Paris: October 1, 2018

I’ve been walking around grinning at the thrill of it all. After 2 1/2 months, and just a week to go…I was invited to the semi-private (no obvious signs on the door) dinner club owned (I think) by the Swedish consulate, to hear vocalist Leslie Lewis and her trio.****
I finally made it to the Picasso Musée and discovered that I like his least known lithographs the most.****I attended a jazz jam session where many of the expat American jazz musicians who have lived and played in Paris for decades performed in tribute to legendary bassist Wayne Dockery. ****I lucked up and was invited to attend a Paris, evening wear, runway show during Paris Fashion Week. The Kardashians weren’t there, but I didn’t miss them and I got a swag bag!****As I usually do on my wind-down, I walked aimlessly for hours, down unfamiliar streets, taking in all of the surprising delights for the eye that meet you at every turn.

St. Malo, Brittany, France 2018

I wanted some sea time, so I took a train to St. Malo in Brittany on the Atlantic coast. I stayed overnight at a wonderful hotel with a room overlooking the beach, walked the boardwalk at high and low tide, watched surfers ride the waves, saw a glorious sunset, had a great fresh lobster lunch when I got there, but stayed in my room in the evening with pizza and wine to listen to the storm out on the ocean…And then, on the 2+ hour train ride home made a new friend — a beautiful young woman who was born in Senegal, raised in Paris, spent 10 years in Atlanta and now lives in Brittany. She invited me to come visit when I return next year. I’m going to try to do that.

Paris: September 15, 2018

Best-buds Cronan and Sebastian were there for my 3rd SpokenWord reading. Girlfriend and jazz singer extraordinaire, Joan Minor (Google her if you’re into jazz) and her husband Paul, hosted a lovely dinner party. Then, after agreeing that cathedrals get old if you’ve seen too many, Cronan and I took the train to Chartres. We lucked up (big time) because 85 year old world renowned Chartres Cathedral historian Malcolm Miller was giving a tour. I learned more in 2 hours through his interpretation of biblical stories portrayed in stained-glass windows dating back more than 1000 years, than I have in a lifetime of going to church. And to top off the week, I got into the Sorbonne on one of only 2 days every year it is open to the public. It was phenomenal! One of my most valued privileges has been a good education, and this is where the most privileged have been educated for centuries. Even knowing I wouldn’t have been allowed in until recently, being in such a beautiful place of learning brought tears to my eyes.

Semur En Auxois, France September 2018

Magical Weekend in Semur — As soon as we crested the hill in Burgundy, where Semur En Auxois appears on the horizon, I started grinning. With Thomas, my French tutor, his girlfriend Stephanie and the fascinating artists, musicians and artisans I met, this weekend trip was extra icing on the cake that is my life these days. I stayed with Jacqueline and Gerrard in their hilltop home overlooking the fortified medieval town, walked lots of cobbled streets and alleys thick with flora, had more French lessons in a garden besides the rapids of a river and enjoyed wine in the town square late at night after an outdoor cinema music party hosted by a French film director.

Paris: September 7, 2018

Museums and Rock & Roll — I visited and ate lunch at the anthropologically focused Musée de L’Homme which has some fantastic views of Paris from inside and out. Then, just because I thought it would be fun, I went to a Janelle Monae concert (I’m more familiar with her acting than singing) at this huge venue, where I mixed with all her, mostly, younger fans. She is fascinating and puts on a good show, but half way through the concert, after 3 hours of standing like a sweaty sardine packed in a can, I cut out and headed to the bar for an adult beverage. Today I saw a high-fashion photo shoot taking place on the banks of the Seine that made me think of Audrey Hepburn, as I made my way to the Petit Palace museum which has a lovely collection of art, sculpture and artifacts.

Paris: September 4, 2018

More City of Light 2018

I usually cook at home in Paris, but because of my “foodie” friend Karen, from Japan, I’ve eaten delicious food in a number of elegant settings, including saffron risotto at the Prince De Gaulle Patio Bar followed by coffees (practically the only thing we could afford) at the Four Seasons George V where the weekly flower bill could send five students to college. For a few days I walked home from the gym right at sunset and caught a particularly spectacular one with the Eiffel Tower in the background. The City of Light shows its luminescence in many ways. My PAA buddies Holly and Sebastian came out to hear my second reading at Au Chat Noir.

Paris: August 18, 2018

Paris Summer 2018 Episode #3–Considered an epitome of stained-glass and Gothic architecture, the acoustically perfect 13th century Sainte Chapelle was perfect for a string quartet’s classical concert.  I mediated a dispute between an irascible artist and two young French musicians in front of Les Deux Magots and then headed home across the Seine, by way of the Louvre. Paris is full of statutes where people rub parts of the noted person for luck, so I suppose the foot of French philosopher Montaigne does something to stimulate intellect. As I walk home from the gym most days, I’m treated to various scenes where Notre Dame is the backdrop. Thomas, my wonderful French tutor, increased my vocabulary 10-fold and got me speaking sentences and conjugating verbs and I’m actually talking a little more, albeit hesitantly, to people on the streets. As usual, hanging with gal-pal Holly brought forth tears of laughter. Galignani book store could be the most dangerous shop for the pocketbook of a person like me. Had a delicious lunch with my girlfriend Karen, from Osaka, at the Hotel Meurice’s Dali restaurant. Sunsets on a bridge in Paris – self-explanatory.

Edinburgh, Scotland August 2018

Scotland on the Side—In spite of temps that called for coats and gloves, in August, I had the most wonderful music-filled weekend at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival- the largest performance arts event in the world. I bought tickets to 7 shows –an a cappella men’s group from St. Andrews to R&B to classical to Scottish traditional to the Soweto Gospel Choir (that had me still crying, joyfully, a half hour after the show ended.) But there were just as many amazing free shows happening all over the city with its steep streets, castles, views of the Firth of Forth and magical ambiance. On a literary pub tour we stopped at the Jolly Judge Pub and I was happier than ever not be one anymore!IMG_0934.jpgIMG_0891.jpg

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Paris: August 2018

The locals desert Paris in August, but there’s still plenty to do.
I was invited to be on a panel with several very talented expat Black Americans, speaking  to a group of study-abroad students about living your dream.****I took French lessons from a most delightful young man who was born and raised in Paris.****I danced all night on the Seine and saw a fabulous Gustav Klimt art exhibit at the Atelier des Lumiere.****I took a cooking lesson in the home of a French food-blogger and restauranteur and ended up as part of the advertisement campaign of the Eat With program.

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