Free at Last!

As of today, we only have 43 more days left in Paris!  Our time is quickly coming to an end, and we are a mix of emotions, especially now as we are able to explore and enjoy Paris more easily.  We are naturally starting to reflect back upon our favorite memories, while looking ahead to reuniting with friends and returning to our home.  Someone asked me yesterday if it was worth all the work and stress that went into planning this year abroad.  ABSOLUTELY - even with experiencing the longest transit strike in France's history; even with experiencing a pandemic that kept is in lockdown for 8 weeks; and even with experiencing canceled trips and delayed plans.  I think we will all look back on this year abroad with extreme fondness for the memories made, the world of possibilities we were exposed to, and the realization that we are not alone in this world.

We have been busy this past week, with restrictions being lifted.  While we still had school in the mornings, we made sure to go out each day to explore.  This is rather snobby to say, but it sure feels nice to have Paris to ourselves, without the tourists.  One funny thing is that we still get nervous when we see the police.  We were so used to getting stopped to show our paperwork that now when we see them we think we need to get our paperwork out.

Most stores require you to wear a mask to go inside.  All stores have hand sanitizer for you to use once you enter.  On the streets many people wear masks when they are doing errands.  The Metro is being strictly policed by RATP staff and security to make sure everyone has on a mask.  If you don't, they are handing them out to you. This was particularly helpful to us this week when Edy left her mask in a park we were visiting, some 15 kilometers from home.

Speaking of parks, most of them are still all closed within Paris.  Paris is considered a red zone, due to the higher number of infections, so they remain closed.  There was a possibility of them opening last week, with the mayor even making a request to the government to allow them to be opened.  But the government said no, after many people were out drinking along the Seine during the last few days of lockdown.  This slap on the wrist is completely normal in Paris.  I can't imagine this happening in the United States, though.  But here, people just roll with is.

It is really great to be out and about again. There is less pressure on me to plan things, since the museums and cultural centers are still closed.  As a result, we are strolling about, instead of rushing, to truly enjoy Paris.  Below are some photos from this past week!  Enjoy.

The streets have a lot more traffic.

Some of my favorite stores are open.

Even my favorite crepe stand at Trocadero is open.

This is the most people I have seen a Trocadero in weeks.  

The florists are back open and have their flowers on display! 

New masks.

Hand sanitizer for public use.

Many stores control the number of patrons inside.
Here we are waiting to go inside our favorite art store.   

I love this statue of Van Gogh by Bruno Catalano outside a church.

L'eglise de la Madeleine

I came across this beautiful street, with statues of swimmers, walking in the 8th arrondissement.

Eglise Saint-Augustin - I have always loved this church, with the statue of Joan of Arc outside.  

Will finally got a haircut!  Here are the before photos.  

Charlotte, at Look Lemon, was ready to safely cut his hair.  

After!

 

On Wednesday, we went to visit Sacre-Coeur. 

We had the entire place to ourselves.  

When there are less people around, you notice some really interesting things,
like this piece of metal work, on a random railing. 

One of my favorite set of stairs in all of Paris.

It was bound to happen - Edy was the first recipient of bird droppings.
I hear that means she will have good luck for a year.   

While Jeff ran home, the kids and I walked 6 kilometers from Sacre-Coeur to The Abbey Bookstore

It was a bit claustrophobic for me, but Edy loved it!  

Here is one of many signs you see all over Paris.  The flowers looked to
have been put there by the local Maire de Paris.

Not sure why I took this photo other than to remind me of my favorite neighborhood butcher.

A new mask.

Another new mask.

Whenever I get off the train at Odeon, I come up the steps to this statue.
I just adore it.  It is a great tribute of the French Revolution.  

We visited this art store two times last week.

Edy and I also visited Sephora.  All the make-up is wrapped in plastic wrap.  

Upgrading Will's helmet.

Paris has done a terrific job of adding more cycling lanes during the
lockdown so that people can bike instead of riding public transportation.  

The paths alone the Seine are open again.  Lots of people are taking advantage of this!

During lockdown, it was hard to go on Daddy-Daughter dates.
Finally, these two got to go out and explore together.  

Are they smiling under there or just humoring me?

Meanwhile, at the apartment, Will and I broke in our new ping-pong set.  

The Eiffel Tower, with Montparnasse in the background.  

Almost every morning, I wake up to the sounds of scaffolding either being
put up or taken down.  Here is how it looks in the street before it goes up.  

Here it is once it is up.

Will and I had an adventure of our own, going to check out the train yard for Metro 3.
We took the more scenic route back, which involved riding the RER C.

Will's favorite train yard - Porte d'Auteuil.

Science Saturdays with Aunt Judy!  This week the cousins learned about lift, yaw, pitch, roll, and drag.

The lesson ended with a fun game of trying to recreate what the person was drawing on your back.

Here is one of the trains being cleaned.  

On Sunday, we decided to Bois de Vincennes, which is just 15 kilometers away.  

It has a chateau, which like everything, is closed.  It was still impressive.

Just like the Bois de Boulogne, that we live next to, the Bois de Vincennes
was open.  Many people were out enjoying it in groups of 10 or less.  

My loves! 

Can you tell that Will has food in his mouth?

This smile captures how few teeth Will currently has.
He has lost a total of 8 while being in France. 

The day ended with finding a Five Guys.  The only way to order was online.
You then had to wait outside until your name was called to pick it up.

Enjoying some sibling time on the way home.

Will and I rented Velib' bikes and explored the Bois de Boulogne.

He has grown so much this year, that he can now ride them.

Here is Will, with La Defence in the background.  

Take care!

Betsy