Paris on a Shoestring – A Birthday Tale.
Thom’s first birthday was approaching, and with a tight budget and no nearby family, a traditional celebration wasn’t in the cards.
We wanted to do something special, though.
Enter Yoni’s famous “Double Trouble” mindset. His idea was that if you have one problem, adding another one is better to find a perfect solution for both.
Inspired by Europe’s borderless wonders (a stark contrast to our plane-dependent life in Israel), we hatched a plan: a Parisian adventure!
A friend-of-a-friend offered their apartment for the weekend, making it a budget-friendly option. To cover our expenses, we “rented” our house to a friend – a win-win situation.
Paris, here we come! Unfortunately, the Parisian weather gods weren’t cooperating. Rain. Persistent, relentless rain. The cozy apartment we envisioned turned out to be a shared space with several unfamiliar faces. Our bed? A makeshift arrangement of floor mattresses (whose origin remains a mystery).
Location-wise, we were on the outskirts, with a good hour and a half commute to the city center. Parking the car was out of the question – Parisian parking prices are enough to make anyone reconsider.
Undeterred, we embraced the Parisian drizzle, picturing ourselves as romantic explorers (Thom, ever the trooper, giggled all the way in her unique cloth sling – a conversation starter wherever we went!). Slings weren’t as common back then, and we fielded a variety of questions and comments – from curious inquiries to concerns about Thom’s safety (it’s a whole different world now, with babywearing becoming quite trendy!).
Free activities were the focus of our sightseeing (admittedly limited in Paris, but hey, it’s Paris!). Then, just as we were settling in, a curveball.
Thom came down with a fever and uncharacteristic crying. Coupled with the growing tension from our unexpected apartment companions, we decided to call it a (slightly damp) Parisian adventure.
Luckily, Yoni, the night owl, didn’t mind the late-night drive back to Amsterdam. We surprised our house sitters (who were delighted, not upset!), and by Sunday morning, Thom was back to her usual self, fever-free and bouncing with energy. Maybe that’s just her way of celebrating a birthday, right?
While not exactly the Parisian getaway we envisioned, Thom’s first birthday became an unforgettable adventure filled with unexpected turns and a healthy dose of adaptability. It may not have been picture-perfect, but it was certainly a birthday to remember.
