Momma Rose takes on France

I was so excited to have my mom, Rose, come visit me in France. It was her first time traveling so far alone and to Europe. I am so proud of her for being able to travel here and not have any major problems! She was here for a total of 9 days, October 5 – October 14. Here is a recap on what we were able to accomplish in those 9 days. And yes of course I took her to Paris, you will just have to keep reading to know all the details regarding that less than 24-hour trip.

Sadly, she did not have an easy trip over. When she flew out of the US and landed in Paris, she missed her connection flight to Nantes because the plane landed late. Luckily, there were others on the same flight that had the same issue and needed to rebook the flight from Paris to Nantes. So, she was not in it alone. Initially she was going to arrive in Nantes around noon but then it was pushed back until around 2. France tends to be late with arrivals and departures I have found.

We had training in the morning and then we had an afternoon practice. I was still able to go pick her up from the airport which was great. The airport is about 15-20 minutes from my place here in Nantes so it is pretty close. She landed and wow I was so so so happy to see her!! I could also tell on her face that she was so happy and relieved to finally be here! Of course, seeing me too 😊

Once we got back to my place I showed her my room, which is not that big but it works for having people stay over as well. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. So, we unpacked. I say we because she brought me so many of my winter clothes over from home as well as a bunch of “American” goodies. Some food items she brought me included: ranch, Lawry’s seasoning, PUMPKIN SPICE SEASONING, Chick-fil-A sauce, Reese’s… etc. After unpacking we walked to a nearby boulangerie that is close to the gym because we were both hungry.

She had her first French pastry and quiche. I took her to one of my favorite boulangeries by our gym. I had a cappuccino and did not buy anything to eat because I had training soon. We then walked about 5 minutes to the gym and she proceeded to watch some of our practice. I say some because she admitted to me that she had a few short naps during it.

Practice finished and we walked back to my place and got ready to go to dinner with Tessa, Meg and Wesley (Meg’s cousin) that was also in town. We went to one of our favorite Italian places for dinner (Ristorente San Marco). And wow, this place never disappoints. I have yet to get a different dish and we have gone many times since we’ve been here. We finished the night off by going to this place that has a fun way to drink some wine (La Bodega). It looks like the crafts should be in a chemistry lab. It was a fun first night in Nantes for Momma Rose, and Wesley’s last night.

The next day I had to get up for training and mom slept in a bit, I think the jet lag finally caught up with her from the long travel day she had yesterday. After practice we went to the mall that is about 15 minutes towards the outskirts of the city. We went to IKEA, Mom’s first time in an IKEA. We also had some pasta for dinner, and some amazing garlic cheese bread.

A question I am sure you are wondering is how is my driving. In Europe most vehicles are manual, so that is something that is very different from the United States. It has improved a lot. Let me tell you if I drove you around France, I think you would be a little impressed because of how good my driving is.

That night we chilled in my room after dinner because I needed to watch some game film for the upcoming game on Friday. I put on a Netflix movie for her. She enjoyed the time resting. A lot of the nights were spent talking and just catching up. Because she was on vacation of course but I still had practices and obligations to attend to.

The next morning, we walked to the closer mall to get some groceries to make some small lunches and to have snacks at home just in case we got hungry. On the way home of course, I had to stop and show her another boulangerie that was close to my place. We both got a savory thing and a sweet thing. I got an apple tart and a pizza bread thing, Mom got a pizza bread also and a cheesecake type of dessert. Both were amazing of course. You can never go wrong at a boulangerie.

Came back to change to head to the gym for practice and Momma went and explored the workout room on the 4th floor of my building. She only came to one practice because she could be doing so much more exploring in Nantes for those 2 hours than sit at a gym. This whole time she was over here she also opted to not have service. So anytime she left my place she had nothing. This was a bit scary for me – especially when I was not with her because I was always worried, she would get lost but, surprisingly she never did. 😊 so proud Mom!

After practice on Thursday, I was having some issues with my hip that I had hurt within the past few weeks so we stayed in for dinner and I cooked us something. A one pan dish – my favorite because they are not messy and easy to make. After dinner we watched another movie together and then went to bed at a decent time because I had a game the next day.

Friday – GAMEDAY.

I woke up and had to go to film around 10. So, Mom was still asleep when I left because there was no reason for her to be up. I made a protein shake and then went to film. We had practice, as they say decrassage, which is just a pre-match practice. Pre-match practices normally involve some warm up drills and then we end with serve and pass – and finally a few attacks off our setters. Pretty much just to touch the ball and get our bodies awake and moving in a volleyball way.

