Final days...

The last days of a summer filled with travel, adventures and incredible friends were spent in Paris; amidst the lights of the Eiffel Tower, youthfulness of the Tuileries Gardens, artistry of the Louvre and hours spent relaxing beneath trees and among lush lawns.

Eiffel Tower at nite!

Tuileries Garden

Louvre

These final days, while including sightseeing and touristy activities, were also much more relaxed with long periods in between to lie out, drink wine and enjoy the night lights of the Eiffel Tower.

Before the crowds gathered for the night light show

To spread out and enjoy a picnic beneath a shade tree atop Montmartre beside Sacré Coeur.

Sacre Coeur

Picnic with wine!

To seek out the Moulin Rouge, take a few quick pictures of the disappointedly small windmill, and then spend the afternoon sampling beers in a French brasserie.

Moulin Rouge

Afternoon beer tasting

And a time to enjoy large hunks of fresh French bread smothered with butter and jam, with large North American style coffees, complimentary of our short stay at a Monastery, one street over from the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe.

Elevator ride before a breakfast a la french style!

A perfect blend of vacationing mixed with daily life and living; and of new experiences and anticipated good-byes ~ or more correctly, see-you-laters.

Saying goodbye brought many mixed emotions, with obvious and expected sadness twinged with loneliness. Some of my strongest connections were bound to return home across an ocean, countless miles and time zones apart, away from the day to day conveniences and inconveniences of the summer experiences. A feeling of contented relief of having survived a summer of closeness and unconditional support, despite fears of how the passing time could have altered childhood bonds. And a sense of exhaustion and desire to return to normal, if only for a short while….

And so I bid adieu to mes amis at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, and began to process and reflect upon how very fortunate I am to have wonderful life -long friends, who despite the miles and cost, continue to remain present, active and committed to our long-distance relationships!

Thanks everyone, for making this a memorable summer.

A summer of trials and tribulations,

adventures and annoyances,

heart to hearts and moments of silence,

a time of heartfelt opinions and unconditionality

and one of acceptance and life inspiring awe….