Month: May 2022

We both slept in this morning and it felt fantastic! I was going to get up to run a longer run, but, well, that just wasn’t going to happen. We got ready and decided to walk to the Creperie we wanted to eat at yesterday. It looked tiny all closed up yesterday but had excellent reviews, so why not?

When we made it there (only like a 10 minute walk), there were the 2 ladies running the place and us.. they let us choose a table inside (it’s still cool in the earlier hours and at night here), and we looked over the menu. Many of the menus are only in French, or with English in tiny letters under the French ones.. sometimes i just point and hope for the best, but I was thrilled to be able to mostly read what these crepes were.

Mom had never tried savory crepes before, only the sweet or fruity ones.. she thought I was exaggerating at first about how good the savory ones are.. she quickly learned I was right to sing their praises. We each got one filled with eggs, mushrooms, onions, cheese, cheese, and cheese.

DE-LIC-IOUS. We each also got a sweet one too, Mom’s was apples and cinnamon, mine was chocolate and bananas with almonds. They were delightful, but not as good as the breakfast ones.
The ladies spoke mostly French but were kind and attempted conversation with us. We enjoyed their company too. One lady cooked the crepes (she made 2 at a time in a little kitchen made just for her.. like literally no one else could stand in there with her), the other lady was the hostess/waitress/everything else. She was funny and chatty, but wouldn’t let us take her picture (“I am lots of things, but not photogenic”).

When we left we decided to walk around to all of the shops in our area.. up one street and down another, criss crossing and looking at everything anyone had for sale. There were tons of chunky boots and sandals, purses, and expensive jewelry. I almost got a pair of handmade earrings until I realized that it was only one earring, there was no match, and it alone was €45.. I thought I was being ridiculous enough to buy a pair of earrings for €45, but I couldn’t justify just one for that price (and I like symmetry too much anyway).

We walked over to the rooftop restaurant to attempt again to drink/eat there.. it’s apparently also closed on Tuesdays. Boo. So, instead we ate a burger from the place we first stopped at a few days ago (that goat cheese burger was calling my name) and then headed back towards our hotel to drop of some new clothes we purchased. We ended up walking towards the Seine River because we knew we wanted to watch the Eiffel Tower light up after sunset.

Originally Mom was all for walking all the way to the Eiffel Tower like we did yesterday (2 more miles from where we were), but I talked her into waiting along the river for a “hop on-hop off” water boat. We sat and rested our feet and took pictures until the boat showed up and then we sat in the very front to sight see everything as it came.

It let us off right in front of the Eiffel Tower (we passed under the bridge I put our locks on yesterday). We walked around the park for a bit and then went to a corner cafe to have some wine, coffee, and desert. A couple from the US sat down next to us and so we chatted with them for awhile. After we told each other stories about ourselves and our journeys, the woman (my age, maybe a little younger) teared up a bit and said, “it’s beautiful that you’re doing this with your mom. I always thought I had time to travel with my mom, but then she passed and that was taken from me. I’m happy you’re able to.” And then we both choked up because I hugged her. Whew. Damn wine.

As the sun started setting, Mom and I paid the bill and started walking to look for a good spot to watch the Eiffel Tower light up. We ended up across the street in a perfect spot that had a place for us to sit in perfect view. The lights only happen every hour on the hour and it was 9:25, so we knew the first one wouldn’t happen until 10.. so, I went to run my mile along the river while we waited so I wouldn’t have to do it when we got back to the room.

There’s something about running and having pristine views every time you turn your head. I went down to a big bridge, crossed it, came down to the lock bridge, paused my garmin to take some pictures for a couple, then restarted as I ran across, then turned back towards the spot Mom was sitting. It was my far the most spectacular mile of my life, running towards the Eiffel Tower at night.

Then, at 10:00 on the dot, the sparkly lights started! It was as magnificent as you’d imagine. I could have sat and watched that all night long, but it stopped after 5 minutes so we walked across the street and got a taxi back to the hotel. After I showered I was out like a light. Our last day in Paris was a fantastic one.

