Paris - My Little Girl Dream

When I say that our trip to Europe was a dream come true, that is a bit of an understatement. A few months have passed now and I can't believe we actually went! Holy Moly! I could just go on and on for a long time about everything we saw, the people we met and the places we stayed....simply put, if ever you get the chance to go, DO IT! You will not regret getting to see other parts of the world. I promise.

Our trip started in Paris, France. The city I have dreamed of visiting since I was a little girl. A dream about 25 years in the making. My maternal Grandfather is from Normandy, France. Born and raised, French to the core, even in his name - Henri Armond Dagobert. He fought in the Free French Navy during the World War and shortly after immigrated to the United States where he met my Grandmother, fell in love and got married.  I told him when I was a very little girl, that one day I was going to go see his country and my heritage. And I really believed that one day that would happen...but boy did it feel surreal when I finally did.

I fell in love with Paris. All those movies truly paint it in the perfect light. I kind of felt like I was a living "Sabrina" (most awesome Harrison Ford movie ever) walking around the streets. *Sigh* In short Paris is a place of grand halls filled with art, palaces of royalty from years of old, gardens that you could lost in for days at a time, romantic alleyways, rainy nights in cafes sipping cafe' (coffee), pastry shops that put American desserts to shame, flower shops on every corner just like in the movies, grand architecture on EVERY building a beautiful language that not only sweeps you off your feet to hear - but gives you a headache when you try to read it! There's always about 5 extra letters that you don't even pronounce in every word! I guess the best way I can tell you about Paris is to just share a few pictures with you...however, they are a poor reflection of a truly lovely city.

Me in the gardens at The Lourve

a small glimps of Versailles - I could have spent days on the grounds

Flower shops on every corner

We got really good at creative self portraits 

The Eiffel Tower - in true Paris romantic fashion just as the sun set it started to sprinkle and we cuddled on a park bench under an umbrella as we watched the rain fall. Beware of the police though. When you get off of the train at the Eiffel Tower stop and you look too much like a tourist, the Police will pull you aside, scan your ticket, tell you it's invalid and then make you pay a fine. Maddening!

I took notes on Parisian breakfast from our Hostess at our Bed & Breakfast. Every morning there were fresh pastries, fruit, yogurt, jams, coffee, juice....it was fabulous. 

Our Room in Paris - I fell in love with this room from the moment I saw it on the internet and I was so pleased to find that the pictures didn't lie. This flat was charming to say the least! Staying there was so cozy! 

Shaun & I in one of the most breathtaking churches I've ever seen. The whole thing was stained glass!

We got lost one night while looking for the Arch de Triomphe and stumbled upon a giant green thumb. No joke.

Me & my fabulous man!

Old man in the park feeding birds from his hand

Painting his own copy of a masterpiece! this was amazing to watch

Paris streets were filled with accordion street musicians. I can still hear the lovely sounds in my mind and if I close my eyes, I'm back for just a moment. I honestly think I left part of my heart in Paris.

A statue of my Great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, Grandfather - Good King Dagobert in the Hall of Kings at Versailles 

The Gargoyles of Notre Dame. Shaun and I trudged through the rain and got soaked just so we could see these master pieces. Please appreciate this picture. =)  

The bell tower of Notre Dame - the Hunch Back was in hiding that day ;)

Aside from soaking in the culture, the people the place, something really stood out to me. France by no means is a poor country...however, we are just so spoiled in America. People live in small apartments over there their whole lives called flats that would fit into my downstairs floor, homes are luxuries, public restrooms are rare, you have to pay to use them and there's a chance you will need to have your own tissue with you. People shop for food each day and buy only what they need for that day - they don't have big pantries and refrigerators like we do. Job hours are from 8 am - 7 pm. Public transportation or bicycles are primary, but there are a fair amount of cars too. Like I said, they are by no means poor, it was just the first time in my life, that I realized just how GOOD I really do have it. Food isn't that expensive over here, my husband and I both have our own cars, we have more bedrooms than we know what to do with at the moment (I'm sure kids will solve that "problem" someday) I have so many boxes and cans of food in the pantry and a full fridge that I'm good at least a week at a time, we don't work long hours, a family of 4 would live in a place 1/3rd the size of my home and I just have an average sized home! In short Americans have it GOOD! Really good!

Thanks for taking this mini tour of Paris with us. Hope you'll tune into our Italy posts coming soon!