COUNTDOWN - DAY 2

Happy Halloween from Paris!!

This was at the front desk of our hotel

Today is really our last day in Paris.  We leave tomorrow morning around 10:00.  We met Madame Orozco, our wonderful gardienne, at the apartment this morning.  Unfortunately, I had a headache this morning, but, after a short rest, I was able to get the cleaning done that we'd planned (with David's help, of course!).  Mme O. took much of the food things we had and some of the flowers.  I gave her the pumpkin we'd bought several weeks ago for her grandchildren.  You don't see many pumpkins around here...I don't know why.

Madame Orozco stopped her cleaning to come in a minute

On the way to the apartment, we dropped by our regular boulangerie and picked up some pastries for breakfast and a jambon buerre for lunch.  They know us here (especially David) and we had petits cadeaux (small gifts) for each the ladies (a small box of chocolates) and the one man (a bottle of wine).  David had told them earlier we were moving back to the US, so today she was so sweet and gifted us our purchases.  Why does this make me feel so sad?  I don't know her name nor, I believe, does she know mine.  And, yet, we know each other.  Anyway...

A chocolate pain will never be the same!!

As we were strolling to church after finishing the apartment, we saw this at a cafe we passed.  I don't remember seeing things like this last year...was I just not aware or is it new this year?  I don't have the answer but it was a fun sighting.

I love this!  Someone is really clever.  Notice the skeleton is drinking wine..he's French after all!!

We  left a flash drive for Scott, our pastor,  of Bloom information.  Visited a little there before catching the 63 bus across from the church to go to GThuillier, a shop where we bought our santons last year.   David said it's appropriate our last bus ride is on the 63 because it's the one we first took when we came three years ago.  The things you remember...   If you remember,  at Christmas last year we bought each of the kids (as a family gift) a santon structure with some figures.  We also, of course, bought ourselves one to go with our Nativity scene.  We wanted to add a bridge and a couple of new figures.

This is our santon and Nativity last Christmas

After considerable looking, we found a little bridge we think will fit with our set and two figures, a man fishing and...Santa Claus!!!!  I couldn't pass Santa up!!  This shop is full of different sized figures which I love since some people have less space but can still enjoy this tradition.

The shop is full of structures and figures

By the time we got home, it was time eat our jambon buerre and relax a little.  Tonight we went to our favorite pizza place for our last dinner.  David's been going there every Friday and bringing pizza home.  Tonight, we ate in!!

Alfio Restaurant Italien

David and I and "the girls"

And, of course, we couldn't leave without on lat shot of our beautiful Eiffel Tower.   When we wake up tomorrow, our dream comes to a sweet end...in the twinkle of an eye...

Au Revoir Paris!

COUNTDOWN - DAY 3

It's now Wednesday.  We've checked into Le Derby Alma Hotel for the next two nights til we leave.  Again, it only seems appropriate to end our visit here as we stayed here a few days on our arrival 20 months ago.

After a morning (again!!) of getting our things together (which we accomplished, finally!!!), we met our friend and pastor, Scott Herr, for lunch.  We've not had a chance to visit with him very much since our decision to return to the US.  His wife, Kim, is on a pilgrimage til the middle of November so we said our goodbyes to her before she left earlier in October.  He's been a wonderful friend and pastor to us during our time at ACP and has made our time at ACP more meaningful than I'd imagined.  He gave us a little book on the history of The American Church which we are anxious to read.

Lunch lasted til 3:00 and on the way home, we strolled down streets that have become so familiar to us these months.  It's funny how someplace that once seemed so unknown has become so well known.  We got to our corner where we bought our geraniums right after we moved in and where David has gone to the boulangerie every morning (and sometimes lunch!!) for morning pastries.  Unknown to well known. we were meeting Madame Acher at the apartment at 5:00 so we dragged (at least that's what it felt like to me) our bags to the hotel (luckily close) and met her.  She has been a charming landlady and such a blessing to rent from.  We're thrilled she was able to rent our apartment so quickly.
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I'll always remember turning this corner for the first time!

The white canopy is the florist, the purple canopy our boulangerie and the red canopy in the middle the new cafe, Linette's, where we've enjoyed lunch.

