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Carol and Sue chez nous, rue de la Mare

Perhaps our most eagerly awaited visitors in Paris were family. Alas, it was just two of the tribe that came, not the entire herd that came six years ago to celebrate Jan's 50th birthday. For weeks we had known that Jan's sister Sue would be coming. She had hinted that she would be accompanied, but by whom? Would she bring with her her husband? Or daughter? Or a sister or friend? A mystery, but fortunately not wrapped in an enigma.

The arrival day came and we went to the Gare du Nord to meet Sue and maybe somebody else coming from the airport. Jan was happy to see Sue coming up from the train and with her "the answer", if it is permissible to refer to youngest sister Carol that way.

One of the nice things about Paris is that it is connected to important places, like Teeside, which we think of as Darlington's airport, but in fact serves many other communities. For a few years now there have been direct, and even better, cheap flights via bmibaby. Because of that it is practicable to make a weekend jaunt to the City of Lights.

The Three Sisters

The evening of their arrival was filled with catching up on news and some early/late birthday presents for us from the folks at home.

Gerry, Carol, and Sue occupying some valuable Paris real estate

The Eiffel Tower, from the inside

Their first full day started with an array of French pastries, and then we went on with a walk through a good portion of historic Paris. Tops figuratively and literally was a visit to the Eiffel Tower for an unforgettable view of Paris at dusk. It was especially unforgettable for Sue who doesn't have a great head for heights and for Jan whose last attempt to see Paris from here was foiled in December of 1985 (no flashback available online yet — watch this space) when low-flying clouds obscured the view! Already exhausted from so much walking, we went the long way to a metro. When we got on there was palable reflief in all (hind) quarters.

The next morning the three sisters hurried over to the Louvre to give Sue and Carol their first visit and a taste of its glories, not least of which of course was the Mona Lisa in its new (but still impossible to get close to) location and the over-the-top throne room of Napoleon — who could possibly live with those colors? A quick stop at the supermarket to buy wine and cheese to take home and then a last lunch and off to the airport they went.

3 Wise Monkeys

Luxembourg Gdns

On the Metro

The visit was all too brief lasting barely two days, but we managed to pack a lot into it. A great reunion, for we hadn't see each other in over two years.