Paris Holiday

After the Louvre, we wandered the gardens and paths outside.  The Tuileries are the gardens behind the Louvre, and the paths are covered in white sand.  Our feet were coated with a white film after the day.  The rows of trees are aligned perfectly, and small outdoor cafes and restaurants are around every bend.   After we exited the museum, I looked up and there, off in the distance, was the Eiffel Tower.  That was our first time spotting it, and I think our mouths just dropped.  



The next day, we met at the Eiffel Tower for our Fat Fire Bike Tour. The company is run by Americans, and they have locations all over Europe. We rode around the city with our trusty guide, Billy, on comfy bikes. The ride was beautiful, and I love cities that respect cyclists. Our guide was fairly knowledgeable and I did pick up new facts, especially about Napoleon. We got some great shots of the city, and lunched back near the Tuileries. After the ride, our guide told us where we could get a cheap bottle of wine and lounge in the park by the tower. We grabbed a bottle of blush wine (totally delicious, and only 4 euro!) from a local grocery and claimed a patch of shady grass. It was the perfect way to wind down our trip, just staring up at the Eiffel Tower and thanking my lucky stars I made it to that spot. I don't know if my life will ever lead me back to Paris, but I am so grateful to have gone.




During our last afternoon in Paris, we walked down to the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees. Matt was very excited about this spot, since it is a focal point in the Tour de France. We saw lots of posh shops and eateries, including the Nike Store. In the store, there was a LiveStrong wall for cancer survivors. Matt wrote my mom's name on the wall. Love you Mom!



I am so grateful for the absolutely gorgeous weather we had the whole time, I can't believe how lucky we were. The skies were blue, the grass was green, and Mother Nature was definitely in our corner. We were pretty tired after two weeks of travel, and really missing our family, friends, and cat. Nothing feels better than looking forward to going home and loving the country you live in.


My cup was filled to the brim, and I know I can revisit these memories whenever I have a bad day. When life gets stressful or even boring, I will remember. You had culture, travel, and adventures. You held a bit in your hand, and someday soon, you'll have some more.