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!