The long break

For those who follow this blog and have been wondering what has happened to it, I'm happy to say we are back.  Bruce was in the United States for ten days and Virginia was, effectively, computer-less during that time.  So, where did each of us go and what did each of us do?

Bruce flew to Miami Florida to visit three old and dear friends.  The flight was particularly interesting.  The airline was Corsair Air, which is the second largest French airline after Air France.  It is also quite inexpensive with the round trip from Paris to Miami costing about half of what Air France would charge!  One reason for this might be that the airline holds the record for most seats on a passenger aircraft (587 seats, on its Boeing 747-400s), but that isn't nearly as bad as it sounds, since the whole lower deck is actually economy class.  Bruce flew to Miami on an A320 airbus and returned on a 747.We have always joked about wanting to get on board a 747 and turn to the left (first class). Well on the flight from Miami Bruce actually got to turn left only to find more economy class seats! The flights were fine, the food typically airline stuff and the only wine was with the main meal.  For some reason, flying out of Orly rather than Charles de Gaulle was less hectic.  In fact the whole procedure with Corsair seemed faster and more efficient than with other airlines.

Corsair Air

Most of the time on the trip was taken up with visiting friends and reminiscing.  While in Miami, my oldest friend, Barry and I went to one of the wonderful "Everglades" national parks where I tried not to get up too close and personal with the alligators.  I had forgotten how lovely the Spanish Moss was on the trees but have to say that trees seemed, in Miami itself, to be few and far between.  From the air, and on the ground, it is really a concrete jungle.

Parking Lot Warning in Everglades Park

"Never Smile at a Crocodile" or in this case an Alligator

One day we drove over to South Miami Beach, which is where I grew up and went to school.  What used to be a quiet area with a large number of retired people living there has now become a huge resort.  The old hotels, mostly in an Art Deco style have been refurbished and now cater to the "beautiful people."

Miami Beach beachfront

South Beach Art Deco Hotels

Lincoln Road, at the top of South Beach, which has actually been a mall for fifty years was nice with all the outdoor eating places, but I felt a sudden urge to be back in Paris when I passed a stall selling French pastries and baguettes.

Outdoor Dining on Lincoln Road

An outdoor  Boulangerie on Lincoln Road

From Miami I flew on to Tampa and was picked up by a very dear friend and her daughter who drove me to the small community of Safety Harbor and the hotel in which I was staying.  Americans are very good in service industries.  Perhaps this is because the minimum wage is so low and there is such a reliance on tips.  Whatever the reason, service generally is amazing. Again the bulk of my time with Suzanne was spent reminiscing.  Names of people I hadn't thought about in half a century were suddenly in the conversation.  We had several meals out and food is abundant (possibly too much so) and very inexpensive. In a grocery store it is hard to find a steak that is not cut at least an inch thick. I have to say that the area is much nicer than Miami.  One of the effects of the overbuilding in the Miami area is that the Pelicans I remember as being all over the place are no longer there but they are still very common in the Tampa Bay region.

Tampa Bay from the hotel

My final visit was with an old university roommate.  Phil lives in rural central Florida, still another and different area.  Here the thing that was most noticeable was the prevalence of firearms.  When one of the neighbours came over he was wearing a holstered pistol.  Not something you are likely to see in Australia! Phil's daughter and I had some lovely conversations as well.  I had known her when she was about ten years old and it was interesting to see her all these years later. More reminiscing and then back to Safety Harbor for the night before flying to Miami and picking up my return flight to Paris.

Central Florida View

During the time I was away, Virginia stayed in Paris and enjoyed the company of her American friend, Winkie who just happened to be here at the same time. They met at language school five years ago when Winkie and her partner, Sandy were living here permanently.  Following Sandy's untimely death, Winkie returned to the United States but she and Virginia have remained in touch.

One Sunday Virginia and Winkie went to the morning service at the American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity which is situated on the swanky avenue George V.  Both Winkie and Sandy were heavily involved with the Cathedral when they lived here.  The Church has a congregation of approximately 500 people at its Sunday morning service.  The congregation largely consists of Americans living here, in Paris, but there are also some visitors and a number of French people who enjoy the ambience of this English speaking community.

American Cathedral, Paris

Another day Winkie took Virginia to Jardin Albert Kahn which is located in far western Paris near the Bois de Boulogne. The Japanese parts of the garden and exhibitions include an old village, filled with temples, lanterns, stone edged paths, and the contemporary garden, a tribute to Albert Kahn’s life, with azaleas, and streams crossed by stone or timber bridges. Most gardens are pretty at this time of year, but with the Azelias in full bloom and the special exhibition of Bonsai, it was truly remarkable.

Jardin Albert Kahn

Jardin Albert Kahn

Many of you will know that the former food market Les Halles which was one of the great sights of Paris was, some years ago, moved outside the city and the area was converted into a shopping centre and garden. At the time the move of the market was unpopular and controversial and the ensuing shopping centre has since  proved to be a disaster.  It has now closed down and the area is being developed.  Virginia went down to see what was going on and discovered what she described as a bomb site.

Les Halles

Another source of entertainment for Virginia this week has been the erection of scaffolding around the building directly opposite our flat.  We have discovered that municipal law requires that the exterior of all Paris buildings must be cleaned at least once in every fifteen years.  We have always been surprised at how much cleaner the buildings are in Paris than in London.  Finally we understand.  Sitting at the dining room table and looking out was interesting, amusing and educational.  As Virginia commented, "I never thought about scaffolding before - but there is quite an art to this trade."

Scaffolding works across the street

Back in Paris we spent today sorting out travel arrangements with our airline and then went for a leisurely French lunch.  The weather has changed dramatically.  Temperatures in Paris were in the high 20s last week but today with rain and hail the temperature barely struggled into the teens. While on our way to the airline office we got caught up in traffic restrictions and security because of the Presidential inauguration.  Lots of French jokes about the weather and the presidency especially when Hollande's flight to Berlin was struck by lighting and had to turn back.  Is this an omen?  And if so, of what?