We didn’t get up quite as early as we had intended.. Mom definitely made it up and into the shower before I even opened my eyes. We got ready, packed, and checked out. Right beside the train station we stopped to eat breakfast. It wasn’t the quickest service, but the eggs were more cooked so that was a blessing! Haha

We got on the subway to take us to the main train station, we were there with 40 minutes to spare-and then promptly spent that 40 minutes walking in circles, up and then back down escalators, in all the wrong directions attempting to find the spot we were supposed to be in for our train to Lyon. I asked at least 5-6 different people working there where to go, some sent us up, some sent us down, finally one man took the time to explain in steps where to go..

But by then we had already missed our train, but seriously like 2 minutes. I talked on the phone with Morgana and Alex seeing if they could help me figure out what to do.. and thank goodness, because they explained how to get a new ticket for a train leaving in 15 minutes, and where to walk to get on said train. Mom had I hadn’t even sat our butts in our seats when the train started moving! And if Alex wasn’t able to tell us which platform the train was on, we’d have missed that train, too, because no where on the ticket does it say where it is! Apparently when it shows up on a big monitor, you have minutes to get to the platform. I guess if that’s our one snag, it wasn’t too terrible.. only a €104 mishap and wasting 30 minutes of Alex and Morgana’s time.. I still feel bad about that.

The train ride was 2 hours long and it went so fast that when we came to a stop, we got off, assuming we were supposed to. I did notice some other people not moving yet, but thought nothing of it. Come to find out we got off on the stop right before ours.. and Morgana and Alex were standing on the platform of the next stop waiting for us! Yikes. These French trains are just not for me, and fingers crossed that the Italian ones are slightly easier to navigate!

Once I had Morgana on the phone and she figured out what we did, they got back in their car and drove to the train station we were at and came in to get us. I’m sure they were hating us, I wouldn’t blame them a bit! I think if I had a better understanding of the French words I’d do better, but honestly it all looks like gibberish to me. I’m considering taking lessons in more languages because I hate feeling so useless.

Anywho, they collected us and we said our hellos, then quickly got the heck out of the chaos that is a French train station! Alex drove us to a cute neighboring town for us to walk around and explore. It was adorable, not crowded, and just what we needed after a day of feeling like our heads were going to pop off. We had ice cream at the best little place with over 95 flavors, and then some beer at their favorite bar in this area. It was truly perfect.

Once it started to get a bit late into the afternoon, we loaded up in their car and Alex dropped us off at their home, which is stunning and exactly what you’d picture a perfect French house with cool shutters and an incredible garden to look like.. and then he went to pick up their puppy from a dog sitter.

Morgana gave us the tour of her lovely home, she had made us each a room with a queen bed, by far the best and most spacious accommodations yet.. and definitely the most beautiful. We got to meet her older dog, Odin, who is the biggest floof there ever was, but is slow to warm up to new people, and we met their 3 kitties, one which is a Main Coon and absolutely gorgeous.

We chatted and caught up and I made it a personal mission to get to love on Odin (it didn’t take long at all, but I wanted to squeeze him and never let go, and that didn’t get to happen, but pets and kisses did-I’ll take what I can get). Alex came back with the puppy, Saku, who unlike Odin, was immediately happy to get all the loves and squeezes me kisses. Man, I love dogs.

Morgana prepared a traditional French meal for us, on a raclette.. im probably saying that wrong.. but you have potatoes and hams/meats on your plate, you melt the cheese in this dish thing and then pour it over your potatoes and meats and dig in.. while you’re eating that bit, you put on another slice of cheese to melt.. like everyone has their own little pan to melt their own cheese on.. it was awesome! And so very very filling!

We hung out and talked and played with the pups. It was a fantastic day. Sometime after it got dark mom reminded me that I hadn’t done my run yet.. so, I did a mile around their neighborhood.. there were several hills and with it being dark and unfamiliar, when I got to a square shaped cul de sac I ran around it like 5-6 times to make sure my mile wouldn’t be up a mountainous climb.. haha

When I got back, we stayed up talking a bit more before we all decided to crash. I was so exhausted from the day and knew I’d be sleeping so well in that big comfy bed that I honestly couldn’t stop thinking about it. Laying here now, it’s so hard to even keep writing because i just want to curl into a ball and sleeeeeeeeeep.

