Merry Christmas

Wednesday was the Louvre and the Mona Lisa.

Thursday was Euro Disney and Mickey Mouse.

And, for all of you that have had the good fortune to visit the American Disneylands, let me tell you, visiting Mickey and friends in temperatures well below zero with blowing snow quickly had me dreaming of the California or Florida sunshine.  As my Dad would say, we froze our buns off!  We were so thankful to one of my university professors who had gone out of her way to lend us her children's old snowpants for the girls, as there is no way they would have lasted an hour without them.  As it was, unlike their Mom, they didn't complain once about the cold, and gave the day two enthusiastic thumbs up.

On the 24th, the girls got dressed in their Christmas best for another chilly stroll down the Champs-Elysées and an early Christmas Eve tea at the Laduree Tea Room (Laduree Tea Room), which started as a bakery in 1862 and whose specialty is macaroons.  I've never been much of a macaroon fan, but given that this is the treat the Tea Room is renowned for, I couldn't bring myself to order anything else.  I chose a plate of 4 small macaroons: raspberry, chocolate, lemon and vanilla, and was quickly converted.  I have now redefined the meaning of macaroon and have added it to the ever growing things I love about France list, especially the lemon and vanilla Laduree variety.  (I am now curious...are all macaroons in France this delicious?  I am looking forward to doing some research on that question and will let you know!).

We spent a cozy Christmas Eve with Barry's Mom and Dad looking out on the Eiffel Tour.  The girls were relieved that Santa managed to find them in our rented Paris apartment.  We were hoping to send out a more timely Merry Christmas post, but internet connections have been giving us some challenges.  We do hope that everyone is enjoying some quality time with loved ones this holiday season.