Ever since my mom landed in Paris, we’ve been running around trying to see and do all of the things. Well, not all – that would take at least two lifetimes – but several big-ticket-must-sees plus some of my favorite off-the-beaten-path places. And we’re not the only ones!

Since I left in early May, the city has exploded. I’m pretty sure the tourists (hi, Mom!) now outnumber the locals, and everyone, local and tourist alike, wants to find a spot for a pique-nique on the Seine. Luckily, the crowds are friendly—champagne might have something to do with that.

In any case, we’ve made the most of my mom’s visit so far, packing in trips to see the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Jardin des Plantes, Notre Dame, Shakespeare & Co., the marché aux fleurs, the Tuileries, the Orangerie, Musée d’Orsay, and the Petit Palais. Plus, of course, several of my favorite boulangeries and fromageries and other -eries. And it’s only been four days! My phone tells me I’ve walked an average of 8.5 miles per day since she got here, which I don’t believe (it consistently thinks I walk farther than taller people walking with me), but still, I guess that explains why my feet are tired.

So on that note, I’m going to sit down, open a bottle of wine, and dive into some fresh comté jeune. Here are some pictures from our activities so far. Crack open your own bottle of wine and pretend you’re here with us!