Which is exactly what I think I’ll do now. Goodnight!

I slept so good, minus a couple nightmares.. well, one nightmare that picked up where I “left off” every time I fell back to sleep. I didn’t wake up until close to 10, mom had already showered and I could hear Alex, Morgana, and the doggies awake downstairs. I hopped in the shower and met everyone downstairs when I finished getting ready.

We had some pastries and croissants and on the pups.. Odin didn’t take as long to warm up to me this morning, and he let me pet his head instead of just his back. Saku let me do whatever I wanted.. playful little guy! He went with the 4 of us to the cute neighboring town of Trevous, where Alex and Morgana took us for an incredible lunch. The pup was relaxed and calm the entire time in the restaurant! It was like night and day, he knew he had to be good!

We had different crepes and salads, plus desserts, wine, and cider. It truly was so very good! Mom and I were stuffed full to the point of almost discomfort! Thankfully, from there we went to the little park by the river to try to coax Saku to pee before the car ride home to drop him off.. so I got to walk of a little of that lunch.. and then I just sat in the grass and enjoyed the sunshine. I was happy the little pup was being stubborn and refusing to pee, because that park was very relaxing.

When we eventually gave up on his voiding extravaganza, we got back in the car and headed home to drop him off before venturing out to our next stop of the day. The second Saku hit the grass of his own garden, he finally peed for over a minute straight! Crazy boy! He just didn’t feel comfortable in the park, I guess!

We played with Saku while Alex took Odin for his second walk of the day, and then once both pups were content we headed out to the town of Pérouges. It’s a medieval town with the stone walls and a castle in the center, homes were absolutely stunning built from stones with wooden shutters and stained glass windows. There were a few shops and restaurants to peek in, art galleries and candle shops. Many weren’t open because of it being a week day, but Mom and I loved every second of exploring.. we just wanted to see, we didn’t need to shop or buy. We’re easily fascinated, and fascinating it was.

When we got back to their house, we hung out talking while Morgana started making dinner. She’s quite the cook and I’ve always admired her health achievements and cooking skills. She was someone who motivated me back when I was in nursing school to take charge of my health, lose weight, and make healthier food choices. Tonight, she made a quiche with cheese, mushrooms, and spinach.. unbeknownst to her: Mom’s favorite!

While it was cooking, I went to do my run before the sun set and I’d be running in circles again. Morgana told me the route that would have a trail through some woods and then open up to a lovely farm field. My one mile run turned into 2 because it was too pretty to turn around at the halfway mark, instead I ran to the end of the trail and followed the road to circle back to their house. It was perfect.

I got back just as dinner was ready. We had the quiche, a salad with Alex’s homemade dressing (awesome) and then finished with a sampling of desserts they surprised us with! I kid you not, they are so very kind for spending the last two days with us, toting us all around France and showing us the coolest of places, opening their home to us and feeding us entirely too well! I am just so overwhelmed with love and gratitude for them, and so very thankful.

I showered before bed and packed the majority of my stuff, mom did the same, and then we settled into bed. Tomorrow we have an early start: we have to catch a 7:20 train back to the center of Lyon and then catch our 5 hour train to Milan, Italy. With all the mishaps on the trains yesterday, Alex and Morgana are going to drive us to the first train station and walk us to our platform..

Morgana has already looked at our tickets for Milan and has explained exactly where to stand and what to do by what time to make sure we don’t miss that one. If we do miss it, there isn’t another one to Milan until 1:30pm, and so we wouldn’t arrive until late evening, making us miss the entire day. I’m sure we’ll have it figured out, but I’m so glad they’re patient and willing to help us anyway!

(PS: check my Facebook for more pictures, I’m having trouble getting some to upload to the WordPress app)