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It is with regret I have not updated in a while.    I managed to squeeze in a visit to Paris in early November 2025.   I'd been wanting to go since January 2025. The desire is like a spiritual longing - its hard to describe!  Well, we happened to have some credit on our Easyjet account (due to a previous cancellation)...So the hubby said to me, why don't you use it to go to Paris?!  Great idea!! I jumped at the chance. 

I'd booked a couple of days off work so I thought , just do it! Hubby was busy working away..

I reserved a room at the Easyhotel near the airport - as a bonus there was a massive mall directly facing that mall.  I arrived there late at night so the following morning I was up at the crack of dawn. It was foggy and I couldn't see, but somehow I managed to locate the bus stop that where buses would take me into the airport bus park.  I figured that, that would've been the easiest way as there was a direct bus to L'Opera (centre of Paris) where I was meeting my friend Sandrine.  She said 'Meet me at the steps - I arrived at Opera Garnier and found the steps about 10 mins later! You couldn't miss them , the place was heaving with tourists. After 15 minutes I spotted this wee purple figure emerging from the crowd!!!

We enjoyed lunch at Pret- A - Manger, so I was chatting away to my friend in French. It all felt so surreal but I was happy . Ecstatic.


Les Champs-Elysees




                                                                     Sandrine et moi

                                     

                                      Joanna (elle est Polonaise,  mais parle comme une francaise)

                                                                                         

Oh la la !!  I almost forget to say we spent Easter in Nantes/Clisson. Our first time flying from Dublin.

My friend Sophie who is originally Yugoslavian was very hospitable to us.  She invited us both to her lovely French house to have dinner on Easter Monday.  She'd arranged to me at the train station and was given instructions which side to meet.A little nervous when I got there!  Then all of a sudden a middle aged woman with slight grey hair, I almost didn't recognise her from 10 years ago (see group photo below in Rennes).  She approached Ryan with open arms then 2 seconds later it clicked who she was! Talk about it being like a scene from Long Lost Family.  It was very emotional for me.

Sophie's house was lovely and she hosted a wonderful dinner with French cheeses, 3 different types of alcohol (including one with 40% strength)  cabbage 'parcels' with meat inside them and potatoes!    After dinner she took us on a tour around Clisson countryside. Scenery was amazing!  There were castles and great waterfalls. How lovely.  Sophie and her hubby have two grown up sons and it was lovely to meet them again. Hope I don't wait ten years to see them again! Ryan got one with the oldest one.  A very memorable experience! Of course we keep in touch!!


                           

                                                                               

                





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