Mom's in Paris!

I arrived at the airport around ten to learn that her plane (which was due for 11:30) was delayed until 11:50. Since I was planning on being quite early to begin with, I waited for about two and a half hours before she finally walked through the security gate. We found each other easily, thank goodness! We were both quite worried that we would miss each other and spend hours looking, but it was extremely easy. Too much worrying, indeed.

After meeting up, I took Mom on a whirlwind tour of the city:

- crepes for lunch in the Marias (I had a ham, egg and cheese; Mom had chicken, mushroom, and cheese.)

- metro to the Arc de Triomphe, climb to the top (284 steps was a lot for a jet-lagged lady, but she did great!), and enjoy the view(s)

Arc model - to see it up close and personal.

view to the northeast - note Sacre Cœur in the middle.

the Eiffel Tower.

- cruise the Champs Elysées and visit (my favorite) Laudrée for macaroons

- laugh at men in a tiny car

- marvel at the Seine

- visit Place de la Concorde on the way to sit in the Tuileries Garden

- have drinks and a croque monsieur in Trocadéro

had to take a picture - first time I have seen real ketchup in a month!

and it was DELICIOUS.

- walk near and admire the Eiffel Tower

- visit Shakespeare and Co. bookstore (I bought Thibaut's recommendation of The Stranger by French author Albert Camus)

- see Notre Dame from afar

Wow, what a day! Now it is time for poor Mom to sleep! Plane rides are never conducive to much sleep, so hopefully she will sleep well tonight (even with all of the Thursday night street noise) and be fully energetic for a long day at Versailles tomorrow!

I am beginning to worry about coming home.. I don't think I am quite ready to yet..