France

We just returned from a two week vacation in France. Our youngest daughter, Laura, studied in Paris this last semester and we decided to visit her and bring her home!

We took our workout stuff with us and managed to get one swim and a few runs in. We walked for miles each day and ate wonderful French food. It wasn't quite an equal amount of calories burned for the amount ingested but it was all worth it.

Here are some pictures from the trip with as few words as I can manage :)

This is looking onto the Place de Clichy from Laura's apartment.

Notre Dame

The Lock Bridge. It was only rainy our first day and our last day.

Le Arc de Triomphe

Montmarte

Laura, Dave and I on top of the steps leading to Montmartre.

I love you in many, many languages.

We went to a fondue restaurant that served wine in baby bottles.

Lunch in Giverny.

Monet's Gardens in Giverny.

The flowers were absolutely beautiful!

Monet's Garden

Laura was trying to teach Dave how to sit on a bench and relax like the French do :)

Versailles

Inside Versailles

We are so cultured.

Looking down into the gardens of Versailles.

Lunch at Versailles.

It is art!

We went to a restaurant where they only asked you how you wanted your steak cooked. Simple menu of steak and fries and it was incredibly good.

One of our favorite desserts. Little cream puff shells filled with ice cream and covered in chocolate.

Chateau Fountainbleau.

Cool door knocker.

Breakfast in old Lyon.

Yes, a pastry shop!

Looking over the river in Lyon.

Notre Dame in Lyon. I think there is a Notre Dame in every city.

Old ruins dating to 13BC.

Lunch in old Lyon.

The French countryside.

Bad girls.

Les Baux de Provance. A hilltop village you have to walk up. No cars!

Ruins of the old castle in Les Baux.

Neat walkway.

Street in Avignon.

Another favorite dessert. I think we liked them all!

Le Pont d'Avignon. There is a French song about dancing on this bridge.

The Pope's Palace.

Crypt of a couple that obviously liked their dog.

Beautiful old, old carved door.

Fountain in Aix en Provence.

My cousins Beatrice, Helene and Brunella.

We climbed up the Sainte Victoire mountain to reach the cross on the top.

Part of our climb.

We had to follow trail signs. See the red dots?

We made it to the monastery.

Some other hiker left a box of wine, glasses and cheese. So french!

Standing on the cross. We made it!

The views were amazing.

The wind was blowing like crazy and I could hardly look at them standing so close to the edge.

Another meal, another feast. In Aix.

Every meal had to include good french wine.

Great salmon!

My partner in crime.

Oh look, it's another dessert.

Road trip from Aix to Paris has to include some reading time. 

We stopped in this cute village for lunch.

Back in Paris for dinner.

Another great meal.

More great desserts.

Laura's roundabout at the Place de Clichy.

The street door to Laura's apartment.

Laura's apartments tiny elevator we used to haul the luggage up to the 4th floor.

The Seine on our last day. 

Lunch in a park :)

Laura has become her father and loves her some maps!

The Pantheon. We climbed up to the upper dome.

View from the top. The church was in the movie, Midnight in Paris.

Our Paris girl.

I'm not a big fan of heights but this was worth it.

Venders along the Seine.

Laura's living room.

Her kitchen.

Sad face because we're on our way home.

First American meal request? In n Out!

We had a great trip with lots of adventures and good memories. Now, back to our regularly scheduled training.