Andrew did a musical number for my ward in sacrament with my parents and Marina-- it was very nice! I still can't believe how well marina plays now!
I tried on my mom's wedding dress
We went to the beach-- it wasn't very sunny, but we sure had fun anyway!
I made a castle (actually it's more like a shapeless mound with a seashell on top... but hey, it withstood the elements!) as Andrew bravely fought off the waves with a fort around it. Sadly the waves won in the end...
Of course during our stay, we went to church at my home ward (Eysines). We even got to go to the baptism of a young adult--Andrew conducted the music while I played the piano. I don't know how long it's been since I've been to a baptism. It was wonderful to serve in some small part together and there was a wonderful spirit there. You forget how apart from the world BYU is--I love the spirit here and the opportunity to see and hear the Lord's prophets often,but I miss being part of a ward where everyone has know each other for generations and where everyone is building Zion together! Sometimes I feel like it's too easy to just sit back and relax at BYU... of course it's also true that there is much work to be done even in Provo! There's something to ponder...
This is us in front of the Talence church building (which is also where Eysines meets)-- that's where my dad went to church most of his life and growing up. This is where my parents first met, incidentally :)
We also visited my former ward Lormont which is the ward I spent most of my seminary years in. This is my favorite ever young women's president! It was great to see her again (I hadn't been back to Lormont since I left France to come to BYU) and I could tell she was very excited to see one of her young women come back with her (fantastic--and LDS) fiance... :)
Andrew in the tramway while we were church-hopping... we took the tramway right after sacrament in Eysines to make it in time to get to Lormont--sadly there aren't very many trams on Sundays so we barely made it as sacrament was ending. Then we ate dinner at my best friend's home--only she is England studying this year, so it was without her.
The mayor of Bordeaux has done some fantastic work on the city of Bordeaux, and it was more beautiful than ever! One of the best things so far is the "miroirs d'eau" (water mirrors) -- the whole riverside was renovated for a stretch with gardens, nice smooth sidewalks to skate on, benches, etc. and the miroirs d'eau, which is a very very shallow wading pool that reflects the city, and every half hour or so it drains and shoots out mist. It's a perfect way to stay cool on a summer day!
Andrew got himself some new french clothes :) modeling his look in front of the family bikes
Marina and Andrew and I went out for lunch one day on her noon break and she ate a whole sandwich and a HUGE cream puff all to herself
On May 8 we all went to St Emilion, a nearby castle and fort city complete with a watch tour and, of course vineyards for miles around--that's where they produce the world famous St Emilion wine. We asked, but to our dismay they didn't sell any fancy grape juice
This is inside the monastery/chapel courtyard
And Andrew shooting out the tower window :)
on top of the tour du roy (king's tower)
This is a medieval toilet flushing system... you can still see traces of royal waste... charming eh?
walking in the streets of St Emilion
And finally it was time to leave for Paris-- Marina was very brave...
My aunts Adeline and Veronique also came to see us off
When we got to Paris, my aunt Hanna Maija came to pick us up with my cousins. and Andrew, wanting the full childhood experience rode in the back.. and had to climb through to get in and out!
looking at photos...
The next day we visited Paris. We just went all over, wherever we wanted to go! It was my best trip to Paris--most definitely. My personal highlight and culmination of my existence--ok maybe not that good, but quite close--was our visit to the Salon Laduree, a confiserie--a place where fantastic concoctions and sweets beyond your imagination are made. I love macaroons, and this place is where they were first invented! My selection: rose-flavored ice cream with orange flower, violet, raspberry and rose macaroons--complete with a orange flower infusion served a little silver tea kettle. Andrew had grape juice--but not just any grape juice! This was the real thing, made with the finest grapes France has to offer, and the difference was remarkable.
yes, pure bliss. And of course, the great Eiffel Tower itself. We climbed up the stairs about halfway, after that you had to take an elevator crammed with crazy tourists, so we just went back down. But let it be said that we climbed the Eiffel Tower!
And then it was time to leave for good. This was us waiting in Charles de Gaulle (I think--it was such a long tripI sort of can't remember what happened where..)
And by the end Andrew fell asleep on the floor in Dallas (and I on the couch, curled up under an arm rest--those seats are anti-sleep!)
Overall, a wonderful trip!
