Wednesday, November 18, 2015

"Fluctuat Nec Mergitur"




(photo taken from
NBC website)


For three days the tower
will be illuminated
in the colors of the French flag.






The words..
"Fluctuat nec mergitur"
are projected onto the tower as well.
Taken from the Paris coat of arms,
 it translates to..
"she is tossed by the waves,
but does not sink".

Hannah went out with a friend
last night,
in the wind and rain,
to take the picture above.

I want to thank everyone
that has emailed,
sent messages and left
comments regarding 
our safety.
It has meant so much
to me that
you have reached out.

We are safe..
still very much in shock
but safe.

Some have asked if 
we want to go home.
Over the past 22 years,
we have called many 
different places home.
Paris is home now
and we love this city.

Vive la France!













Thursday, November 12, 2015

A Weekend in Champagne


Steve and I had the
opportunity to get away
together this past weekend.
This never happens, but we agreed
that it needs to happen more often!



We stayed at 
and it was fabulous!





We arrived around noon..
only about an hour and a half
outside of Paris.

We had  a delicious lunch in
the Brasserie at the chateau and 
then went straight to our first
Champagne tour.




We visited the 
Moet & Chandon house
first.
(the T is pronounced in Moet!
I didn't know!)







It was a great tour!
Our guide was terrific.


And of course..
a tasting at the end of 
the tour!

"In victory, I deserve champagne..
In defeat, I need it"...Napoleon.


We had dinner that evening
at the 2 Michelin starred 
restaraunt Le Parc at the chateau.







The dining room was 
stunning!
I took pictures the next morning
after breakfast.
We dined for four hours!
Each course beautifully presented
and more delectable than the last.
Including the chocolate
praline lollipops..
one of the four deserts we had!




After a great night sleep
(we slept until 9:30!!!)..
we made it to breakfast just in time!

I've lived in Paris for 3 1/2 years now..
I've had my share of croissants.
The croissants here were
the BEST I've ever had!!

We could have sat there all morning..
but we had bike riding to do,
a visit to the Reims cathedral,
and another champagne tour!




The construction of 
Notre-Dame de Reims
was started in 1211 and 
was opened in 1275.






A visit to 
Our Lady of Reims
is a must if you're visiting!


Our last stop for the day..
a champagne tour and tasting 
at the house of Pommery.


Descending 100ft
into the caves of the Pommery..


This was such a different tour
than the first..



It was more like a museum!


And of course a 
tasting at the end
of the tour...



The weather could not have been more
perfect..





Colorful foliage,
warm temperatures
and plenty of sunshine!





A grainy selfie
in the caves of the house of 
Pommery.

It was a great weekend!





















































Thursday, November 5, 2015

L'automne en Paris


Steve and I walked around
the gardens of 
Les Invalides this
past weekend to enjoy the foliage.


I really think this is my 
favorite time of year in Paris.














(iphone pics)
Griffin and I spent a few
days last week walking around
the Jardin du Luxembourg
and Jardin des Tuileries.
Griff has two weeks off during
Toussaint while the older kids have one week.



I didn't take many pictures
with my crappy phone camera!
I was kicking myself for not
lugging my good camera.



We also searched all over the city
for a Halloween costume.
The American Library of Paris
hosts a fun Halloween party 
and then a few local businesses
(florists, pharmacies, boulangerie's etc.)
hand out candy.
Griff had fun!


And we did manage to carve a 
few pumpkins!