Christmas in Paris

Paris is all decked out for Christmas, from Place Vendome to Place de la Concorde. One of the pictures below is the "buche de noel," the traditional French dessert, and below it, Village de Levis, the market street just by my house.

I won't be here for Christmas, though, I'm going to Italy on Tuesday! Florence, Rome, and San Gimignano for New Year's Eve with Bruna and her family. Stay tuned for photos...
and in the meantime,

Joyeux Noël et bonne année!

Fetes de Noel!

Last party with the Sweet Briar crew before all the semester girls leave :(
Axel= Pere Noel
Impromptu concert
Salle des fetes
My friend's super cute hamster. Not really holiday fete related, but just so cute!
Champagne, un sapin, and friends--the perfect holiday

Decorating the sapin

Parentals...encore

It's been a while since I posted, but the parentals are still in town, so it's been crazy trying to do anything. Last week, while Dougie and Kathie were still here, we rented a car and went on a road trip, essentially tracing my steps over the last two months--from the Loire Valley and then up to Normandy. It sure looked different in November, but there were less tourists and we had a great time.
Looking up from Omaha beach
Mont St. Michel was windy, but it was pretty cool to be in the abbey with the rain pelting against the centuries old cloisters and hear the wind howling through the monastery.
Tours! It felt good to be back
Cheers at Agnes Sorel, one of two restaurants in Genille
Chateau d'Amboise
Chateau de Chenonceau
Loches
Loches
La Cadoise--The adorable B&B in the middle of nowhere, a farm in Genille
This was along the side of the road on the way
Road Trip!