Today is our last day in Paris. We are free to do what we want but the tour leader, Steve, is going to the Woodrow Wilson market and we decide to tag along. The bus drops us off and we cross the street into the market which is once again, on a boulevard. The first stalls are selling seafood and the displays are gorgeous. Scallops still in the shell, prawns, octopus, dozens of fish varieties, mussels, clams, lobster and sea urchins. The list goes on and on. All fresh. All waiting to be someone's lunch. The next stall has produce. The one after that has breads. Then nuts. Then olives. Then meats. Then scarves and sweaters. Then artwork. One after the other again and again. Prepared ethnic foods. Truffles. Spices. Flowers. We buy a couple of ... read more

Today, again, is more of a wander. The weather just keeps getting better. By better I mean, sweater weather without sweating and without needing anything heavier. Perfect! We are heading toward Sacre Cœur but where Michael leads us is anyone's guess! We start just down the street from our hotel (I swear I'm going to talk about it at some point) at Saint Germain des Prés. That means Saint Germain of the fields. This is the oldest church in Paris. As we walk in, again, I'm am struck by the sheer beauty of the way the light comes in through the stained glass. I get emotional and have to let the group go on ahead. I cry as the feelings become overwhelming. I can't describe it. The gloriousness (I'm just fine making that up if it ... read more

Ten hours! Ten hours of the soundest, hardest sleep we've ever had. I tried to open my eyes on Tuesday morning. I felt run over. "What time is it?" "8 o'clock?! Really?!" "Holy shit!" And, with that, day 2 in Paris officially began! We were thankful for a later start. Normally, the Whitsons are butt-crack-of-dawn people; however, that travel day and full day of sightseeing did us in! We didn't even go out to dinner. It was Marks & Spencer pre-made sammies for us and we quickly passed out! Day two started with a lovely breakfast including yogurt, croissants, blueberry tart, bacon, eggs, potatoes, cereals, cheeses and meats! We ate til we were full and joined the group in the lobby for our journey through the city. We began just a short distance from the hotel. ... read more

I flew through Detroit to get to Paris. After a weekend at EPCOT's Food and Wine Festival, I needed to get back to Mom so we could travel together. Flew in without a hitch. Mom was waiting for me at my gate and we caught up as we walked the 20 gates to catch the 6pm flight to Paris. The flight was noneventful, thank goodness, but a 7 hour flight meant that we were gonna have a hard time being rested before we arrived in Paris the next morning at 7am their time! We both got less than 2 hours of sleep (it was probably closer to 1) and landed at Charles de Gaule at 7:15am. We got off the plane and walked for what seemed like miles toward baggage claim. Just as I was about ... read more

Geo: 42.3316, -83.0478... read more