Monday, June 23, 2014

5 and Summer


Griffin turned 5 last Thursday!
Five!
It was also the last day of school
so lots to celebrate here.


Griffy and I had lunch at his 
favorite place...Frog.



And he picked out a new 
Eiffel Tower.



He wanted pizza for dinner
and of course we had cake
and presents.


We are so proud of you
Griffy!
You've become such a big 
boy!
Your family loves you so much!!


Friday..
the first day of summer vacation..
we went to the bookstore
to pick up some summer reading,
and out to lunch in the 
Jardin des Tuileries.


This past weekend was
fete du musique here in Paris..
Bands play all over the city
all night long.
And the sunsets in the evening
(10 pm!!)...have been just beautiful.


And we are off!
Thursday we fly to Iceland!
We will stay there for 3 days 
and then continue on to Boston.
We are really looking forward to
another summer on 
Martha's Vineyard 
and visiting family and friends!!

Happy summer!











Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Ralph's and Getting Lost in France



Saturday night Steve and I
had dinner at Ralph's with some friends.
I wanted to take everything in this 
picture home with me.
The vintage fabric pillows..
the table setting..
the cozy atmosphere.
The food was fantastic.
The service...well, probably the best
we've experienced here in Paris..
so far.





If you find yourself in Paris,
with a hankering for some good
American food..
Steve had the chili and the burger..
I had the crab cake and the lobster salad..
Go to Ralph's!
(and ask for a pack of matches on your way out..
you know I collect them..and Ralph's 
are navy blue of course!)




On our ride home from Giverny on
Sunday we got a little lost.
And I'm so glad we did!
We came across the most
charming little town
situated right on the banks of the Seine.
Complete with a medieval castle.


Richard the Lion heart, king of England and 
Duke of Normandy built Chateau Gaillard between
1196 and 1198.



The quaint little town at the base
of the Chateau..
I believe is Le Petit Andelys.





Gorgeous views of the Seine


Great for throwing rocks



So glad we got lost!










Monday, June 16, 2014

Father's Day at Giverny


Yesterday for Father's day 
we drove outside the city
to the beautiful home and 
garden of Claude Monet.


It would have been a perfect day
had Hannah been with us.
Today is her last final
at school and she insisted on 
staying home to study.



It was a lovely day to walk through
Monet's gardens...








..and see the famous water lilies!







I loved touring the home he shared
with his second wife Alice and their
8 children!



The famous yellow dining room!



We walked around the grounds and found a little
place to eat.





Giverny is such a charming 
little town..
stone houses
covered in climbing ivy...




and wild flowers everywhere.





Happy Father's day 
Steve!
Your family loves you!
















Tuesday, June 10, 2014

The French Open and Thunderstorms in Paris






I think summer has 
arrived in Paris!
This past weekend we watched
the French Open finals
on the Champs du Mars.



We met a few friends there
and had a picnic.

Great tennis!



And on Saturday I met
David Lebovitz!
He was at our local English
bookstore signing his latest 
cookbook.
I love his blog!
And really looking forward to 
trying some of his recipes.



We have had some 
intense storms these past
two nights!
Last night I took this picture
just as a flash of lightening
struck...
(you can see the bolt and how the sky lit up)
and as the midnight sparkles began!



I was still awake listening to the storm
when the tower shut it's lights off
after the 1:00 am sparkles.
The lightening was amazing!


This is the last full week of school!
And I'm hoping to get some sleep
tonight
:)








Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Provencal villages and Cassis


Saturday morning there is a
fantastic outdoor market
on Place de Verdun in Aix.
Produce and cheese and
clothes and antiques.
Certainly my idea of 
a Saturday morning!



What a gorgeous Provencal market!
I had to remind myself that I had
only one suitcase!


I did of course pick up
a traditional French market 
basket!


Lots of lavender and 
herbs de Provence!


These artichokes
were beautiful!


After strolling the market
for a few hours,
I met up with my tour group.
I booked through 
and it was perfect!
Only 5 of us..
me and the two honeymooners!
An Australian couple and a 
couple from Hong Kong.
Our tour guide Janika was 
friendly and very knowledgable.



Our tour started at a winery..
and after a bit of tasting we 
walked around the gorgeous 
gardens.




After the wine tour
we visited two perched Provencal 
villages.




We visited Asouis
and Cucuron.
The picture above was 
taken in Cucuron
where the movie
A Good Year was partly filmed.
It's based on Peter Mayle's novel.


I was thrilled to find out
that there was room for 
one more on the tour Sunday
to Cassis!


The Australian couple was back
 along with a couple
from Boston!


Sarah, the owner of 
Discover Provence was
out guide Sunday.
She was lovely!
I highly recommend her tours!
I want to go back and do her Provencal
cooking class!



Cassis is about a 40 minute 
drive from Aix.
It's an old fishing village.
When we first arrived we boarded
a ferry that took us along the coast
and into three separate calanques..
or sheltered inlets. 
This is one pictured above.


After the boat tour
we sat at an outdoor cafe
for a glass of Cassis' white wine.




We then drove up a beautiful windy 
road leading to Cap Canaille
where we had a gorgeous view.


Upon our return 
back in Aix..
the two couples invited
me for a quick bite to eat 
with them and then I was 
headed back home on the train
to Paris.

A perfect long weekend!