Sunday, August 22, 2010

TRIP TO PARIS,FRANCE











I, plan to write at least three posts that describes my trip with my husband to Paris,France, City of Lourdes,France and Prague, Czech. Republic. This trip was planned after my mother died in 2006.We planned this trip especially one year after my mother died.I, was extremely close to my mother who after my father died, mother lived with me for 20 years prior to her death. I, felt that this trip might help me through my grief. If you can recall, my mother was a WW II war bride. She was born in Czechoslovakia and eventually moved to France. During all the years mother lived in America she never went back to see her family. Mother always told me she felt that a trip would be too emotional. Mother had limited contact with her family through letters and at times a telephone call. Many years ago, we did have Corinne, age 17 stay with us for a month. This young lady was a great niece from France. Throughout the years I maintained contact with Corinne. At the time of my mother's death, Corinne was the only person I could talk to in order to notify mother's family of her death. I wanted to make a connection with my European family that I had never met. Corinne was great. She and I made plans to meet her in Paris, France and eventually meet my French relatives. Corinne connected me to Philip, a distant cousin in the Czech Republic. We e mailed and he became the interpreter for my contact with the relatives in the Czech Republic. My husband and I planned the trip . we were to go to Paris for a few days,then travel to the city of Lourdes,where the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built after three children saw the Blessed Virgin Mary. Lourdes has been a city for visitors both well and physically sick or disabled. It is believed that a person may get healed while at the shrine. After the trip to Lourdes, we would return to Paris , spend a night and then travel to Prague. Our travel agent told us we were "brave" for doing this trip . There were no of airport changes as well as a language barrier. My husband is from Ireland, but he hasn't been there in years. I, have never been to Europe. Was this too much? well, we left Georgia and was met by Corinne and her husband at the airport in Paris. Corinne was now in her late 20's. She looked almost the same when she was 17. We stayed at a hotel located within walking distance of the main tourist area of Paris. Corinne and her mother, Lilli, became our tour guides. we went up the Eiffel Tower. It was extremely cold and the wind was rough, but there was a beautiful view of Paris. Lilli, spoke "broken English". at first she seemed reserved, but that went away. we visited places such as the Cathedral of NOTRE Dame,museums, outdoor art exhibits. We ate at a curbside restaurant enjoying cheese and wine, which is common for French people. The highlight of this Paris connection was being at Corinne's house for a French dinner with the relatives my mother would never know. It amazed me and my husband how warm and open hearted they were to us, strangers, yet relatives. I, cried because I never expected this, Now I had cousins and their families. Corinne interpreted, as most of the relatives didn't speak English. We laughed, cried, ate a formal French meal, with home made pate'made by my cousin, and the wine and liquor was very much a common drink. ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE A DIASTER, BUT IT WAS A BLESSING.Before I forget, the French people know how to cook and bake. There were numerous bakeries . I will never forget the Best raspberry tart that I ate. If you ever go to France, check out the pastry. Now, that I've said enough about the pastry, the following day we traveled by train to Toulouse where we would get a rental car to drive to Lourdes. During the train ride which was 6 hours we could see small villages with grape vines to eventually make wine. The countryside was so beautiful. We arrived at the train station where we completed our arrangements to get a rental car. At this, point I will stop and my next post will cover the trip to Lourdes and then back to Paris.

26 comments:

  1. Love this! Looking forward to reading the rest of your story,
    Jane

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  2. Oh how neat, Rose... That was wonderful that you got to make that trip. Too bad that you couldn't have done it with your mother when she was alive. But--I'm sure she was smiling down from heaven when you were there visiting the family... I'm so glad you got to make that trip... How WONDERFUL.

    My Mom died in 1991 --and I still miss her. But It wasn't as hard for me since she did not live with me and we were separated by the miles.

    Have a great week. Thanks for sharing, and I'm looking forward to more of the trip.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  3. Rose, what a wonderful experience. I enjoyed this post so very much and will be looking forward to your continuation. Gerry

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  4. Looking forward to part 2 and 3. I love looking at other places through the eyes of my friends. Sandie

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  5. What a neat post! I've never been out of the south! How courageous that you journeyed to a foreign land to meet your relatives! I'm glad that you chose to share this experience with your readers. I love your photographs--especially all of the bicycles lined up and parked!

