In April and May, Mark and I traveled to Paris and throughout Normandie, France. Here are some shots from our wonderful experiences in the lovely city of Paris and the gorgeous countryside and coastline of Normandie.

In Paris we visited the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysees, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur and both walked and took a boat tour up and down the romantic Seine River. We became experts at navigating the Paris Metro. For my birthday, Mark treated me to dinner at the ultra-special Le Jules Verne Restaurant, which is on the second platform of the Eiffel tower. The magnificent views and food, not to mention my handsome date, made for a very memorable evening.

We were grateful for the opportunity to visit the Normandie coast, including Arromanches, where the D-Day Invasion took place. This and the World War II American Cemetery, where more than 10,000 U.S. servicemen are buried, were particularly moving. We found the French countryside both charming and breathtakingly beautiful as we logged 1,000 miles on tiny country roads in our rented Opel. One stop was the picturesque Mont St. Michel -- a palacial church rising from the middle of the sea and more than 1000 years old. The longevity of this and other churches truly made me feel like a flea speck in the vast expanse of time and in the history of the world. This was as humbling as the moments I spent appreciating the sacrifices made for freedom on the beaches of Normandie.

Paris certainly lived up to its romantic reputation. You can't help but get caught up in its history and beauty. I would also have to add that Mark and I found the French people, on the whole, extremely hospitable and friendly. Even when they did not speak any English they tried as best they could to help us out (usually with directions). I did not feel any anti-American sentiment, although we did note that American tourists were few and far between.

Just a note that I have almost no pictures of the Louvre or Sacre-Coeur, to my regret. I was having camera problems on those days (gotta love technology). Luckily Mark got me fixed up and happily snapping away before too much more of the trip slipped by. Check out Mark's web site for other great pictures from the trip: www.pbase.com/marksd