for mama

she's sitting at the other end of the sofa, writing in her journal with a shawl around her shoulders and a cup of coffee by her side. she doesn't realize i'm looking at her, as her focus seems to be on her writing. after a cozy night's sleep, she has a mind abundant in yesterday's memories that, at once, must be expressed on paper. this morning.

for the past nine mornings, this is how i've seen mama. so relaxed, so peaceful. as we are nearing the end of our trip, i can't help but already miss my mornings spent with her. lounging about in our paris apartment. and then we'd finally decide to greet the day and the city outside. no real plans, just ideas. mama would always be okay with taking a wrong turn, as the scenes surrounding her continually ignited a sense of wonderment.

bless her heart, dear mama, the one who indulged in my uncanny list of eateries. as long as she could have a cafe au lait or glass of wine, it didn't really matter where we ate. asked if she would like to visit a museum, mama would reply with something along the lines of: nah, i can read a book about it. this woman wasn't about to live a day in paris without experiencing paris.

in the evenings, after a full day of discovering the nooks of this city, we would unwind over a treat or bottle of wine. mama lit up when we'd scan through the day's photos, the eiffel tower always taking her breath away. and when she'd lean back after a couple hours of wine slowly creeping through her vessels, mama would wear the most beautiful smile on her face - a sign that the day was, in fact, a good day.

mama, thank you for taking the time to see paris in the fall with me. for walking absurd distances, trying new foods, and taking "showers" on your knees (more of that to come). traveling with you is one of my greatest pleasures, and i am forever grateful for these opportunities. thank you for making me believe that having a child is worth it; these mother-daughter trips have impacted me in the best way possible. we might be ending our time in paris, but we still have a world to discover.

as we like to say, au revoir, bitches! lol

where we went:

-stohrer - the oldest pastry shop in paris, opened in 1730. rows and rows of beautiful treats. 

-10 belles - a tiny, hole-in-the-wall coffee shop near canal st. martin. delicious lattes.

-le marche des enfants rouges - one of the oldest covered food stall markets in the marais. a variety of ethnic foods, everything from moroccan and lebanese to italian and asian. seating outside, which i'd imagine would be beautiful during the warmer months. we were more than content with sitting inside a tent with a hearty tagine of chicken, cous cous, and vegetables. one of my favorite meals!

-argenterie de turenne - an antique shop filled with unique silver pieces, such as serving dishes, cutlery, and tea pots. according to the shop-owener, this store is the most famous shop in paris for people to sell their silver items. 

- miss manon - a boulangerie in marais, perfect for a mid-afternoon coffee and treat. also a great place to take refuge from the downpour.