A Table for Two - Paris Revisited

A Table for Two

 

So this blog entry was eight years in the making. In 2005, in search of myself and recovery from a broken heart, I came to Europe for ten days by myself. This included three days in Paris to bring in 2006 and celebrate New Year's Eve. I made it to the Eiffel Tower as planned to bring in the new year. It was all perfect until at the stroke of midnight, a young man proposed to his girlfriend right in front of me. So, karma was being cruel. I decided to celebrate at a local pub with some newly found friends. I had an opportunity to write about my experience for a magazine on my ten day journey through London, Paris and Belgium...and I called it "Table for One."

So let's fast forward to 2014. Mr. Goodin and I have done our fair share of travel, no doubt about it. It's a blessing and a curse of his working in the industry. As we approach the holidays, we have low expectations that we will spend them together. So in typical Goodin fashion, we create our own holidays. I have always dreamed of returning to Paris to relive those moments with my true paramour....This time it would be "A Table for Two." So settle in...this is our story of Paris Revisited.

Best Laid Plans:
The best laid plans: Time off approved - check! Tickets - check! Hotel - check!

So far everything was falling into place. Then it happened. His cell phone rang. Tuesday, three days before we were to depart. There is an initial panic that sets it. You want to ignore it but you can't. Our plans foiled temporarily. Mr. Goodin was assigned a flight that returned two hours afters our flight was to depart. A decision was made to divide and conquer. I would depart on the original flight and if he caught a good (very good) tail wind, then he would follow me on a different flight and airline. Because of timing, I actually would not know his status until I arrived in Paris.

Happily for me, I got a seat in Business class. Nothing sweeter than champagne and steak....a fluffy pillow and a warm blanket. I was just sad that Mr. Goodin couldn't enjoy it too. After landing, I anxiously turned on my phone to find the best message ever. He made the flight....but he had to ride in coach. He was only two hours behind me and sadly, no champagne for him.

So as I sit here in the airport waiting for him to arrive to begin our adventure. I am deliriously happy to know the real adventure is about to begin.  

Day1 - Paris at Night
8050 steps - 3.5 miles

After finding each other in the most confusing airport, we made our way to the Hotel de Bois via the Metro. We bought visitor passes...so all parts of Paris were at our disposal. The best part was exiting the station to be greeted by the Arc de Triomph. Triumphant is was. Standing there with our luggage we smiled and kissed. We were officially here.

Our hotel was only a short walk away, so we settled in a went for an evening stroll along the Champs Élysées. I am not sure who got the memo that we were celebrating our holidays early but we stumbled (hard to miss) a Christmas Fete. Vendors, food and yes, good ole American classics playing in the background. The streets filled with Christmas decorations to rival Macy's. Mr. Goodin said it reminded him of the German markets from his military days. Paris at night is special. The lights from the buildings are so architecturally beautiful.

 As we strolled along, he stopped me and turned me around....yes, the Eiffel Tower in all her glory. So wondrous. We went to the end of the Concord, along the Seine and took a few photos for the everyone back home. Hungry and a little travel weary, we search for a warm meal. Found a little outside cafe that served mussels, just the way we like them. Good night and Bon Soir!


       

Day 2 - On a Mission
18,700 steps or 9 miles

How do you start the perfect day?....at the local bakery for a baguette and café au lait for two. We strolled around our neighborhood on Victor Hugo Avenue after breakfast...pretending what it would be like if we lived there.

        

Then we began our day by heading to Notre Dame. We saw a stop on the Metro for the Bastille, so why not go take a look. Only problem is there is no existing buildings anymore. Oh well...onward and upward.  Discouraged, not a chance...we had another mission in mind. On our way we walked through the city streets of St. Louis which led us right to our destination. It was time to find the Pont de L'archeveche better known for the locks of love placed by those who want to solidify their love forever. When I learned of this...I had to have a lock made just for us.

That was another story, but meanwhile this officially became a bucket  list item. Mr. Goodin and I found the bridge right behind Notre Dame. We scoured the bridge and found the perfect spot for our lock. We paced the lock facing the Church, made secret wishes and threw the key into the Seine. Truth be told I was a little teary eyed...we took a ton of pictures as to never forget our lock (for when we return to visit it).

