Family Eurotour 2015: Paris

Sometimes, I don't have very good pictures, but the words flow easy. Other times, like now, I have an abundance of photographs, but the words won't seem to come. Because what can I possibly say about Paris that I haven't already said?

I absolutely love this city, albeit in a different way from Florence, or Charleston/Seabrook Island, or Chapel Hill, or other places that are so deeply etched into my heart. There is a unique loveliness to it - it's no wonder so many people visit here annually. And it was just what we needed after the heat and exhaustion of Rome and the bland niceness of Vienna.

The weather was perfect - overcast and cool, with a slight breeze. It actually felt good to be outside. We only had about a day and a half to explore Paris, but Mom, Dad, and I had a fantastic time. We bought groceries for a picnic under the Eiffel Tower, walked down the Champs Elysees, sauntered along the Seine, and ended our Eurotour with a wacky, hilarious, delicious dinner at Le Refuges des Fondus.

Confession time: On their last day, I rode with Mom and Dad to Charles de Gaulle on the train to say goodbye. And on my way back into the city to catch a TGV to Tours, I cried the entire time. I had been anticipating their trip since B and I moved here in April. I can't explain how heartbroken I was that it was over, and that they had to go back to the U.S. Of course, on the positive side, when you're sobbing on the metro, people do tend to give you a wide berth, which I greatly appreciated.

I miss Mom and Dad like crazy, but the memories we made will live on in family lore for a long, long time, and frankly, that's kind of the point for me. It's something B and I have made every effort to do since we got here. And if memory fails, I can always refer back to one of the 4,592,133 photos I took, such as the ones below.

xoxo,
E

Not too shabby a spot for a picnic.

Our spread

Like the Duomo, I never get tired of seeing this.

Lovely detail

The quintessential Paris photo op

A monument dedicated to the Americans killed helping France during WWII.

Incredibly touching and classy.

The Arc de Triomphe

Waiting in line at Laduree...home of the famous macarons.

Also known as my mecca.

The insanity that is the Champs Elysees

Stunning clouds over the Seine

Windy mother-daughter shot

Walking along the Seine = my favorite Paris pastime

Would love to have one of these houseboats!

What's left of the love locks.

Mom's new friend in the Jardins de Tuileries outside the Louvre.

Nope. Just...nope.

The Louvre...where I'd rather sit on a bench and read The Da Vinci Code.

Mom checking out the vendors along the Seine.

Finally got to visit the famous bookstore, Shakespeare & Company, where you used to be able to spend the night in exchange for working a shift. Didn't get to go in due to the line - but next time!