Compiègne

About 37 miles Northeast of Paris is "La Forêt de Compiègne (The forest of Compiègne)," our favorite retreat to solitude, away from the hustle and bustle of Parisian life. This forest is roughly circular with a diameter of about 9 miles; approximately 58 miles in circumference with an area of about 35,620 acres. La Forêt de Compiègne has beautiful oak trees among beech, hornbeam and the North American black cherry tree. We went there quite often, just the two of us. The forest was always deserted and we found ourselves always alone, just the two of us. It had many species of wild flowering plants among small lakes, ponds brooks and springs. We went there a few times every year, during different seasons. We thought that we owned the forest to ourselves because we never saw any other souls during all the times we were inside the forest. Every Spring, we go there to look for Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis,) which were very hard to find. This forest is the location where I got the best photos of Maryse, and the best lilies, always for her. The scent of wild Lily of the Valley is by far the best fragrance of my memory and none of the world's most famous perfume can ever match its essence.