Shannon's Sunflowers

09/29/2025

Today's visit to the Eiffel Tower was breathtaking. Paris is beyond beautiful, I cannot count how many times a day I say, WOW.

Lunch we had at a lovely cafe where we enjoyed some unbelievable French onion 🧅 soup teeming with onions and a thick layer of cheese. Mom had a Regina pizza with mushrooms, onions and ham. I am delighted to find my favorite wines available here by the glass - Gewurztraminer is hard to come by back home but it was FABULOUS

We've decided that dinner will be 4 courses of pastries and confectionery delights because every patisserie we pass is more alluring than the last. One more day - nothing booked (but Arc de Triomphe is closed, I just got an email back). Please share ideas and suggestions. Weather looks sunny and 68!

09/29/2025

Eiffel Tower hiccups - the chair isn't allowed to the top but I still got an amazing view! What should we do tomorrow? Our last day and no plans - please drop recommendations below. 💜🌻

09/27/2025

I was not prepared for the sheer opulence of Versailles! I knew it would be grand, I knew it would be large but WOW. The French kings definitely took their palace to the next level.

The cobblestone was a feat in the wheelchair, I probably need to grease the shocks after that but the artwork, furniture, gardens ... Just beyond anything I anticipated.

We also lunched in their restaurant and enjoyed some French classics. France has been chilly (by my standards - not the half naked Parisians walking around) thus far but every corner feels like a postcard.

The French are intentional. That's my biggest takeaway. The food, fashion, traditions - they're not messing around. Neither were they messing around during the REVOLUCION. Take notes 💪🏼

09/26/2025

Paris by Mouth food tour! Perfect way to kick off a visit to this delicious city. We indulged in the Holy Trinity: Bread, wine & cheese plus Added some chocolate and pastry to up the ante!

What we ate and where we ate it:

Poilâne on rue du Cherche Midi for miche loaf, apple tarts and sablés

Fromagerie Sanders at Marché Couvert de Saint Germain for cheeses

Bouchette Cendrée (goat, Loire, 3 weeks)
Comté AOP (cow, Jura, aged from 6-36 months)
Brie de Meaux AOP (cow, Île-de-France, aged 6-8 weeks)
Époisses AOP (cow, Bourgogne, aged 4-6 weeks)
Hercule (goat and sheep, Pyrénées, aged minimum 11 months) **my absolute Favorite! ⭐⭐

Arnaud Larher on rue de Seine for pastry

Praline millefeuille
Passion fruit & milk chocolate macarons

Maison le Roux on rue du Bourbon le Chateau for chocolate
CBS (salted butter caramel)
Yannick (chocolate with crêpe dentelle)
Chocolate praline à l'ancienne

La Dernière Goutte on rue du Bourbon le Chateau for wines

Turbulent, Sérol, Champs Libres, Gamay rosé
Domaine de la Renière, La Renière, Cabernet Franc 2023

Everything was beyond delicious! Every wine I've sampled since arriving has been splendid and I had real champagne for maybe only the 4th time in my life. I already eat bread and cheese for pretty much every meal at home, but here both the bread and cheese are INFINITELY better!

09/25/2025

Travel Day update: Wrexham - London - Paris

Train 2 was late which led to Taxi 2 hitting traffic so we missed our Eurostar to Paris, but worry not, we were rebooked and told to wait in the first class lounge where we snacked on fresh baked focaccia and an amazing canned mocktail.

The accessibility team did not come get us in time for that train so we took the Next one (waiting in a first class lounge is far from a hardship). The ramp needed to get me into this train was Amazing! They could have charged me like it was a carnival ride.

As a handicapped passenger, I get to ride in First Class for less than the price of an Economy seat and Mom comes along as part of the package deal. So now we're enjoying a delicious lunch with wine and coffee as we head through the Tunnels under the English channel. Very grateful that they provided food because I wasn't sure when we'd have time to eat today with all of the travel. OoOooo and we finally got a Passport stamp as we passed through the France border.

Tonight we just have to find our hotel and get unpacked. Tomorrow we head out on a Paris by Mouth food tour and I am beyond excited to eat my way through this iconic city.

09/25/2025

It's Travel Day! Off to Paris... I've never been and I don't speak the language but it looks both beautiful and delicious so I'm quite excited.