We were meeting Madame Acher at the apartment at 5:00 so we dragged (at least that's what it felt like to me) our bags to the hotel (luckily close) and met her.  She has been a charming landlady and such a blessing to rent from.  We're thrilled she was able to rent our apartment so quickly.

David and Madame Acher

The bed is stripped, the sheets and towels are washed and I think things are pretty ready for the new tenants. There are many things they're not interested in and Madame Acher, our owner, and Madame Orozco, our gardienne,  have arranged for Madame Orozco to take anything she wants.  That's fine with us as we love Madame Orozco.  She's going to take some of our flowers too, I think.  Several of our fabulous looking geraniums will become hers.

Ready for new tenants

We are so proud of our geraniums!  They look fabulous!

We grabbed a little quiche from our regular boulangerie on the way back to the hotel and finished our evening relaxing.  Tomorrow we clean and stroll once last time around this beautiful city where our dream came true....

COUNTDOWN - DAY 4

Oh my gosh!  Four more days in Paris...I can hardly believe it.

Today is a typical fall/winter day in Paris.  It's cloudy and cold...about 52 degrees and light rain off and on.  I won't miss the cloudy days.  Cold and rainy is okay but the continuous cloudy, gray skies are hard for me.

Again today we spent the morning going over all our packed suitcases rearranging and weighing and rearranging and weighing.  What a hassle!!!  Somehow we have more stuff than we have suitcases so are now trying to figure out the answer to this problem.

Yesterday we finally just stopped and I told David to try and not think about it.  It's not going anywhere and we still have several days to work it out.  But, as I suspected he would, he was up early and had a plan by the time I got up at 8:00.

Instead of buying a new piece of luggage, we are going to check six bags total but two of those will be over the 50 lb weight limit, plus we will carry on two bags.

We stopped at noon again today to have lunch with Tim and Maja Vance, our Associate Pastor and his wife who are leaving in December to take a church in Santa Monica, California.  We have worked with Tim for the past two years on Bloom so have gotten to know him well.  He's a wonderful young man,  and we were so glad to have the opportunity to sit down with him and Maja to hear about their new calling.  We know God is going to use him in a great way in California...and he'll have the beach!!!!

I'm grateful for these lunch rendezvous since they take us away from the chaos of packing!  We chose to eat outside though (there were heaters but they didn't get us warm enough) and now we're freezing!    We'll try to finish things up today so that tomorrow it will just be about packing those last minute items before we have lunch with Scott Herr, our Senior Pastor, then check into the hotel.

No pictures today...maybe tomorrow!

COUNTDOWN - DAY 5

I can't believe it's only five more days til we're back in the US.  David and I were talking about it, and he doesn't seem to have these "wonder" feelings that I do.  You know, how can 20 months have gone so quickly...it doesn't seem possible etc. etc.  I guess it's more a girl thing!!!

Anyway, this week is about packing up and moving out of the apartment.  So this morning while David ran a few errands, I began going through my things...sorting, making piles, throwing away things I didn't need or want to take.  We worked til noon when we had lunch plans with Sue, a friend from church.

Just another view...what a mess!!!!

Laundry hanging and stuff all over the table

You can see the mess we have!!  I'm not sure where we'll eat breakfast tomorrow!!!!

Lunch with Sue was really nice,  and it was good to sit with her and talk about our plans (of course, that's what everyone wants to know), our time in Paris and The American Church.  She worked with us both years at Bloom and was an anchor for us both years.  She's been at ACP for many years and has lots of experience and knowledge about Bloom.  It was really invaluable to us.  We'll miss her and her commitment to ACP.

David and Sue at last year's Bloom

After lunch, we came back and worked more on the packing.  What a job!!!  David thinks we may need to buy another piece of luggage...that all that's left won't fit in the bags we have left.  We probably should have shipped more home via the moving company.  But it's one of those things you just don't know until it's too late.  Oh, well.  I'll have to let you know tomorrow how it all works out!

COUNTDOWN - DAY 6

It seems appropriate we would walk to church in the rain on this our last Sunday in Paris.  It seems we've walked many Sundays in the rain...warm weather and cold.  At first it was annoying...as the days and months passed, it became the norm.  So today, on our last walk, we didn't mind standing close under the umbrella as we walked in the cool, soft rain.

