In June 2018 Matthew and I enjoyed three weeks in Europe for our honeymoon. We were married on June 16th and two days later we were on a plane to Paris. We spent some time in the city then rented a car to drive across France, stopping at places like Montignac to see the Lascaux cave paintings and Provence. We spent a couple days in Ghords and we swam under the Pont Du Gard aqueduct. We finished our France adventures in Nice where we got on a train to Italy and eventually flew to Athens and Santorini. It was a grand adventure. The first time we had been in Paris was many years before in 2010 when I was a student studying abroad in Canterbury, Kent, England. We took the bus to Paris and spent a weekend exploring the city. It was the place of our first great adventure together as a couple, I guess you could say that we’ll always have Paris.

The first time we went was for a weekend and it was our second dating anniversary. I remember being amazed that this was my life. I had never imagined I would travel abroad one day or see Paris, let alone, have a relationship with someone I would dream of visiting Paris with.

Over the Christmas break Matthew and I were home. Matthew was sick and had a dream one night that we were in Paris. Next thing I know, on New Year’s eve minutes before midnight, Matthew had bought us plane tickets. I hope that he dreams about traveling more often.

This time around, we’re bringing my father-in-law (on his first international trip!) and my sister-in-law and niece. The five of us will be meeting up with a family friend in Paris and we’re also planning on seeing a couple friends on our journey, including a friend of mine from when I studied abroad in England. My friend Iris lives in Germany, right over the border of Colmar where we will be traveling to after Paris.

When Matthew came to visit me in England when I was studying abroad we went into a shop in Canterbury and I spoke with Iris who worked at the shop. When we left the store Matthew told me to go back in and get her number. “She wants to be your friend,” he encouraged. We still talk to this day.

I know that it is a privilege to go to Paris, let alone three times. I’m so grateful. The past couple years have been good in many ways, but also stressful and hard in others, especially the past several months. We’re looking forward to a spring reset and an adventure to get us out of our heads and into our hearts. When I come back, we have a lot of spring cleaning to do at the cottage and I’m going to further my goals to slow down my work week so that I’m not always overwhelmed. I also have my goal to host more family and friends at our home for game nights, dinners and casual hanging out.

And when we come back, I hope to share the many photos of our latest adventure with you. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with my camera outside of my photography work. When I worked at the non-profit over the past two years I did not have much time for travel or personal photography. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with that part of myself again.