I promised Christopher Voeller I'd try a Wrexham lager and I had a few £££ leftover before we switch to € so it was a logical choice. Buckle up because today is a 3 train/3 taxi/3 country day.

09/24/2025

I can tell that I am dying. Not just in the way that my body continues to ail me and fail me, but in the way I perceive time. Life continues to show me ways that I am in my final chapter. My 7th grade Ancient History teacher had a sign over the standard issue government clock at the front of our room, written on construction paper and permanent marker that said, "Time is Relative." I remember so many things about that room, clear as day: the color of the construction paper, the handwritten font, and remember the boy I had a crush on who sat in front of me....

I can tell that I am dying. Not just in the way that my body continues to ail me and fail me, but in the way I perceive time. Life continues to show me ways that I am in my final chapter. My 7th gr…

09/23/2025

We were coming to Wrexham AFC no matter what. There wasn't supposed to be a game today but the team has been playing so well that there's a cup match tonight and we couldn't be more excited!!

We've met Millie and a ton of players! Mom got over a dozen autographs. It's electric and the people are so very warm and kind!

I feel so very blessed by this whole experience and I could not ask for more. ... It feels like the positive energy of the universe is abundant and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. 💜🌻
Welcome to Wrexham The Turf Wrexham Town

09/23/2025

If you've read my blog, you'll know that the way I make difficult decisions is to ask myself, "if I do not do this, will I regret it?" In this case ... If I came all the way to the UK and don't go to Wrexham, how will I feel when I watch next season of Welcome to Wrexham knowing how very close we were!?

So today, despite the eye rolls of many Londoners, Mom and I are off on a train trip to Wales. I looked up their match schedule in advance and thought we'd be there during a quiet time and just pop into the store and have a pint at The Turf while seeing the town. I was thrilled to see that there's a match tonight and we will be there!!

After a much needed day of rest yesterday, we're lugging our bags to a new region of the country with excitement and anticipation in our hearts, prepared to cheer on the Wrexham AFC Red Dragons!!

09/22/2025

My first visit to Westminster Abbey was 2009 and ever since I have told anyone who would listen that it was the most religious experience of my life. The majesty and energy in the place - real tangible history. Photography wasn't allowed on my initial visit so I am thrilled to share some images with you since the rules have changed.

Despite needing to navigate in my wheelchair, I was still able to access ~85% of public spaces. We also got to visit the upper floors to see the exhibition for the Queen's Diamond jubilee (no pics allowed).

As a side note, I was hesitant on my initial visit when I saw the entrance fee was so high, as the trip was already a budget stretch at the time. On this visit, tickets for mom and I were complimentary bc of my handicap. England has been incredibly accommodating thus far for folks with disabilities. Taking into account how much preparation it takes for even the smallest outings between oxygen and mobility, their consideration has made traveling less stressful so I've been able to truly enjoy the experience much more.

09/21/2025

I was absolutely not ready for the beauty of Oxford! How magnificent. The architecture and charm at every turn...

Today was the first time my wheelchair battery died before we made it back to the hotel, so we ordered a taxi for the final leg. This chair DOES have room for a second battery but I didn't want to invest until I was sure the chair was durable. I will be ordering a second battery when we get home.

Right now, the battery most needing charged is my own. Found out we will be in town for a Wrexham AFC EFL Cup third round match on Tuesday so if I want to participate in the festivities I will definitely need rest.

Off to eat my Too Good To Go haul and read my new Yarros book! Keep smiling, friends 💜🌻

09/21/2025

Today is going to be a long one. I woke up at 545am. We were on the road by 7. Victoria Station is now my nemesis. MORE lifts have closed since yesterday and on Sunday morning the exits we needed were closed. No attendant around for the handicapped restroom.
Major shout out to Mom when I got SO frustrated that I asked her to collapse the chair and take it up the escalator in the station because I was so close to giving up.

Made it to the bus with about 20 seconds to spare. 3 people ushered us to the bus like it was the ER , one banding our arms, one taking the chair, one directing us to our seats.

Now a long ride out to Warwick Castle, the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford. I left my cane in Heathrow so I'm hoping the wheelchair ate its Wheaties this morning.

Tomorrow we have no plans. I'm thinking the British Museum and nothing else! We leave for Wrexham on Tuesday. I cannot wait to have a pint in The Turf. Wrexham AFC Welcome to Wrexham