Any sweat young Ladies out there who would like to go with me to revisit the
sites under more independent circumstances please feel free to write me at
nflb@writeme.com Or maybe you would
like to share a few winter weeks with me at my house
on the Gulf of Mexico.
French Cuisine
is nothing to get excited about! Basically they coat any normal food with
dough and turn it into a pastry. The only difference between a hotdog in a
blanket and French cuisine is the french also coat their pastries with a
yellow sauce. I noticed that the meat under the pastry was a bit rancid and
the fish was a bit tough and dry. They think the pastry hides their poor food
and I guess it fills their stomachs when they cannot get enough real food. It
is all enough to make one drink wine to wash it all down.
When eating in Paris it is a chore to fend off the black house flies. Joey
explained that Paris is a slaughter center (like Fort Worth) and the flies
come in on the cattle and then stay to eat the carcasses. Not appetizing
conversation.
France's National Cathedral (Paris)
This is the main Cathedral of France. It is built with "flying arches" to
retain the building walls from bowing out from the weight of the roof. The
eve is lined with gargoyles to remind the faithful of the terror that awaits
those who miss going to church.
Doorway into France's National Cathedral
Just inside and between these doorways is a stone column. On that column is
a plaque the President of France dedicated to the countries who saved France
for Germany in World War I. The six countries respected include Newfoundland,
England, USA, Canada, and Australia. Only reviewing the photos did I notice
the similarity with Cologne's cathedral doors.
Eiffel Tower
What visit to Paris would be complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Indeed
is there anything else worth remembering? Pick pockets were very busy at the
Eiffel Tower and being a Newfoundlander I naturally resented being bumped
into on the elevators. I noticed that some young men and even a young woman
would deliberately bump into older tourists.
View from Eiffel Tower
Behind the Eiffel Tower is an arced set of column lined buildings with a big
fountain towards the river. I remember asking to see those buildings, but I
cannot remember there being any skyscrapers in Paris. I guess skyscrapers are
not worth noting when inundated with the glamor of great old structures.
Fountain beyond the Eiffel Tower
We later went to the massive arcing building and stood before their great
fountains. The was a drought there that Summer so the wind blowing off of
the river was refreshing. Joey quoted some Paris philosopher who opposed a
French law banning bums from sleeping along the river walk with "the law in
it's eminent wisdom bans the rich and poor alike from sleeping by the river."
Perhaps the USA should consider such fairness when they banish their homeless
from U.S. cities.
Buildings in Paris Core
Although classically ordinated, I found the overall architecture to be dreary!
It seemed that even Paris's most ornate palaces were as rectangular as every
other Parisian building. These buildings diverged the most from their standard
rectangular design.
Arc de Triumph
The roads of Paris were straightened by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte so that
French canon could shoot at great length radially from central locations. One
such location is at the Arc of Triumph where many straight roads converge.
Hitler marched his columns through this arc after Paris surrendered and
Parisians came out and saluted their victorious conquerors. Better to appease
than resist. Since World War II ended the torch burning inside the Arc has
never gone out. That torch burns for all who have fallen in combat for France.
Parisian Art
If this is art then Hitler was indeed an artist! Except for one nature
painter most tourist art is below the standard sold in Texas flea markets. My
prime interest there was the woman over my right shoulder. I only now notice
her gothic flat face with poky nose, truly a native Parisian! And the red
scarf around her neck is the style of their upper class. Also they are both
obviously right handed. Whereas I am ambidextrous, were I French, I would
use both hands to talk.
Last Supper
At France's national art gallery. The Malay-Chinese couple were from
Singapore. When the trip started we ate with their large family. They were
very well connected and made sarcastic praise about Newfoundland voting
to join Canada. Joey figured out they knew too much about the referendum and
told me to stay away from them. I thought we should all be friendly. I was
eager to develop friendships with other races and found Joey's instructions
bizarre after his just praising the Chinese in London. It was only at the end
of the tour that the Chinese fellow told me that his father knew a British
diplomat in Singapore who told him all about how Newfoundland's confederation
referendum was rigged and utterly failed to win the majority vote.
Another strange occurence was my well hidden passport being stolen from our
hotel room. Years later when I needed a passport the Canadian embassy said
they had my old passport. I got them to return it, with "INVALID" punched
through it in little holes.
