I’m writing from the Sheraton Hotel inside the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, the airport being the site of today’s photo (taken less than an hour ago). 
From our hotel room window I’m watching planes take off and land (it IS an airport, after all).
Speaking of airplanes, airports, and being in a hotel in Paris, tomorrow morning we are flying to Nice (pronounced like the relationship any of my brothers’ daughters are to me, and Melinda’s sister’s daughter to me, too!), a city in southern France. We’ll be there until Friday, at which point we’ll be taking a train to Italy where we will spend the next week. It’s our last BIG trip of the sabbatical, and one that has been in the works since family members made out their “sabbatical wish lists.” Melinda and the girls all had Italy as a priority. Me, I’m pleased to be just about anywhere.
Today’s trip to the Paris airport is also serving as a bit of a dry-run for when we begin our trek back to Seattle in July. We rode the same train (TGV) from Nantes to Paris that we will ride then. I keep telling everyone to take a minute to imagine that it IS July and we are on our way home. Then all of sudden, I tell them, remind yourself that it’s April and we still have 3 more months in France (including a week in Italy, of course)!
Andy Smallman 
What is your Italian itenarary? We were in mostl Northern Italy with two of or our grandkids two summers ago for two weeks. Had some pretty amazing experiences. Might have a few tips for yo depending on where yo will be….
We start in the 5 town collective known as Cinque Terra. Then we head to Florence. And we finish in Milan. All combined, one week.
Your trip sounds like a dream come true. I hope that someday I get to travel with my grandkids.
I used to say that my ambition in life is to be grandfather… I’m more careful with that now, giving I have two teenagers.
Oh, this keyboard is giving me problems -hope you can decifer my message with all the missing letters.
I can just see your family hiking along the Riveria through Cinque Terra – we also were there but only hiked between the last two towns – me and my old knees! A wonderful spot. My favorite picture of the entire trip was in Milan sitting in front of a window on the roof of the Duomo. It is a must. I will send a couple photos via e-mail for your amusment or perusement perhaps I should say.