Paris

We finish up our European portion of the trip with a week in the City of Lights. Paris has it all. Spectacular monuments, some of the world’s best museums, huge parks, small neighborhoods to wander around, a beautiful river running through it, and fabulous food. We have heard that the French, but especially the Parisians are unwelcoming. We do not find that at all. The people are warm, and friendly, and very funny. And, they speak with that fabulous French accent. “Take zeese street, and zen you turn over zare.” That, with the croissants, is enough to make me want to move here. Kim, the realist, explains we cannot afford to do so.

So, in this glorious city, where have we chosen to do our Where in the World are Ethan and Siena? This is the heart and soul of Paris. In fact, it is considered to be the center of France. All distances in the country used to be measured to a small plaque on the plaza out front. It is a beautiful cathedral, with flying buttresses circling the church, and the most beautiful rose windows. People would pray here before leaving on crusades to pillage far off lands. Napoleon famously yanked the crown off the King’s head here and crowned himself emperor. Gargoyles leer out from all corners. And, according to Victor Hugo, a hunchback rang the bells. This is Notre Dame and it is glorious. We even are able to hear the 7800 pipe organ played during mass.

My brother, Bruce, and his family, Susan, Natalia and Conrad, meet us in Paris. We have a fabulous, 3 bedroom apartment in the heart of the city. The kids play soccer in every conceivable location: at the Tulleries, around Luxemborg Gardens, in the courtyard of the Louvre, even in the Rodin Museum sculpture garden. Rest assured, The Thinker still has both arms, unlike those other famous Parisian statues of Venus de Milo and Winged Victory…Once, while playing soccer in the Place de Vosges, we strike up a conversation with another woman. Debbie recognizes me from a science program in California we attended together 27 years ago. It is an amazing world. So big, but so small.

We have so interesting experiences here. As it is Thanksgiving Day, we feel the need to watch football. Natalia, Ethan, Kim and I attend a wild game, with some truly crazy fans. Kim makes the mistake of getting his hair cut on Montmartre. He considers himself lucky, despite the less than great end result, when we learn that the martyr for whom this mont is named, lost his head, not just his hair!

The site that wowed us all was the Eiffel Tower. Of course, it is the quintessential image of Paris, but it is hard to convey the grace and power of the structure. We stand under it the first day, unable to go to the top because of high winds. We gawk at the world at our feet the next, seeing all of Paris stretching out to the horizon. We are staggered by the Tower at night, looming like an alien creation, literally taking our breath away.

We are especially lucky, not only to have my family for the week, but to meet three other local families. We enjoy seeing their homes, meeting their children, and eating the wonderful food the French eat at home. We will miss you as we travel on to Egypt today. I do not know how accessible the internet will be, but I will post when possible. Europe has been wonderful, but we think the real adventure is only just beginning.

Happy Holidays from our family to all of you.

Cin Cin

The Beatties