After two fabulous days in Paris, Kathryn and I are starting stage two of our rail journey on another TGV, this time heading to Switzerland.
The parents of our student from last summer received us warmly and treated us as part of the family. We spent the first evening at their home enjoying drinks, dinner, and conversation.
Yesterday, we had a late lunch at a popular restaurant near Place de la Bastille where we had a table in a private corner of the restaurant, thanks to a personal connection between the father and one of the managers.
After a relatively large, several course meal, we took a long stroll from the restaurant to Notre Dame de Paris, just for a quick view from the outside to see that it’s still there. From there, we continued to Jardin du Luxembourg, then to Saint Sulpice Church, and finally capped off the day with beers at a nearby microbrewery. It was hard saying goodbye at the end of the day.
While we were in the Paris area, the grandmother had left her apartment at our disposal while she was out of town. It was just a few hundred meters from the city limits of Paris, a short walk to the Métro when we wanted to head out on our own.
As a tourist, I typically avoid Switzerland. It’s a beautiful country, but when the bill arrives, it’s shocking.
This time, we’re bracing for the shock to see a French friend — my former French teacher from Montpellier — who moved to Lausanne with his girlfriend several years ago. They now have two small children, including one born just a few weeks ago, whom we’re about to meet.
