Wednesday, April 14, 2010

april in paris

dear emily,

we just returned from a magical week in europe!  april in paris was the 
highlight, and we saved the eiffel tower for the last night to sear into our 
minds the gorgeous city of lights.  it was the lovely bells ringing through
out the city, though, that captured my heart.


we tried not to plan too much into each day to allow for some sponta-
neity, and truthfully, some of my favorite moments were accidents.  in 
trying to find the jewish district, we stumbled upon the magnificent
notre dame!  

























our beloved uncle mat, who lived in paris for a few years,  graciously 
spent hours guiding shelby to the best shops, hotels, restaurants, and local 
bakeries.  i lost count of how many macarons i enjoyed from laduree but 
do know i tried vanilla, caramel, pistachio, chocolate, and raspberry. 


















it is impossible to say what our favorite restaurant was, but chez georges
will always be a sweet memory, delighting us with everything from fois 
gras to chautaubriand.  if we hadn't walked miles and miles each day, we 
would have gained ten pounds!

















we spent an entire day at the d'orsay and the louvre but could have
revisited each day for a month and not seen all the exquisite art.  hans
wanted to see normandy, and i wanted to see versailles, but that truly
was the dilemma.  so many exquisite places . . . so little time!  guess we
will just have to go back for another visit.  :)

















love,
lea

"for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Him be the
glory forever!"  romans 11: 36

44 comments:

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, you spent Springtime in Paris!!! A few years ago, we did too! 8 glorious days there! Such memories.

At the time, I was Net-corresponding with a young Frenchman [met on an International Mailing List]. And he knew I wanted to see "the real Paris." So he was kind enough to meet with us three times, and guide us to "the real Paris."

We were even lucky enough to have fantastic weather. One rain storm, while we were inside. If anything, it was a bit too warm there, for that time of year. :-)

I'm so happy you were able to go! I'm so happy we were able to go! :-)

Gentle hugs...
.

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Oooops, I read your post too quickly. You spent a week, in Europe. And Paris was one part of it.

Whereas, my husband gave me/us 8 days in Paris. As a present to me, for our 40th Wedding Anniversary. I'd always wanted to see Paris, and never thought I would. But he made it possible.

I must learn to read posts more slowly and get the exact message, the first time. :-))))

Single and Sane said...

What a fun week, filled with memory-making days that will stay with you!

A Tale of Two Cities said...

Isn't Paris magical? The art, the architecture, the history, the food--my motto is always leave something for the next visit. A girl needs a reason to go back, right?

Debi

Southern Lady said...

Oh how wonderful! So glad you had a good time. My youngest daughter wants to go to Paris one day. We hope to make that happen. I would love for you to post some pictures if you get a chance. Carla

Farm Girl said...

What a wonderful trip, How blessed you are? Paris in the Spring, how beautiful that must have been.
Glad you are home. :)

Vee said...

Welcome home! It all sounds so lovely and I do fervently hope that you get to visit again and again until you've seen it all. Oh this world is so wonderful that it really makes my imagination soar and then to think of Heaven... Well the imagination could blow a gasket. Ha!

Lisa said...

Sounds absolutely Heavenly! What precious memories you have of sharing this wonderful trip with your family!
PS Pics Pleeeaaassse!

JMW said...

Sounds amazing! Oh, to be in Parish in the spring!

Andrea said...

WOW!
Blessings, andrea

Simoney said...

Wow, isn't that like some knid of ultimate thing? Springtime in Paris?? I think that's one for my bucket list. lucky lucky you!

Town and Country House said...

Sounds delightful! I'm hoping to make a similar trip for my 50th. So glad you got to visit and have wonderful accidental moments.

Andrea said...

That all sounds amazing! Someday I will visit as well!

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

How wonderful! I can just hear those bells...

Isn't God good to give us such good gifts?

Glad to see you back.

Sonja

-stephanie- said...

Sounds lovely.

Darcie said...

I can't even imagine...thanks for sharing a piece of Paris with us in your writing. It lets our minds wander(and our hearts), and maybe someday we too will have a chance to visit.

Sounded perfect!

Denise Kiggan said...

What a wonderful trip. Paris really is delightful!

Joan Elizabeth said...

Lucky you ... Paris is a beautiful city. So which won Normandy or Versailles? When I went to Versailles is was as packed as a Japanese subway, not a great experience.

Amy said...

