Papera Gialla va Napoli

The duck is in Naples and your are not. Sorry about your luck. I have heard about the weather in Klumbus and elsewhere. I was out in a light sweater today. Nya nya (quack?)

Unfortunately for me my luggage is still in Rome. Score: Alitalia 2, the duck 0. It is due this evening at the hotel. If it doesn't arrive I will have to buy some clothes and such. Next time I won't check luggage. I have become trusting because it has been a long time since my stuff was delayed. There is such a long list of contraband for carry-on that I decided to check my bag. A less frugal (read "cheap") traveler would just buy what he needs at his destination. On the return trip delayed or lost baggage is less of a problem as I have all I need at home. I've become complacent.

I've decided to abandon this blog, the Alaska trip and Camino de Santiago, and return to Lachan Bui.
which can be found at; http://lachanbui.blogspot.com/.

I'm new to this blogging and this is apparently the preferred protocol.

souvenirs

I have not offered to bring back any souvenirs this trip. There is a reason. I will be packing a few rounds of Camembert cheese. Everything in my luggage will smell like feet, albeit the feet of angels. The one Harley Davidson Bastille t-shirt should have an appropriate air. For everything else there is immediate laundry.

The Duck airs an opinion.

Thoughts

Food at the street markets in Paris is priced in Euros per Kilo, not Dollars per Pound and the description is in French. Try to keep this sorted out while assuring he doesn't place his thumb on the scale.

On a mild day along the Seine you will occasionally encounter a woman sufficiently beautiful as to momentarily stop your heart. (So far it has restarted reliably)

Camembert cheese smells like "The feet of angels".

French bread. Why doesn't anybody in Klumbus make it the right way? (Okay, I know the answer, because it only stays fresh for about 4 hours. Klumbus bread is good for at least two weeks.)

Running and bicycling are social activities. You can carry on a conversation while doing either. Motorcycling, even with friends, requires that you "Be happy in your head" as you close out the rest of the world when you don your helmet.

"Anything worth doing is worth overdoing" Mick Jagger

So says the Duck

Yesterday I went for a very long walk to La Defense. I discovered that all the fuss about the Grand Arch and all goes back to a monument commemorating the defense of Paris from the Prussians in 1870-71. There is a gimungous shopping center there. I've never been to Mall of the Americas but this has to be on that scale.
Because of the narrow streets and very tight parking it is unusual to see a car towed. This driver's offense must have been severe!
Part of my walk today was to observe river conditions. This was the first truly seasonal day since I've been here! The snow is melting and there must have been a lot of it upstream. When the Zouave has wet feet the river is in full flood. He has only about half a meter of freeboard. Some of the river cruises as well as Batobus have suspended operations.
I've taken a lot more pictures but don't want bore anyone. The weather was tolerable but too cold to go running in. Tomorrow I will try to run with the Hash. Monday most of the museums are closed and Tuesday I fly home so this trip is pretty much over. If I have any notable adventures I will report them.

Quack! said the Duck

Today I went for a walk. Again. The temperature was still about 33 degrees but the sun was shining. I stopped at perhaps the best ice cream shop in Paris. Certainly the most expensive. I had two scoops of Chocolate Noir (Black Chocolate ice cream). They were very small scoops but well worth the extravagant price. My Seasonal Affected Disorder was momentarily in check. This is perhaps the best ice cream shop in Paris. It is on Isle St Louis.
Today I walked routes I have done many times. The sun made a welcome addition to every view. This view of Tour St Jacque is better than most. The church that was associated with this bell tower was the starting point for many on the Camino De Santiago. I direct your attention to
Quack!

Walk walk walk Espresso, repeat.

Yesterday and today I did some serious walking. My legs were sore at the end of both days. I would have accomplished the same in years past by running for an hour in the morning. The temperatures are not conducive to that. My favorite venues are muddy too.


Here is an amusing monday morning phenomenon. The green ball is a receptacle for bottles. When it fills up, as it is prone to do over the weekend, the environmentally conscious (and conscientious) drunks pile the excess bottles around it.
Here is a sculpture next to Eglesie St Eustacie. The church is one of my favorites. It was built in `1223, about the same time as Notre Dame. In some ways it is better preserved than Notre Dame. I've no explanation for the sculpture. It must have something to do with Le Halles, the underground shopping center which is beneath it.
The snow is an indication of the weather we've had. It started out cold and grey then after few hours the snow began. I was admiring the Christmas lights at Printimes and Galleries La Fayette when the sidewalks became "Slicker 'n snail snot". I walked on for an hour or so then gave up and took the Metro to my room.

This is the coldest November in my fifteen years of spending the month here.

The Duck

The morning after

No pictures with this post, alas!

I had such a good time at the party last night I didn't get to bed until about 3:00. The food was exceptional and there was a lot of champagne and wine. I may have made a date with an attractive British woman. As soon as I have renewed my membership at the Circle National de Armees I shall call her and see if she would like to have lunch or dinner at the French "Army Navy Club". Rather impressive in my opinion.

Today I had lunch with a Sri Lankan friend. His first two choices of restaurant were closed so we tried his third. He seems to know everyone involved in food service in Paris! He is an interesting fellow.

Life is tough here in Paris!

I'm still
The Duck

H3 Xmas dinner

The Hash House Harriers had a christmas dinner. In typical Hasher fashion it was "Rude Crude and Socially Unacceptable". We all had a great time. I had to leave early as the Metro stops running at about 0100 hours. Alas!There was dancing and other misbehavior. Next time I will bring a tie. The dress code specified "Something from the nice side of your closet". When you travel "Carry on only", you have only one side to your closet. I still had a great time and was not too under dressed.
As ever,

The Duck

I've been chastised severely for not posting more often. I just haven't a lot to say!

Here is a photo of a new traffic sign in Paris. This is a one way street for cars with a bike lane that runs counter. Something more for the pedestrians to watch for when crossing the street!
For the last two days i have been wandering the 16th Arrondissment more or less lost. I prefer to do that. I find new things that way.

This is a TESLA. It is an electric car produced in the US. This is the first one I have actually seen...on George V (Shorge Sank)...in Paris! Go figger!
This is a replica of the flame on the torch on the Statue of Liberty. It is not a monument to Princess Diana who died in the underpass beneath it. It was here long before she bit the big one. The tour guides would have you believe otherwise.
This is an interesting building on Avenue Rapp.
Okay, this says but does not mean "Privy" The toilet is behind the adjacent door!
In my wanderings through the "City of Lights" I stumble on a few interesting sights. I hope you enjoy my experiences as much as I do. I wish to add "IT IS COLD!" (Shouting intended)

I remain,
The Duck

A subfreezing walk through Paris

Yesterday, as I was walking past the Invalides I saw this Citroen truck. I think it is about 50 years old.
I continued on to Luxembourg Gardens. There was a photo exhibit on the northeast fence of the garden. It was of views from train windows over the past hundred years or so. A few were interesting. Some were complete with sound effects.

I then went into the garden to see if the pond was frozen. I am intrigued by the little houseboat for the ducks!
I continued on to St Sulpice and then to St Etienne du Mont. I just like these churches and I had an hour to kill before the Irish Center opened. I then went to the Irish Center to see their exhibit. Photos of the Peat Bogland of central Ireland were rather dismal. There were a couple that appealed. Then I went to the Natural History Museum to see the gardens.

Monet painted something like this. I did it in a picosecond and there are no brushmarks!
FedEx has a very small presence in Paris.
And it was very cold in Paris.

Duck out.