Every year when the days get longer and summer is on the horizon, I become increasingly depressed. I hate the heat and love the cold weather. I know, I know, I’m just the opposite of most people who suffer from what is called the Winter Blues, but I love the gray skies and nighttime falling earlier and earlier every evening. I love the warmth of lights in the cafés and being bundled up and drinking hot wine (vin chaud).
Paris is depressing in the summertime and it’s not a city where you want to be. Daylight seems to go on forever. Millions of tourists invade the city and sidewalk cafés, and tour buses cram the already crowded streets. It’s the one time of the year when I would rather be anywhere but…. however, this year I’m excited to be spending part of the summer in Paris for the simple reason, I’ll be showing my little niece, Katarina, the city that I love!
When she was just a baby, I use to talk to her in French and tell her that one day I would take her to Paris. She’s 11 years old now and I’ve given her a love for speaking French and eating French cuisine. She and I are both counting the days that school will end and she’ll be in the City of Lights! We can hardly wait and then off to the south of France for some R&R!
Maya Muses: A milestone for her and for me. Eleven years of a dream, and yet those eleven years have passed so quickly. It seems like only yesterday I was holding her and planning for this day.
Photo Credits: Personal Collection
12 responses so far ↓
1 Tina // May 26, 2008 at 8:39 pm
awww she´s cute….
She will love the experience!!!
2 Mia // May 27, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I am sure you both will have a wonderful summer!
Become a child again and look at Paris with the wonder of,I hope still,innocent eyes!
I wish I could be with you too…
I love to explore new places,but I am not so fond of too many people, and the heat in the big cities in the summer…
3 Mia // May 27, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I love all seasons…But the spring and fall the most..
OK,winter can be wonderful too,but here in Sweden it is too long!
Count me in on the cafés and the drinking of vin chaud!
4 Lynn // May 27, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Thanks! I’m sure we’ll have a wonderful time! I just hope it won’t be too hot. You never know in Paris, one year it can be cold and the next year you have a heat wave during the summer months!
5 Lynn // May 27, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I prefer autumn in Paris, it’s the best time of the year! I love Sweden, but I never did spend the winter there. I’m sure after awhile you would get tired.
6 Mia // May 28, 2008 at 3:22 pm
It is the same in Sweden…
Last summer,was not much of a summer….
This summer,has started with hot weather,no rain here in Gothenburg for weeks….but just a couple of weeks ago it snowed up north…
i have to visit Paris in autumn then,always thought it was in springtime you should be in Paris?
7 Lynn // May 29, 2008 at 5:12 am
No, that’s what most people think, but a lot of the time it rains. In autumn the tourists have gone home, and the kids are back in school, and it’s a whole different atmosphere. In late September - October the weather is still nice; a lot of times there’s an Indian summer and the leaves are turning….it truly is the best time to be in Paris!
8 Mia // Jun 1, 2008 at 12:07 pm
OK!
You convinced me!
Are you there in the autumn?I come visit!
But first Madrid!
9 Lynn // Jun 30, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Hard to say where we’ll be….but as you say, first Madrid!
10 Mia // Jul 9, 2008 at 4:30 pm
You mean it?
You actually are coming!
I buy you a drink if you do…there is so much to talk about…
See you in Madrid….
Mia
11 Lynn // Jul 9, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I would love to go and see Geraldine in concert! I’ve spoken to France, Monique, and Bekena, (other good friends of mine, France and Geraldine) we all go back to when Geraldine was a kid.
However, I know that Patrick has to be in New Orleans in August (his two kids will graduate from the university this year) and of course he wants to be there to see them receive their degrees!
Katarina has to go back to Texas to start school at the end of August as well. If my sister comes to pick her up, then I may very well go to Madrid. If I take her back to Texas, then I’ll be closer to Mexico than I will be to Madrid! (Haha!) If that’s the case, then more than likely I will not go to Madrid, so I really can’t say at the moment.
Right now, I’m just waiting to see what happens! But I will ask my sister what she plans on doing, and I’ll give France a call this week or next.
12 Mia // Jul 10, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I do hope you will be able to come to Madrid!
Well,Qué sera sera,no?
If you can,you let us know…At least you are thinking about it…
Both France,you and the other “girls”..
Do you mind if two other “girls” join you…
It will be fun I can feel it my bones…or something…
Mia
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