Back to Paris

We took the train back to Paris to meet up with an old friend, Minoo.  We checked in to our hotel and then headed out for lunch and shopping.  We went to the top floor of the beautiful and crowded Galleries Lafayette.  Located just behind the opulent Opera Garnier, the view was great.  But the crowds were not.  Not only was it a weekend but it there was a huge sale going on too.  We abandoned the idea of shopping and just ate lunch and took the chance to get to know Minoo's girlfriend Karina.  Minoo was one of our groomsmen but we don't get to see him much since he has been living in London for years now.  

We took the hop on bus tour again and hopped off for more pictures at the Eiffel Tower. 

Tessa took this picture of the four of us.  The perspective makes me laugh. 

Ryan, looking very European with his sweater tied around his shoulders. 

While walking around the touristy parts of Paris, we couldn't resist buying colorful berets.  We found a nearby café for dinner and settled in for a long French meal.  After a few bottles of wine the berets came out and we had a fashion show.  I love how happy these two look together! 

 Our little French famille!

The next day it was time for Tessa and me to travel home.  We were sad to be leaving without Daddy.  Just to keep things interesting, there was an unattended baggage scare at Charles de Gaulle airport.  This seems to happen a lot and the way security deals with it is to blow up the abandoned bag.  I'm not making this up, Ryan has seen it happen twice now.  They cover the bag with a steel cage thing and then BOOM!  Much like how they blow up human stuff in Monsters Inc.  So our taxi driver dropped us off one terminal early to avoid the subsequent traffic.  We checked in, repacked one suitcase that was - surprise - over the weight limit and headed for security.  I had a surprise burst of tears as we said good-bye to Ryan and then we were off to the gate.  A little last minute shopping helped my end of vacation blues and before I knew it we were boarding for the long flight home.  Thankfully, we both slept a couple of hours and entertained ourselves with movies for the rest of the trip home.  Once we landed in Atlanta I had to smile at the friendly airport workers "Welcome home Baby!" and "Honey let me get that for you!" comments.  I truly love France and the French but there is nothing like a warm Southern welcome.  We caught our connecting flight to Greenville and happily crashed in our own beds that night.  It truly was a Bon Voyage!