Trip to Paris to see Annie and Agnes

 A couple weekends ago I was able to spend the weekend in Paris with Annie and Agnes! I had done the Paris Breakfast run in the morning and then I came by in the afternoon for dinner.

The next morning, Annie and I took a nice stroll around her neighborhood. I loved this little park nearby with bee hives.

Even the sidewalk was made to match.

At one point there were so many runners that we thought we'd be pushed into the water.

There were people rowing on the river...

...and there were signs to show where impressionists had painted.

The river was lined with houseboats that people actually live in. It's an intriguing idea, almost like my tiny house plan.

It was as though the winter ended one second at it was spring the other second.

Then we took a selfie over the river.

On our way back to her flat, we walked through the prettiest children's playground I had ever seen.

Fun around Rouen

Last week I left Rouen at the end of my teaching contract. I'll be back through the area a time or two, but this week marked the real end of my year as a language assistant in France. It was strange and sad saying goodbye to all my friends, but it was also happy because it means that I'll be going home soon to see my friends and family that I miss! As in the words of Winnie the Pooh...

Anyway, here's a little glimpse into my last couple weeks there. 

One day in April it was extremely sunny, so we decided to go sit by the Seine. This was our last day with the German assistants since they left before us.

It was just a treat being able to sit outside in the sun. That is unfortunately a luxury in Normandy...

We also spent an afternoon hiking up to the outlook over Rouen. It was so misty that the city didn't show up very well, but it was nice in any case.

We were also able to go the the Friends inspired cafe Social Perk in Rouen! That was definitely a highlight of the experience.

We also got in several solid afternoons of lying in the sun since the last week before I left was beautiful.

When the sun comes out, so does everyone else!

Tyler even brought his guitar and we got some singing in.

This park was mostly deserted all year, but the swans are back and so are the people now.

I'll miss this at home. Good 'ol Agrum' Schweppes!

The city hall was looking beautiful with a lot of flowers out front.

Our second to last week, we took music group out to Katherine in Dieppe and played on the beach. She made the most spectacular cake (for which incidentally I need the recipe) and other snacks and we opened up her bottle of fancy wine that she won at a 5k walk/race.

Limerick with Maeghan

I know this blog is two weeks late, but I took so many pictures over the last vacation that it was daunting to go through them and choose blog pictures! 

I had a wonderful time in Ireland. Despite the rainy, cold weather (standard for Ireland I find) I loved my week I spent there. Limerick was my first stop on my journey. That is where my lovely friend Maeghan lives and studies Irish traditional music. We became friends long ago in string band before I was even old enough to sign up for credit! Our adventures together, musical and not, are many and varied and I was thrilled to spend the weekend with her! 

Of course the first thing I ate in Ireland had to be brown bread, butter, honey and tea. What a perfect late night snack that has Ireland written all over it. 

I was tired from my 12 hour trip to get there, but we still talked for several hours before bed.

The next day we went to Bunratty castle, which is only a short bus ride away. It poured all morning and then we finally decided to brave the rain and leave and the sky cleared up right away for us! It didn't rain the whole time we were exploring the castle and they even gave us half price for the visit because it was late in the afternoon. There was an old man, though that started trying to clear us out a full half-hour before their "closing time". That seems to be standard here in Europe. Back home closing time is when you have to leave, but here closing time is when the workers leave. Therefore, they chase you out well in advance of "closing".

It was definitely right up my alley with old thatched buildings with actors inside dressed in period dress! 

One of the houses was run by an actress who was stuffy and rude to us. She did, however, have a plate of griddle bread that was to die for...we may have taken a few more pieces than we should have.

We stopped afterwards in a pub next door.

Irish ciders in Ireland.

That night, we met Sally who came over from Cardiff.  While rummaging around in a vintage clothing shop, she found this sweatshirt from the "South Buffalo Irish Connection". What are the chances?

Maeghan took us for a walking tour of Limerick around the old quarter and the fortress.

There are the girls next to the Shannon...and that was my weekend in Limerick. Next edition is in Galway!