Journeys come in all sorts of packages, and we were lucky enough to have had the opportunity to visit family and friends in Europe this summer. While we don't typically do the crazy expensive vacation thing, we certainly enjoyed it while it lasted!
First Stop - Paris
Yeah, see, I told you it sounds like we think we are hot stuff. How amazing is it that we got to stay with cousins in a Parisian suburb?!?! Nana Pat is a second cousin of Tom Delduca, from Italy (Lama dei Peligni). He married Nicole, a Parisienne, and they have a daughter, Ann, who is my age. She is John's third cousin. Her kids, Alexandre and Romain, are fourth cousins to my kids. You will be tested later. We stayed with Tom and Nicole in their home and had a fabulous, fun-filled time.
The French homes are so welcoming and warm. Although the homes are close together, you would never know it by the privacy you feel. I think it is the flowers and trees and relaxing atmosphere, as well as the lack of sirens. The food was great and the company was greater; the Delducas sure know how to have fun!
We saw most of the "usual" sights of Paris: the Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, etc. The overall group favorite was DEFINITELY the Catacombs:
Deep underground we went, after more than 3 hours in line, to walk a winding path over a mile long looking at BONES. Yes, BONES. This ossuary is where bones were stored when Paris ran out of room to bury its dead. It was blessed in 1786, after which time the remains from the Cemetery of the Innocents were brought to be stored in these old limestone quarries. When all the remains had been transferred, other cemeteries' contents were also brought to the catacombs until 1814.
It was a pretty creepy place. In the early transfer of bones, the remains were just neatly stacked. As the time passed, the transfer dudes became a little more artsy and made crosses and other respectful displays. It is pretty dark this far underground, and the lighting is intentionally dim to preserve the remains of people who probably did not plan on being a tourist attraction.
This picture shows what happens when you get trapped underground with a lot of bones (estimated to be 6 million people) in an old limestone quarry. You carve pretty buildings into the walls while you pray that zombies are not actually real.
We all really enjoyed Paris, much more than we had even hoped. There is something about being with family and feeling connected that makes a trip special. I am hopeful that the friendships my kids forged with their cousins and friends will last a lifetime and spark other trans-Atlantic adventures.
Hopefully you have special people with whom to share your future vacations, too!