The bus stop by church on a rainy Sunday

The American Church (taken on a clear day)

Our small group met as always and, in fact, it was David's Sunday to teach.  It was a good class with good discussion.  These are people we have enjoyed as we studied the Bible together.  Our hope is they will continue to study and learn as we leave.

Worship was typical. We did, however, sing a hymn we both knew which doesn't happen very often here.  Again, it seemed an appropriate way to say farewell to this place where we have worshipped every Sunday for the past 20 months.  Though I didn't feel sad at leaving, as I looked around I thought of how it has become home to me.  It's very different from what I knew and has practiced church very differently from how I've practiced church and, yet, I have met God here and He has opened my heart and mind to a bigger view of Himself.  And I leave changed.

As he usually does as people leave, our pastor, Scott Herr, called us to the front and shared our departure from Paris and the things he believed we had contributed to the church during our stay.  Then he presented us with a candle with a stencil  of the church on it and, what we really love, a drawing of The American Church signed by the artist.  It's a simple drawing but one we will get framed and hang in our new home.  We don't need these objects to remember our time here.  Our hearts are full of memories, but it will make us pause each time we see them and remind us to pray for these people so far away who are striving to be God's hands on those around them.

Our farewell gift - ready to frame and hang

After church and multiple goodbyes, we met our friends, Joerg and Tinu, for lunch at a little cafe not far from church.  The rain had subsided some but it's still a cool, fall day.  But it's Paris and people are still out and about enjoying the quiet that Sundays are here.  We had a wonderful lunch with lots of visiting and catching up.  They have been good friends to us during our time here and, like others, we will miss them.

I felt once today was over, it would be easy.  The goodbyes are said and now it's just about the packing and getting things ready to leave.  I'm sure in the few days we have left we'll stroll some of our favorite spots, pop into our favorite cafes and remember how strange it all felt to us those first days after we first arrived.  But home is waiting for us.  And I believe we're both ready.

COUNTDOWN TO DEPARTURE!!

One week from today we'll be in Texas seeing our kids and putting together the few belongings we stored to move to Kansas City.  This next week I'm going to try and do a little post each day to let you know what we're doing.  So...

Day 7

Today is Market Day.  Every Saturday morning the past 20 months we've gotten up, had breakfast and gone to the street market on President Wilson Boulevard across the Seine.  Today we didn't have to buy much since we'll be checking into a small hotel on Wednesday, so we didn't need our rolling cart...just bags.  We had bought small boxes of chocolates for our market vendors who have become almost friends over these past months.

We absolutely love our frommage (cheese) ladies.  They are so warm and friendly and are very patient with our faltering French.  We were able to explain in French we were returning to the United States and had a little gift.

She has a partner but she's usually the one helping us

Next is our butcher team!  They really got to know us when we ordered our 125 Euro turkey last Thanksgiving!!!  They're nice guys and, again, understood our French explanation of leaving.

Only a crazy American buys a 125 Euro turkey!!

And last, but not least, are our produce guys.  Almost always these four men are there on Saturday selling us (and anyone else) veggies and fruits.  Some English is spoken (minimally like our French) and they've been really good at trying to understand our French and help us know what certain foods are called (and how to pronounce them!!).

Here are the guys-one on the left usually helps us

 

On the way home-beautiful fall day

Unlike other Saturdays, today after dropping our bags at home, we strolled down to Rue Cler for a few things.  David had mentioned earlier in the week the Christmas lights going across the street had been hung (but not lit) so I got to see that.  It seems earlier than last year but I expect it's not.  I think last year I still had some American mindset that has Christmas decorations going up really early.  In reality, this is early!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

As we were walking to Rue Cler, we saw lots of costumed children with their Halloween bags trick-or-treating at various shops.  I know The American Library had a Halloween event for the children today and then, as we found out, it seems some shops give away candy.  It's such a different life living in the city as we do.  But I always find it refreshing (and fun) to see young families going about their day in an ordinary way.  We'll miss seeing children going to school, preschoolers on scooters and even shop trick-or-treaters!!!

