman from Germany (who kept darting sweet smiles at the girls, whose behavior was impeccable). As we were leaving, I stayed behind a little, to make sure no one left anything. He and I got to chatting. He wanted to know where we were from. Ahhhhh.... America. What is your person doing?? He's crazy! I could not disagree. I owed him a few minutes of listening time, during which he spoke strongly against what was happening in our country. He knew I was comfortable with the French language. He tells me -- move to France, leave that place!
They all think the only answer is to escape.
27. Me and the kids, on our way out.
The kids were buoyant on the walk home. Songs were sung, spirits were high.
Tomorrow, breakfast is going to be very very late. I hope!
What a beautiful day!
with so much love....
