three ladies and a baby in paris

Three ladies and a baby!  My dear dear girls Sarah and Lauren made their second trip across the pond for a visit.  They were our first friends to come from America to meet Simone.  Since they both had already done the tour of the midlands and London, we decided to go spend five days in Paris.

This trip feels like ages ago (it was...) so recalling it will be a challenge.  I look back on it as one of those trips that 20 years down the road from now we'll be sitting around, "... Remember that one trip to Paris?  We were in our early 30's and Simone was a wee babe? We stayed in an Airbnb apartment in the Marais and ate at all the best joints!"

I lobbied hard for Marco to join us in Parieeee as "the manny" but he refused. #Threeladiedandababy was born.

After the girls' arrival, they settled in with a few days in the countryside - long walks, pub lunches, too much bubbly consumption in the cottage.

We took the chunnel to Paris, about 2 hours door to door from London.  We checked into our airbnb apartment in the Marais - owned by handsome Dani and his cute girlfriend Valentine.

Simone was at the perfect stage - she would sleep the day (or late nights) away in the Baby Bjorn carrier.  We kept it to bustling restaurants at night, in case she kicked off we wouldn't disturb anyone. We went to the fancier spots (Le Comptior!) for lunches.

We brunched al fresco in our neighborhood - where I would have been content to sit and people watch for the rest of my days.  We wandered parks like Jardin du Luxenburg and Place des Vosges. We had a picnic and took selfie stick photos on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower.  And duh, we shopped.

I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked.  Most of these are borrowed from Lauren. (Thanks, Lo.  Love ya, mean it.)

Forgive me if I've said this on a previous Paris post - this city never gets old to me.  It is vast and can be overwhelming when you list the museums and sights that you want to hit in a short trip.  But if you slow it down, narrow your list, and take some time to enjoy the residential arrondissments, it's a much better experience.

We ended their trip with a day in London - The Victoria and Albert museum for the Alexander McQueen exhibit and a champagne high tea at The Dorchester in London.  (As one does.)

Lauren and Sarah thank you, thank you, thank you for coming to see us again and letting "your baby" tag along when she was still so little!