We think this library ad on doors lets parents know they have candy

Because we were out last night, tonight is Pizza Night!  We'll miss our weekly pizza at our favorite place.  But, perhaps, we'll have a new "favorite place" on the Plaza!!!!

FAREWELL FÊTES!

This past week was spent trying to tie up loose ends and sharing food with friends as they wish us "bon voyage".

The week started with Marleigh and David and Sharon and John.  We all met at Marleigh and David's for dinner.  Their apartment is not your typical Parisian apartment so spacious with plenty of room for us to share a lovely, delicious dinner.  Of course, the best part of dinner can be, and was in this case, the visiting that takes place during the meal.  I felt we were all very French as we sat around the table discussing theology, a little politics and, of course, the experience of living in Paris.  It was a wonderful evening, and we came home feeling very blessed.

On Wednesday we had been invited to Diane and Patrice's home outside of Paris for lunch.  Because we were taking a metro then a RER train, we left our apartment at about 10:30.  The trip was easy peasy,  and Diane and Patrice met us at the train station.  The little town they live in, Conches-sur-Gondoire, is very quaint (the area we saw) and very French.  I love these little towns with their stone buildings, lovely green spaces and, almost always, a steepled church.  Anyway, we spent the afternoon visiting about a million and one things and shared a fabulous meal prepared by Diane and Patrice.  Diane was really the first person we knew in Paris.  She was in charge of Bloom books and when we inquired about buying two (that was in 2017 before we retired), she was the person who responded to us and sent us our books.  When we arrived, she's the first person we met face-to-face who we felt we already knew.    Anyway, after our afternoon together on Wednesday, she drove us back since she had choir practice.  And, again, we came home feeling very blessed.

Diane and Patrice

Visiting over dessert - a delicious chocolate mousse/pudding served in these beautiful crystal dishes - You know how I love pretty dishes!!

The library had their monthly speaker,  and this month it was Cara Black, the author of the detective series we love.  She also spoke at Bloom this year so is someone we have come to know.  When Diane dropped us off at church, we walked to the American Library (it's become one of our favorite places) and sat in on her presentation.  I already have her newest book (signed by her at Bloom), but I always love hearing what she has to say.  I learn something new each time.

Cara Black at The American Library

Friday evening we had reservations at Le Grand Colbert, the restaurant where Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson reunite in "Something's Got to Give", with Dan and Fran, our visiting pastor and his wife.  We'd run across the restaurant accidentally months ago when we were out and about and promised ourselves then we'd go for dinner before we left Paris.

Le Grand Colbert

This is on the front door!

It's a beautiful restaurant, smaller than it looks in the movie (thank you Hollywood!!) with a warm, friendly (and English-speaking!!) staff.  They have items to purchase so Fran and I each walked away with a treat...me an apron with the restaurant name embroidered across the front, and her with a mug with the restaurant name in script on the front.

The food was delicious and attractively presented.  I had a beef dish with a side of mashed potatoes (my favorite!) and for dessert....a warm chocolate cake with vanilla sauce.  As each previous night with friends, the evening was spent sharing stories of our experiences, our before-Paris lives and our time in Paris.  We were going to take the bus home but had trouble finding the stop so ended up taking a taxi. We walked to our apartment from church (where we had the taxi drop us off since they live in an apartment at the church) in the cool, fall air feeling very satiated but, as previous nights, very blessed.

Here's my dinner..minus dessert!

In the days and months ahead when we remember our time in Paris we will, of course, remember the historic landmarks we saw, the beautiful architecture we walked past each day, the quirky shops we stepped into (and maybe bought something!!) and the delicious food we couldn't resist.  But, more than all that, we will remember the friends we made and the fun times we shared.  We all came from different places, we all had different backgrounds and we all had different stories.  But we all were united by Paris.  And that is what we will carry in our hearts when we remember Paris!

AUSTRIA

Our last trip of our adventure...except when we head back to the US!!  Friends, Erin and Faust, were traveling and asked if we'd like to meet them in Germany/Austria (I slashed them because our hotel was in Germany but we went to visit Salzburg, Austria).  It was a wonderful opportunity to see them and see where "Sound of Music" was filmed (more or less!!).

