Much like we do in Los Angeles, we are trying to live in the city of Paris against the normal flows of traffic. I can’t say that we are much for 'crowds of people', is there anyone that is, really? We’ve discovered that going out later in the day or late at night is one of the best times to walk the city, generally less people and definitely less tourists.

On Wednesday and Friday nights the Louvre is open until 9 pm, so this is when we decided to make our first visit to this gorgeous museum. Since we went just before it closed, we didn’t have too much time to explore the museum. We hope to return this week to explore some more. We did however, get to experience the Louvre lit up at night, and that in itself was worth the evening visit.

1.  A Lilac bush blooming along the Seine River that we came across on our walk to the Louvre. And yes, we took a moment to stop and smell the flowers ~ more than a moment actually, because the scent of blooming lilacs is beyond intoxicating. What I loved about this bush in particular is that attached to it were two hand written notes, one in English and one in French kindly asking people not to pick it’s blossoms, so that everyone who passed by could enjoy them.  {you can see the note blurred out in the background of this photo}

2. One of the many ornate bridges crossing the Seine, Ponte Alexandre

3. Le Fumoir ~ one of my new favorite restaurants in Paris, directly across from the entrance to the Louvre, great atmosphere, good food and a happy hour

4. Sailboats with what look like hand sewn sails, that children {or grown-ups} can rent and 'sail' with a stick around a little pond in the Tuileries gardens. Sean did this as a kid, and for nostalgia reasons could not wait to come back to this pond. We could’ve sat there for hours. You’d never guess that a simple sailboat could give little kids, and us watching them, so much enjoyment. 

5. Sean filming at the Palais du Louvre

6. The famous pyramid. I was so thrilled to see it in person

7. painting at the Louvre that caught my eye ~ reminded me of all my characters in a row ;) And I’m sorry to say that we moved through the Louvre so quickly that I did not take note of the names of these paintings, or the artists who created them, to share with you...next time

8. and 9. I love the paintings that depict the angel announcing to Mary that she is pregnant and there were so many paintings and depictions of this in the Italian painters section of the Louvre.

10. those bright green chairs at the Tuileries Gardens ~ how can you not want to sit and stay a while? especially in the ones that recline?

We’re in Germany this weekend so I’m planning to take a few days away to enjoy time with my family. It’s the one place in the world that I seem to be able to let go of everything and connect to the part of me that was most inspired as a child. I love it here. Not sure if any of that makes any sense to you, but it means I’ll be taking a short break.

So I leave you for a few days with some more images of Paris, and I wish you a happy weekend and ein schones wochenende. bis bald ~ a bientot ~ see you back here soon ~ xo