Then we went to Marais district for lunch. At a perfect café,  we ordered meats and cheeses with a glass of wine. We sat though a small rain and traveled back to our place. That evening we returned to St. Louis for the Illuminations de Noel, a lighting of the streets....and a small bite to eat at a local café. We must have missed the festivities, but the streets were lit up and they looked lovely. We made our way back through the Christmas markets again for dessert of roasted chestnuts, Nutella crepes and hot wine. We may not have stormed the Bastille, but we stormed the rest of the city.

Day 3 - A Rainy Day in Paris

17,364 or 8.7 miles. 

Keeping up?...that is 20.97 miles so far...and zero museums.

One word to sum up this day...rainy and chilly. But that doesn't stop a Goodin. Armed with umbrellas and the can do spirit we took on the area of Montmarte, home of the Moulin Rouge or for the more spiritual the Sacre Couer. I have to say that as we walked the streets, you couldn't help but notice how stunning Paris looks in the fall. Yellow leaves and glistening streets. Always busy, but not too busy. It was easy to get lost in thought, but we chatted along the way looking at everything in awe and wonder. We arrived at the Church of the "Sacred Heart"...and there was no way I was walking up that hill. We took the Montmarte funicular to the Sacre Couer...an interesting contraption that carried us us the hill. What a beautiful site to see Paris from atop the hillside.

We walked into the Church an observed a service going on. We lit a candle and said a prayer for all our friends and loved ones. Still raining, we ducked into a café for respite and hot coffee to warm us. As the sun set, we returned to our hotel for a short break and a change into dry socks. Dinner was absolutely wonderful. We decided to trust our Yelp app and we headed towards the Eiffel Tower area of town for dinner, since we wanted to visit the Tower at night. As we rounded the street where our restaurant resided, we heard the sounds of protests. Later we learned it was spirited Romanians excited about elections in their home country. La Cocottes was amazing...owned by Chef Christian Constant...do a google search and you will you will understand. Foodie alert.. I can tell you that dinner included, a beautiful salad, seafood bisque, confit of pork and ravioli langoustine....and a chocolate tart for dessert. After dinner, we strolled to the Eiffel Tower. It was stunning, just as I remembered...only better. On the hour, the lights twinkle. We stayed just to watch the light show. So perfect. Tomorrow is our last day and we have special plans. Stay tuned...

Last day...To the Top
8.38 miles, 18,134 steps

Well, all good things must come to an end...but not before we had one last day here in Paris. Today was the day we had tickets to the Eiffel Tower summit and a planned picnic lunch in a park.

What an adventure. It is beautiful up at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Chilly...but beautiful. We enjoyed all the magnificent views. We looked at all the places we visited and took a ton of panoramic photos. It was truly special. After our visit, we met an old student of mine for coffee (she is attending school here)...based on her suggestions for a spot to picnic, we headed to the Touilleries Gardens, the gardens behind the Louvre. Armed with cheese, a banquette, a quiche from the local bakery and a bottle of sparkling wine...we found ourselves having a quiet picnic in the rain (under an umbrellaed table). It was special and romantic.

Still we laughed that we never made it to any museum while on this visit. Later in the evening, Mr. Goodin decided the escargot needed to be on the menu. Foodie alert! We went to La Vin Couer for escargot. Wanting to expand my French pallete, I ordered Tartare de Beof...yes, steak tartare with blue cheese. It was delicious. Full, happy, and a little misty that it was our last evening, we went for a stroll along the  Champs Élysées for souvenirs to take home. Love was in the air today. This trip just confirmed for both of us that we love disconnecting from our daily lives, if even for a few days. We laughed, shared special conversations that affirmed our love, and created memories that will last for a lifetime. We also decided that when the Euros and clean clothes run out, it's time to go home.

We spent four days and walked over 30 miles discovering not only an amazing city, but realizing more and more how blessed we are. I will now have a special place in my heart for Paris. No more table for one...I will take a table for two for Mr. Goodin and myself.

