It’s All Maya!

Last night my mom and I sat and watched the black smoke billowing from the chimney of the Vatican.  Then again this morning we waited for news on who would be the next pope along with over a billion people around the world, not to mention a seagull or two! Finally a little after 2 […]

[Read more →]

The Eurostar
Patrick and I left the center of Paris at 10:05 a.m. on the Eurostar and we were in the heart of London by 11:05 a.m.!!!  One hour from Paris to London!  Okay, two hours really, but if you’re talking local time, then yes it is and you can’t beat that!

Our neighborhood in London
I was […]

[Read more →]

I’ve written about this before and I’ve left comments on other peoples’ blogs who write about how romantic it is to put a lock on the Pont des Arts and to be sure to do the same when you come to Paris, blah, blah, blah!!!

Yesterday, after Patrick’s business lunch, I met him so we could […]

[Read more →]

When I was shopping around for a cheap ticket to go to the States in August for my mom’s 90th birthday(!) I knew I was out of luck. If you know anything about France, then you know there are no cheap tickets anywhere to, or from, France in August! Simple as that! I started looking […]

[Read more →]

Not everyone can afford to ride the Orient Express, but just about anyone can hop on the local commuter train that quickly transports you to another time and place.

This “Château de Versailles” train is on line C of the RER and replicates 7 rooms of the famous palace including the illustrious Hall of Mirrors.  Of […]

[Read more →]

Maya Muses:  Yes, Matt Harding is dancing once again without me!  If you read my other posts about Matt, you know that last year I was hoping he would come to Paris, instead I got an email (too late) saying he would be in Lyon!  Otherwise I would have taken a trip down there just […]

[Read more →]

Two of my cousins came to Europe in February on a whirlwind tour of Amsterdam, Brussels, Brugge, and Paris.  They couldn’t have chosen a better time to come.  Uhh, that is if you happen to be Eskimos or you just love freezing Siberian weather!  They froze their butts off even wearing 5 layers of clothing […]

[Read more →]

I know, the race ended a few days ago, but still I keep thinking, What happened to the best reality show on television?  Why wasn’t my heart pumping and the adrenalin rushing through me as if I was the one running toward Phil to claim my million dollar prize like in all the years past?  […]

[Read more →]

This is the first Christmas Patrick and I will spend in our apartment since returning to Paris.  In 2009 we packed up all our things and shipped them back to France, so that year we spent Christmas at my mom’s house in Pittsburgh.  Wonderful memories with Katarina, mom, and the rest of the family playing […]

[Read more →]

(Part Two)

Dinner with Patrick’s parents was anything but quiet and refined.  We ate, drank, and had one jolly good time!  (How often do I get the chance to use the word jolly?  Almost never!)  Patrick’s mom kept all of us entertained with her stories and antics that had us all laughing until there were tears […]

[Read more →]