I came home and Mom finished doing a bit of something on the 4th floor workout room. So, we both changed and then I made us some eggs and toast before heading into the city. We went to one of the Cathedrals in Nantes that was over on the west side of the center. Then of course we did a little bit of shopping because I do that too much. We were actually looking for a hat, gloves and a scarf but didn’t end up finding one because it was apparently to early to find what I was looking for.

I got a boba tea of course because I did not have any caffeine that day and normally have some before the game of course. We walked back to the tram and took that back to the island and then just put on a movie to watch and just relax before the game that night.

I had to leave for the game around 6:30, Mom just watched a movie and managed to find her way to the gym again without getting lost. After every home game we have VIP. This means that about 20 minutes after the game we have an event we have to put on skinny jeans and a polo to go speak with some of the sponsors for our team. Each player also gets 1 VIP ticket to give out for every game so of course Momma got to spend VIP with me. There is food, coffee, desserts, champagne, beer and other juices. Normally as a player I would get asked to go speak with a few VIP sponsors but because my mom was there, I luckily got to stay with her and talk and eat. After the VIP we went back to the room because it was 12 and we were leaving to go to Paris at 5:30 in the morning so we could drive and see a lot of things during the day. So, that was going to be an early night after the match for us.

Saturday. We woke up and I straightened my hair before leaving. Of course, have to look nice for pictures in Paris. We drove and it was about 3.5 hours which means that it was a long drive there. On the highway there were a lot of tolls and it ended up being pretty expensive but it would have been about the same price if we would have taken the train from Nantes to Paris. The main reason we did not take the train was because I wanted to make sure she saw the Eiffel tower at night with the lights and the sparkles.

We stopped about halfway through the drive to get a coffee and snack for the remainder of the drive. Mom actually stayed awake most of the trip after like the first hour or so. It was an easy drive. We ended up parking about a 10-minute walk from the Louvre because most of the “sites” were closer to that. The Eiffel Tower is all by its lonesome. So, we parked the car, walked to the area by the Louvre and put on the rest of our make-up because I didn’t do mine in the car and Mom only did a little bit in the car. Of course, we took so many pictures – well mostly she did because I had just been there a month or so before.

After we looked at the architecture in the Louvre and the surrounding garden, we walked about 5 minutes to the nearest Metro which we took to the area of the Notre Dame de Paris. It is so cool walking the streets of Paris because of the architecture – Mom would always comment on it. We don’t have the same type of old architecture for buildings as many European countries do. After walking to Notre Dame, we stopped at a lunch area to grab a European version of a hot ham and cheese. In France it is called a “croque madame.” We split one and Mom really liked it.

After that we went to Adidas to look for some better shoes for mom because she wore her black boots and they were bothering her feet. It was my fault because I suggested that she wore her “fancy” outfit because why not in Paris. Anyway, we found some nice Adidas shoes and the trip continues. We also walked to find a portable charger because I did not bring mine and that was a big mistake because I was navigating us everywhere. After that we went to a very known bakery around where we bought the shoes because we were waiting on our guided boat ride tour which was at 2:30.

We walked to the guided boat tour it was about 10 minutes from the bakery. It was actually a really nice tour because we learned a lot. The guide spoke English and French which was so nice. Of course, it was a really sunny day in Paris when we went so it was perfect for the boat tour. We also really enjoyed it because we did not have to do any walking for over an hour while on the boat, LOL. So, much walking and it was only 3:00.

After the boat tour we made our way to the Metro again towards the Eiffel Tower.

Somehow, I did a good job of navigating us in Paris with the Metro and walking – but thank goodness for GPS. We had to switch Metro lines to get from where we were to the Eiffel. Managed that also. We arrived and then walked all around it so Mom could see it from all angles. But the best view in my opinion is looking at it from the grass/garden area in front. We took some pictures and some lovely people took our picture so we didn’t only have to take selfies.

After seeing it in the light, we went to a nearby restaurant so that way we could eat, I ordered some pizza and Mom ordered pasta. It was a nice place and close to the Eiffel but not too expensive either. We took a little to eat because the next thing we wanted to do was see the Eiffel at night and then of course see it sparkle.

We walked and sat on the edge of this fountain in front of the Eiffel to watch the lights turn on and then it sparkles every hour on the hour for about 1 minute, I think. SO PRETTY. We took pictures and I facetimed my dad and brother to show them. I think the Eiffel is so pretty at night – of course it is amazing in the day but the night is just another animal.

After we had enough of the view – actually once we had the pictures, we wanted we walked towards the metro because it was getting cold. Used the metro to get to the parking garage I parked in. Then we got the car and were out. It was about a 3.5 hour drive home. Once we got home, we were both so tired that we crashed.

