We’re temporarily grounded. I haven’t been to France since the summer of 2011 – the longest break from my beloved adopted country in a decade. The thought of traveling overseas with a 2-year-old and a baby is so daunting that we’re exploring closer to home these days. We’re gearing up for 2014; that will likely be the year of our big return to France. For now, I’m going to reminisce about some of our past adventures. With photos.

We brought my family to France and showed them around Paris, including the Luxembourg Palace and Gardens:

And Versailles, where we also visited the lesser known Hameau de la Reine, a small village and garden built for Marie Antoinette:

We traveled through the Loire Valley; here is a photo of the rooftops of Ambroise. I love rooftops in French villages:

Next we went to Bretagne (Brittany), western France. Gorgeous flowers abound:

Here we are in Port de St. Goustan:

My husband and I then went on to Ireland. Here I am in Kinsale, one of our favorite towns…

…where we hung out in a pub with this sign. Will you buy me a drink if I tell you?

Ahhh, laptop traveling. It’s not quite the same. But it will do for now.