All Around Paris

Though our apartment was not much to look at (frankly, it was dirty and bordered on gross), Paris was quite lovely into the night.  We watched the sun set, watched the lights come out, and drank quite a bit of grappa to go with our wine.  Oh dear.  Twas all good...the long walk, the death-defying tunnel walk (maybe that deserves more explanation), the champagne, the roasted chestnuts.  Though the cloudy weather and lack of family (and Steven, who I missed painfully) certainly did dampen our spirits significantly more than it had two years ago, there is something so magical about the city of lights that made it feel alllllright.    

We finally found a place that would accommodate our need for a quality Christmas Eve dinner.  The banquet had us flanked by two families, thankfully, so our desire to be around family was certainly somewhat fulfilled.  It made me sad to be away from my lamb-chop-cooking mother, and giggling-inappropriately-at-his-own-father father, just as it made me sad to be away from my ever-kind-and-even-more-ever-amazing beau, but being with my friend in this really beautiful place made it awesome.  Sometimes missing someone makes being with them again so rich.  Here's to the riches in our lives.   

We walked from the 11th Arrondissement along and across the Seine to the Eiffel Tower.  Once we arrived, Jamie had this great idea to go up.  Why not?  The lines were short, it was Christmas Eve, and she assured me, "it will be magical".  And you know what?  It was!  The elevator ride up was short, the crowds were far less diminished than they have been in spring, and the best part?  Since the top deck was closed, we were only allowed to the second floor.  What a great surprise!  From what I recall of Paris from atop (from 16 years ago!  Yikes!) is she's not that attractive.  But from halfway up the Tower, she's gorgeous.  It was all very romantic and entirely magical, just as my friend suggested.  And though on the way home, we were both lost in thought, thinking of romance and of our absent loves, the conversation it spurred the following day was great.   

Playing around with the aperture setting (with increased f value) on the cam...(loves)...

And here she is from the second floor...

I'm certainly feeling the love looking back on those.  I hope your Christmas was merry, bright, and filled with the people who make you never want to miss them.  xx