Hitting the Ground Running (or Limping)-Back to Reality!

The week we came home from Paris, we had a full schedule. Bob had lots to catch up on at work, and unfortunately, I got very sick with chills and fever and unable to eat. I slept a lot and then got up on Tuesday to put on our Relief Society Evening Out--Fitness Fun! I must say I wasn't feeling very fit. Sister Leonard spoke about Healthy Eating, and Sister Maines led the exercise classes in the cultural hall. We served yogurt parfaits for treats. I went home and back to sleep.

On Thursday we had invited the missionaries over along with Alejandra. It was Elder Walker's last week before returning home to Australia. We just had to see him again, as he is our favorite missionary. I made delicious pasta and Caprese salad and his favorite--baked apples and ice cream. Elder Walker always says such cute aphorisms such as about German food: "Spicy in Germany is like a little tingle on your tongue."

We had a wonderful discussion with Alejandra. She told the Bishop that she wants to get baptized. We love her so.

Update! On Halloween night, Alejandra met with the Bishop, and they set a date for her baptism: November 10! We are so excited!

On Friday I had a Relief Society presidency meeting. That evening we over to the Church Office kitchen to make Indian food with the Cailler Family. We enjoyed a wonderful meal that Alain cooked. We made naan with Nicolas, their nine-year-old son, while the food was cooking. It is always so fun to be with their sweet family.

Paris, Day 4 (cont.) Marmottan Museum, Left Bank and Latin Quarter, Montmartre and Sacre Coeur Church

Our last day in Paris!  Bob studied the map, and we caught the metro. He's such a good navigator. I would still be wandering the streets of flea markets.

We got off to visit the Marmottan Museum that displays many of Monet's works of art as well as other artists.

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This is a unique and lovely museum, as the paintings are hung on the walls of a lovely old mansion. They were exquisite, and it was a thrill to see them up close!

We loved these manuscript pages and the delicate, small statues of Mary.

We rested for a few minutes on a bench in this lovely park.

Then back to the Metro station.The art on the ceiling of this station was magnificent.

Then on to the Left Bank and the Latin Quarter.

It was fun to walk along the river and see the little shops, mostly of book sellers.

As we walked through the city looking for the entrance to the metro station, we got caught up in a hearing impaired parade. It was so beautiful to watch them communicate.

At last, we arrived at the Sacred Coeur Church. We rode the tram up.

The cathedral was breath-taking.

We came out to the singing of John Lennon's "Imagine," accompanied by a less than skilled guitarist who was having the time of his life leading the folks singing on the steps.

 Bob rested his feet a few moments, while I explored the fabric district. Wow! Such beautiful fabrics and such great prices. Good thing I don't live here, or I would have bought a lot!

Gorgeous buttons!

We discovered this wonderful little cafe on the corner and shared a ham and swiss cheese sandwich, with the cheese melted on the top, a marzipan crepe, and a 5 Euro bottle of water. It tasted sooooo good, and we were happy to find a place to sit down and enjoy a bite to eat.

We caught the metro, climbed a million stairs, and then sat on a park bench and enjoyed the music of a folk singer.

Then we caught the train to our neighborhood and picked up a few things at the market and boulangerie. Back in the hotel, we felt sad to have our days in Paris end. Bob said, "Our eyes have seen some of the great treasures of the world this week. Our bodies are aching, but our faces are filled with joy." We fell asleep to happy dreams. The next morning it was "Home again, home again, jiggity-jog!" at 190 m.p.h. on the train.