Good Morning,
Over the last week I have had the pleasure of having a friend visit Paris. It was a good visit, and for the most part the weather cooperated. It was nice having someone around to have dinner with and continue exploring the city.
While I was working, Carolyn visited museum's, Cathedrals and Chateaus. I walked her endlessly around the city, and caused her great pain for even though she is fit, and brought along six pairs of shoes, she soon found that the uneven surfaces, and hilly terraine rubbed her the wrong way, and it was surelly difficult to keep on her feet and move about the city. While the Metro system here in Paris is fantastic, it can't bring you right to the doorstep of every sight, and the many stairs leading up and down to the surface soon take their toll on legs and joints as well as the feet.
I will say that Carolyn was quite the trooper, often aquesing to walk the couple of metro stops to the next location ranther than taking the easy way out. In most cases, I believe, it was due to her knowing that I love to walk. She even climed the 200+ stairs to the top of the Panthion because she knew that I wanted to.
We had dinner together each night and talked about the city, the people and the art of Paris. It was nice to hear a fresh perspective. I found that I have started to become blind to the things around me. I find that I don't take as many pictures of flowers, as they are now everywhere. I walk quicker through the museums, as paintings and sculptures become just more art. I am not affected by the gold guilding on the gates and domes of the city. Having a friend to share the wonders of the city and to watch them discover the beauty of the parks, streets and buildings makes everything new again.
I travel home for a week in a few days and I know that I will see things there that have been overlooked by me for years. I will see them new again, and I will take the time to see the beauty. I encourage you all take the time to pause and see things as if they were new to you and marvel in their beauty.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Travel Log 5-19-07
It has been a while since I put a travel log up. I wanted to catch you all up on what has been going on in Paris.
The sights, sounds and aromas of the city have changed over the last few weeks, and so have the people. You know from previous logs that the city was pretty grey and cold in an overall sense. The cloudy days prevented any of the sparkle of the city to shine through except on occasion. However it was too far between those moments to make a difference in the overall feel. But I am glad to tell you there is a difference now. It still rains frequently, but not all day, and the trees, grass and flowers have come to full life. The additional life adds a softness to the city that absorbs not only the grey, but takes the edge off of noises as well.
The views of the buildings, although more obscured than they were when the trees were bare, have a glowing contrast against the darker shades of green, the reds, yellows and blues of flowers and the Ever growing spectrum of colors being worn by the pedestrians. The contrast in colors also helps with moving peoples eyes off of the wintry downward fixed position. Now people have raised their heads, and I think they like what they see. I notice more conversations as people move through the streets. They open laugh, in what seams like an instant they have gone from totally independent recluses to community of people.
The air is much more diverse with the aromas. Not all of them good, but I will say that there are more reasons to breath in on a clear day than there used to be. The laws of physics take hold of the air molecules. As the temperature rises, atoms become more active, and thus the air begins to convect, moving up and out, mixing with other air of different temperatures, you can never tell which direction it will take next.
Today, I walked through the Natural History Gardens and smelled the pines, and roses mixed with the moist smell of fresh turned soil. Then to the Menagerie, a small zoo that is part of the museum complex. There I sat and watch a very interesting display. Orangutans in an exterior glass enclosure. I watched as the apes and people interacted with only a thin sheet of glass separating them. I noticed children discovering just how much we are like each other, and how amazingly agile the moved through their enclosure. I saw the parents watching the children, and then gazing themselves at the animals. I saw a sadness in the adults eyes masked by the smile on their face as they watch the children. I think the glint of sadness was for the Orangutans, being captive. The female, lay listlessly near one corner, at eye level and up against the glass where children could come close by and tap on the glass to gain her attention. The male, moved slowly across a ledge at the back of the enclosure, methodically removing any straw that he found clinging to the ropes, bare tree trunks and rock work that made up his kingdom. Maybe the parents saw themselves through the glass. Always on display, trapped in a world where your span of control is very limited. The female, not satisfied with what her life delivered, resigned to listless days. The male, always having to do something, trying to maintain what little control he has over his kingdom.