And if you just didn't get enough....just like my Gramps old home movies, you can click here for more photos...in case you wanted to see all of them. Just click on this link to the Shutterfly album: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8IasXDJm4atTq

Last but not least, a little goodie if you made it this far. Here is a short video of the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles on the hour. Enjoy!

My Obsession with Cows, Barns & Rusty Trucks

This past weekend, I decided to visit my Mom for Mother's Day. It was a quick trip. I'll break it down...21 hours travelling (thanks to being stuck in Philly for the night) and 27 hours visiting. It was a short visit. However, even a quick escape from Miami to upstate NY brings me to the quieter and less hectic side of life.

I used to give my Mom a hard time about her move up north to a place I could not pronounce, Oneonta. Let me help you "OH KNEE ON TA". Actually, she lives on the outskirts of Oneonta, in the Village of Morris. It is as small as it sounds. Quaint, quiet and Rockwellesque are good descriptions of this part of the world. For those baseball lovers, it is very close to Cooperstown, NY. Home of the Baseball Hall of Fame and Doubleday Field.

I digress. The one thing I like most about visiting is the scenery along the route to her home. For years, I have learned landmarks on how to navigate my way up the mountain. Looking for those familiar signs that I am getting close. The truck on the left hand side of the road that has been there for years. When I see that, I know I am getting ready to turn. Signage is hard to find, but the barn on the corner is where I turn. I actually missed my turn this past weekend because they tore down one of the barns. I quickly U turned and made my way back. What I saw this time was the tire swing. Another landmark for a return trip.

I look for the cows that live in the field on the road leading up to her house. I don't see them right away but I know they are grazing in another field. I will catch them on my trip out of town. Another mile up the road, I see a pond of cattails. It's a sign that winter may be gone. New Yorkers had a rough winter, so any sign of spring is welcomed.

Finally, one of my favorite houses on her road is the one with a beautiful barn and silo. I have taken so many photos of this neighbors barn, it's almost embarrassing. On this trip, I see the owner outside as I pull over to take more pictures, she smiles, I wave hello. I must not be the only one.
She continues on with her gardening.

By the time I pass this barn and the house with the wood stacked high, I know I am almost to Mom's house. I find myself signing the theme song to "Green Acres"....and if you are too young to know what this is, Google it.

She lives on a hill. Not a lot of cars on the road. So we enjoy the warmish weather with a drive into town for lunch. The pets are happy. They get some sunshine on the back patio. Changes in latitude, changes in attitude.

 

I love the familiarity of this route after all these years. On this trip, I took pictures to remember how nice it is to see the quieter side of life. No such thing as rush hour or rushing for that matter. It's a place where the waitress at the local restaurant wants to sit and chat. There is a Main Street...it's at the cross streets of Chestnut Street and Church Street. It's also a college town. Home of SUNY Hartwick. I seem to always visit when school is out, making it more quiet than usual. You won't get lost. Just ask anyone for directions.

If you are ever in the neighborhood, stop and take a walk around. If you love cows and barns, you will love this place. The cows (and horses) don't even seem to mind if you take a picture or two. 

Color My World

As a part of my photography class, I was charged to develop a thematic project. I was channeling the Mission Impossible music as I read the instructions. Find a theme....mind is whirling now. So many possibilities..animals, food, flowers, people. This is hard! Then it happened. I was driving home from work and I thought about colors. What has more color than a box of crayons. This is getting good I thought to myself.


I thought about my childhood and the importance of crayons. Crayons are creativity. They have a magic way of bringing out the kid in you. Every Christmas morning, there were a few things I could depend on in my stocking....Lifesaver Storybook, a new half dollar coin and my box of Crayola 64. I remember the smell of a brand new box. All the perfectly poised sticks waiting for me to dive in.


It was obvious that I loved my crayons. Every time I unearth a box of goodies from my childhood, I find drawings of rainbows, butterflies and flowers. So it all came together, my thematic project would be about the color of crayons. I am calling this project, "Color My World"...

The assignment is simple and complicated. Take one picture a week for a year. I have 64 crayons and 52 weeks. The possibilities are limitless. Once a color is used....it will be retired. This project will allow me to explore.

