Day 8: A place you've traveled to

Although I'm not what you would call a "World Traveller", I've been a few places in my life.  I tend to like "beachy" places...Cancun, Bahamas, Puerto Vallarta, Barbados, St. Thomas, Hawaii, etc.  Which is sort of comical since I LIVE in a "beachy" place and rarely go to the beach.

A few years ago, John and I were hanging out at his apartment (we were dating at the time), listening to music, etc. and he said he had a surprise for me and wasn't sure if he should COMPLETELY surprise me with it or just kind of surprise me with it.  Well you CAN'T say something like that and keep it a COMPLETE surprise at that point, right?  He says he's had it planned for months but now that it's getting closer he thinks maybe he should tell me because he knows how much I enjoy looking forward to things (true) but really wants to surprise me so he's torn. 

Now, keep in mind, I have always been VERY hard to surprise so I'm already excited he's managed it thus far.  I mean, I knew EVERY time one of those previous 3 fiances I mentioned earlier was going to propose!  TRULY!  EVERY TIME! (sorry if any of you are now reading this).  For example, the night my first fiance was going to propose (go ahead, laugh here), I was waiting tables and was about to get off work to meet him when my boss asked me to stay late.  I told them that I couldn't because I KNEW my boyfriend was going to propose to me that night!  KNEW!  (and yes, he did).  But I digress!

Needless to say, finding out that he had managed to plan something and keep it from me this long (the "surprise" was in 3 weeks) was a feat no other man had accomplished and I was impressed.   He gave me a hint and told me that it was a trip somewhere to which I replied "You'd BETTER tell me!  I have enough "clothing trauma" here at home, let alone trying to pack for a place I have no idea what the weather is going to be or what kind of activities we might be doing there!" (you girls can relate, right?)

He agrees and sends me an email, with our travel itinerary.  I'm ALL excited now, scrolling down nervously I read

Depart: LAX 6am

(we lived 2 miles from the San Diego Airport so that was curious)

scrolling

scrolling

scrolling

Arrive: Chicago O'Hare Airport  10am

"WE"RE GOING TO CHICAGO!!!!!! 
Cool!  I've never been to Chicago!!!"

I turn around with a BIG smile, look at John to say "Thank you!" and he's looking at me like I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.  "Keep scrolling" he says.

SO...I keep

scrolling

Depart: Chicago O'Hare 3pm

scrolling

scrolling

Arrive:

Charle De Gaulle Airport  8am

"WE'RE GOING TO PARIS??????????"

Even now, I get the same choked up feeling I had in that moment.  Teary eyed.  Wowed.  Nobody has EVER done anything so...thoughtful and extravagant... for me before.  I'm so excited and moved that I don't even get up to hug him or anything.  I believe I was speechless (WOW! right?)  And my loving, sweet thoughtful, beautiful boyfriend laughs and says to me

"Wow.  I could have gotten away with just taking you to Chicago?"

with that twinkle in his eye.

That now resides in our eldest son's eye as well.

Kind

Mischievous

LOVING

THAT twinkle.

These are some of my favorite places we saw on our wonderful Springtime adventure in Paris.  AMAZING!

Just an alley way I thought was beautiful

A mausoleum at one of the many cemeteries we visited.  I LOVE cemeteries!

Tulips are my FAVORITE flower!  They were everywhere. Like here, at

Pere-Lachaise cemetery (where Jim Morrison is buried)

The view of Versailles from across the street

We were eating crepes. :)

The Rodin Museum



Buildings at the Hameau at Versailles
It was once a farming village on the grounds.
Beautiful

I truly hope we can go back someday.  sigh.  If you get the chance and you love historical architecture, museums, parks and (my favorite) cemeteries, you have GOT to go!