This trip was fulfilling, delightful, fun, and most of all, easy. Sure it was easier than the last trip to Paris with the kids, mom, Julia's family, and Nancy and Myron. Since that was the hardest trip of my life where I literally fell to the floor with exhaustion not once but twice, anything would be. It was easier than any trip with the kids. Even though they are getting so self-sufficient, finding gluten free food, food David will eat, and activities that will interest them is a lot of work. But it was even easier than 1990 when John and I traveled through Europe way pre-kids. That trip was a pivotal moment in our relationship teaching us how well we could do together even under the stress of traveling, but it was stressful. This time everything went smoothly. We did not get overtired, horribly dehydrated, or crazy-making lost. Some of this was luck. Some of it was these new technologies like downloading Google maps. I love Paris par Arrondissment, but Google maps can show us exactly where we are. Some of this was money; being able to afford a pastry every day cut down on hard decisions. And some of this was a good thirty year relationship. John never got pissy when I once again misplaced my museum pass or my train ticket like I always do. I carried the water bottle and the umbrella. Travel gets easier when you choose to help each other and know how.