Happy Christmas Eve!

We've had a busy few days, which I may tell you about later, though we have a busy week planned, so I might not. But, we've had some visitors--one of Jeff's professors from undergrad, his wife and family, were in Paris for Christmas. We met them for a day touring some museums (Cluny Museum of the Middle Ages, Institut du Monde Arabe: Exhibition on Mathematics in the Arab World, and Jeff went to Musée d'Orsay) on Thursday, then I met a french friend for a long talk and saw the Grands Magasins (with their amazing lights displays). Turns out I pushed myself too hard, and spent Friday sick in bed.

But, today, Christmas Eve, my big plans were for cleaning, reading, knitting and eating. Nope! Dex and family called early and we met for a day touring Versailles Chateau. This was the chateau where the three kings before the French Revolution lived, in high style.

I could spend hours telling you about it, but here are a few shots to show you where we've been. Here's us in front of the grand chateau of Louis XIV, XV and XVI.



Here's a shot of the restored Hall of Mirrors. (Half was still being restored.)



And here I am in front of a famous portrait of Marie Antoinette by Elisabeth Vigée-LeBrun, her dear friend. This was in her little house at the back of the chateau--I guess she didn't like so much fanciness, and preferred her little, intimate home. It was beautiful. (I preferred it, too!)



Now we're ready to tuck into homemade onion soup, shrimp and a cheese platter (I went wild with 6 cheeses), fruit and mini bûches de noël for dessert. Then a present, then to bed. Tomorrow, we'll attack the huge pile sent by our families (Thanks, everyone!) Monday morning, we are off to Germany.

Today was a great day, and one we will always remember. What a Christmas!!!