I was somewhat surprised at the parents who not only let the children ignore the rail barriers around the primary enclosure, but either ignored it themselves or instructed the children to ignore it to get a better picture. At one enclosure there was a very large Ass (yes like a donkey, not an idiot), the father took the two small children, both under 4, and stepped over the low rail barrier and to my delight, turned his back on the Ass who quickly but quietly walked right up behind the guy and let out a series of brays that would peel bark off of a tree. I really did try not to laugh, but everyone else was, so what the heck. The man jumped as if a hot stick was stuck where the sun don't shine, and began running in mid air like a cartoon character. The children, both screamed at the same time and ran for mom who was as white as a ghost and was so scared she couldn't even get the picture. Lesson learned, I hope.
I then went to Isle St. Louis and walked the Rue St. Louis en l'ille. A narrow street with lots of shops, restaurants and galleries. The street was full of pedestrians, eating ice creams and taking pictures of each other in front of shop windows full of pastries or cheeses.
I then went to Cite', the island that was the first settlement of Paris and houses Notre Dame. Coming from Isle St. Louis, I approached Notre Dame from the rear, where there is a small garden park. On a raised bandstand, nested under large Sycamore trees, a brass band made up of a dozen or so tweens (Between kids and teenagers) all dressed in royal blue band coats and complete with matching hats was just setting up. I sat and listened to them play and noted the stark contrast of lively swing style music against the ancient facade of Notre Dame. The setting (except Notre Dame as the backdrop) took me back to New England towns that had bandstands and where on warm summer evenings the town would turn out to hear a brass band play the favorites. Again the colors contrasting made quite a nice feel, and the leaves of the trees helped to soften the harsh sound of trumpets and french horns. Around to the front and much to my amazement there was a very large white tent set up in front of the cathedral with several otherones flanking the walkway leading up to the entrance. I was in luck, a bread bakers competition. The large tent had several sections of kitchens set up each making different types of breads, including, Pane Chocolate, or Chocolate Croissants, (banned years ago in France due to a National Health Crisis). OK, it had been a while since breakfast and I had no lunch, and they were giving free samples. I was lucky enough to get a sample of something I have been hunting for a long time. Pretzel bread with salt on top. OMG, you could have sent me straight to heaven and I wouldn't have known the difference. What a way to end the afternoon, enjoying the sights, sounds, aromas and now the taste of France. Long live the bread!
The sights, sounds and aromas of the city have changed over the last few weeks, and so have the people. You know from previous logs that the city was pretty grey and cold in an overall sense. The cloudy days prevented any of the sparkle of the city to shine through except on occasion. However it was too far between those moments to make a difference in the overall feel. But I am glad to tell you there is a difference now. It still rains frequently, but not all day, and the trees, grass and flowers have come to full life. The additional life adds a softness to the city that absorbs not only the grey, but takes the edge off of noises as well.
The views of the buildings, although more obscured than they were when the trees were bare, have a glowing contrast against the darker shades of green, the reds, yellows and blues of flowers and the Ever growing spectrum of colors being worn by the pedestrians. The contrast in colors also helps with moving peoples eyes off of the wintry downward fixed position. Now people have raised their heads, and I think they like what they see. I notice more conversations as people move through the streets. They open laugh, in what seams like an instant they have gone from totally independent recluses to community of people.
The air is much more diverse with the aromas. Not all of them good, but I will say that there are more reasons to breath in on a clear day than there used to be. The laws of physics take hold of the air molecules. As the temperature rises, atoms become more active, and thus the air begins to convect, moving up and out, mixing with other air of different temperatures, you can never tell which direction it will take next.
Today, I walked through the Natural History Gardens and smelled the pines, and roses mixed with the moist smell of fresh turned soil. Then to the Menagerie, a small zoo that is part of the museum complex. There I sat and watch a very interesting display. Orangutans in an exterior glass enclosure. I watched as the apes and people interacted with only a thin sheet of glass separating them. I noticed children discovering just how much we are like each other, and how amazingly agile the moved through their enclosure. I saw the parents watching the children, and then gazing themselves at the animals. I saw a sadness in the adults eyes masked by the smile on their face as they watch the children. I think the glint of sadness was for the Orangutans, being captive. The female, lay listlessly near one corner, at eye level and up against the glass where children could come close by and tap on the glass to gain her attention. The male, moved slowly across a ledge at the back of the enclosure, methodically removing any straw that he found clinging to the ropes, bare tree trunks and rock work that made up his kingdom. Maybe the parents saw themselves through the glass. Always on display, trapped in a world where your span of control is very limited. The female, not satisfied with what her life delivered, resigned to listless days. The male, always having to do something, trying to maintain what little control he has over his kingdom.
