The Paris wrap-up

Ladies, go back to mom and dad's house and find your old clothes, pull out the Z Cavariccis and put them aside for next year. They are all the rage in Europe so they'll be hitting our shores soon enough. Oh, it would be nice if you could find some in a horribly ugly flower print, SUPER STYLING! Guys, if you have any, they may make a comeback for us as well.

Another note for the ladies: just because you're stylish does not mean you're attractive. French women are very stylish but oh brother, they aren't exactly winning any Ms. World competitions. Oh and that little cancer stick dangling out of the corner of your mouth makes you look stupid.

Calves. No, not baby cows but those two wonderful muscle groups below your knee, how come French women don't seem to have any? They walk everywhere, oftentimes in the most ridiculous high heels yet they've got the most shapeless, ugly calves of any group of women I've encountered in my many journeys. Dammit, buy some Sketcher Shapeups or something, PLEASE!

Hey, you there. Yeah, you, guy who has stood for the last 4 stops on the Metro before sitting down next to the blonde.  Don't think she doesn't realize you sat down specifically because she's attractive. You may be French but you're not at all smooth.

I have to give my brother a shoutout for getting me to go the Luxembourg Gardens as they were totally amazing. I've always meant to go there but just never bothered walking the 3, yes THREE, blocks out if my way to get there. The flowers, lawns, fountains, walkways, and buildings were all great. Enjoyable place to eat some Boursin, baguette, and drink some wine. 

Speaking of having a picnic in the middle of the park, Philadelphia needs to relax the open-container laws.  The sheer number of people who would meet in the park,  the public gardens, in the river bank, or any other public space and have a huge picnic with wine, beer, and whatever else people bring was staggering. Old, young, tourists, natives, immigrants, natural-born, it didn't seem to matter. There's something really nice about being able to meet up after work/school for conversation, small food, and a shared bottle or four that I think many would take up in the city's squares and parks. Heck, I'll bring the corkscrew if you're up for it!

Reg mentioned about Paris bein the City of Lights, she failed to mention that at the end if June/beginning of July it is also the City of Perpetual Light. No one told the Big Guy upstairs to turn the lights out. I love Paris, especially at night, but twilight Paris (this trip that lasted until about 11pm) just isn't as pretty.

Let's talk about the sites for just a minute or two.
     Notre Dame: best church in the world as far as I'm concerned. We did mass there twice. Something about the place brings me great peace, which some of you would argue I need a great deal more of. It would've been nice if others did not take pictures in the middle of religious services, it's rude. 

     Eiffel Tower: I'm not sure how long Reg has wanted to see it but everytime a glimpse was caught, she went batty. Well over 100 years later and it is still a sight to marvel, especially lit up. 

     Champs Eleysee: you're much longer than people think. A big change has occurred over the past few years as rents go even higher (is that even possible?) is that there less cafés to enjoy but more shops to buy clothing at.

     Arc de Triomphe: yeah, you won, then you lost, then you won, then lost, and then the Yanks bailed your asses out...TWICE! Still it's a great way to cap of the avenue as well as a good centerpiece of what has to be the nuttiest traffic circle in the world. 

     Louvre: take me to David's "The Oath of the Horatii" and leave me there. Seriously, you could. I enjoy most of his work even though he fell out favor sue to being Napoleon's personal painter, but still think the "Oath" is completely under-appreciated. Go ahead, keep the crowds around the "Coronation of Napoleon", it makes it easier for me to sit in peace and enjoy my painting. Also, did you know there are tons of other paintings in the Italian Renaissance rooms besides te "Mona Lisa"? No? Neither did most of the people there. There's miles of art in this place and people will oftentimes make it out as she's the only thing worth seeing, BAH!

Okay, that's it for now. Next update will be about Brugge (Bruges for the Walloons out there). It may be my favorite place in Europe outside of London.