“Alls I can say” (as they aptly say in Missouri) is that if I could describe how happy a Mother’s Day this has been – it would only be described

as one big HAPPY FACE!!      🙂

Okay, then, I shall try to describe………

What do you say about eating the freshest OYSTERS you’ve ever eaten – overlooking a 16th C Chateau……..

Château de Saint Germain en Laye (Photo credit: chenevier)

– and have been wanting to taste for over 7 months?  And how about followed by the tastiest SALMON?  And then how about visiting a new suburb of Paris called Saint Germain-en-laye- originally found in 1090.  It is The “Chesterfield” of Saint Louis, The “Wilton” of Connecticut.  And it’s for fun and a LOT of profit (for some.)

Saint-Germain-en-Laye was founded in 1090 by Robert the Pious who built a convent there.  It is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris 19.1 km (11.9 mi) from the centre.        

On the official website it says ” With its elegant tree-lined streets it is one of the wealthiest suburbs of Paris, combining both high-end leisure spots and exclusive residential neighborhoods (see the Golden Triangle of the Yvelines).    

Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a sub-prefecture of the department. Because it includes the National Forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, it covers approximately 48 km² (19 sq mi), making it the largest commune in the Yvelines. It occupies a large loop of the Seine. Saint-Germain-en-Laye lies at one of the western termini of Line A of the RER.  ”        

Claude Debussy (1862–1918), composer of European classical music  was born here.        

This is also an area where many American Expats live, or Brits so, ofcourse, there is a lot of English spoken here. There are many  lovely homes to look at and a lot of GREEN everywhere.

Taking the RER A

RER Station (Photo credit: JR_Paris)

out here today, to an area I really didn’t know existed was a pleasant surprise. Why?  First of all, something as simple as AIR.  Yes!  The air is fresher, it’s perched high up, overlooking Paris, there is no dog poop on the sidewalks,  (how does doggy know to go in the gutter from this sign???)it’s surrounded by a huge forest and it was the home of Louis the XIV while he was waiting for Versailles to be built.    The homes are anywhere from the 16th century to the 21st century, and one can see La Defense in the distance so clearly, and beyond.   The Chateau Saint Germain has the most lovely gardens lined with the fullest and greenest of Linden Trees you’ve ever seen.

It is like walking around Versailles only without the 10,000 visitors each day and parades of tour buses marring the vista,  creating pollution or with  a plethora of souvenir shops.   It was a bit of a Shangra La out here, and I can say this, because  I do live in the suburbs of Paris myself, but  my commute towards my home is nothing like the commute WEST.   Why is it, that in all these lovely city areas, that it’s by going WEST – that you have such open spaces, clear air and serene beauty?   and we went with our friend and had the best time all afternoon.   

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After having a Cottage Pie dinner for another friend, Cate,  who is leaving soon for Indonesia, 😦    we received the two most exciting and fun video phone calls (on facetime) EVER.

First, my ex-husband called (from Babler State Park) in Missouri, with his wife, my friend Jane, and we’re cracking up talking, when lo and behold, my SON calls me from Saint Louis, with IRIS in the picture and she is talking to me (she’s 19 months)  and giving me BESOS and then when I turned the PHONE around so that he could see on the computer who was calling me on the iPhone – it was such a surprise to Ryan !!!!  Ryan’s  dad, his stepmom, his mom, his stepdad, Iris, and Anna all on the other side of the big blue ocean, 6,000 miles away, talking and looking at each other.  This was a real first and a hilarious one –
and THAT is ONE MOTHER’s DAY I will not forget in a loooooooong time!!

So much fun.   Thanks to my kids for making it so fun!!!!!!  Thanks to IRIS, my little talking Rooster Girl!!!!!!!!