I recently made a trip to France - initially because I had been feeling a little homesick and I was eager to reconnect with friends and visit the city that captured a bit of my heart. But more so, because the plane ticket was so cheap I couldn't NOT go! And, it's Paris, in April. Need I say more?!
I spent a few days back in Rambouillet, hanging out with friends and strolling down memory lane. The apartment I rented was perfectly situated down town, right next to a pastry shop. It couldn't have been a better location for me!
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| The entrance to the courtyard of my apartment is tucked under the awning of the pastry shop |
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| The courtyard behind the pastry shop - my apartment was just on the right |
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| The Farmer's Market was always a favorite Saturday morning activity |
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| The Chateau at the school where I lived and worked - so many memories here |
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A medieval laundromat!
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After catching up with friends, I headed in to Paris for a week of roaming about the city on my own. This was a much needed personal retreat - a time of solitude and reflection (anonymity in a crowd can be the perfect place for this). I had researched several non-typical, non-touristy things to do, so that I would have options and some sort of destination to wander towards as I meandered through the streets. This is the way I prefer to travel and explore - having options that allow for spontaneity in the moment, depending on the weather and what I'm in the mood for. I made it to most of the places on my list, and stumbled upon some pleasant surprises along the way.
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| A perfect lunch spot with a view of Notre Dame |
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| An unexpected view from the rooftop of the Galleries LaFayette |
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| Some lovely street music |
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| Canal St. Martin - the "other" river in Paris, in a quaint, artsy neighborhood |
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| There She is - always making an appearance at the most unexpected times |
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| The square and church near my hotel |
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| Le musee Cluny (the museum of the Middle Ages) was fantastic and full of surprises |
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| Le Jardin des Plantes (the botanic gardens) was impressive |
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| This was a delightfully quiet, non-touristy church with a spectacular organ |
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| The Rodin Gardens are calm and secluded in the heart of the city |
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| Stacks of flowers at one of the oldest markets in the city |
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| The view from the beautiful Pere-Lachaisse cemetery |
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| This street performance satisfied my hopes of seeing a Jazz concert in Paris |
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| One last walk along the river |
My time was filled with plenty of sightseeing and lots of walking, interspersed with many stops at cafes, creperies, patisseries and brasseries. I mostly survived on cheese, pastries and crepes washed down with plenty of good wine. I left with a satisfied stomach and a full heart - thankful for the time I had to see friends and reacquaint myself with the city. In so doing, it seems I reconnected with a part of myself that had gradually been muted over the past several months. A lightness and freedom has returned to lift my spirit and carry me forward into this next season of life.
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| So long Paris. I'll return soon. |
