Bonjour Readers!  And Happy Birthday to me!!!

Today I feel compelled to put the book-end on my “Paris, afterward….before” post.  As you recall, at that point (late November) I was pondering the effects the recent terrorist attacks would have on Paris (and more selfishly, our enjoyment of it). Well, I am happy to say, we had a fabulous time in Paris and were very glad we decided to go!  Now you may ask, were there armed guards? – some; were there signs of fear? – sometimes (Notre Dame was cleared out and we couldn’t go in due to some unknown and undiscovered possible threat); were Parisians Parisians? – absolutely! People were out strolling en masse as always, children were ogling the entertaining store window displays, couples were enjoying fabulous meals at outdoor cafes, the Christmas Market was packed (and not with the massive amounts of guards pictured in my previous post), and Paris mostly felt like Paris. Of course, we were tourist on holiday, so I am sure we missed some of the more nuanced signs of the stress and sadness and fear the city was undoubtedly feeling, but overall, Paris, as New York, perseveres, lives, and enjoys*…..

*and had this very weird, possibly racist “Thriller” ride at its Christmas market this year, pictured above  – a much bigger (and more eclectic) market than the one we experienced in 2008!