First Visitors

For some reason nobody wanted to visit us in Paris in the cold months of January and February.  But now that the weather has warmed up, our first visitors arrived last Tuesday--my parents and James.  James was our French teacher in 2009 and he became Andrew's roommate last trip.  So we consider him part of the family.

James and Dad in Front of the Apartment

I noticed Dad dozing in a chair after they had unpacked.  Our usual strategy to keep new arrivals awake to get over jet lag is to take them on a walk to the Eiffel Tower.  So Dad, James and I headed out for a little walk.  The lines are growing long at the Eiffel Tower as the tourists are flocking to the city.

Jeanene and James

We crossed to the right bank at Trocadero and then back over the pedestrian bridge.  There are so many good vantage points to photograph "Li'l Eiffie" (as our students from 2009, Karin and Allison, used to call it).

James and "Li'l Eiffie"

The next day we tried to go to the Sempé exhibit at the Hotel de Ville but the line was long and it was pouring rain.  So we went to take a tour of the Garnier Opera House and see the Chagall ceiling.  But it was closed for rehearsals.  So what were cold, wet, jet-lagged tourists to do but go to the nearby Printemps department store where they sell Ladurée macarons (with no line) and sample a few.  They put them in a pretty green and gold box and place them in a matching bag.  We tried caramel, pistachio, lemon, raspberry and my favorite, rose.  We will definitely need to do more sampling and try more flavors before we leave Paris.

Kelly and the Ladurée Bag

James Keeps as Eye on the Ladurée Box

Mom and James with the Macarons