FALL, FAMILY AND FRIENDS - PART 1

After the warm days of summer, I believe fall is finally arriving.  Slowly the trees are changing from bright green to a subtle brown reminding me the cozy, cooler days are just around the corner.

I love walking through the crunch of fall leaves

Now, when I look down these beautiful Parisian streets, I am able to see windows through the partially empty trees where,  a month ago, the windows were protected by a screen of green leaves.  We haven't "fallen back" yet, but the I'm beginning to notice lights in apartment windows are on a little earlier than during those light, bright summer days.  I like the cozy feeling that gives.

Windows peeking out through the changing trees

In the midst of these cooler temps and changing trees, we've been having visits from family and friends.  Though we're feeling at home here now, it's so nice to see people we care about and be able to catch up face-to-face with them.

A while ago (I have no idea exactly the exact month) when Andy was in London for business, David and I took the Chunnel to London and had some time (an afternoon and evening) with him.  That was great!  Then earlier in September, he had to be in Geneva for business and he brought Catherine with him.  While we would love to see the "little boys" (who, by the way, are no longer little!!!), it was wonderful having the time without them to talk and catch up.  Again, the visit was short (one afternoon and they spent the night with us),  but I'm okay with any time we can have.  Andy and Catherine arrived at Gare de Lyon, we met them there and took a crowded bus back to the apartment.  We came to the apartment and I served a quiche for lunch--French-style.  David and I had been in a garden that's not too far and, knowing Catherine loves anything green/floral, we thought it would be a nice place to stroll through.  She preferred staying here and visiting, which, you know, is always okay with me!!!  We did, later, get out and stroll down the Champs-Elysees (it was a Sunday so pretty busy) and she could see the Arc de Triomphe.

Aren't they cute??

From the Arc de Triopmhe, we were going to take a bus to a restaurant at the Trocadero, but the bus stop was closed, so we had to go to plan B, and take a Metro.  David thought we'd be able to see the Eiffel Tower light up but, alas, still too many green trees!!!!After dinner we strolled to The Trocadero, an area across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower that has, perhaps, the best view of the Tower.  There are always tons of people there taking photos....people like us!!!!

Three of my "favorites"

Perhaps our 2018 Christmas card pic!!!!

It was a great visit!!  Oh, it seems anyone who comes to visit is bringing me things I've ordered and had shipped to them since not everyone will ship to Paris or it's outrageous to ship.  Andy and Catherine brought magazines (!!!!!) and fall pillow covers to put in the living room.  So, if you're coming to visit, beware I may email you asking you to bring something!!!!

After Andy and Catherine's visit, we welcomed Harold, Martha and Brooke Harkins.  They had been traveling prior to their Paris visit, and we were excited to see them.  They had rented an apartment not too far from us which was very convenient for getting together.

One day we all went to Notre Dame (but just walked around it) then went across the street to Shakespeare and Company Bookstore.  I'd been in there once, but briefly, so while David and Brooke stayed outside and then walked to Odette's to get us mini-cream puffs (they are delicious!!!), the other three of us spent time browsing the shelves of books.  It's a small, cozy little space that houses a  variety of books.  Upstairs there's a little sitting area for relaxing and reading and pictures of the store in an earlier time.  This was the place where Hemingway and his friends sat around talking over the issues of the day.  Pretty historic!!  Anyway, I walked out with a couple of books!!!

Martha, Brooke and I in front of Notre Dame

There's always fun when we're together

These minis are the best!!!

Their week here was a combination of activities-some with us and some without us.  Many times we met for a meal.  We went to Breakfast in America one morning (it was actually brunch time, I think) and I had one of their BIA Burgers-best burger I've had in ages!!!!  We strolled with them down Rue Cler, the well-known market street near us and all got a beautiful ice cream cone at Amorino (the shop who makes the tulip-shaped ice cream in the cone).  One night we all went to dinner and then to a club called Lido, similar to Moulin Rouge.  And one night they all came to our apartment and we fixed dinner.  In between these times, they were busy showing Brooke all the big sights and Brooke did some investigating on her own!

It's always a blast when we get together with Harold and Martha, and we miss having them close enough to get together more often.  I'm sorry we're not enjoying retirement together!  That might have given retirement a whole new face!!!!  But we sure enjoyed their visit to our Paris home!!!