Gertrude Stein once famously said “America is my country… but Paris is my hometown”
I completely understand where she was coming from… [except I was coming from Australia LOL] but… you see… I have been in serious withdrawal since arriving home from Paris a good few weeks ago now.
And here’s the dilemma.
To say it was amazing would be an understatement.
To say it was anything but… would be an untruth.
But how do I describe a place that might have been only a figment of my imagination?
A dream? A thought? Or a place… that only lives in my head… or my heart?
How could this place so far from home be so easy to relate to and feel at home in? Even when it doesn’t speak my language… nor shares any of my antipodean idiosyncrasies! [grin]
Could it be my rose coloured glasses getting all fogged up?
A serious case of La Vie En Rose?
And yet.
This place is mine…
and now all I want to do is go back… [grin]
The extra specialness of course came from sharing Paris with my two gorgeous girls. Such good fun to be around… and so great to be on a 21 hour plane flight with LOL
From surfing the Louvre…
to shivering our derrieres off huddled together in the courtyard of the Palace of Versailles… we certainly covered some serious ground in the short time we were in the City of Lights.
I pinch myself now… and acknowledge with gratitude the Universal forces at play that have brought me to here. It hasn’t been easy. But I made it through. Stronger. Wiser. And happier now than I could ever have imagined just a few short years ago.
Paris marks the beginning of the next chapter…
So I hope you’ll stick around to see what happens.
Oh and watch out for the video… I have permission from the lady herself to use Emilie Claire Barlow’s gorgeous rendition of C’est Si Bon for the production. I am currently having fun putting it together!
LEAVE A NOTE…
[it's been a while and I missed you guys]
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Jean,
Wow…you three look like you had an amazing time!!! And I’m so excited to hear that…for you…and for me – as I’ll be visiting Paris this summer with my family! To say that we are excited is an understatement (especially my 15 y.o. daughter!)!!
Love the pictures!!!
Lance! You’re going to LOVE it. There is nothing not to love about Paris! So glad you are getting to go there in the summer. We’ll expect lots of photos… you know that don’t you? Thanks for stopping by!
I’m jealous but good for you Jean.
be good to yourself
David
Thanks David… appreciate that
Lovely trip and we loved the photos of you and the girls. We are just back from our trip Cambodia – sailing to Saigon and then Chinese New Year with our friends in Malaysia
Love Susie
Welcome home Susie… hope you enjoyed your travels! Thanks for stopping by to take a look
Great pics Jean!
You girls are as beautiful as you are! We too love Paris and can hardly wait to ride bicycles at Versailles again. Always great to read your blog!
From Thailand,
Cheers,
Paul and Marla Jackson
Hi Paul and Marla… gosh Paul… you’re making me blush LOL… but thanks… that’s really nice of you to say.
I’ve been really enjoying the photos of your adventures around SE Asia… what a wonderful trip you guys are on! Unforgettable unrepeatable memories being made there… it doesn’t get any better than that does it?
Thanks for stopping by to say hello… [really appreciate it]… hugs all round and safe onward journeys okay?
Oh yeah, will be sticking around to read every drop of joy:)
Thanks Joh
so lovely to hear from you!
I look forward to following your journey!
Hi Lynne… great to hear from you! Look forward to seeing you soon x
I have visited Paris several times, and lived there for two years. My asessment is that Paris is indeed a magical place to visit. Living there after three years in Bangkok and two years in the Ivory Coast, however, was a bit if a come down. I loved your post and your photos because my last trip to Paris was with my two girls! So much fun to see it through their eyes.
Absolutely Galen… they put a different perspective on pretty much everywhere we go. Having lived all over… I can now see why you treasure so much your cabin in the woods!
Aren’t you supposed to visit Paris in the SPRINGTIME! LOL…..I’d imagine you ladies got your share of attention from the Frenchmen!
Didn’t notice Harry… but we weren’t paying much attention either [too busy having fun] LOL
Ahhh I remember the rail stations from metro to gare de nord etc
Never stayed …shame that ! Toured la belle France several times and wish I could go back but thats how it goes you MUST do what you want to before you have to look back in sorrow . My schoolroom french did get better apart from not getting the shop girl to understand ” creme de salad ” when mayonaise huh? would have saved a lot of time . Did you keep a journal ?
Love your videos and thought provoking ideas so keep them coming
Hugs from Bonnie Scotland on Valentines day
Thanks Elinor… so lovely of you to say
No. No journal. But the trip is indelibly etched in my memory [at last some small benefit from living life on full volume LOL]
You are so close geographically to France [well compared to us that is LOL] I feel quite jealous. I would love it not to have to sit on a plane for 21 hours to get somewhere… but therein lies the pitfalls of being antipodean [grin] You and I both with the schoolgirl French I’m afraid. Our aussie accents continually gave us away… and we thought we were getting pretty fluent LOL
Hugs back for Valentines Day… hope you got a dozen of the best [roses that is] x
I didn’t know there were three! ….now I’m really feeling left out. Didn’t you need someone to carry a bag, open a door, butter a croissant, light a long, thin, elegant Gauloises? Quite a trio, bet they’re still talking about it. what a city
Hahaha… thanks Nick
Absolutely to ALL of the above. Next time for sure… I’ll let you know [and like I said... you're bringing the Escodas] LOL