Mahns and Normans.

Last week I had another set of visitors-my family! Mom, Dad, Andrew and Carolyn made the trip over during the High School's Spring break for a long week à Paris. They rented an apartment in the 7th arrondissement across from Invalides-an old military hospital that now serves as a war museum and the resting place for Napoleon III's body. The 7th is also where the Tour is found and is quite clean and proper and classical Parisian. Needless to say I very much enjoyed sleeping on their couch and buying all my favorite groceries to stock their fridge (and of course bakery every morning) and hanging out in the St. Germain-des-Près quarter up the block. Together, we had a grand old time walking to the sites along the Seine during the day and watching movies about the site planned for the next day at night (Les Mis, Ratatouille, etc).

On their second day, we went out to the Versailles castle

Pelouse in front of Invalides, which is full of footballers on the weekends despite the signs forbidding it. Their apartment was to the right hand side of the frame.

Dad in the apartment checking the weather. He had never been to France,  nor does he speak any french.  Thus he benefitted from a break as family tour guide and got to simply enjoy the ride. However, he quickly became savvy to the ways of the Metro, the grocery store, ordering soup in restaurants and other survival skills.  He also saved my life by bringing Microsoft Word for my new hard drive and taking care of my taxes. Thanks:)

Carol's french hairdo. :) She's in French II in High School and it was her first time to France. She pretty much held the trip together as photographer and shopping connaisseur. Extra credit for bringing French candy back to class!

Momma in the Sacre Coeur basilica. She visited Paris with her Mom and sister in college and also retains some important French vocabulary from high school, like bibliotheque (library), couverts (cutlery), and 'quelle heure est-t-il?' (what time is it?).  

Andrew in Montmartre. High school French dropout and second time to France. He and my dad went to the France v Croatia soccer game one night. Although the score was nul, the fans were not. Even more enthusiastic than Packer fans, my dad said. 

A bright, sunny day for a visit to Notre Dame and the two petites îles in the Seine where Paris was founded.  

Andrew almost posing with la Tour Eiffel. 

Playing in Place Vendôme. 

Drew and Lyna in front of Opéra on their last night. 

Selfy in front of the apartment. 

The 'Norman' part to come next. :)