Day 30, December 12, 2015

Today we visited Napoleon's Tomb,

and the Paris sewer system.  The big balls are used to clean debris from the pipes.  Brad and I are doing our best Indiana Jones imitation.

This is one of only two had stations I have seen in Paris.  Gas was about $6/gallon.

Day 29, December 11 , 2015

Sharon and Brad arrived yestrday at noon.  We  started the day with a walk up the Champs Elyses.

These costumes had something to do with the Climate Conference.  Entertaining.

We walked around until dark and then took a ride on the ferris wheel at Concorde Place.

These are the great views from the ferris wheel.  We got three full circles in about 30 minutes.

Day 28: December 10, 2015

The last two days I had some nice weather and some very long walks.  Two highights shown below:

First, a view of an elevated rail line converted to a walking path on top, with shops installed in the archways.  Bus stop shelter is reflective on the right.

Second, in one of the last two cemetaries in Paris city limits are the graves of many famous people, including Oscar Wilde.  There is a long tadition of women planting freshly lipsticked kisses on his grave stone.  Acids in the liptick were causing deteriration of the headstone, so the plexiglass barrier was installed (by the Irireland Government, which maintains the overeas gravestones offamous Irishmen).

The last photo shows older lip marks from before the installation of the barrier.

Even with a map finding specific graves can be difficult.  I need to go back.

None of these are my markings!!!!!!!!

Day 26: The High Point of any Paris Visit (12/8/2015)

The highest land in Paris is the Monte Marte. which is topped by the Sacre Coeur (sorry for the poor spelling).  Lots of tourists, vendors and street performers.

The Sacre Coeur basilica at sunset.

Lenticular rail to the top.  Best $2 I ever spent!

Next three photos are of a building that was under construction the last time I was in Paris 8 years ago.  Fancy mall, convention center, etc.

Night photos of the Louvre entrance and the Ferris wheel.

Approaching the Sacred Coeur at sunset.

Why do some street vendors display their water on a piece of rectangular cloth with a string on each corner?  I'll give the answer when I have a photo to show why.

I continue to pose as a native Parisian.  Last night a woman asked me how tto find Blvd Sevastapol, and I could actually help her.  Amazing.

Day 23: Christmas is Coming (December 5, 2015

There is a 'black Friday' in Paris even though they have no Thanksgiving holiday here.  It's amazing how much American culture shows up overseas, even in Franco centric Paris.  Ttry to name a French food chain America (sorry, Au Bon Paine is an American chain).  In Paris there are many McDonalds and KFCs, and a few BKs.  And a lot of cafes advertise serving burgers.  Its easy to find someone who speaks English as second language, but imagine the Frenchman who does not speak English looking for directions in America.

So Parisians have started their Christmas season.  I see signs in shops that hours will be reduced before and between the holidays.  Streets and shops are decorated, ad shown below.  I'll post some pics of the big stores shop windows later, which attract crowds at all hours.

Temporary vendor stalls neat Toulerie Gardens, hundreds of them, only for Christmas.  Very festive atmosphere, although they mostly sell ready to eat foods and cheap imported goods.  There are a few specialty or regional food sellers, like shellfish from Normandy or holiday cheeses and chocolates.

Shops across from the Louvre.

There was high security at this fancy hotel during the start of the Climate meetings.  But they also had Christmas decorations.

Day 21: Trapped Like a Rat! (12/03/15)

Traveling light means I don't have a lot of spare replacement items.  One rain jacket, one fleece jacket, one pair of shoes.  I hope each item lasts the trip, but if not I'll get it repaired or replaced.  That's the plan for now.

Then I ran into a problem of language and planning.  I attempted to do my first load of laundry in my apartment.  The apartment is equipped with a small combination washer/dryer.  It has French labels and a French cheat sheet, all of which are a puzzle to me.

I managed to get the machine started, but I could not get it spin dry or heat dry the load.  I was stuck with dripping wet clothes in December in Paris.  Very frustrating.  I looked on line but all I found were manuals in other languages.  It took many tries, but I eventually figured the washer had stopped for me to add softener and hit start again.  Now I can do laundry in France!

Actually, I have used coin operated laundries here before, so I always had that backup option.  No worries, but its nicer to do laundry in house.

I apologise for all the recent typos on the blog.  I have been using the touch screen pad on Chuck, which is small and error prone.  The small keyboard I brought with me is terrible as keys stick or don't register.  I am expecting delivery of a new full sized keyboard this week.

No pics this time because who wants to see a photo of an appliance?

Day 19 (12/01/15): Guess Who Dropped By?

I walked by the theatre where some of the November 12th attacks occurred.  Lots of people, lots of security around.  Very somber.

Around 10 p.m. I was walking home when I started to notice traffic along the Siene River's left bank was getting lighter than usual.  Then I saw the police blocking off the side streets and telling bicyclists to stay on the sidewalk.  Then everything was eriely quiet for the center of Paris.

I hung out by the road for 15 minutes before the big payoff: President Obama's motorcade sped by, with the expected police and press part of the parade.  I tried to take pictures but they went by too fast.  If I were thinking ahead it would have made a good movie clip.  By the flags on the President's Cadillac the French President was in the car also.  I deduce from their timing and direction they were headed to American compound and/or the French President's residence, which are near each other.

The next day I did a long walk and got some Paris life photos.  The big Ferris wheel is around until January, then it is disassembled and moved outside Paris.  They say of takes two days to take down.  I hope to ride it soon.

The rows of bikes are a common sight here, a program where you can borrow a bike and leave it elsewhere.  I plan to get a bike rental pass for my last month in Paris.  One problem with the bike sysytem is that bad evening commuting weather causes bikes to overflow in the office areas because commuters will take a bus, subway or train home when its too cold or wet to ride the bike.  I've seen bike system vehicles redistributing bikes around Paris late at night.

The last photos are of a light show on the assembly building by an activist group.  Lots young people handing out leaflets or collecting signatures on the sidewalks every day.