Who Has Time to Lie in the Grass?

We "literally" spent the afternoon lying in the grass, doing nothing on another beautiful afternoon.

"Let's take a break here." we randomly decided after walking down the sidewalk near the Ecole Militaire.

Lying in the grass, "Just Live".

"Who has time to just sit around and lie in the grass in Paris?" I asked my friend.
"I don't." he smiled as he continued to lying there, covering his eyes from the sun.

"I don't either." I replied lying in the grass taking pictures.

We spent the afternoon lying in the grass along with other Parisian, who apparently, also didn't have the time...

Bob's Kitchen with Florence and Joel.

"Hey Florence! It's Florence!", my french friend Florence announced when I answered my cell phone. "Joel is playing the piano at Bob's Kitchen....let's go!"
"Sure!" I said after quickly glancing at my calendar and to do list. "What time?"

Sometimes being "jobless" can be a good thing in Paris, when there are so many more FUN things to do. At a moments notice we were on the metro heading to Bob's Kitchen.

Bob's Kitchen is a Trendy little Cafe Restaurant on , 74 Rue des Gravilliers, 75003 in the 3rd Arrondissement. I wanted a chicken salad, but quickly learned that Bob's kitchen is vegetarian.
Even without the meat, which I didn't miss, the food was flavorful, fresh and satisfying.

The metro, for those who forgot what it looks like.

Joel.

Florence, Joel and Florence.Playing backup on the 'air piano'.

"Who are these distractions?" Joel must wonder.

Just another great afternoon in the beautiful city of Paris at Bob's Kitchen.

This is What I Love!

Just walking through the neighborhood on a Summer afternoon....I took a few photos.

Paris.

This is what I LOVE!

Tour de Fance Finale 2010.

Today was the finale for Tour de France and a great opportunity to see lots of zero-fat male bodies whizzing in front of my eyes! (I only saw the men...)

The weather was perfect as my friend Pierre-Yves and I watched the races while "celebrating" our 3 month "friendship" anniversary today.

The first of 8 laps around the Avenue.

Turn-around point at the Arc de Triomphe.

The Swiss.

The Americans.

The Tour.

Sights and Sounds near the turn-around point at Arc de Triomphe.

Although this is Lance Armstrong's last Tour de France. (He was too quick to capture a photo.) He will always be a legend in my blog. Arriving officially in 23rd place, he was riding for others surviving with Cancer.

Restore the Gulf Coast from Paris or Anywhere!

I did it from Paris. You can do it from anywhere in the World. Visit restorethegulf.com to add your name to the petition demanding complete restoration of America's Gulf. Presented by Women of the Storm.

Life's a Beach at Paris Plages.

Once again the roads next to the river Seine are closed, covered in sand with beach chairs added, to create Paris Plages (Paris Beach) during July and August. More details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris-Plages

And once again, we had to check it out. Of course I captured it all with a few photos.
The weather was perfect and it felt "almost", but not really, like being on a real beach.

Paris Plages Poster Girl (yes, she has 3 arms!)

Strolling along the "Beach".

Poster Girl under the Showers.

Aerobics Pool next to the River.

Other side of the "beach".

There's always something "special" about Paris.

A child walking across the beach blog photo.

Dinner and wine with a friend...in Paris...on the "beach", great weather, and here's where I ask, "Does it get any better?"

A wonderful relaxing evening, "Just Livin" at Paris Plages.

When Life's a Beach, Just Live. Hope you all are enjoying summer wherever you are and Remember to "Focus" on the good things in life and all there is to be grateful for!...friends, family, love, hope, opportunity...what else?

Routine Conversation.

Some routines are good to have in Life, and this is one of them. Every Wednesday, we know the Parler Parlor Conversation Group will be at the Irish Pub in St Germaine and the conversation will always be interesting.
And here we are:

Cheers! To Routinely Good Conversation.

Walking Home.

Just another post about walking home after a wonderful evening with friends. Paris has a certain "energy" or "vibe" that can be felt just walking down the street. It's calm and energetic at the same time.

People are out and about eating dinner starting at 9PM or later and relaxing into the night. It's nice to see. So I captured a few more pictures.







"I just love Paris!" I think to myself on the way home.

How do you stop in roller blades?

Rollerblading in Paris

ROLLERS ET COQUILLAGES (roller pour débutant) is a skating tour of Paris every Sunday at 14.30 for beginners. Everyone meets near Place Bastille, at the Nomades store (to rent blades and protection for just 10 Euros)
37 Bld Bourdon, Paris 4è, Métro Bastille.

Judy and I took a break from the Paris bar scene to experiment with rollerblading before she returns home to Australia. Our duo adventures in Paris are ending, and on this day, almost in more ways than one.

"Oh, there you are." I wave to Judy as I step out of the rental shop onto the sidewalk. My feet began to roll. One foot to the left the other one straight. How do you stop on roller blades?!, I wondered too late. "How do I stop?! I can't stop!" I yelled as my feet tried to coordinate rolling towards Judy.

She could only watch as I rolled faster towards her, embracing her (actually it was more like clinging to her for my life) while she manged to grab my left arm as I continued past her and crashed to the ground. I suddenly felt like the store front entertainment, as every watched to see what stunt was next.
"Are you okay? Thank God for the protection." Judy said, helping me up.

The "debutant" rollerblading had not begun and I wondered what the heck were we doing? Just realizing that NOT knowing how to roller blade might be a bad idea. It just "looked" like fun.

Shortly into the adventure, heading downhill, there's a sound like a pile of luggage crashing to the ground and a low muffled groan. It was not luggage, (wheels, plastic, and fabric, hitting the ground sounds like luggage) glancing back to see Judy, laying on the sidewalk. I roll towards a building wall to stop with my hands. How do you stop roller blades?

The debutantes?!

Judy...after the fall. Me. After the fall.

Debutantes who know how to stop...

The "debutant" group of 1,000's were too far ahead to help us, as we both wondered, "How do you stop in roller blades?!". Not knowing the answer, we put on our shoes, walked back to Bastille and returned the roller blades for another day.

The question remains. How do you stop in roller blades?

Back to Blogging.

"Where have you been? Why did you stop blogging?" my friends want to know.
"I had to take some time to 'reset' my life." I try to explain. "I'm back now."

Back to Blogging. Being in Paris is like floating on Air!

Getting Blown Away in Paris!

If only LIFE had a RESET button.

At times it all gets too complicated, too difficult, too boring, aimless, hectic, stressful, exciting and dull, depressing and hopeful all at the same time.

Peace and Calm gets clouded over. I RESET.

Now, Peace and Calm have returned.

I'll blog backwards a few weeks to fill in the missing dates (for the sake of those asking where have I been and what I've done during the cloudy rainy days.)

Do you ever wish Life had a RESET button?
Back to blogging is part of my Peace and Calm after the RESET.

Bastille Day Fireworks at the Eifel Tower.

Every year, Adrian plans a Bastille Day picnic in the afternoon on the lawn of Champ de Mars facing the Eiffel Tower. Today's rain cancelled the afternoon picnic, and it stopped just long enough for the grass to dry, allowing everyone to enjoy the amazing fireworks in the evening.

Walking to the Champ de Mars.

On the way to the Fireworks.

(Muslim women and what they wear in the streets of Paris is a whole other blog!)

Waiting for the Show.

Looking back at the crowd.

...and the show begins. (my attempt at video below)

Wish you all were there to see this live.

(Memories of Last Year below)



Adrian and Me.
Last Year 2009 Bastille Day.