A moment to catch my breath and drop a line to ya all back home. We have had an extremely busy week - some most amazing moments and some very challengine ones. Some moments that were least expected - even though I said that I didn't have any expectations, these moments were not in my consciousness at all.
We left Maldon on Sunday morning. Phoebe was sick in the car on the way. I didn't expect that! We were in the toilets while she was being sick again when we were paged to board our flight (it must run in the family, Ben). A moment of indecision - should we fly while she was sick? It seemed emotional and I thought it would settle down once we got going, so we boarded - her carrying a sick bag. It didn't settle down and she had a miserable flight to Singapore. We were advised in Singapore that our flight to Paris had been cancelled! Didn't expect that. They were to put us in a hotel for the night. I told them I wasn't going to stand in any queues and they had to get us to the hotel as fast as they could. So, Phoebe carrying her sick bag, we were expressed past about 500 people in immigration and 50 people in baggage claim and about 200 people waiting for a taxi. We were sent to 3 rooms in the hotel before we got one with 3 beds in it. By then Phoebe was weeping that she just wanted to go home. Sabrina went out in sympathy and from over-excitement (she had a fantastic flight - Disney channel, Bridge to Terabithia and everyone giving her their chocolates), and I was pretty close to it as well. Didn't expect any of that.
Anyway, next morning Phoebe was a little better, and we got on our way to Paris. Caroline, our host in Paris, collected us from the airport (Phoebe carrying a sick-back again) and brought us to her beautiful little home in Esbly, about 40km east of Paris. She was wonderful - food ready for us, sight-seeing arrangements made and her home open. We spent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the city, as much as Phoebe could tolerate - she hated Paris. Even though she loved some of the places we visited, all of her hadn't yet arrived and she was in acute culture shock (thanks Rob and Ines for the email counselling!!). Sabrina was wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. She was completely open to everything and embraced it all with vigour. She wasn't even phased on the Met and we really saw some sights on that!
So, we have seen all the usual places - Sacre Couer, Louvre, Notre Dame, Seine River cruise, Eiffel Tower lit up, Parc De la Villette, climbed the Arc de Triomphe, walked Champ de Elysee, farmers market in the village and, best of all, discovered crepes filled with Nutella! We had muesli with cholcolate for breakfast, chocolate filled croissants (just for you Sue M.), hot chocolate, chocolate on everything!!
Phoebe is improving and says that now she can wait until the end of the holiday before we go home. Thank-you! Phew!!
Love to all, and more exciting news next time.
Lisa, Sabrina and Phoebe
