28 octobre 2020
- Si la première semaine fut consacrée au rattrapage du décalage horaire, le début de la deuxième semaine aura été consacrée à une courte virée en Champagne et une visite du chateau de Versailles.
- If the first week was devoted to catching up with jet lag, the beginning of the second week will have been devoted to a short trip to Champagne and a visit to the Chateau de Versailles.
- La cathédrale de Reims, juste avant le couronnement de Susan.
- Reims Cathedral, just before Susan’s coronation.
- Découverte par Susan du Sourire de Reims
- Discovery by Susan of the famous Smile of the Reims Cathedral.
- Et lors du Dîner au restaurant dans la vieille ville de Troyes, pour faire suite au couronnement de Susan, le Père JL se prend pour un prélat.
- And during the Dinner at the restaurant in the old town of Troyes, to follow the coronation of Susan, Father JL takes himself for a prelate.
- Dans la file d’attente pour visiter le chateau.
- In line to visit the Chateau de Versailles.
- La Galerie des Glaces où fut signé le criminel traité de Versailles qui ponctua la fin de la Grande Guerre et débuta la Deuxième Guerre Mondiale.
- The Hall of Mirrors where the criminal Treaty of Versailles was signed. It marked the end of the Great War and started the Second World War.
- Susan rêve-t-elle d’installer un tel lit dans notre nouvel appartement.
- Does Susan dream of installing such a bed in our new apartment.
()
Ce matin ma félinophilie n’a pas été récompensée : la petite chatte blanche a humé le morceau de lard que je lui tendais, elle l’a simplement ignoré.
A Marigot, nous sommes passés devant “Chez Martine”, elle était absente.
La plage de Baie Rouge nous avait été recommandée pour l’observation des poissons. Le voilier, en haut à gauche de la photo, montre que les ravages d’Irma restent particulièrement présents.
Les ruines du petit restaurant de plage le confirment.
To find the place, we just had to follow the crowd bound to the sanctuary.
But is Jim Morisson the only one you should pay a tribute to? Of course not.
While we are in a remembrance moment, let us pay a tribute to the non French who fought, with courage, in France, to save Liberty and Democracy.
First stop.
The second stop is more emotional.
Susan loves art, so we made a stop in Barbizon. Please note that even the Post Office is Art.
Art did I say?
Probably yes.
Barbizon is not far from Fontainebleau famous for its Château built by François I (pronounce François Premier). Here Napoleon abdicated the first time in April 1814.
Back to Paris for a last walk before Susan returns to Florida. 
Of course a last fine lunch in our Tuxedo like attire.
As a final smile, a forbidden picture.
Along the right bank of the river Seine, East of Paris was a large estate dedicated to wine trade. By the end of the fifties, the area was reassigned: on the left bank a Science University, on the right bank, a park. Vanessa, my daughter and Salomé met Susan for a discovery of the park.
Sculptures, ponds decorate the park.
As everywhere in this world, shopping booths pop. Some elements of the previous architecture remain, so do the rails of the train that moved the goods around.
Last year, Susan discovered China Town, we had a dinner at this restaurant.
On the way to the restaurant, we ran into one of the 
Paris tries to keep the original artefacts, here an Art 
A promise was made to Susan a long time ago: a visit to the Musée Picasso. Here we are enjoying, on the ground floor, a common exhibition Calder-Picasso.
As we left the Picasso Museum, we ran into a feather covered bike.
As we were hungry, in the Plaetzl of Paris, the Jewish quarter, we made an attempt to enjoy Fallafel. The lines were too long, we gave up hoping to find another place.
During our search, a Rabbi asked me if I was Jewish and if I had done my daily 
Facing the restaurant was a shop named “The Trouser”, the motto of the shop is
The first one is a famous Gay shop.
The second one is the world famous 
Paris is not exempt of vandalism.
Neither is the suburb of American invasion. We had to shop in the only COSTCO in France.
