Reflections on our Trip into Paris

 My mama has now been returned to the States and we do sorely miss her. She's a dream guest. A dream mother, for that matter.

But now we have many happy memories. Including the trip to Paris that Jane and I took to pick Grammy up. We decided to incorporate it into a slightly-belated birthday trip for Jane (less "things" more experiences, are our goals whilst here!). We left La Cressonnière a day early and took the train into the city for a grand adventure. (In the interest of honesty, I was so nervous to take the train in for the first time and navigate around Paris! After I do things once, I feel much more confident ... but boy, I did have the jitters this first time around!)

We stayed in a very reasonable hotel directly across the street from the Sorbonne in the Latin Quarter. A short metro or cab ride from Gare Montparnasse with an incredible amount of tourist delights within easy access. Recommended without hesitation.

Jane is a marvelous traveler. She is easy-going, willing to find interest and joy in everything, and cute as a bug (if I do say so myself). We spent the day in search of the best pastry shop (Gerard Mulot - amazing), walking through the grounds of the Louvre and the adjoining Jardin des Tuileries, and seeing two different movies being shot. Fascinating!

And knowing Jane's love for animals and insects, we stopped at Deyrolle, a taxidermy shop of epic proportions. It's free entrance and a marvel!

 The next morning, full with anticipation of Grammy's arrival, we walked over the Seine to see Notre Dame de Paris. (Did you know that the de Paris is a pretty important part of the name here? Notre Dame is a university in the States, Notre Dame de Paris is a cathedral in France!)

And sometimes we just stopped and watched the city.

And by the time we returned back to the hotel, Grammy had arrived! She was shockingly full of vim and vigor and we stashed her bags and set off to stretch her legs. A quick walk over to the Jardin du Luxembourg, we found an older gentlemen selling freshly roasted chestnuts.

How can one not buy hot chestnuts to eat in Paris?

And floating on clouds of happiness because we were all together, we gloried in the beauty of Paris in the fall and the time to be spent in the weeks ahead.

Even though my heart, once again, is missing the presence of my mama ... I am so grateful for the time we had the chance to "travel" together! This whole experience is a rather grand one, and to be doing it alongside my dear ones is such a treat.

Until you return, Mama!