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.

Feeling "Almost" French at Cafe Le Zimmer

Carol always picks the most wonderful cafes in Paris to meet for coffee. Today we met at Cafe Le Zimmer, and even though the weather was perfect and most of the Parisians were sitting outside, she insisted we sit inside to experience the ambiance. As the ambiance embraced me, I felt "almost" French chatting over our afternoon coffee.

I've walked past Cafe le Zimmer several times before, and even had my first coffee "date" with Pierre here 2 years ago, but it was summer then, we sat outside and I never knew that he had invited me to such a beautiful cafe.

Surrounded by beauty.

Carol and Me.

Feeling "Almost" French.

I'm not sure if Cafe Le Zimmer is a tourist trap or not, but it definitely feels comfortable, friendly and very French.

Sharing the Beauty of Paris.

One day I got an idea to put my fingers in front of the camera lens to touch the beauty of Paris.
If I could, I would pick up the beautiful pieces of Paris and bring them home to share with others. I'd share them all over America.

I'd borrow the tower to put on display, one week at at time in each major U.S. City.

(I'd bring it back to Paris of course).

I'd Scoop up a handful of the River Seine and sprinkle it like rain across America.

I'd borrow Notre Dame and let everyone walk up to the bell tower for FREE!

I'd even borrow Pont Neuf to share with Louisiana and other small towns that could use a bridge.

Everyone should experience the joy of viewing the Medieval architecture of Palais de Justice.

If I could, I would share the real beauty of Paris with everyone.