Paris Notes for June 6

We were surprised to find this cheese in the store.

QUIZ: What type of cheese is this? (Answer at the bottom)





It's been a busy week with our daughter Adrianne over here in Paris with us. She flew back yesterday(Thursday the 5th), and thanks to an almost-two-hour delay in Chicago, she arrived home 21 hours after her plane left Paris. Her flights were crazy, both coming and going: she flew west from Boise to SFO to then fly east to Paris. Going home she flew east from Paris to Munich to then fly west to Chicago and then to Boise. I booked them for her, and those flights were the best available flights! Here is a photo of her standing on Point Zero in front of Notre Dame Cathedral; the point from which all distances in France are measured.

The rose windows (North on left and South on right) inside Notre Dame Cathedral are truly spectacular. The photos that we mere mortals take are no comparison to those in the books you purchase.

The eastern-most bridge connecting Ile de la Cite to the Left Bank is the Pont de l'Archeveche. Although this isn't the most famous bridge for the locks on it, it is certainly replete with thousands of them.Two people in love write their names and the date on the lock, attach it to the bridge (or another lock if there's no space) and then throw the keys into the water, thereby pledging undying love.

I call the photo on the left "The Writer and the Movie Star" -- looks like it, doesn't it? I have my French facial hair beginning to blossom, plus my new beret. The writer is there in Paris having a beer along with the young woman, scarf around her neck, and wearing sunglasses -- she MUST be a movie star. Quite French, quite chic; don't you agree?



For our last night together, we went out to the local Irish pub -- Cork and Cavan, It's sort of like the TV show Cheers, where everyone knows your name. And they speak English! Quite naturally, we had an Irish Coffee, expertly prepared by Richard, who hails from New Zealand! It was a great evening, but then we had to go back so she could pack for her trip back to home. We're certainly glad she was able to visit us, and I'm certain she took lots of memories home with her!

Did you know what type of cheese that was at the top? If you said "Swiss cheese," don't feel bad. That is what we've been told in the USA -- it, of course, is Emmental, and the package says it is of French origin. It's like the breads here; you don't ask for "French bread." it's ALL French bread here in Paris!

Today June 6th is the 70th anniversary of D-Day; we've seen tour groups and veterans in the city, and most will be going to the Normandy beaches today and this weekend in celebration and in memory. If you or a loved one is in, or was ever in, the military service -- THANK YOU!

We're almost one-third of the way through our two-month stay in Paris, and it gets better every day! I hope that you have a great day, a great weekend, and a fantastic summer wherever you are, wherever you will be going, and with everyone you met along the way. After all, life is more about the journey than the destination!

Au revoir!

Stuart (and Darlene)

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