Short and, more importantly, sweet

As the end of the semester approaches, its pace definitely seems to be getting quicker. And I can't help but find myself listing all of the things I can hardly wait to have or see again when I get back. That's not my only list, though. The list of things that I'll be sad to leave behind is getting longer.

One of the nicest things - something I think will be one of my fondest memories of living in France - is going to my nearby boulangerie-pâtisserie on weekend mornings and hearing, "Bonjour, madame!" An exclamation point isn't the correct punctuation because it doesn't really describe the tone of the petite, friendly salutation of the lady behind the counter. There's nothing falsely exuberant about the way she greets you when you enter her business. Aunt Dede described it best when she said it's like they're singing to you. 

Making sense of things

So here's the thing: I'm not good about keeping up this blog. And after talking about it, Colleen and I identified the main reason for this. It's not an earth-shattering revelation, but it is worth explaining because I think it's a pretty significant aspect of my time in France.

Christmas in Paris

Jardin de Luxembourg

Germany

The S Bahn station in Feucht, the Nuremberg suburb where Lucinda lives.

Glühwein is very popular at the Christmas markets... and very delicious.

Prague

View of the Vlatava from our hotel room.

Breakfast at a café in Old Town Square on the first morning.
(Behind me is our waiter, wearing a parka.)