Insanely stylish clothes and a dizzying array of cafés in Paris. Three-course meals for dinner, even casual ones. Locals drinking wine during lunch. An incredible array of cheese, wine, warm hearts and smiles. Then, a cycling trip. Verdant pastures, rolling hills, countless vineyards, infinite cycling trails. Biking 275 kilometers in three days. A memorable dinner

I am writing this because I feel incredibly grateful. We started our cycling trip in the Loire Valley. The weather has been a bit cool with occasional bursts of sun. We are meandering through episodic small villages and then move to stretches of golden wheat fields, patches of brilliant yellow sunflowers and lush vineyards (see

A gentle rain is falling on Paris. The residents seem a bit subdued after last night’s loss to Germany in the World Cup. The gray pallor of the sky matches the mood in the area. This is our last full day in Paris. One child is exploring the city solo and the others with my

I am getting a crash course in food shopping in French (see results up top). I don’t speak any French and have been making do with a few phrases while we are here in Paris for our vacation. After a long and hot sightseeing excursion this morning, one of our children this afternoon isn’t feeling

Well, we made it to Paris. Whilst our children didn’t get much sleep on the flight in spite of the eyeshades, neck pillows and ear plugs, and although we landed at 3 am ET / 9 am Paris time, they were ready to go. The children and I are feverishly trying to learn French phrases