Visitor’s Itinerary | Mama Jo & Nanan – Part 2

So now, where were we? Oh, yes. Mother’s Day.

day 6 :: Church and a Mother’s Day brunch. Mama Jo’s favorite cooing bundle of joy and her fam joined us for the most wonderful company. But what that attention-hogging baby (not jealous, see?) didn’t have was a trip to Paris up her sleeve! So, south we went to that pretty, pretty city. We got there with plenty of time to find a cafe for dinner and head to the Champ de Mars to see the Eiffel Tower.

day 7 :: Good morning metro system! Breakfast cafe in Montmartre just before we rode the Funicular up to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. I didn’t get clapped at for taking pictures this time – is that a pro or a con? Holy tour! No, I mean, it felt like a holy tour with all of the cathedrals/basilicas on our adventure. So, next up: Notre Dame, where they had a choir practicing that we were able to enjoy. A quick run by the Palais Garnier opera house after stopping for a little bit of shiny at Galeries Lafayette and dinner at the nearby Café Gallery. But I think my favorite part of the day was when everyone went to sleep and my mom and I snuck down to the hotel lobby and girl chatted til the wee hours. That lady and her heart of gold – I can’t get enough of it.

day 8 :: Versailles, France. I’m not sure how they felt about the crepes we kept ordering, but I have to tell you, this whole pancake/crepe naming business even confuses me. I would like for everyone to have a different name for their ‘pancake’ so that I could keep it straight. Please and thank you. J decided that the Palais de Versailles was a suitable home for us one day. But unlike Louis XIV, we wouldn’t put it in the ‘burbs.

day 9 :: Back at home. Can a girl get a little relaxation around here? And I say that in the most satirically snoddy way possible because J was the one chauffeuring and cooking and Paris metro system figure outing and he had to go to work this day. Us spoiled gals took yet another day off and lounged around until it was time to celebrate the bébé’s one month birthday party with champagne and cake.

In total we only watched our wedding video four times…that number would have been higher if my mom could have found time to fit in more. And, yes, she has a copy at home.

Where to next, Mama?!

We’re Still Not Done

I’m just going to pretend it’s not Monday and J had to leave me to go get some bacon or something and keep on keepin’ on with the rest of our holiday trip. After Austria, not much else compared…enough so that we barely took any pictures and can cram it all into one post. I spent the better part of J’s birthday napping in the car (he still hasn’t <read: is afraid to> taught me how to drive the car). It was actually much better for him since once I did wake up, I realized how many flippin tunnels we were going through. The drive along the Austrian Alps has got to be the most scenic drive of my entire life.  But as soon as we started heading straight toward the mountains, there was a whole lotta hyperventilating and ‘what if..’s and ‘do they  know..’s goin on. At one point, they actually made us PAY to go INTO a TUNNEL. Okay, I’m getting this under control.

Pitchfork à Paris

I like hipsters. I like people watching. But I love hipster watching. We took advantage of the Pitchfork Music Festival being in town to load up on synthetic tunes (like this, this and a lot of this). Surrounded by many a hipster in uniform: skinny jeans/chucks/wide-rimmed glasses….it brought us back to Dallas for a bit (also, I think I just accidentally described J). I miss Deep Ellum. Not to mention, the most American accents we’ve heard in one place over the last two months. It was refreshing.

Scenes from the Seine

I’m still in Paris mode because, let’s be honest, we never should have left. I’m totally planning our retirement there, unless of course, we stumble across a city just as cool but warmer and drier.

Our part of Europe is quite rainy, so a sunny day is always welcomed with way more appreciation that I’m used to. I was confused why our Croatian friends made a big deal about how to find the sun in Belgium, but then all too quickly found out what they meant. So, we were thankful when the clouds held off long enough for us to walk along the river banks (scoping out our retirement island). 

I’d say it’s a must-do when you’re here. Take a break from checking off the sights on your list and just stroll near the water….much more romantic. The Seine intersects the fast-paced city and the two remaining natural islands. One of the islands holds the Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s quite stunning to look up and see the Cathedral at a bend or two. We stopped to watch one of the locks on the canal – did you know there are NINE locks on the Seine?! That’s alotta locks. Thanks engineers! 

The M.Art

“Bonjour!”

On Sunday, we staked out the National Museum of Modern Art in Paris.  It is housed in the Centre Georges Pompidou and if there’s anything that you need to know about the Pompidou, besides how fun it is to say, is that it was designed by Renzo Piano. There’s actually probably a lot more that you (and I) should know, but my husband loves the architecture, so that’s mostly what I hear about, and then I retain about 20% of that. So. Renzo…..same guy that designed the Nasher in Dallas. Genius.

The museum, finished in 1977, boasts one of the world’s most prestigious collections of 20th-century art. We planned on checking out more than one museum, but we got caught up having too much fun in the modern art. Actually, I think we stayed in there so long that I formed a wrinkle. It’s true…see below. I swear that wasn’t there before. Okay, I probably should have made J write this post….

A Walk in Paris

Oh, Paris. Where to begin?

Why don’t you take a walk with us down Champs Elysees as we reminisce our little 4-day holiday?  A few sights on the way include the gothic grandness of Notre Dame, views of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, the Louvre…accompanied by I.M. Pei’s pyramids, the Arc de Triomphe and it’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and, of course, a couple trips to Miss Tour Eiffel.

And at the end of the trip, we drove home.

xoxo,
J and A

The French Coast Post

September is the very last month that I can pretend it’s still summer. No doubt that back home, Tiger Stadium is warm and beautiful and, of course, never rainy. Oh, to be able to wear flip-flops right now! Mind you, we went from 103F to 60F (or something like 15C) two weeks ago. We wanted to get in a beach trip before it gets unbearable for my little nose over here. So, on Saturday morning, to the coast we went! And, while we’re at it, why not make it the French coast!

We were in some way expecting a grand welcome from our southern neighbor…maybe even just a sign saying that we had entered into a new country period. Nope. There was just a small sign 500 meters before telling us we were about to enter into France, that only J saw. That’ll have to do. At least it’s more polite than the typical Belgian signs that I can’t help but read in a yelling tone. Instead, the landscape spoke for itself. I’ve never seen such impeccably manicured countryside. Allman Brothers ‘Blue Sky‘ and the insane scenery around. The only thing more perfect would have been an automatic car so that J could see the sights too. Hehehe

First stop, Dunkerque, France:

Pretty France and Europe flags all in a row.