 

If you were wondering what all the colors of the box were, I did a little research. It was all quite fascinating actually. Colors come and go. Some are retired. Some are voted out. Some are voted in....but as of now, here are the current 64.  Apricot, Asparagus, Bittersweet, Black, Blue, Blue Green, Blue Violet, Brick Red, Brown, Burnt Orange, Burnt Sienna, Cadet Blue, Carnation Pink, Cerulean, Chestnut, Cornflower, Dandelion, Forest Green, Gold, Goldenrod, Granny Smith Apple, Gray, Green, Green Yellow, Indigo, Lavender, Macaroni and Cheese, Magenta, Mahogany, Mauvelous, Melon, Olive Green, Orange, Orchid, Pacific Blue, Peach, Periwinkle, Plum, Purple Mountain’s Majesty, Raw Sienna, Red, Red Orange, Red Violet, Robin’s Egg Blue, Salmon, Scarlet, Sea Green, Sepia, Silver, Sky Blue, Spring Green, Tan, Tickle Me Pink, Timberwolf, Tumbleweed, Turquoise Blue, Violet, Violet Red, White, Wild Strawberry, Wisteria, Yellow, Yellow Green and Yellow Orange.

Tickle Me Pink is officially retired...only 63 more colors & photos to go!

"Tickle Me Pink"

 



 

 

 

You can go home again...a return to my alma mater

I live in Florida, but Virginia has always been my heart home. I was born into a military family. Born in New Jersey, I have lived around the world and when fate brought me to Virginia....I declared it home.  

So where to begin? When a longtime friend and college floor mate suggested we gather our old friends and return to our alma mater for Spring Weekend...we thought that was a fabulous idea. This past weekend I flew into Richmond, Virginia to begin this trip down memory lane to Longwood College (now University) in Farmville, Virginia.

To begin this trip, you must understand one of the key relationships that made this trip all worthwhile and that is my sister by choice and college roommate, Temple. I met Temple, a sassy blonde with spikey hair in 1985 in Wheeler. She lived across the hall from me my freshman year and that is how we met. Wheeler was the only all female dormitory at Longwood. Someday, I will dedicate a blog just to that experience, but some things just need to stay in the appropriately named "Virgin Vault."  (And Mikey, if you are reading this....you complete us).

The town has grown. A small town city that has roots in the Civil War has had a facelift. There are a few of the old buildings peppered in between new buildings and restaurants. We looked for signs of familiarity. Late night snack attacks of potato wedges from ParBills...yet it was no where to be found. Gone, like so many of our favorite hang outs.

 

 

What was apparent were signs of spring throughout the town. Dogwoods in full bloom. Nothing says Virginia like the dogwood (the state tree and flower for those that don't know). Cascades of trees...pink, white, purple lined the streets of the old homes of Farmville.

 

The campus, full of traditions, looks like a familiar friend who grew up while we weren't looking. We walked around remembering and reminiscing about how we met, the friends we made, and all the trouble we caused (in good fun of course). Funny how the subject of courses we took didn't come up....hmmmm. We walked the mall and remembered our dining hall days and making snow angels in the history making snow storm. The pizza parties, late night cram sessions, our visits to the all boys college (Hampton Sydney), and my days as an Alpha Gamma Delta. So many memories.

Wheeler Residence Hall

We met up with friends that afternoon. We laughed so hard all day. I realized just how ridiculous we were, but what made me laugh harder was the things my brain selectively forgot. The stories were a mosaic. Woven together, the story of our rites of passage began to emerge from the foggy mists of my memory.

I had a few realizations this past weekend. Time, space and place may change but the connections of friendship remain. Life happened when we weren't looking but the memories of our youth have bonded us. What has made my relationship with my college roommates so special is that we became family through the years. College brought us together, but we grew up and we moved on. We have lived, loved and laughed our way through the joys and the heartaches of life. They are my Golden Girls. Going back in time for a few days and reliving the nostalgia of my past made me more grateful for their part in my life.

Temple & Vicky -  Established 1985
 

So yes. You can go home again.