Yesterday was a long day, one of those ones that always amaze me, no matter how much I travel. Did I really squeeze, with my sister and our (luckily carry-on size) suitcases, into the tiny elevator of our hotel on L’Isle St. Louis just yesterday morning? Pull my case across its stone floor and across the cobblestones to the car airing outside? Watch the city roll by from a different perspective as we drove along the Seine, recognizing the walls that cloister Parc du Bercy, where we’d run a few days earlier. My sister’s eyes lighting up with the pleasure of recognition as the huge, open ‘books” of the Bibliothèque Nationale were framed in the car window. It always seems surreal to me that so few hours can separate such huge distances.
Check-in went well, and we were pleased not to be pressured to check our carry-on, which can happen. We found ample space to store them, hefted them up and down easily, had no wait at Customs, enjoyed a pleasant tea break at David’s Tea in Toronto, and then the last leg of the trip, and we spilled our weary selves toward our husbands, waiting for us at the Arrivals Gate in Vancouver (where there seems to be some new, stunning First Nations Art I’d love to see again when I’m not as tired–I believe we have one of the most gorgeous airports anywhere, really!)
Take-out sushi, some attempts to tell Paul about the trip, and then Boom! Sleep hit, in my own bed, sublime, not to be taken for granted…
Of course, 4 was as long as I could sleep, and I’m just finished writing this at 5:15. I’m going to head out for a run now, to begin my new year….Today’s my birthday, and we’ll be celebrating over dim sum with our Vancouver families. Last birthday, this would have been all our kids; now one family is in Rome, another in Victoria. Again, a reminder not to take for granted. I will miss the others, but I know we will be thinking of each other, and I’ll remember how blessed I am to have so many loved ones nearby.
So Happy Birthday to Me, and a great big thank you to the universe. And one more for my sister, a splendid traveling companion (she took the photo above, in front of a small square on Rue de Richilieu). And another for all of you who take the time to read and sometimes even leave your lovely comments. …now I’d better run. I’m not getting any younger!
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Happy Birthday! I returned through YVR yesterday too! Up at 4 this morning although Brian is still sleeping. I just wrote a review of the Learning Centre apartment on Trip Advisor. If you and Pater ever travel in that direction, I am sure that you would enjoy it. Enjoy your dim sum et bonne fête!
Welcome home! This is such a beautiful time of year in Vancouver, but it must still be a big adjustment after so long away. I'll have a look for your review – it does sound intriguing and the price is right!
Happy Birthday to another May babe!
I will have to have a look tomorrow when I pass through YVR. I wasn't able to get a direct flight home on the holiday Monday.
Your week in Paris sounded wonderful – what a great way to kick off your retirement!
So we're both Tauruses, are we? Hope your flight goes smoothly. That extra landing and take-off slow things down, but if you get a chance to see those new carvings, I know you'll be impressed.
Happiest birthday! To have it on the long weekend is the best!
I know, doesn't often coincide with Victoria Day (your 2-4) but when it does, woot woot! Although now I'm retiring, I guess life will just be one long weekend… Too weird….
Many happy returns of the day! Loved following your travels…based on the big smiles in your photos the two of you had a wonderful time!
We did have a great time, and I'm so glad you enjoyed following our adventures.
Happy Birthday. Paris sounds fab, now enjoy your Vancouver knees-up!
😉 some of the knees-up was a long anti-jet-lag nap. Is that wrong???
Happy birthday to you! I'm up to my ears in exam papers waiting to be graded and have been for the last three weeks or so. That's why there was no time for comments, although I did follow all your lovely posts from Paris. And now: a new year and retirement – isn't that exiting!
I appreciate you reading even though you were so busy. Hope I'm not going to be too annoying in my enjoyment of retirement while others are still marking their papers or whatever work they do. Thanks for the birthday wishes!
Happy Birthday to you, Frances! Look for an email from me later today…
Thanks, Sue. Haven't spotted it yet but will keep watching.
Happy Birthday to another May babe, adding to Pondside's comment, with yet another May-er. Hope your day is happy! Enjoyed those Paris pictures.
Thanks, and Happy May birthday to you. Taurus?
Happy Birthday! I enjoyed reading about your trip.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the travel posts.
Happy Birthday! Nice to hear that the trip was a success all round. Good luck with that pesky jet lag!
Thanks, Patricia. I'm "enjoying" all this quiet time at 4:30a.m.
I just loved this. And happy birthday again!
Thanks!
Happy birthday!
A gift to hear from you! Thank you!
Happy birthday indeed. And yes…I too always marvel at being able to eat breakfast on one continent, lunch in mid air and dinner on the other side of the world. In what passes for a day when one is flying. Weird.
Thanks! And yes, so weird. Uncanny. Magic. Not to be taken for granted, and yet we almost do.
Happy birthday! Really enjoyed Your posts from Paris.
Thanks, Givi. Glad you liked the Paris posts- it's fun to share travel that way.
Happy Birthday, ma, this is a banner year for you! Though your family is now more far-flung you will have more opportunity to travel, as well as other pursuits. This Paris trip with your sister sounded especially relaxed and full of delights.
It is a big year of change, indeed! And the time is fortunate, as you say, for the ability to travel now while the family is spread out a bit more.
A very warm happy birthday – continued success and excellent health. Your hair is beautiful, like icing on a cake in more ways than one!
Thank you! I sometimes bemoan my hair's chaotic state, so I appreciate those kind words.
Glad you enjoyed the trip and yes, it is strange how you can be so grounded in a place and then a few hours later it's as though you were never there at all.
Hope you had a wonderful birthday surrounded by the people you love and who love you xx
Exactly, so strange. . . .and yes, the birthday was just what I might have hoped for. Hope your wedding is just what you might not even know you were hoping for, the start of a whole new chapter. . .
What a lovely thought x
Happy birthday, Frances! That trip went by fast!
So fast! 😉
Late but sincere birthday greetings! (this simply allows you to extend the celebration) I enjoyed your Paris posts.
Thank you — I do enjoy stretching out the day into a week. . .
Belated Happy Birthday, Mater. Glad to read your trip home went well. I agree with you about the Vancouver Airport. I've never arrived anywhere else where such beauty and artistic effort are displayed.
Thanks. I think we're very lucky in YVR.
Belated Happy Birthday!
Thank you!
Belated Happy Birthday! Your trip with your sister looked fabuous!
Thanks, Jennifer! And yes, we had a wonderful time.