Sounds wonderful! Paris has always been a place I would like to visit.

AiringMyLaundry said...

Mmmmm. That food sounds delish!

Sounds like a wonderful trip.

Together We Save said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip!!

Emily said...

Oh, wow. I am so happy you got to have that experience. I dream of going there someday too.

Melissa~ said...

Wow, Lea, that sounds wonderful. Paris is definitely on my life list too. The closest I've gotten so far is the Paris section of the World Showcase at Disney Epcot...heh-heh... Hopefully someday. :)

Thanks for the beautiful photos!


♥ Melissa~
Pink Paper Peppermints

More Than Words said...

Wow!! How gorgeous!!!

That is my mom's dream!!

Anne Lyken-Garner said...

Your pictures remind me of when we lived in Paris. I loved it. Yes, the Eiffel tower and Notre Dame are highlights to every Paris trip.

ELK said...

oh I had no idea I would be whisked off to
Paris today...but you have with your lovely photos and beautiful words...with restaurant reviews as well...magnificent!!

Joan Elizabeth said...

Hey your blog suddenly got photos! A link to mine would be fine.

Kristin said...

What a delightful look at your trip. And such beautiful photography. Thanks for sharing!

Janean said...

be still my heart!!!!!!!!!!! april in paris? i feel like humming "i love paris" or "april in paris!" thank you for sharing a little bit of it with us!!!

carissa said...

wow!!! such beauty! i'm glad you had an incredibly fantastic trip! the macaroons sound delish... i'm sure everything tasted wonderfully!

thank you for the advice on the bins... you made a great point about the dirt being hidden on the liberty ones. plus, if they're all the rage in paris, they must be a good choice! ; )

Jenners said...

Springtime in Paris! Now, looking at your amazing photos, I see why everyone makes such a big deal about it. I hope to visit Paris someday.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Beautiful photos and the memories you'll now have! I have not seen Paris as yet..but someday with God's grace I know I will.

Jennifer said...

How absolutely glorious! What a dream vacation to take. I am sure you will have a lifetime of memories from the week. I would love to have a macaroon from Laduree. I feel in love with their sweets in the movie Marie Antoinette. I'll bet they are a yummy as they look!


Thank you for the glimpse of your week!

Vickie said...

Hi Lea - thanks for your visit! You are such a kind lady and so caring! I've enjoyed reading your "letters" from time to time. Oh, how I would love to visit Paris in the spring! What a nice vacation you had. My best friend's college age son got to do a foreign study in Paris this WHOLE semester. He has had an absolute ball! I want to go over there and paint, there and Tuscany. Those two places are on my bucket list!

Cinnamon said...

I always enjoy how you describe everything. Thanks for sharing~

~Cinnamon

Steph said...

I wondered where you were. It sounds like a very special trip. I would love to visit the Louvre. I think my favorite picture is the one that looks like the outside of just a simple apartment or shop. Glad you had this chance to travel, experience beauty, and create precious memories.
PS Your husband has an awesome name.

Auntie Cake said...

Looks like you had a wonderful trip! Thanks for sharing your pictures. Glad you enjoyed it enough for all the rest of us who weren't quite so lucky!
Kate

Faded Plains said...

Amazing...I remember seeing the Eiffel Tour for the first time...my eyes just welled up with tears...it's truly magnificent.

Jodie | Velour said...

Your photos... they take my breath away. So glad for you that you got to see it. Anxiously awaiting my turn to go... someday. :)

His Song to Sing said...

Enjoyed your post on your Paris trip. I've yet to visit that fair city but hope to see it in the Spring like you did. Beautiful pics!

Cathy said...

That was a very exciting trip I'm sure. The pictures are beautiful. Thanks for your visit tonight. Blessings ~

Thistle Cove Farm said...

How delightful and what wonderful memories and fabulous photos! Thanks for sharing...

Debbie Petras said...

Lea, now you must return to Paris so you can see Versailles. It's splendid and has the most beautiful gardens.

Wonderful reminders for me of a time in Paris with my husband. There was a fantastic restaurant located across from Notre Dame Cathedral and we ordered duck. We had splurged on a recommendation from a friend and it was well worth it.

As I see the many faces of your commenters, I even recognize a few of my favorite blogging friends. I am now following you!

Blessings,
Debbie

TeriGigi/Girl Meets Paris said...

So happy you had such a great time. It's just too cool isn't it? A magical place indeed.