On Saturday, a visit to the market where we bought Shrimps to prepare Flambé with Pastis for lunch and scalops for tomorrow.
You may have the Greatest Pinocchio, we have the Greatest Flea Market.
An example of weird way to spend money: a toy for 20k$.
A booth more in line with Susan’s point of focus (desires).
After grazing for over two hours, the stomachs cried famine.
On the way back to the Metro, we ran into the French equivalent of Big Bird, a thing named 
A first for Susan and me, a ride in the Tramway.
Last but not least, I tried to activate the speed trap an X-Ray Kodak machine.
The week had begun with a visit to the Louvre.
Unfortunately we were not able to reserve the Louvre for a private visit. Susan had to share.
I know, this number 73 rue de Vaugirard does not ring a bell for you.
As we were in the Montparnasse area, we paid a tribute to the great men (and women too) burried in the Montparnasse Cemetery. For stupid reasons we missed the 100th Anniversary of Citroën, the car manufacturer, not stopping by the founder’s grave would have been an insult to his memory.
Some graves of unknown wealthies are overly Baroque. This one does not lack an ounce of bad taste.
Most Cemeteries have a Jewish quarter, Montparnasse has at least four.
Here a famous film maker, 
Talking about love, sorry LOVE, this deserves an Upper Case, the most famous couple of French intellectuals, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre.
We went to l’Orangerie where Monet’s Water Lillies are on a permanent display. 
In the lower part of the building another exhibit was waiting for us.
This modern abstract painting by 
Soutine was also part of the exhibit that included, but not only, Matisse, Renoir…
We left the Orangerie for, as Bankrupt Pinocchio would say, the most touristy picture in the Galaxy: from le jardin des Tuileries the alignment of la Concorde, les Champs Elysées and l’Arc de Triomphe.
Saturday was dedicated to my perversion, Arts and Technologies. This Museum hosts a collection of technological objects such as clocks, measuring standards, communication equipments, mechanical devices, looms (I just discovered this word) and technological cathedrals that will never be number crunching again.
Here a 
Here motor boats have only one engine and the power is usually under 100HP.
Family reunion, here the cousins are almost at full count, one only is missing.
On both sides of the big pond, such a gathering means FOOD!
Took a day off on our own to visit the Marais de 
After a light lunch, we rented a row boat for the afternoon. A nice and slow way to discover this rather well preserved area.
Two hours of rowing in an undisturbed, silent environement.
Nice encounters, here a Kingfisher.
By the end of the trip, a local needed to talk to some one, we happened to be around.
Susan was promoted to additional Grand-Ma with the bottle duty.
Before leaving and returning to Paris, we were offered a Flute concert by Salome. 
This week end a visit to the 100 years of Citroën. I had registered from Florida in March and hoped to be among the happy visitors of the event.
On Saturday, to calm down, we met with my long time buddy for a appeasing moment.
But happilly, my Seattle buddies made it to my future new home.
For them it was a short stop on their way back to Germany.
After a nice walk along the board walk, we deserved a light lunch in the Old Harbor. The tower behind identifies the city.
Made it too late after lunch to visit the “Marché couvert” from the second half of the XIX century. 
La Rochelle is an important harbor. During WW II, the Germans set up a
On the way back home, our attention was caught by a statue impersonating a game.
Ok easy, BaseBall, you got it right. Boucaneers is the name of the team.
It was low tide and the boats were sitting in the mud, so as a public service,
To end the day, Susan prepared a light diner.
Even though we made it late, they provided us with a pair of well maintained bicycles.
The boss convinced us to make an attempt to the “Phare des Baleines”, the Whales Lighthouse.
We are on our way.
A pit stop at a salt production site. And they sell it.
This is the sales booth. Pick your choice, pay at the piggy bank. Your honesty is challanged.
Around Mid-Way, we decided to stop for a short feeding break. Do not be fooled, the oysters got a pint of local Rosé.
Susan wondered if Vines carried grapes.
