We haven’t blogged in quite some time, and that is because we have been too busy enjoying the delightful summer weather… we just had to go to Paris and London to find it! With June came our second wedding anniversary and a trip to Paris. Paris is by far the most picturesque European city we have visited to date. The architecture is stunning: the buildings seem to flow together with a stylized purpose instead of in the haphazard manner so common in the rest of Europe. We toured the Champs Élysées, Sacré Cœur, the Palace of Versailles, and of course the Eiffel Tower (which we ascended via stairs; we seemed to get asked that question a lot). One of the best parts was that we were lucky enough to see all of this beneath a glowing Parisian sun. The weather was immaculate, to say the least. It rained the day before we arrived and the day after we left, and in the interim there was nary a cloud in sight. We walked through the city comfortably baring skin for the first time in what seemed like decades. All of this, of course, probably means nothing to our Californian family and friends; it once would mean nothing to us, either. However, when it has rained nearly every day for nine months straight, suddenly the slightest flicker of sun is practically worthy of a religious ceremony. Think Stonehenge and Newgrange aligning perfectly with the morning light is insignificant? Think again. Yes, Paris was amazing. By now, of course, I’m sure you’re wondering how we fared with the French. Much to our surprise and delight, the Parisians were quite pleasant. Most of the French we run into in Dublin are… well… French. Perhaps in their natural habitat the French are agreeable. We happen to think we just got lucky, though. It is also possible that we were hallucinating under the effect of a vitamin D overdose.
My parents came to visit in July, and with Nick’s abundant amount of vacation time, the four of us had the opportunity to jaunt over to London. London is probably my favorite city in Europe (and Britain, to be technical). The mind boggles at everything there is to see, all that the city has to offer, and of course that lovely English charm. It was my third time going, and I still feel as though I’ve only scratched the surface. We went to The Tower and Westminster Abbey (among many other things), and if you can only go to two places in London, those are the two I’d recommend. We also ventured to Charles Dickens’ home, which I figured was a necessary pilgrimage since I’m writing my thesis on him. I like to consider it research, and I’m fairly certain my advisor would agree. I must also mention the most delightful accommodations we stayed in, the Lime Tree Hotel. The management and staff were amazing, with the owners personally serving us (a decent!) breakfast and making us feel very welcome. With the often-dingy hotels found in Europe, the well-kept Lime Tree Hotel was a breath of fresh air. It was absolutely wonderful having my parents visit, and to have the opportunity to show them around Ireland and London. We are reasonably convinced that they returned to California with a new appreciation for sun and spices (i.e. taste) in their food.
The Louvre at around 9 pm. Yes, it is still that light out!
Arc de Triomphe.
A black and white shot of the Eiffel Tower.
Champ de Mars
Us, Eiffel, and sunshine!
Sacré Cœur.
The gardens of Versailles.
Tower Bridge.
Big Ben with the London Eye in the background.
The Redcoats.
Westminster Abbey.
Mom and Dad in front of the lovely Lime Tree Hotel.
