Thursday was a very exciting/surreal day for me, I headed out to Gare du Nord to meet Liz and Paul off the Eurostar in the morning, it was so lovely to see some familiar faces! It felt like yesterday and years ago that I last saw them, very much the same feeling I had when seeing Mum and Dad later that day.

After not being able to get into their apartment (directly opposite the Louvre!) we had a lovely lunch and a quick walk around the Louvre and Notre Dame before I had to head off to pick up the kids from school.

Louis and Aurore were very excited for me, probably because I had been saying 'Guess who arrives on Thursday!' for the past week. Louis loaded me up with bus and metro maps to give to Mum and Dad (He checked with me if either of my parents were in a wheel chair because he had a special booklet for handicapped people) and repeatedly told me how I could get to their apartment via the metro. His directions are always very cute, he will give the normal, fast and simple way but then gives numerous other options for reason such as "to see line 14 because that's my favourite" or "via Bastille to see if the renovations are finished" or "not taking line 4 because it's a little dirty" - I have to allow fifteen minutes for walking out the door because I get interrogated about where I'm going, how I'm getting there, who I'm meeting and how/when I'm getting home and then bombarded with his directions for the metro - gorgeous normally, but difficult if I am running late!

After waiting for around half an hour outside their apartment I finally saw a big black van pull up, but with tinted windows - so I wasn't sure who was inside! After long hugs and hours of talking in their apartment I headed out to an international boat party where I was meeting some friends, however the metro had already closed so instead of walking (which would have taken over an hour) I grabbed a velib (one of the rentable bikes with stations all over the city) and rode along the river from the Louvre to just past the Eiffel Tower, it was probably one of the most amazing experiences I have had here. Not many cars on the road, all of the buildings and monuments magically lit up and a beautifully warm evening, definitely a huge 'I live in this city!' moment - I plan on doing it again before I leave, or maybe I will start taking bike tours at 2am for tourists!

The next morning it was lovely waking up to the sounds of Mum and Dad's voices, as well as being greeted by a cup of coffee (I definitely made the most of having Dad, aka my personal coffee/tea making slave, here). Dad and I went in search of some yummy breakfast and we were joined by Liz and Paul for croissants, baguettes, fruit and my personal favourite, apple tart! After months of being good and not buying any cakes (I had eaten a years worth in my first month here!) I certainly enjoyed indulging along with everyone else. We then wandered to the Luxembourg gardens and had a lovely lunch in a little café just nearby before I headed home for the kids.

On Saturday we visited Giverny, a small village an hour or so by train from Paris where Monet's Garden is, thus ticking off another thing on my 'to do' list - which seems to be steadily growing as I hear of new places to go, or stumble across places I want to visit again. It was beautifully hot (I enjoyed the heat, but the other found it too hot!) and the gardens were lovely, but as with most tourist attractions, filled with tourists!

On Sunday we visited the Louvre, using my secret side entrance (which of course after me telling everyone that I had never waited in line, there was a whole three people lined up at the ticket booth!) and enjoying a long day there, with a lovely rest in Liz and Paul's apartment just across the road at lunch time.

I relived more of my childhood when we took a trip to Disneyland! Aurore was so excited to come with us, and Louis was not at all disappointed to not be, apparently the last time they went he commented several times that he would much rather be at home working on his bus plans! I was surprised at how perfectly I remembered it all, especially going on the 'Small World' ride and hearing the song that has been stuck in my head for the last 10 years (and will now stay there for the next 10). After a very long, cold and tiring day Mum and Dad came back to my house to meet Caroline, Mathias and Louis - a very strange experience for me to see my parents in what has been my home for the past few months. When I had just arrived in Paris and Louis would talk to me non stop about the metro or buses while I would sit and nod, not having a clue what he was saying, it made me realise how much my French had improved as I watched Mum and Dad have exactly the same experience with him, however now I can translate for them!
He has since decided that Mum and Dad should learn French for when they come back to visit, however I told him that they are much to old to learn (I was joking Mum) so he has no choice but to learn more English - which he is doing a good job at!