Family Sports

On Saturday morning, we were up early and drove to Phoenix to watch Colby compete in a multi-state regional cross country meet.  There were a lot of kids running!  Colby was part of a team and they warmed up together and cheered for each other.  He was happy with his time and we enjoyed watching him!

We drove to a nearby ice rink, to watch Emerson’s ice hockey play.  Emerson scored three of seven goals and had an assist.  She was named “player of the game.”  We were happy to be there to see the win!

We got to Claire and David’s house by 3:30 and relaxed the rest of the day, spending time in their “just landscaped” backyard, and Colby got ready to go to his first Bar Mitzvah.  David turned on the fire in the fire pit and we sat outside a couple of hours.

Berta Rojas Concert

We have enjoyed concerts organized by the Tucson Guitar Society for several years.  Last evening, we particularly enjoyed the performance by Berta Rojas.  She is from Paraguay, studied since she was 10, and is also a professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston.  She won a Latin Grammy in 2022, and she has performed all over the world.  Her style is gentle and smooth.  She was extraordinary!

Morning Hikes

I walk Monday-Friday with my friend Ornella.  We meet at 7h00 and walk for over an hour, about 4+ miles or 6.4 km.  These are photos I’ve taken this week on our early morning hikes.  

Day with Family

We drove to Phoenix early Saturday morning to spend the day with Claire’s family, and to go to the Arizona High School Cross Country State Championship Meet.  It was a fun day, of moving across the course to watch races, and then the thrill of watching Emerson place 2nd in her race.  We went back to Claire and David’s house for a late lunch at 4, then drove back to Tucson.  A fun day!

Back in Arizona for One Week

Papa and I flew back to the States one week ago.  Along the way, in our travels, Papa caught Covid, and within two days, he had no choice but to rest.  

I had dinner on Thursday evening at Contigo, with our long time friends visiting from Sarasota, Alexandra and John, and their friends, Margy and Garry.  It was wonderful to catch up and to meet new friends.  

I walked with Ornella the morning after our return and every day since.   We arrived to temperatures in the 90’s, and the highs have already cooled to the low 70’s.  Mornings are very cool - in the 40’s this morning, and the air is dry.  We love living in two places that couldn’t be more different!

Passages and Gardens and Lunch with our Friend

We explored a bit today, with our first stop in one of the Louvre’s courtyards.  Always beautiful!  We walked toward the Bibliothèque Nationale and found several covered passages, dating to the early 1800’s.  They were an early form of shopping center, with glass atrium windows, mosaic floors, carved wood frames around windows and doors, and filled with ateliers full of artisans goods.

We walked to the Hotel de Ville, with 2024 Paris Olympic flags still flying, and then over to the Notre Dame.  We circled the Notre Dame, reading about all the work that has been done over the past four years.  There is still work to be done, and the whole cathedral was crawling with craftsmen.

We met our friend and neighbor, Dominique, for lunch at Cafe Le Bonaparte.  She and Romain live in Paris full time, and their home in Lectoure is a second home.  We enjoyed every moment with Dominique and had a delicious lunch.  After we parted, Papa and I peaked in Eglise Saint-Germain des Pres.  It has a beautifully painted interior.  We stopped at Saint Sulpice a couple of blocks south - another beautiful Eglise, on our way to the Jardin du Luxembourg.  I love watching the children guide their boats on the pond.  

We returned from our walkabout, through the Jardin du Palais Royal.  We stopped for an almond croissant along the way.  The afternoon was sunny and warm with everyone enjoying the outdoors.  A good day!