In the morning Jose-Marie took us to the open air market on Boulevard de Port Royal, where the locals go, to pick up tomatoes & mozzarella for lunch. We admired the long tables of fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, breads, and chocolate.

That evening, we would be attending the birthday party of a long time friend of Agnès, who was the mayor of Vendôme, a small city in the Loire Valley about 90 minutes out of Paris.

So, in the afternoon, we headed off to Vendôme, with our friends. The reception like party was remarkable. A Moroccan tent, under the stars set up in nearby Azé farmland, was the setting for the appetizers and cocktails. Everyone had to wear something red. A photographer took snaps of each couple holding a red frame—very clever.

We were warmly welcomed by the guest of honor and her family. A daughter had been a nanny back in Stamford, CT.

Dinner, in another tent, was a big catered affair, with endless French food, speeches, and dancing into the night.

“This is great!” Nick—the author said, because it meant special characters are preserved.