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  6. Oh how wonderful this must have been for you! A whole new family. Did you ever find out why your mom did not keep in touch with them after she left? I look forward to the next two posts with more of your trip!

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  7. Rose,
    That photo of the Eiffel Tower with the building on the right -- my wife and I took that exact same photo on our Paris visit in Oct 2008. You were probably standing in the same spot. Spooky!

    Here's a verse, btw, from a poem I wrote about our trip. I suspect that it probably describes your feelings, too:

    "Paris seemed our private parc.
    For us alone its charm beguiled.
    For us the Champs stretched to the Arc.
    For us the Mona Lisa smiled."

    smiles,
    rb

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  8. Looks like fun! I'd love to go to France one day and visit my relatives out there. They aren't in Paris though, more the countryside.

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  9. How wonderful for you to be able to have this fabulous trip! More wonderful that you found your fabulous relatives and they helped make it so memorable for you and your hubby. Did you ever see the movie "French Kiss" with Meg Ryan...very funny and so much of France is shown. I think you might like it!

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  10. My dad had aunts that lived in France and we were able to meet them several years ago when they came to the states. Dad's mother died when he was only 3 months old, and meeting them was the closest he ever came to knowing her side of the family, as they are all overseas.

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  11. How fun! My grandparents came over from Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) so I feel a connection with you:) In May I wrote a post about my Mom and her mother called "A Little Girl."

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  12. This is such a heart warming post Rose. What an adventure you planned a year ahead and got to realize your dream and met family who welcomed you.

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  13. HOW NICE ROSE, A TRIP TO PARIS.
    SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS A GOOD TRIP. ENJOYED READING YOUR ADVENTURES IN PARIS, LOOKING FORWARD TO PART 2 AND 3. TAKE CARE. RIZZI

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  14. What a lovely trip....and I know it was even more meaningful in taking it so soon after losing your mother. I would love to go abroad someday but just can't decide where I want to go. Probably can afford only one such trip so better make it a good one!

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  15. Great pictures! It looks like an awesome trip, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself and I'm looking forward to the rest of your posts about your vacation.

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  16. I loved Paris when I was there years ago. Looking forward to the rest of your story.

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  17. What a wonderful life to have been able to connect with family and more important to find an interpretor.

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  18. I have enjoyed looking at these pictures, reading your post, and I look forward to your next one. Glad you had a good experience meeting your relatives; am guessing that you felt you were completing a circle.

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  19. What an awesome trip. My grandparents were all born in Czechoslovakia, from both sides. I am 100% Bohemian! I love the pictures. How wonderful that you were meet with open arms.

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  20. How very interesting Rose. I really enjoyed this. You and I both shared a special bond with our mothers. Mine lived with us for 10 years after daddy died. She passed away two years ago.
    How wonderful to have made this trip and the family connections. Look forward to reading more. Have a great day.

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  21. Sounds like you and your husband had a wonderful time visiting with Corrine. I have never been out of the country before. I would be more willing to go on a trip like that if I knew people where I was going. I think that made it easier for you and your husband because they knew where to take you to see the sights and to be able to speak both languages to help you with ordering food and things! I just speak English and it's in a hillbilly dilect! hehehe

    Have a Great Day!
    Angela

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  22. The pictures speak it all how much fun you two love birds were having in Paris. It's really nice to connect with our relatives and know them even for a short time. Paris is a beautiful place and the place you mention and visited sound awesome. Thanks for sharing your experiences in the beautiful paris

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  23. I LOVE France! I dated a Frenchman and almost moved there in the mid-90s..

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  24. What a lovely trip you took with your hubby. It looks like you had the time of your lives.
    When my husband and I were living in Bitburg, Germany, we took many road trips to the Czech Rebublic and to France. We loved to stay in Pilzen in a quaint little hotel and drive to Prague. What a magical city, the bridges and buildings were beyond gorgeous. Thankyou so much for taking me back. I haven't been there since the early 90's, Char

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  25. Good for you! I know your European and Czech relative were as happy and pleased to see you as you were them. Your mother must be looking down from heaven smiling. Looking forward to your visit to Lourdes.

    Haupi

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  26. What a wonderful trip, Rose! Love the photos!

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