So this is how it happened.. Our first day in Paris, France. I was told the night prior that we were going out to a nice dinner that Ruben wanted to surprise Nadia for plannig out this entire European Vacation. We arrived at the hotel after a long train ride to unexpected cold rainy weather in France and a hotel room which was not ready. Me not a fan of cold and rainy weather was not in a rush to get dressed up to head out to dinner. After receiving constant shouts of "get dressed!" from the guys, i decided that I would just throw on my jeans, a nice top, and call it a day. We hoped onto the subway and ended up downtown near the Eiffel Tower. I noticed that Ruben and Nadia go there own way while AJ tries to talk me into taking a horse in buggy ride which was across the muddy park (It takes two tries). Finally I walk over and the coachman says " I waited just for you". I look in shock and realize that he had this planned out all along. On the buggy we enjoyed normal conversation and the nice ride around downtown Paris. I did not think anything of it or feel that AJ was nervous. The last conversation struck a chord in my heart. He said " We have been a lot of places together a cruise to the Bahamas, Florida, and many other trips. What would make this trip even better?" I replied " There is nothing better than this trip" As I reply AJ reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a box and kneels down in the buggy. Im on awe and shock and could only reply " Are you sure, Are you sure?!! With tears filling my eyes I say yes and he places this gorgeous Diamond Ring on my hand just as the horse and buggy stops in front of the Eiffel Tower!

The Plan

After a couple of months of researching on location on where to pop the question.  Do I do this in Italy, in Rome on at the top of the old world city, or Florence in the beautiful country side or in Venice riding in the gondala?  Then there is Paris where in this romantic city at the top of the Eifel Tower, at the bottom, on the love bridge where couples place locks on the gates of the bridge?  So after going back and forth I decided on Paris. The plan was to arrive early in the city, get dressed up, see the Eifel tower then do an evening dinner and I would take her over to the horse and buggy ride as we wait for dinner reservation time.  We would do a little tour around the city and at the Trocedo we would get out to get pictures and then I would propose there as the Eifel tower would be the perfect backdrop for my 'hidden' photographer more of that later.  Then we would finish our ride until we met back up with Ruben and Nadia. Well as anything, it hardly ever goes according to plan.

What Actually Happened 

It acctually started the night before, while Ruben and I had an evening snack and drinks. As we are going over a few plans we figure out we are arriving at the 'wrong' airport.  We are not arriving at the airport which was about 15 or so minutes from the hotel but rather the airport that is about an hour away.  So we are discussing how to get the ladies moving so they can quickly get ready. Thinking of excuses we would use to get them out and down to the meeting spot.  We come up with shopping and a nice dinner spot with reservations, which we know they both love to do.

So we get into Paris full of luggage, then we need to get downtown, Taxi too expensive and too slow. So after figuring out the train ticketing system we have our tickets well what we thought was tickets.  Apparently there are 2 sets of tickets one for subway and then the rail for downtown as you can guess we had got the subway ones so we rush back to get the rail tickets to get downtown.  As we are on  the train we feel a bit of cool air as we make a stop and we notice the people have coats.  So we quickly realize its no longer the 80 degree weather we were used to in Italy but in the 50s and 60s which we were not ready for.  We finally make it to the hotel after a bit of getting turned around.  

Once at the hotel we are getting set up for our rooms.  Nadia and Ruben go first  they get their stuff set up, we are asking a few questions about ways to get down to the Eifel tower and a few other random questions.  Then its our turn and the guy seems to be having a hard time finding the reservations.  The 10 minutes the he is looking seemed to be taking forever in my mind.   As we are supposed to be meeting the horse and buggy at 6PM and its little after 5.  So Ruben knowing the plan and seeing that I was ready to strangle this guy gets the girls to go up to their room and get ready.  We take the lugguage up as the hotel guy is still searching, and it wouldnt be a problem but the hotel is booked and we are on a time schedule.  So he finally finds the room reservations so we go up to get the luggage and up to the room.  We get to the the room and the girls are still arent ready and barely have started.   We really lay it on and rushing them which they give us cold looks and say they are kinda tired and dont rush me.  So they finally get ready and apparently I gave Nadia the meanest look when she said she needed to finish her hair Sorry Nadia. So we are leaving its 6PM.  Luckly I was able to use Ruben phone while down at the hotel lobby to call the horse and buggy to tell them we will be late.  

We finally get down to the Eiffel Tower, speed walking the entire time after we got off the subway.  I spot the horse and buggy guy  and say wouldnt it be cool to ride it around here as we thought about in Rome.  So as i'm trying to get her to come over the ground is a little muddy as it rained earlier in the day and she give me the look like I dont want to walk through that !  I tell her tp come on and the guy slips out as I was about to leave as didnt think you was coming.   So i tell her this was my surprise to do this ride as Ruben takes Nadia out for her surprise.

So we talk and enjoy the ride as the guy gives us a little history about the city and the sights.  He states we wont be able to go over to the Trocedo as we lost too much time as we got their late.  Mind you this is the place where I'm supposed to propose and the photographer is waiting.  So i come up the the idea of recording the area and then recording us as we take the ride.  As we continue to talk and we are arriving back to the Eiffel tower iIask her to marry me.  She begins to ask are you sure and crying as i'm holding out the ring, after a few moments she says yes as she continues just to cry and look at the ring.  After a bit I ask are you going to put it on as I am ready to get up.  Well now thats how it really happened.