After returning the bikes, exhausted we crashed for a drink before driving back home in La Rochelle.
Susan enters Postal 2.0, she writes post cards, adds stamps and hands the result to the French counterpart of USPS. Guess what, this old fashion way of communication still works.
After the operative back office, the front entrance.
On our way to our first stage, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, we visited the covered market that offers a wide choice of fish, meat and of course cheese.
Delicatessen and ready to enjoy catering.
And of course locally produced oysters.
Museum closed for major structural repairs. Not advertised anywhere.
So we visited a substitute option, the 
By the end of the afternoon, I spotted my boat in the old harbor. It has my name on it.
Here is the proof. BTW, in Hebrew “Saba” means Grand-Pa and this is the way my grand-children call me. Is it a sign?
On the way back I discovered a superb Japanese tree that requires heavy maintenance in term of triming.
Nothing visual worth showing, but worth visiting. Here the tug boat.
The city of La Rochelle gathers a superb collection of real sail boats, perfectly maintained in operating condition. A dream.
Even though the heat wave is coming to an end, the water fountains offer a welcomed cool moment.
Susan was wondering why they did not cut the SunFlowers to sell them.
On the way to Les Moutiers en Retz, we stopped at 
After crossing the straight by the bridge, we stopped in Noirmoutiers en l’Ile.
Susan’s natural attraction for shopping led her into this beautiful shop.
The shop is named Athmosphere. Every time the word “Athmosphere” is heard, the French people refer to a well known scene where a pimp lets his women down.
The famous Lanterne des Morts in Les Moutiers en Retz. This light house dates back from the XII century and is lit when a resident dies and remains lit until he is burried.
It is time to cross the river Loire. No bridge but a free ferry.
It is time to board for a five minute crossing.
Susan’s first ferry trip ever. Let’s celebrate.This will be the focus of the evening spent with my nephew’s family.
Made it to our destination at noon time. Violette celebrated our arrival with a Great First, she started her first non bottle meal. Semi success, after the initial try, the bottle was welcome.
Susan is in charge of Baby Sitting Violette.
In the mean time, the boys are having fun.
After lunch and the necessary nap, a walk along the beach.
Upon returning home, before a family BBQ, a call to the US.
Nineteen people around thee tables. A nice final stop to this week 5.
Low cloud cover, cool tempatures, making it to the col du Port.
This is to prove that we made it.
Another picture to prove we made it to Biarritz. Could not escape the standard picture.
Marie & Philippe drove us around the area.
A typical architecture of the Hinterland of the Pays Basque.
Here a remainder of the Old Europe when, before the European Union, borders tried without any success to slow commerce and people migrations.
Here with Marie, our right foot is in Spain, the left one in France.
An evening at Saint Jean de Luz for a doubble game of Cesta Punta.
Could not escape a meeting with the local Mascott.
A day in Spain at San Sebastian or Donostia depending if you feel Spanish or Basque.
A walk on the sea side, Susan and Marie along the sea, Philippe and I remaining on the Broad Walk.
We had to explain that thirst was about to create a pair of Widows. Message heard.
Therefore the mandatory first pit stop, just after the walk, was at the restaurant on the harbor.
Marie succesfully convinced us to climb the hill where in the Fort overlooking the pass to the Bay. No lift, no chopper but feet, sweat and pain.
On the other hand the view from above was worth the pain.
I told you it was a Fort. Tried to load the gun and check if the second Amendment makes sense here.
The public, Marie and Philippe, cheer the performance.
On the way down we met a local.
Before our final evening destination, we stopped at the 
Susan made it to the top quite exhausted.
I was the only one able to plant the flag of Victory.
We needed to refuel the tanks. A sea food platter offered the required relief.
DONE! No prisoners, no doggy bag. Head for the last stop of the day in Bordeaux.
Susan is kind of disappointed, had to find an activity to restore her smile.
The usual suspect, a sea food platter was the obvious solution.