Bamma's Blog: The Mona Lisa still smiles

We spent five days in Paris. Paris is the same as it was. . .and Paris is different. The light in the evening is still magical, the Seine still is background for lovers' kisses, artists still paint, and musicians still have their cups or hats out while they play guitars (or accordians, still) in the late spring air. Sidewalk cafes are respite for tired feet and ice cream is still a welcome treat. And toilets---especially with four children in tow---are still hard to find. I loved being there again.

On the other hand we saw too much graffiti, lines too long at the Eiffel Tower, and a sort of homogenization of the locals and the tourists. Perhaps it is globalization that has made us look too much like each other.

Zach, Sadie, McKay, and even Lucy braved the long lines at the Eiffel Tower to stand at the top and exult, "This is so cool!" I loved that. And they walked through the Louvre in their Sunday shoes until we all thought our feet should drop off. I loved that. And we all learned to hurry faster into the metro when Bamma's backpack with her computer in it got caught in the door. Lucy accompanied that adventure with wonderful frightened screams. Bamma almost joined her just as Abe wrestled it out. As you can tell, the computer is okay. So is Bamma. So is Lucy. Phew!