Trying to cram in as much as we can, we took a weekend trip off to Paris.

It was Bella and Margie's first trip there and Bella really enjoyed it. We stayed in the Latin Quarter in the usual shoebox-sized apartment. We caught up with Hugh and his son Vito. Vito and Alexander hit it off and by the end were giving each other hello and goodbye hugs in the manner of war buddies.

Lauren, Marta and the kids went over by Eurostar on Thursday. Friday was spent picnicing in the park near the Eiffel Tower, then taking a little promenade along the Champs Elysées.

On Friday evening Patrick arrived in time for dinner in Place de la Contrescarpe, the very essence of Paris.



Saturday went to Jardin du Luxembourg then Lauren took Bella shopping, as the girls must while in Paris. Alexander and Patrick went book hunting, and Alexander charmed the girls at Shakespeare & Co with his Polish (a Polish girl was working there). We caught up for a late boat ride and then off to bed. Martha went with us, so Patrick and Lauren went out for dinner with Hugh while the kids had a big Star Wars and Shrek DVD sleepover.

On Sunday we went to Arènes de Lutèce, some of the only remaining ruins from the Gallo-Roman era in Paris, where the boys played football in the Roman Arena. After that, we went to the botanic gardens, Jardin des Plantes and then back to London. We arrived home late, tired but very happy after a very full weekend.