Blogs from Île-de-France, France, Europe

And so we are well installed in our Marais apartment which we’ve found to be even more charming than in its website photos (if that is possible). Our welcome was made even warmer on the cool and drizzly Paris morning we arrived when we found that our host Hans had provided us with a most generous care package of fruit, milk, juice, brioche and jams, cheese and wine, Nespresso coffee maker plus capsules and all capped off with a miniature Eiffel Tower. The apartment absolutely ticks all the boxes – light and airy, on a quiet street, with a boulangerie a few doors down, and across from that a café (Les Temps du Cerise) with a zinc topped bar, the Seine at one end of the street, and the Rue San Antoine (with fruit shops, traiteurs, ... read more

Yesterday we took a bus to Giverny. It was Monet's summer home where he painted and lived. the gardens were spectacular. Tulips were dominant but the combinations with other plants was so beautiful. The colors just look liked painting. We walked through the gardens and around the lily pond. We arrived very early so it was nice to not be so crowded. we toured another museum in the town that had a few Monet's. Upon our return Sarah and I went to lunch in a cafe before touring Musee De L' Orangerie. This museum houses Monet's Waterlilies. It was very interesting to see all the panels in one place and how they go from very delicate and light to very dark because his eyesight was deteriorating. It was also crowed because the first Sunday of each ... read more

Enkele dagen vakantie extra, dus reden Erik en ik even naar Fontaine Bleau. We maakten een uitgebreide pit-stop in Parijs, om onze andere hobby uit te oefenen; shoppen! Voor de volgende trip hadden we nog enkele zaken nodig, dus bij deze, een bezoekje aan de Vieux Campeurs. Na de ene winkel na de andere deden we nog een korte wandeling over een plaatselijk marktje. De echte sfeer van Parijs een beetje opsnuiven. Onze autorit zelf was ook leuk. Ik reed en de gps bepaalde hoe. Daardoor zagen weer enkele nieuwe plekjes in hartje Parijs. Wel een zeer leuke stad om in rond te kuieren. Overal wel iets te zien, zelfs de bijbehorende clochards. Tegen de tijd dat we aankwamen op de camping in Grez, waren we beiden stikop. Een relaxte avond en vroeg in bed. De ... read more

I am truly at a loss for this trip to actually write down and say what my mom and I have both done during the day. We went into it with nothing truly planned and to use my mom's common phrase ... we just went where the wind took us. I am normally much more verbose about my trips but like I have said before we have just relaxed during our time in Paris. For me, I've have had the chance to just hit up some of my favorite little corners and discover some new ones at the same time.... read more

Today is all about cooking for me; Jerry may go to design shops or may just stay home and pack as we leave for Salzburg in the morning. Jerry is feeling better today and we were both up at 7 ready to start our day. My first class this morning was bread making. Pino (from Italy) was the instructor both of the other students were doctors both women one from New Zealand the other from Durham North Carolina. The woman from New Zealand is here for 3 years with her husband who has some type of contract job. She hates it here, which I do not understand. They have a nice apartment in a good neighborhood and she just wants to go home. She even went as far as to say she hasn’t had a good ... read more