Food

Squid from the market today...

Pastrie- the texture of rice krispies...

Famous chocolate shop with window displays made of chocolate- the shape of a bee hive and sometimes weighing up to 160 pounds....

Our first meal with Nora- cucumber starter, beef bourguignon, apple tart- it would have had a salad and cheese but we ran out of baguette...

Breakfast- juice, croissant, homeade jam.

First Trip on the Metro

The seine river across from the Eiffel tower.

And nora taking photos of the tower or maybe a pigeon...
Our hostess- Eloenore Tinard suggested we take the kids into Paris since we had gotten in later than expected and to insure them that we were in fact in Paris. So we did and explored the 2 hot spots- Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame/Latin Quarter....

a mime at the Eiffel Tower

Nora spied a "fat' pigeon

Winston at dead center under the Eiffel Tower

Safely in Paris...or more specifically Sceaux

ARRIVAL

DEPARTURE

We left our house in phoenix at 5pm on tuesday.. our flight was delayed a touch causing us to take a later flight from London to Paris...But as we got off the flight in Paris there was Nora Tinard waiting to greet us!!! We loaded our bags in her car and the 5 of us took our first metro ride from the CDG airport to Sceaux where we walked to get pizza... FROM DOMINOES but not your typical dominoes cheese- this puppy had 4 cheeses- goat cheese, formaggio and 2 others and then another pizza with fresh basil, tomatoes and mushrooms... then to Nora's house. We are eally thankful to have had a great travel day.

The Gift

Soooooo, here it is- the day of our departure. What's been in the distance and felt far away is now here. My heart has been overwhelmed the past few weeks with the thought of GIFT. This sabbatical is a gift- something we didn't deserve. A gift is something that makes you giddy, that floors you, that overflows your heart with joy. That's where I am this morning- thankful for this gift, thankful for all the people that have said kind words to us in the past couple days, thankful for those that have said- "We got this" to free us to go. So the adventure begins- last night our kids were giddy too and that made me smile as I realize this is going to change them in ways I can't imagine. I'm off to get one last buttermilk bar from Rainbow donuts before rolling out.....

Jason

Dinner Out

We asked a few people where the best fish and chips could be ordered. The overwhelming response was this little place.

Here Jason is waiting for our food.
Here I am waiting for our food.
We were both so happy with our meal. I had fish and chips, Mahi Mahi. The best I have ever had. Jason had fish tacos.
A perfect end to a perfect day.

All Day on the Beach

We left our room around nine thirty and did not leave the beach until four. It was a beautiful day. This is Tunnels beach and famous for snorkeling. We spent a good amount of time in the water looking at fish. I really wanted to see a turtle, but had no luck until we were almost ready to leave. The couple next to us told us to walk down the beach where they had sighted a few smaller turtles.

Sure enough, there were turtles. I can't believe I got to swim with a turtle. As we were getting out of the water further down the beach, Jason realized we had dropped a snorkel. He went back in the water and right there, there was another turtle. The water was only four feet deep and he was huge. We got to watch him eat and come up for air. Amazing end to a perfect day spent on the beach.
This beach is also famous for Bethany Hamilton, the young surfer who had her arm bitten off by a tiger shark.
Jason hunkered down for the day with his book in the shade.

Blown away at the BEAUTY....

We tried a new shave ice today, The Wishing Well. Not as good as Jo Jo's but still good. Love the macadamia nut ice cream on the bottom! This place has been making shave ice for a long time- notice the sign in the upper right--- and the lady making ours asked if we were honeymooning!

This is the hike we took down to the beach right by our hotel. A steep hike down and a workout on the way up.
The pool at the resort is not exempt from the chickens!! I was not feeding this rooster, but was faking for the photo.
This sunset was amazing.
So fun to think yesterday we kayaked around that point!