A weekend in Paris

We arrived in Paris yesterday.  Travel from the Jutland Peninsula to our flat in Saint Mande, France was flawless... kudos to Air France for a smooth flight and early arrival in a downpour at Charles De Galle, and to Blacklane for a super driver who whisked us from baggage claim and avoided nightmare traffic jams on the highways by taking local roads into town.  In the U.S., light rain seems to cause multi-hour delays; European airlines seem to get the job done without excuses.

Sunshine has followed us throughout the trip, but alas, not in Paris.  We are enjoying long, hot showers knowing that we have severe water restrictions when we get home to the Bay Area.  Even so, a little rain can't stop the Parisians from getting out and about.

Today is May Day, and everyone is buying lily of the valley flowers to celebrate. 

There are also of course a the usual public demonstrations about Labor and laws and government... There was a large rally at the Replublique Square north of the Marais, and I think it was more than just labor, but support for the Ukraine.... We've been hearing so much about human rights issues throughout the world, that it's a bit overwhelming to see so much suffering... makes me want to watch more funny animal videos on YouTube.   

We took the Metro north, and just walked through the Marais towards the Seine... Shop windows alone are worth walks through the neighborhoods... Too much to photo and share, but this one reminded me of my Mom so I had to post... 

Paris is all about markets and food, like any good city... We happened on a little passage way that opened up into this amazing market with row after row of proprietors and restaurateurs.... The Moroccan stall was the best... spices and sweets and sauces and cous cous that I just haven't found back home.

When I was four years old, my Uncle Len told me a story that he had seen a street sign with my name on it... I was so thrilled that there was a Bill Street, and he said no, the sign said "one way."  Well, I've never forgotten that and I deny to this day having any obstinate only-child syndrome behaviors!!!  I'm just particular....

And then to hear that the UK may leave the European Union... Oy!  What a blessing the Euro is... We haven't had to change money once in four weeks.  The Euro popped up over 1.10 yesterday, so again, we've been really lucky this trip to have the U.S. Dollar nearly equal to the Euro.

While I love to walk the streets and dream of a bon-vivant life , the locals here find living in Paris a challenge.  It's prohibitively expensive, commutes are long and crowded, and it's always full of tourists... I am grateful for my modest house in a quiet neighborhood on the Bay in sunny Cali...

The BEST falafel is found in the Marais... of course you always have to stand in line, and then wander through the quarter eating this overflowing pita sandwich like everyone else... and the new normal is to find plenty of heavily armed military anywhere there are Jewish monuments, synagogues, and the like... Je Suis Charlie... In the Marais, the Jewish shops are next to the Arab shops and everyone seems content... 

Another favorite is Pierre Herme at St Sulpice with the most sublime macaroons you could ever enjoy...

Buying macaroons at Pierre Herme is like shopping for jewelry... so precious... I said I was going to eat them in the park across the street, but no sir, we can only put 5 in a bag so they do not crush or damage until they are savored!  At €60 per kilo, I suppose they are precious... 

Schleswig-Holstein

Pictures of our day traveling through the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.  Busum, Kiel, Lubeck... 

Our neighborhood... 

Hundreds and hundreds of 20 story tall windmills... The Germans are also big fans of solar; the government incentives make it easy... Too bad America's energy companies are in bed with our government.... 

Busum...  More popular when it's summer...

Much of the area is protected by dikes... Very much like being in the Netherlands...

We are bundled up, the locals are eating ice cream...

German pride...

Terrific meal last night.  The owner shared that according to the locals, their Bavarian menu is like a Chinese Restaurant arrived.

WWII eliminated 80% of Kiel (naval and submarine industry) and almost half of Lubeck.  The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. Situated on the river Trave, it was for several centuries the leading city of the Hanseatic League.  Because of its extensive Brick Gothic architecture, it is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. 

The original gates to the island city of Lubeck...

The original trade warehouses for this ivory ant city... Keep in mind we are talking 13th century...

The devil outside the church... like the one who sits on my left shoulder!

Like in Italy, we continue to see astrological clocks... Before Swiss watches and the world-wide inter web!

Lunch in the back of the car... We've bought dozens of bags in stores these weeks... But do we keep any in the car?  We do at home, guess it's vacation brain....

We see lots of well mannered owners... and their dogs...

And my best present today is a pic of the kids having fun on the beach at home.... Woof!

Wesselburen

After trekking through cities, we decided to take a few days and relax... We arrived in a Wesselburen near the border with Denmark yesterday.  Wesselburen is part of a region very popular in the summer for enjoying the North Sea resorts... In April, it's still chilly and a wee bit rainy... Our house is a century old, very spacious, on the town square, and is perfect for doing nothing.... Although we will go see Lubeck, Kiel, Hamburg one day, and Monday is designated a spa day (massage, thermal baths, etc.)... I wanted to go sky diving but the season opens May 1st and we'll be in Paris.  I popped down to the local bakery at 7am this Sunday morning for fresh baked goods on a misty morning with all the other husbands sent clogging away down the winding streets for fresh breakfast goods... So cool to be a local.... Can you say Chandler and Joey?!!!

Leipzig in Pictures

In my last post, I talked about Leipzig and its history.  Here are the pictures to go with it... The city has always been a major trade center, and the city center is full of these great trade houses and passageways for people to wander through to see all the shops and wares for sale.  The city is also one of music and education.  On Friday night, we went to a Motette at St Thomas church to hear the boy's choir, a treat because they were accompanied by organ music (which I usually don't care for) in a beautifully restored church... and the choir is often touring.  These pictures are a view into the old and the new.

The famous Riquet family trading house...

Passage ways through the trade houses... Our flat was entered via a small foyer within...

Market Square...

Fur trade was hot way back when...

Love the lack of tourists in April!

Mendelson...

Bach...

Wagner...

Old Stasi headquarters.... Which the U.S. Occupied for a month in April 1945...

The monument and church where the revolution for freedom in East Germany began in 1989...

Does this make me look skinny or alien?!

The monument where Napolean was defeated in 1813 by the Prussians, Austrians, Russians, and Swedes... Yup, for a little man, he conquered a lot of Europe...

And for you know who....

What a great time.....