Our Travel Bug

We rented a small apartment in the Marais district of Paris for our last 3 nights of the trip.  We started off our visit in true Brian and Kate fashion and hit the ground running.  In 1.5 days, we walked the entire city, hit the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, Champs Elysees, Place de Voges, Musee D’Orsay, L’Orangerie, Rodin Museum, Note Dame…..you get the idea.  We were having so much fun being in this city together. 

Eiffel Tower

Our first afternoon in Paris

On Thursday, 1/20, we had a nice dinner in the Latin Quarter and even though our legs were tired, Brian suggested we walk back to the apartment.  Brian bought a Nutella and banana crepe and we walked by Notre Dame with a Christmas tree still lit up in front of it.  We continued across the bridge to Ile St. Louis, a tiny island in the Seine. We had walked through Ile St. Louis in the morning, stopping to pick up a croissant for breakfast and sat on the tip of the island to eat.  Little did I know Brian had planned to come back to the same spot on our walk home after dinner.

We took the steps down to the river and stood at the tip of the island, looking out onto the lights of the city and the full moon.  Such a gorgeous spot.  Next thing I know, I turn to Brian and he said “This was a great day….but do you know how we could make it perfect?” as he is got down on one knee, ring box open.

The point of Ile St. Louis - view from the bridge

As tears were streaming down my face, Brian stood up to hug me. I was in total shock.  I didn’t expect this to happen on the trip!  It was at least a few minutes of hugging and kissing before Brian asked “is that a yes?”  I of course said yes, finally registering that there was a ring as Brian slipped it on my finger.  A gorgeous ring with a blue stone that I am told is my “proposal” ring.  Brian is planning on a diamond engagement ring once we get back to New York.  Not only do I get engaged in Paris, but I get two rings?? 

I said yes

On the walk home, I wanted to tell everyone on the streets in Paris what had just happened.  But, I am sure they could tell with the faces Brian and I had on. We weren’t cold or tired anymore.  We stopped for Champagne at a cafe on the way home.  I can’t believe we are engaged!!

My new bling

 Brian and I have been together 24/7 for the last 3.5 months.  I couldn’t believe that he was able to ask my parents permission and get a ring without me knowing.  Our families have known about this plan for 7 weeks, when Brian asked my parents permission over Skype from an alleyway in Chiang Rai, Thailand.  He arranged for a “proposal” ring to be bought in the US and shipped to my sister in London. Now I know why Brian was really pushing to stop in Europe on the way home.  He has had this planned for months!

Place de Voges

Brian was carrying the ring around all day and had a few moments of panic as a result.  As we entered Musee D’Orsay, he kept sounding off the metal detectors.  Thank goodness I walked ahead to buy tickets, becuase he ended up having to take the ring out of his pocket! haha

Later in the afternoon, when my hands and feet were frozen from the cold weather, I went to hold Brians hand in his pocket and he quickly pulled it out, turned me around to his other side (making some excuse about how my hands were so cold…) and put my hand in his other pocket.  Poor guy.

Saint Chapelle

The word “floating” doesn’t nearly describe how I feel.  I am happier and more excited than I have ever been.  I haven’t been able to sleep for the last two nights.  I can’t believe we found each other – thank you Mary & Noah for setting us up.   I know that Brian is the love of my life. 

Sitting for a portrait to remember our trip

After an uneventful 15 hour plane ride, Kate and I arrived in London Stansted airport at 2:30AM local time. We quickly rushed through customs, got our bags, and met our prearranged taxi driver outside the terminal. Once he found his car, our taxi driver zoomed us off to Kate’s sister Jackie’s place. Jackie was wide awake to greet us at 4AM.

Jackie was a very gracious host and we got to stay in a really neat 100 year old house with high ceilings, loft spaces, big bomb-blast doors, and a metal shop downstairs where her artist landlord makes his creations.

After catching up with Jackie we got a couple hours of sleep before heading into center city London. Our first day was jam packed. We first went to Harrods and toured the clothing and food sections. Afterwards we walked through Hyde park to my old flat at Marble Arch. We then headed to my old watering hole during my study abroad days and had a drink. The Guiness in London is really so much better then in the States.

Me in front of the Carpenters Arms

We were hungry so we headed to Queensway to go to my favorite Indian restaurant that I frequented many times when I was studying in London. We walked back and forth and couldn’t find it. I finally went in a shop and they told me it had closed 3 or 4 years ago. That was a bummer. I guess you can’t leave 10 years inbetween visits without things changing.

Us in front of Big Ben

After a bite to eat at a local pub, we headed over to see Big Ben. We got off at a tube stop that was a bit of a walk from the river, so we had to navigate our way through unfamiliar streets. We took our photos and proceeded to walk down the river on the southern bank of the Thames. We stopped in the Tate Modern 30 minutes before it closed and in true Brian/Kate form we saw most of it before it closed at 6PM. We then hopped over to Covent Garden to meet Jackie and the Tavares’s.

Jackie bought us theater tickets, so we headed over to see War Horse, a gripping drama following a war horse through its life in the battlefields of WWI in France. The play was actually pretty interesting because they used mechanical horses operated by 3 actors (one operating the head standing next to the horse and two operating the front and hind legs respectively). You can see the actors in plain view, but the movments and the sounds they creare are so realistic. It was pretty cool.

Kate, Carolyn, Bryan, Jackie and me after War Horse

After the play we headed home. By the time we went to bed it was 7AM Thailand time so we were pretty tired.

The the next day Kate and I did a bit of walking, got some Indian food, and met up with Bryan, Carolyn, and Jackie for some dinner. Jackie had to head back to work, so we headed home to get some sleep. The next morning we woke up and had breakfast with Jackie before heading to the train station to take the Chunnel to Paris.

Jackie and Kate, right before we left to take the Chunnel

We had a great time in London seeing everybody. Jackie was such a great host and we can’t wait to see Bryan and Carolyn when they come to the city in a few weeks. What a great idea it was to stop in London on our way back!