eternal recurrence! (google that!)

Back home from Paris. We put away our lofty Riedel glassware, bought rustic (and much cheaper) cups/decanter, Camembert cheese and a bottle of Cabernet Franc from the Loire.... et voila!... Parisian cafes are a welcome eternal recurrence!

Arizona Textures

Paris je t'aime!

The Louvre! What can I say... center of the universe? If survival is about the fittest, the Louvre is about the finest!

Versailles... such extravagance sorrounded by such misery; no wonder they were decapitated!

Us in Paris: cheese, bread and wine...just happy to exist!

Notre Dame: the church certainly didn't keep its vows of poverty!

 Les Champs Elysees (the Elysian fields): a rightful name/place to honor our departed war heroes.

The bullet train to Champagne was (as the name implies) fast, convenient and inexpensive (compared to taking a bus tour). It was an experience in itself!

 Champagne, champagne, champagne...miles of it! Of note, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot in Reims (where it is produced) is 35 Euros; the same bottle at Costco...$35! Taste it there, buy it here!

Notre Dame Cathedral of Reims: for centuries, kings were coronated here and champagne flowed freely to celebrate; good marketing ploy....kudos!

Venus de Milo at the Louvre...sublime!

 Practice your French before you go: I ordered "un Merlot" and got "un verre de l'eau!"

Winged Victory of Samothrace: Nike irradiates victory!

Versailles...once again, no wonder the guillotine!

Smart cars...smart drivers!