Sunday was not an off day because we had Saturday off. Mom and I explored a little bit of Nantes in the afternoon. Our lifting session ended around 11:30. So, we ate some lunch and then went to walk through the Botanical Garden. But that was about it because we were still tired from walking around Paris.

We went to a Boulangerie before taking the bus back home to chill before my practice at 4:30. We decided that after practice we would not go out to dinner because a lot of places are closed on Sunday’s here in France. After practice I made some dinner and then we had a relaxing movie night. Seems like we have had a lot of those but they are needed after big excursion days.

Monday looks about the same. I had a physio appointment in the morning so I went to that and Momma slept in a bit. Then we went to Melbourne café for a breakfast snack/sandwich. It was about a 10-minute walk from my place so close. After that we went back home because I had video and practice about two hours after we got done eating. Not enough time to go do much of anything.

During practice Mom went out and explored the island a bit by the river. She found a skate park and a nice walking path by the water.

After practice we went to Beaulieu – a mall not to far from my place so we could grab a few groceries and just look around a bit. Came home and then made some dinner, talked, facetimed some people and then chilled because we had a game the next day. I watched some film of the opponent and then we watched a movie until we fell asleep.

Tuesday – Gameday.

We slept in until I had to go to a video session at 10 then we had practice 11-12 right after film. Momma slept in to my knowledge then got up and went on a walk and a short workout. She said that she has had more time here on vacation to workout then the past few months. After I finished practice, I came back and got ready before going out into the center for a little bit. The weather wasn’t that great so we only walked around a little bit before coming back here to the room and resting. I went to Starbucks and got a pumpkin spice latte because I was in need of one.

We watched a Netflix movie before going out for a snack at this boulangerie not to far away. I love the fresh bakery items here. Nothing compares to it in the US in my opinion. It is just absolutely amazing. I had to leave about an hour after that so I went up and Meg braided my hair for my game day look. Got everything ready and then went to the gym around 6:30. Mom knows how to get to the gym – she won’t get turned around this time she said😉

The game did not go as planned we played Paris and got swept in 3. It was a rough match to say the least. We had to go to our VIP event after so that was frustrating to have to go speak about the game after we did horribly. Luckily Mom was here so I mostly got to talk with her and some of the other girls most of the time. After VIP we came back home and had some food ordered through Uber Eats and then didn’t do much else. Hung out with the girls for a little bit but then just went to bed.

Next day we had optional recovery – which means attending Auqatonic if we wanted/needed to for our bodies. I opted out because it was a short match and it was the last day Mom was here! The last day she got to spend in Nantes and we went over to the Machine elephant (Les Machines de l'île à Nantes). This is one of the main tourist attractions in Nantes. It is a giant elephant that is run by machines: it walks, makes noises and spits water also. There was also a small museum that had other machine animals including: a spider, chameleon, birds etc. It was pretty cool. We went to get sushi with some of my teammates for Mom's first ever sushi experience. It was very good sushi, probably the best fresh sushi I have ever had! After that we went into the center and I bought some earrings from this cute shop and we bought some snacks to bring back to my place.

We walked back to the apartment and dropped off the stuff we bought and then went back into the center around dinner time and I took her to this cheesy potato place called Amour de Pomme de Terre. It was so good. She enjoyed what I ordered as well as her food. We had a good last dinner and then I asked her if she wanted to get a take-away crepe. She said sure – I said you haven’t had a crepe here and that is a staple thing to try. We walked to this smaller creperie shop in the center and we got this place’s homemade “Nutella” crepe. Man let me tell you, it hits every time. It is buttery, salty and sweet at once so it hits all those cravings. We walked back home towards the castle and then took the bus for the last time. We got home and then Mom had to pack everything up because she had an early flight in the morning. We had some snacks and of course good last convos before we went to bed that night.

Mom left early on Thursday morning. I dropped her off at the airport too early…she couldn’t even check her bag in yet. I had to do this because we had weights early. That sucked because she had to just wait outside the bag area until they let her through and get through security. Goodbyes are SO hard. She kept saying she had the best 10 days here with me. It was so hard to leave but sadly I had something so I walked her inside and then had to leave once I got her to the correct area. We hugged, cried a little and gave each other kisses bye. Love you Mom!

You never realize how much you miss someone until you see them, or when they have to leave. The past 10 days were some of my favorite days here in France because I got to spend them showing my mom around this amazing town, my friends, and volleyball. She finally got to see what my life has been like for the past 2 years.

Mom, thank you so much for coming here and spending all of this time with me. I am so grateful and thankful you were able to come. You will never know how much it meant to me. I missed you the moment I lost sight of you when I left the airport. These memories we made here, will last forever. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

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until next time,

jaelyn