Bastille Day

I awoke this morning to a view I will never forget. Marseilles – what an amazing place – what a stunning coastline. We arrived last night well after midnight after taking the TGV from Paris into Marseilles. We have come for the wedding of Olivier and Frederique in Cassis, France. I am thrilled to be here with Steve, who has turned out to be a perfect gentleman and a wonderful friend for the rest of my life. I adore him – the little things that make him unique, and the fact that he takes longer in the bath than I do…so a little patience is needed as I really have to pee!!!!
We will have an easy morning before heading over to pick up our car and drive along the coastline to the neighboring town of Cassi. I can only imagine the beauty this day will hold. I cannot imagine it topping the view from our hotel room this morning. It literally took my breath when I pulled the curtain back.

Travel Journal
Marseilles – July 14, 2006

Diary about a Madman

Today I saw the best-looking man I have ever seen in my life. He looked like Charlton Heston in the Ten Commandments. He had beautiful hair and the bluest eyes. They were cobalt.

He was sitting on the corner of the Porte Maillot with some bags at his feet. He was looking at me intently and speaking words I did not understand…words in French.

He was a homeless man, and the corner he sat on was home. As he kept speaking and looking at me, I recognized the look of schizophrenia. He was the most handsome madman in the world.

It made me wonder what his life had been like before the onset….

Travel Journal
Paris – July 13, 2006

That Old Black Magic....

It is really harder to determine which I will remember long after leaving Paris this time – will it be the moon that flirted with me each night, or the lesson in patience and letting people have their time to become comfortable with you.

I am missing writing my thoughts on my blog. More and more each day I think about how much I would like to express something to myself, or think again in a metaphor, but I think it is better this way, to live the life rather than just writing about it all the time or dreaming about it in my head.

We had an amazing dinner on Monday L’Atlier Du Joel Robichon – have to work on the spelling later on, but it was the first time I felt close to Steve tonight and so happy in his company. We had Basil ice cream which was amazing and he well took care of me.

After dinner we rode his bike to the top of Montmartre and looked at the city in the moonlight. That big ol’ full moon casting a glow over my favorite city. I held on tightly as we tore off down the hill for home, laughing over the bumpy cobblestone streets on the way to the Seine. Steve stopped his bike at the Eiffel Tower – 2:00 a.m. and it was sparkling in lights – he said it was France’s way of welcoming be back. Perfect.

Travel Journal
Paris - July 11, 2006

J'Arrive

I arrived in Paris this morning, a bit ahead of schedule. My partner for the flight over was a quiet man who looked a bit like a 18th Century writer. It turns out, that he is an architect, quite renowned for his work – and fresh from consulting on a project in Chile. He teaches in the states as well at such notable universities as Georgia Tech, Harvard and Princeton to name a few. He lives in Paris and is widowed now for 25 years. He has a daughter that attends Vanderbilt in the States and he misses her terribly. As we left the plane, he wished me a wonderful stay in his city and a safe journey back home.

The weather was overcast and it was early, as we arrived around 6:00 a.m. – much too early for the standing in the long line at immigration. I was so pleased to see my friend and collected a hug from him as we made our way along to the parking area and the short ride to have a coffee in the 16th, my favorite of all the Arrondissements. Café crème and a croissant were on order as we caught up with what we had done since we saw each other last in Barcelona. The rain began to fall in a soft pattern along the street as we sat in an open doorway and took in the fragrance. “I am in Paris again”, I thought to myself as I looked into the eyes of my wonderful company.

A five minute drive later brought us to Steve’s apartment in Neuilly Sur Seine and I look up as we passed my friend Frederique’s apartment on the corner of the Port Maillot and I wondered if he was home or traveling again. I thought of his cousin and the last time I was in Paris as a part of this band of family…so funny how a year changes things.

The apartment is beautiful, awash in white with a fireplace in the dining room and a wonderful kitchen, so large for Paris standards. I love it here, especially the large windows that cover the front, affording views of rooftops and trees.

I am off to take a nap and then scoot off for lunch before preparing for the World Cup Final match tonight……I am hoping for a win for France.

Travel Journal - Paris
July 10th

Prickly Pear

I was speaking with my mom on the phone last night, and she told me I was a bit of a "Prickly Pear" sometimes.

Mind you, this is not the first time I have heard her say this to me...but it has been the first time in quite a while. I told her it was just because of XY&Z that I was a stinger right now, and she laughed and told me that I was born with this temperament..... Recounting stories from when I was small - and we both laughed when I told her that either she or my daddy then needed to step up and take some responsibility for this as it must have come from one, the other - or a little in both of them!!

Well, sure enough - I was a prickly pear this morning with SvdB when he called to discuss our trip. I will leave out the details, but suffice it to say - he got a bit of me without my coffee and hung up to remove some of those prickles from his skin.....

So I am now sipping my coffee and feeling bad about snapping at him - I guess I could blame my mom and dad and that recessed Prickly gene that made its way to me!! Ha ha ha...((just kidding - do feel bad about being grouchy))..

You all can tell him that it is the exception - and not the NORM that I am grouchy and a butt o.k.!!

xoxo,
Bug