low-key visit

Marc's parents came to visit last week, and they were, as expected, most low-key, pleasant house guests. They had just come off of a cruise and were heading to England after leaving Paris, so they were glad to have a home base. As they have visited us multiple times in Paris before, they didn't really have things they were anxious to do, they just wanted to be here. Perfect for me, especially as we had just returned from London the day before!

They got here on a Sunday, and some friends came over for a picnic. Marc had connected with a childhood friend on Facebook and found out she and her family are now living just outside of Paris. We thought we would go to the Champ de Mars, but the weather was pretty iffy, so we had an indoor picnic instead. It took a little while for our kids and their kids to get past their shyness and play together, but Bananagrams broke the ice.

Our guests were so delightful. Bob and Mim knew them from Oregon, so there was a commonality there. The conversation was so interesting and fun, we reluctantly broke up the party around 7:30 p.m. (Their kids actually had to get up for school the next day...)

The next day, Max and I went to get his cello. They stayed with Lucas and Eva, and instead of being disappointed about being housebound in Paris, they were thrilled to be here on the day that Max finally got his cello! I know. They also went for a stroll by the Eiffel Tower.



The next day we went to the Musée Jacquemart-André. We had taken them there once on a previous visit years ago -- it is a private residence which has been preserved and turned into a museum. It used to be the kind of place that tourists didn't really know about and was therefore pleasantly not crowded, but all that seems to have changed. I don't know if Rick Steves mentioned it or what, but there were several tour groups there, and when we left, the lines were out to the street!

It really is a delightful museum, if a little on the expensive side. I had made the mistake of telling Eva that it was a small museum. Sure, it's small in comparison to the Orsay or the Louvre, but it's quite big for a home! She felt it took far too long to go through it (her usual museum response).

She preferred the freedom of the courtyard, and was taken with this statue. I think it's the first sleeping lion I've seen.

Even waiting for the bus is more fun with Grandma and Grandpa around. Incidentally, it rained the whole time Bob & Mim were here, but of course they didn't mind. They're cool like that.

Trying on Grandpa's hat. (She absolutely refused to try on Lucas's, however.)

We saw this bakery while we were out and about. Eiffel Tower bread! And animal breads, with eyes. Who knew?

The next day, Marc took off work to take his parents to the Musée d'Orsay, and I stayed home with Eva. And on Thursday, we saw 2 châteaux. To be continued...