View from the hotel

We were up and out early in order to begin our three-train trip to, ultimately, Bischofswiesen, Germany, to meet Erin and Faust.  This village in Germany is about an hour from Salzburg.  They've stayed multiple times in this darling little hotel so they're familiar with the owner and her husband.  It was a quaint, cozy place and in a beautiful setting.

The next morning we were up early again, had a nice breakfast (eggs, yogurt, fruit, breads, everything we could have wanted), and drove the hour or so to Salzburg to catch our "Sound of Music" tour.  We expected it to be mostly seniors, but we were gladly surprised to find many young people...the two girls sitting behind us were from Arkansas,  and we enjoyed visiting with them.

Our guide, Peter, was an elderly gentleman (we guessed early 80's) who had guided tours for 18 years before retiring.  Now he does tours when they need someone.  He was very engaging, funny and informative.  I don't think we've ever done a bus tour like this and it was great, especially for a girl who has trouble walking very much!!

One of the problems for me with the tour was multiple places/locations were used in the movie and I had trouble keeping track of what was what and where was where!  So, if I'm not confirming the accuracy of my information....I am trying to get it right for you!

The above white "home" was the backdrop for the boat scene where Maria and the children fall into the water...it's that water in front of the house they fell into.  The yellow "house" below is part of Klass Hellbrunn where they have the gazebo from the movie.

They filmed the dance sequences in Hollywood in a much bigger gazebo.  This one was used for the backdrop scenes and has moved several times due to vandalism.  Now it's in this estate that houses many activities as well as a fabulous park (more about that later).

The above pictures are from the "Do Re Mi" scene in the movie.  It's kind of fun to think of Julie Andrews and the children going up those very steps singing and here we are standing on the very same steps.  I know, I know.  I'm a geek!!!!

The wedding scene was, again, altered some.  In the movie, it looks as though Maria walked down a really long aisle to meet the Captain.  Actually, the church isn't that large and the aisle isn't that long.  Oh, the mysteries of Hollywood!!  But it is a beautiful church.

We really enjoyed this tour and would recommend it to anyone.  Our guide had put together segments from the movie so as we travelled from one location to another he would play scenes from the movie we were about to visit...with the music, of course.  Evidently, this was something he put together on his own and not all the groups do this.  It made it so much nicer for all of us.  We even had some sing-alongs with "Do Re Mi" and "Edelweiss"!!!!

The next day we went into Salzburg again to visit the Mozart Museum.  I thought it would be more of his home (as you know, that's always my preference), but it wasn't.  It was fine...a museum!  The biggest trick was finding it!  We walked many narrow streets before finding it.  Erin and I didn't really mind too much as we stopped at several little shops!!

The final two sights we visited were the Salzburg Cathedral (magnificent, perhaps the most beautiful church I've been in our whole time in France) and the "trick fountain tour" at Kassa Hellbrunn.

I couldn't believe the sculpted ceilings!

The gardens at Klass Hellbrunn were gorgeous.  This estate was initially built for the Bishop but he never lived here.  It ended up being used as a party house...imagine that!  The grounds are large, spacious and peaceful.  The most fun stop here, however, was the trick fountain tour.  Our guide was great and at each "fountain stop" you had to be on guard for random sprays of water.  The condition of the palace,  as well as the trick fountains,  are original and unchanged from the year 1619!

When guests sat down around the table, all was dry.  If things got boring, the Bishop (sitting on the end stool, would turn on the water at each seat and the tabletop!

Leaving one of the fountain sites, we had to work through this...

How restful is this??!!

At one point, we came to a spot where they had miniature scenes that are moved solely by water.  As we walked up the path, we saw several separate scenes in the wall and at the end was this large, amazing town scene.  It really was the coolest sight!!

One of the miniature scenes along the path

Each day we had lunch out at various places then had dinner at our cute hotel.  The food there was really good and it was quiet and a nice time for all of us to relax and talk about our day (among other things!).  Austria was a beautiful country (the little we saw) and there was so much more to see and do, but our time was short...just a brief respite before heading home.  Spending time with dear friends and observing yet another culture can never be erased from our hearts and memories.

"Auf wiedersehen" beautiful Austria.  Perhaps we'll meet again someday.  Thanks for the memories!