PARIS

First get to apologize:

I never wanted to go to France, particularly Paris.  I only wanted - if possible - to somehow fly into Normandy Beaches, visit the cemetery, think about the human loss on every side of me, pay respect to all that lost their lives or their bodies or their futures, walk the beach, and just think.  But that was not to be - to get to Normandy I HAD to go to France; I HAD to go to Paris!  Damn!

I had heard about how nasty the French were if you didn't speak their language - and my high school French was at its best, horribly embarrassing.  I heard how rude the French were - pushing you out of the way as you walked, ignoring you awful Americans in restaurants and such.  How dirty the streets were to be.  Just a atrocious country, city, environment and culture.  Just why submit oneself to such punishment?

Well:

We went by boat: Viking Tours.  As usual, the boat,  cabins, service, views, stops and meals were superb!   The France I saw from the boat and when I walked thru the streets was clean, colorful and inviting.   Everyone I met was open, friendly, supplementing my "French" with their English as often as not, and made us feel welcomed and at home.  I'll never forget the small towns, the beautiful homes, gardens and streets, and the baker who, speaking no English, none-the-less welcomed me into her shop, showed me her baked goods, invited a taste, and when I asked to take a picture, quickly fled to the rear of the bakery to bring out two fresh baguettes to hold for the picture - rude indeed!

Then Paris.  Our guide there, Lofti Zoughlami, was an absolute jewel.  He arranged walking tours, detailed how to get to all parts of Paris via the subway, and told us of two very small restaurants (each maybe seating 10 -12 ) he felt were special - and they were not special; they were extraordinary.  Yes, the streets were crowded, and one might have to watch where one walked - just like D.C., Baltimore or New York.   However, unlike said cities, the streets were clean.  In restaurants the waiters adopted you.  They knew the menus and helped you select, knew when you need help and when to stay away, and give a hand shake or a hug when you left.   The museums were everything you could possible expect, and then held more surprises.  The neighborhood were, in fact, neighborhoods; each with a major building at each end, nod each seemingly with its own architecture and personality.

Paris is beautiful!  We will return!  Yes, "I  would love Paris in the Spring time."

The Eifel Tower was much more than I expected, regardless of the pictures, movies, travelogues on television and war documentaries I've seen.  There's nothing I can say to prepare you for it; BUT wait until the lights at lighted at night- on each hour.  And don't eat at the restaurant on the top unless you're ready to drop several hundred dollars.

And Normandy.   No words can describe the feeling.  I was privileged  to place a rose on a grave of an unknown American.  I walked the bloody beach, stood below the deadly cliffs, saw the beach from the bunkers - you must experience this place!

~~~~~~~~~