Nous sommes arrivés!

 All right, Franprix, you win this round... not quite the cheese I was after. Darn, will have to try again tomorrow. :)

 Oh, so French wine can have a twist cap. Okie dokie then... I really liked it, though, especially for €5!

 Emma Kay and I planned to climb the Notre Dame towers because they're open late on Fridays and Saturdays... in July and August. It's 30 June. D'oh!

 But it was still a beautiful evening!

 These bells must have been here before, but I hadn't noticed them. I think they're nineteenth-century bells that have since been replaced (if I'm translating the sign below correctly).

 Sunset from the top might have been better, but this view was pretty darn acceptable, I'd say!

Nous sommes ici!

We made it! It's hot in Paris for the next few days and our apartment doesn't have a/c, but it's much bigger than our last apartment and although it's old, it is unique and we are happy!

For the record, I'm not super thrilled with our experience on Norwegian Air... our flight was delayed for over two hours (so it was nearly 3 a.m. when we finally took off), there were no pillows or blankets on the plane and it was freezing. On the other hand, it was a really cheap ticket direct from Newark... beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.

Anyhoo, we're off to the grocery store (WINE PLEASE) and to get some dinner. If Emma Kay and I are feeling up to it--and I think we will--we're thinking of climbing the towers at Notre Dame tonight. One of my all-time favorite Parisian experiences!

PS Allez les Bleus!

Back to Paris in TWO DAYS!

It seemed for so long like it would never get here, but we are leaving for another July in Paris in only two days! Steve is participating in the European-American Musical Alliance summer program again, and I am presenting at a conference in Italy on 11 July. We've been planning and saving like crazy and although I'm almost as anxious as I am excited (typical), I know it's going to be a great month.

Among the highlights will be a trip to Belgium with my mother-in-law, the conference and travels in Italy with my mom, and a whirlwind few days in Paris with my aunt and uncle. I have a couple of things on my list that I didn't get to last time, and a couple things that I will be avoiding this time (I'm looking at you, Louvre).

Sign up for updates if you'd like to see pictures, or follow me on Instagram @sara.e.mcclure. I'm going to try to take a break from facebook while we're gone because politics.........

Here's to traveling, and staying sane while doing it! ...and eating all the baguettes, cheese, crepes, and gelato I can get my hands on. And the wine, let's not forget that!