Warning - Rambling and Random

Warning. This blog posting is dedicated to the random and rambling. There is no theme. There is no cohesion. There is no witty commentary. Just some random thoughts and a brief accounting of how I spent my time during the past week. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this posting includes about 13,500 words worth of entertainment. Well, if it's not entertaining, then hopefully it's informative.

First, let me just say that it is noon and I've just finished "breakfast." Here's some random: egg yolks in France are more orange. My mother claims it is do to a different diet. I think it is because Europeans are less afraid of colors than Americans. Anyway... being too lazy to go out and get fresh bread, I enjoyed my eggs with "lardon" (doesn't that sound yummy? it's like bacon cut into bits instead of slices) and corn tortillas that my mother brought me from Seattle and the best mustard in the world. Yummy! Otherwise, I spent the morning doing email, looking for a French language school, considering options for a trip to Morocco and re-sizing photos for the blog posting. So, this is what it is like to NOT go to work each day. Me likey.

Although I am in a foreign city, my social life has been relatively busy. Last Friday night "we" went out to dinner. The "we" includes: my friend Gavin who was visiting from Seattle; Ariel, who lives in Paris with his Partner Renaud (kinda like the car but spelled differently) who had just returned from his three-week vacation to Argentina where he was visiting his family; Alex, a fellow San Franciscan who also works at Kaiser and is here for two months; his host Didier who actually works in Switzerland and commutes from Paris. It was quite fun and reminds me how we really do have an opportunity in life to weave interesting social webs. And here I was sitting in my own web enjoying a wonderful meal with old friends and new ones.

It is difficult to meet French people. Maybe that will improve as my language skills improve. But until then, I'm happy to meet other nationals. Gavin and I spent a couple days hanging-out with Antonio who is originally from Mexico, who then moved to Spain where he married a German, and just moved to Paris. Yesterday, I met up with Ed, a friend of my friends Phillipe (he is French but lives in San Diego) and Michael. Ed is on his way to a bicycle camp in Italy (it's like his 17th time - very impressive!) Ed treated me to dinner - we both had hamuburgers! [Remember, I did start off with a warning that this posting would be random and rambling and I'm committed to keeping my promise.] Quiz: How many countries were mentioned in the last two paragraphs?

"Rick - get to the photos already. Stop rambling. Please, for the love of G_D, show us the 13,000 words worth of photos!!" "Okaaaay. Fine!"

[Click to view larger images]

Hotel de Ville at night. It turned out better than I expected. I love my digital Elph.

The Eiffel Tour, Place de la Concorde (think guillotine) and the Petit Palais in the background.

Citroen automobile showroom on the Champse Elysee. Yes, they still make Citroens. Yes, those really are cars, and yes it's a lot of steps to climb to the top.

Doggies going in Seine (or at least playing next to the Seine river next to their houseboat.)
Cemeteries fascinate me! Gavin, Antonio and I visited the cemetery at Montmartre, where we stumbled over Dalida's grave and tripped over the one with the family with their toes popping out of their coffins. If I were taller, the third photo would have been composed slightly differently. Either way, if I ever make my way to the pearly gates, I'm sure to be questioned about this photo.

La Defense - Is it really in Paris? The architecture is so different. That's Gavin providing a little human perspective to the office building.

Finally, a dancer and a few fireworks to finish off this show. You may have to click on the photo to see the dancer up close and personal. "So, what did you do last night?" "Oh, I lit myself on fire in front of a bunch of tourists at Notre Dame." It's all in a day's work for some here in the City of Lights.