I was somewhat surprised at the parents who not only let the children ignore the rail barriers around the primary enclosure, but either ignored it themselves or instructed the children to ignore it to get a better picture. At one enclosure there was a very large Ass (yes like a donkey, not an idiot), the father took the two small children, both under 4, and stepped over the low rail barrier and to my delight, turned his back on the Ass who quickly but quietly walked right up behind the guy and let out a series of brays that would peel bark off of a tree. I really did try not to laugh, but everyone else was, so what the heck. The man jumped as if a hot stick was stuck where the sun don't shine, and began running in mid air like a cartoon character. The children, both screamed at the same time and ran for mom who was as white as a ghost and was so scared she couldn't even get the picture. Lesson learned, I hope.
I then went to Isle St. Louis and walked the Rue St. Louis en l'ille. A narrow street with lots of shops, restaurants and galleries. The street was full of pedestrians, eating ice creams and taking pictures of each other in front of shop windows full of pastries or cheeses.
I then went to Cite', the island that was the first settlement of Paris and houses Notre Dame. Coming from Isle St. Louis, I approached Notre Dame from the rear, where there is a small garden park. On a raised bandstand, nested under large Sycamore trees, a brass band made up of a dozen or so tweens (Between kids and teenagers) all dressed in royal blue band coats and complete with matching hats was just setting up. I sat and listened to them play and noted the stark contrast of lively swing style music against the ancient facade of Notre Dame. The setting (except Notre Dame as the backdrop) took me back to New England towns that had bandstands and where on warm summer evenings the town would turn out to hear a brass band play the favorites. Again the colors contrasting made quite a nice feel, and the leaves of the trees helped to soften the harsh sound of trumpets and french horns. Around to the front and much to my amazement there was a very large white tent set up in front of the cathedral with several otherones flanking the walkway leading up to the entrance. I was in luck, a bread bakers competition. The large tent had several sections of kitchens set up each making different types of breads, including, Pane Chocolate, or Chocolate Croissants, (banned years ago in France due to a National Health Crisis). OK, it had been a while since breakfast and I had no lunch, and they were giving free samples. I was lucky enough to get a sample of something I have been hunting for a long time. Pretzel bread with salt on top. OMG, you could have sent me straight to heaven and I wouldn't have known the difference. What a way to end the afternoon, enjoying the sights, sounds, aromas and now the taste of France. Long live the bread!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Hello all,
Time for a quick Family update.
Betty has returned home after an all too short a visit to France. She was here for 20 days and each one made me realize how much I miss her. We all know that people take each other for granted, but having Betty around I realize just how much I enjoy being around her. I won't go into all of her good qualities, no one has that much time. I will tell you that her laughter lights up my life. She is truly the only one who fully gets me. There is no need to be anyone other than who I am around her.
While she was here we traveled some, ate a lot, explored new drinks, cheeses, and met some people who we will always remember and talk about with great fondness. I know that she enjoyed herself, because just a few days after her return she told me she took a blanket a bottle of wine and walked across the street to have a quiet rest near the pond and watch the ducks. Quite French for sure. As time is passing she has also started talking more about the things she misses, like goat cheese salads, and crusty bread with soft cores.
Chris is doing well, still in Ft.Polk La. but has informed us that he will be going to West Point on assignment. He doesn't know for how long, or for exactly what, but he volunteered for it. If nothing else, he will be getting a rest from the southern heat of summer and the monotony of life on a base in the middle of nowhere. He has mentioned that his ear has been bothering him, not really hurting as he put it, just bothering him. I am not really sure what that means, but I figure if it was bothering him enough, he would do something about it, so for now I will shrug it off. I am hoping he will get a leave after the mystery assignment and be able to come home for a visit. If not, Betty and I will figure out where he is and go and camp outside the base until his guard duty (oops, I spelled "duty") takes him on patrol past our spot.
