What a wonderful time in Paris! Swinging the windows wide open to catch the summer breeze, we smiled at a neighbor leaning out the opposite building. On the way to brunch, we met a friendly Parisian family with a bright "Bonjour!" in the stairwell. Christian, our host, walked us down the nearby pedestrian street and pointed out the best cafes and bakers. We felt welcome and energized the whole week!
The apartment was great - with plenty of room for the kids and parents to all recover from jet lag and new appliances. A key fob system helped us feel secure, and speedy wi-fi let us chat overseas.
The location was amazing! We were steps to cute and trendy terrace eateries, multiple grocery stores, a couple of subway stations, and a large pedestrian zone. The neighborhood was full of diversity - many ethicities, ages, and family situations were evident as we sat at a local cafe watching the crowd stream by. This is a "hip" area. It felt like the "sweet spot" for a tourist family - the area mostly catered to French locals and nothing felt like a tourist trap, but everyone we talked to was welcoming and happy to switch to English.
We can't wait to come back in a couple of years!