Adieu Mon Amour

We left Paris this morning around 8 a.m. It was pitch dark and kinda felt like we were sneaking out of the city before anyone tried to convince us to stay. At this, the end of my second trip to Paris, I want to reflect a bit on what I've learned, what's changed and what I will take away.

• Both mama and I seem to be yearning for a change of scenery. Every time we passed a sign for a hospital, mama joked (not really) about going to put in an application. And of course, I somehow signed up for a Paris real estate listserv years ago and just browsed those listings to see how I could live in Paris and for how much. So all of that is fun. And I discovered that I get my wanderlust-iness from mama. The fact that she not only liked Paris but is seriously plotting ways to move soon, makes me giggle because I clearly get that from her. Afterall, she did move her three small children and husband to Dallas in 1981 (sight unseen and didn't know a soul) all because she read a TIME magazine that said the job market was great. And it was one of those the best decisions she ever made for our family. She's brave like that. And I get it from here. And I love it. 
• I miss living in a walkable city. Don't get me wrong, at the end of each day walking all over Paris, I was tired as hell! But there is something so invigorating and amazing about living in a city conducive to walking or getting there via public transportation. And for those options to be so accessible and second nature. I didn't bring my Jawbone, but I'd estimate between Paris and Amsterdam, mama have probably walked about 15 to 20 miles in the past week. We feel A-MAZING (well, tired and amazing)!
• Three words: French lessons now! While bouncing around Paris, speaking what I call "Fran-glish," I was told by a few Parisians that my enunciation (or better yet, my pronunciation) of French is perfect. Don't mistake this to mean that I can speak the language fluently. It just means that when saying the words I DO know, or reading signs, etc. I sound like a French-y. WOO HOO! So anyway, I need to get serious and get enrolled in those French lessons...mama is totally on board so I'll have a study partner.

Until next time Paris, goodbye my love. 

Mama had to get one last picture with Eiffel. She's so French, with her scarf, you can't tell her nothing!

We LOVEDDDDD Paris...

...and are SOOOOOOO sad to leave!

When it was time to pack, our room was a wreck because we'd pretty much moved in.