Nick has been a great help around the house while I have been away, even taking care of the animals during Betty's visit. He didn't even loose one of them the entire time, or if he did, he found them in time and isn't telling anyone. He has been working on the yard, and getting contractors in to do repairs when necessary. Betty let the last yard man go, and hired a new one, who suggested that the yard needed more color, so Betty and he are working on livening up the color scheme. He is still working as a life guard and had to save another person, well, he isn't sure that the guy really needed to be saved, but Nick felt he had waited long enough for the guy to surface and then jumped in. Better safe than sorry for sure.
Me, well let's see. Still in France at least until May 31, then back home for a week. The immigration laws say that I can only be in France for 90 days without a visa (by the way, most places here don't take American Express ;)). So I booked my flight and ironically got notified that my visa is ready to be processed two days afterwards. The ironic part is that I have to go to Miami to get it, so either way, it's back to the states. My stay here will end July 14 when they kick me out of my apartment, again ironically, it is Bastille day, and my flight home isn't until the 15Th. I have already said that I wasn't going to miss the fireworks going off of the Eiffel Tower, but now it sounds like I may have to sleep under it.
That's it for now, I hope all is well in your neck of the woods, and with the ones who are dearest to you.
Stay well.
Robert
Time for a quick Family update.
Betty has returned home after an all too short a visit to France. She was here for 20 days and each one made me realize how much I miss her. We all know that people take each other for granted, but having Betty around I realize just how much I enjoy being around her. I won't go into all of her good qualities, no one has that much time. I will tell you that her laughter lights up my life. She is truly the only one who fully gets me. There is no need to be anyone other than who I am around her.
While she was here we traveled some, ate a lot, explored new drinks, cheeses, and met some people who we will always remember and talk about with great fondness. I know that she enjoyed herself, because just a few days after her return she told me she took a blanket a bottle of wine and walked across the street to have a quiet rest near the pond and watch the ducks. Quite French for sure. As time is passing she has also started talking more about the things she misses, like goat cheese salads, and crusty bread with soft cores.
Chris is doing well, still in Ft.Polk La. but has informed us that he will be going to West Point on assignment. He doesn't know for how long, or for exactly what, but he volunteered for it. If nothing else, he will be getting a rest from the southern heat of summer and the monotony of life on a base in the middle of nowhere. He has mentioned that his ear has been bothering him, not really hurting as he put it, just bothering him. I am not really sure what that means, but I figure if it was bothering him enough, he would do something about it, so for now I will shrug it off. I am hoping he will get a leave after the mystery assignment and be able to come home for a visit. If not, Betty and I will figure out where he is and go and camp outside the base until his guard duty (oops, I spelled "duty") takes him on patrol past our spot.
Nick has been a great help around the house while I have been away, even taking care of the animals during Betty's visit. He didn't even loose one of them the entire time, or if he did, he found them in time and isn't telling anyone. He has been working on the yard, and getting contractors in to do repairs when necessary. Betty let the last yard man go, and hired a new one, who suggested that the yard needed more color, so Betty and he are working on livening up the color scheme. He is still working as a life guard and had to save another person, well, he isn't sure that the guy really needed to be saved, but Nick felt he had waited long enough for the guy to surface and then jumped in. Better safe than sorry for sure.
Me, well let's see. Still in France at least until May 31, then back home for a week. The immigration laws say that I can only be in France for 90 days without a visa (by the way, most places here don't take American Express ;)). So I booked my flight and ironically got notified that my visa is ready to be processed two days afterwards. The ironic part is that I have to go to Miami to get it, so either way, it's back to the states. My stay here will end July 14 when they kick me out of my apartment, again ironically, it is Bastille day, and my flight home isn't until the 15Th. I have already said that I wasn't going to miss the fireworks going off of the Eiffel Tower, but now it sounds like I may have to sleep under it.
That's it for now, I hope all is well in your neck of the woods, and with the ones who are dearest to you.
Stay well.
