History... repeating, repeating, repeating.

If you keep your eyes open while walking through Paris, you will always be surprised and learn something new. It's inevitable, like history repeating itself.

But first things first. In order to spend another few hours reviewing photos, selecting decent snapshots and attempting to weave a story, I need something tasty. Pastries are the recurring theme of this adventure... like history repeating itself. How about a "tartlette citron" and a "delicieux aux 3 chocolats." Yummmm. Tangy. Yummmm. Creamy and chocolatey. Yummmm. [Editor - Is that how to spell "chocolatey"? Lauren, this may be a question for you.]

Walking through the 6th Arrondissment, I noticed a plaque on the side of a rather non-descript, white building that has been remodeled sometime in the past two hundred years. I wondered what historic event could have possibly taken place on the site of the former Hotel D'York at 56 Rue Jacob. Two hundred twenty five years and one day ago, on September 3rd, 1783, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and John Adams met here to sign the peace treaty between England and the United States of America. Wow! Now that is history. It never really occured to me that there had to be a signed treaty recognizing the independence of the United States. So, these three senior statesmen and politicians gathered in Paris, on neutral territory, to sign "le traite definitif de paix reconaissant l'independence des Etats-Unis." Wow, the United States officially gained its independence and was born in Paris. Now that is remarkable.

Cafe Procope, founded in 1686, claims to be the world's first coffee house. Frequented by the literary and political elite, Benjamin Franklin was also a regular customer. Eavesdropping on a presentation by a tour guide, I learned that coffee houses were the domain of men so they could talk of news and politics. However, an enterprising lady opened the first tea salon where women could be publicly seen sipping tea and eating chocolate which had a reputation as an aphrodisiac. Today, regardless of gender, we all can enjoy passing a little time at a local coffee shop or tea salon while savoring a little chocolate. Why not?

"Lead. follow or get out of the way" is one of my favorite quotes by Thomas Paine. Walking along Rue de L'Odeon, one learns that Thomas Paine was English by birth, American by adoption (choice), French by decree and lived on this elegant street from 1797 to 1802. "Lorsque les opinions sont libres, la force de la verite finit toujours par l'emporter," or the translation according to moi (though I invite others to give it a stab as well) is: "As long as opinions are free, the truth will prevail."

Despite the fact that the truth will prevail, it is clear that some people will never truly understand their mistakes. For example, George W. Bush and Tony Blair and the mess they created in Iraq. Or how about the inventors of subprime loans which have caused international financial turmoil? Imagine what schemes they could concoct, George W. and the subprime loan schemers, if they were put into the same room. Lord have mercy on us all.

Maybe they could meet at Cafe Flore in San Francisco, or the original Cafe de Flore in Paris. (I'm just three weeks away from returning to Cafe Flore San Francisco. See you there Dalon.)

Of course, St-Germain-des-Pres isn't all about politics. It's also about fashion. And, like history, some fashions are destined to repeat. How long until we see this again? Fashion too, shall prevail.

My co-tourists for the week: Cherif, a very bright and patient guy and guide.

Fabrizio, who would kill me if I posted the photo of him exiting the J C Deceaux automated toilet, so here is one from last week when we walked along the Seine.

It truly is amazing what you can learn while wandering the streets of Paris, with no agenda and no guide book, and eyes wide open.