What a week! I haven’t felt any homesickness since we have been here, but election day and the day after I was wishing we were home to share the suspense and joy with everyone. It’s likely that our absentee ballots were never counted in the presidential election since it wasn’t a close race in Massachusetts, but we are still proud that we cast our ballots in this amazing election. I was congratulated by several people after they asked me if I was American, which was fun. We’ll just have to have an inauguration celebration instead! I was surprised to find myself crying during the acceptance speech. It was a great moment in history.
Gallery Lafayette Christmas Lights
On Sunday we went over the Montmartre Cemetery. It was a beautiful day and after walking for a bit Ken took Sonja so I could draw. That evening Ken met up for dinner with an Italian friend who was in Paris working on the big Christmas light display at a Gallery Lafayette department store. Ken got a behind-the-scenes tour of the light display – very cool!
Monday, Ken had his conversation exchange and Sonja and I went to the lovely Parc Monceau (in the 8th), which is an English style garden. It was a nice change from the rigid geometry of some of the parks here. We were there in the early evening and the light streaming through the trees was majestic. I felt like we were in the final, happily-ever-after scene of a romantic movie.
Tuesday Ken and I took a walk without Sonja (she stayed with the babysitter) and saw Place de Madeline, Trinity Church (in the 9th), and went to the famous Angelina Tea Room. We are looking forward to Linda’s visit starting tomorrow.
~Rachel
It was a wonderful visit that I will remember for a lifetime! Thank you so much for having me!!!