Robert
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Betty's visit to France
Friends,
Rather than try and tell you how great it was to have Betty here for a couple of weeks, and share all the stories of our visit, I thought we would just share some of the pictures. Click on the bottom link under pictures and then click on the picture of Betty and enjoy.
Robert
Rather than try and tell you how great it was to have Betty here for a couple of weeks, and share all the stories of our visit, I thought we would just share some of the pictures. Click on the bottom link under pictures and then click on the picture of Betty and enjoy.
Robert
On the Brighter Side
Peaceful Greetings Everyone,
Recent travels have spurred on some conversations between Betty and I about the character of man. As we traveled the country side of France recently, we of course encountered many people from various backgrounds. We interacted with people from the cities, the countryside, from very small villages, and everything in between. We found ourselves looking beyond our surroundings and the actions of the moment. We began to subconsciously note how we felt relating directly from how we were being treated, and from the observations of how others acted and reacted to various forces.
Our talks touched on the people that went way out of their way to help us, but we sometimes found ourselves lingering on circumstances that were less enjoyable and recounting how they made us feel and how we thought people should act and feel in particular instances.
On the Brighter Side
As these conversations continued we found ourselves being more in tune with how we act and sometimes react to certain situations. We became aware that each of us, when we encountered an individual that didn't meet our expectations, we first examined what it was that disappointed us, thought about how they should have acted. Then we reflected on how we have acted in the past to similar situations and how we should act when the situation is presented to us again.
Somewhere in the countryside of France, Betty and I realized that we needed to examine ourselves instead of dwelling on others behavior that in most cases we had no influence over. I found this quote that sums up exactly what we discovered.
When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
The obvious question that comes to mind when I read this quote is, "Contrary to what?". If this was recorded over 2500 years ago, how could it still be relative? The answer is simple. Human beings are prone to always look outward at the forces that shape circumstances and seldom look inward to ask, "Am I part of the problem? Do I display the virtues I desire in others?" If everyone did that, every time they were disappointed and reshaped their behaviors and those of the ones they have influence over, the glow of human kindness would outshine the sun.
I have hope that in some Nirvana in the future all people will follow the golden rule. You remember, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I have hope that starting now, from the moment you read this, each time you are disappointed with someone, that you turn inward, reflect on what you do, commit to model the behavior you want portrayed by others, give freely, and always..........Look on the bright side of life.
To a great future,
Robert
Recent travels have spurred on some conversations between Betty and I about the character of man. As we traveled the country side of France recently, we of course encountered many people from various backgrounds. We interacted with people from the cities, the countryside, from very small villages, and everything in between. We found ourselves looking beyond our surroundings and the actions of the moment. We began to subconsciously note how we felt relating directly from how we were being treated, and from the observations of how others acted and reacted to various forces.
Our talks touched on the people that went way out of their way to help us, but we sometimes found ourselves lingering on circumstances that were less enjoyable and recounting how they made us feel and how we thought people should act and feel in particular instances.
On the Brighter Side
As these conversations continued we found ourselves being more in tune with how we act and sometimes react to certain situations. We became aware that each of us, when we encountered an individual that didn't meet our expectations, we first examined what it was that disappointed us, thought about how they should have acted. Then we reflected on how we have acted in the past to similar situations and how we should act when the situation is presented to us again.
Somewhere in the countryside of France, Betty and I realized that we needed to examine ourselves instead of dwelling on others behavior that in most cases we had no influence over. I found this quote that sums up exactly what we discovered.
When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
The obvious question that comes to mind when I read this quote is, "Contrary to what?". If this was recorded over 2500 years ago, how could it still be relative? The answer is simple. Human beings are prone to always look outward at the forces that shape circumstances and seldom look inward to ask, "Am I part of the problem? Do I display the virtues I desire in others?" If everyone did that, every time they were disappointed and reshaped their behaviors and those of the ones they have influence over, the glow of human kindness would outshine the sun.
I have hope that in some Nirvana in the future all people will follow the golden rule. You remember, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I have hope that starting now, from the moment you read this, each time you are disappointed with someone, that you turn inward, reflect on what you do, commit to model the behavior you want portrayed by others, give freely, and always..........Look on the bright side of life.
To a great future,
Robert
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