After spending a lovely few days in the South of France, Jerry and I caught a train and headed north back to Paris. We walked...everywhere. Next time, we will definitely learn how to work the public transportation. Advice for the future: just because you can see the Eiffel Tower does NOT mean it's in walking distance. However, it's extraordinarily pleasant to just stroll the neighborhoods, people watch, & eat a hot, fresh baguette along the way. Jerry & I happened upon the Arc de Triomphe during a parade, so naturally, I had to recreate my Tia Lauri's "spinning in the streets" photograph since all the streets were closed. This is the only time there were not a ton of small euro cars fighting their way around this massive traffic circle.

I loved all the biking throughout the city! I especially loved how everyone could bike, text, AND fight traffic!

I love this simple shot of the cream Alfa Romeo on the street corner! I wish this was a daily site here in the States--reminds me of the decades I wish I grew up in!

Beautiful Brasserie a few street blocks away from the Arc de Triomphe. Ate some escargot, soup, & drank some delicious french wine. Needless to say, I easily gained 15 pounds in France but it was so worth it!

I love the detail of the Eiffel Tower!

Looking up...and up, and up.

A weary walker stops for a sit on the Pont des Arts.

Jerry & I couldn't find a lock to purchase, but the love letters were heartfelt & endless.

I loved this grassy park along the Seine, where bikers cycled by, dogs played fetch, & teenagers escaped their parents. Also, the Eiffel Tower at night is such a magical view, & honestly, no picture does it justice!

The last black & white film installment of "France, a one-week love affair" should be up in the next few days! Until then, au revior!

Let me just tell you now, Jerry & I had quite the whirlwind of a summer. We graduated college, got married, traveled to Antigua for honeymoon part 1, & for part 2 of our honeymoon, ended up in France with his family! We are so blessed to have been able to travel so much and be able to enjoy family time (& macarons!) abroad. I went into this adventure with a bag full of cameras...well, 2 bags full of cameras. I decided that with all my leftover film from my darkroom photography class, my new & fabulous Instax camera (thank you Allie Russell & Lauren McCay), my trusty iPhone, and my good ol' Nikons (digital & film!), I was going to try to encompass Henri Cartier-Bresson as I traveled through his home country. While I am certainly NOT Henri (although I wish I was the photoninja that he clearly is), it was truly a sweet opportunity for me to release all my creativity in many different formats. So...7 rolls of t-max 400, 6 instax cartridges, thousands of iphone & digital images, and 7 months later, I finally have for you, France, a one-week love affair.

P.S. I love Jerry for trekking around with me & carrying my equipment :)

Part 1 starts out at Gare de Lyon in Paris as we are en route to Le Paradou (near the wine town, Le Baux) in Provence. While in Provence, we travelled to Aix-en-Provence, which is where this post ends.