Pretty much sums it up

Tic

This is a picture of my clock, which was left here at my apartment after the guy who was here moved out. For some reason all of the color is bleached out in this picture, but I love how no frills it is.
I miss no frills non brand. It was so well designed. White bag simple red and blue stripe at the top, black block lettering. I tried to find a picture but there aren't any as someone started a brand called no frills defeating the whole purpose.

I probably can't (shouldn't)

On the way home again...just can't wait to be on the way home again..... oop sorry Willie. Here we go. I walked home a different route than I normally do and got to see some things I normally don't. This was the long way home, by way of Rue des Pères and the hang a right on Rue de la Seine, straight until the Petit Pont onto Ile St. Louis, my hood here in the 4ème. Well on the way home first I came across

 Look at this door, it is amazing. I know, I know, they are in the process of repainting it, which by the way takes about a month, I kid you not. They sand and put coat after coat after coat of paint, until the door come out looking like glass. Quite beautiful, but I just love how there are 3 different colors of paint and the rusty red is simply perfect. I would be one of those wacko owners who come upon the painters in the midst of work and say "Stop there, leave it, don't touch a thing. Now just finish painting the scratches, with the same color they are surrounded by, and then just shellac the heck out of the whole thing. Perfect. It reminds me of Russian posters of the 19 teens and 20s, or der Stijl.

 I always get this building confused with the Monnaie, which it is not. The bridge opposite (and Metro) are called Port au Change, so it has something to do with that. The Monnaie, which is now a museum, was what we Americans would call the mint. This is more like the office of exchange (but just for cash) the Bourse is the stock exchange. I just liked how gleaming this was at 6:30 at night. And look at the sky. so so blue. The huge cumulus cloud behind the dome hung over St. Germain all day and the sun only escaped at around 5:30.

And, last but not least, I passed a Danish Modern store and this magnificent creature was just sitting there, crying out to be taken home. I bet its possibly the most uncomfortable thing on earth to sit on, and would have to be covered in cushions, but look at the lines on it. The tall arms creating a private womb, I mean room. The color is like a fine 100 year old single malt scotch, or cognac. It just wants to be loved. But, no price tag and the rule of thumb as we all know it is, "If you have to ask...."

Don't worry, I won't.                                                                   well

Technology

I am under the grand delusion, or was until two days ago, that technology was here to make our lives a bit easier. Well that delusion has been shattered to infinity and beyond in the easier department. I locked myself out of my phone until this morning it dawned on me how to open it. Ridiculous.

I don't have 870 friends that I need to be in constant contact with, and I use severely less minutes here in France than I did in the US, but really, getting locked out and no one has a clue how to open it is stupid. Calling SFR was a complete joke, and they were less than helpful. They didn't even offer and suggestions other than "remember your password properly." Gee, thanks, I wonder why I called you in the first place, duh.

And I hate this stupid stupid phone...

On a positive note my nails are clean!  :)

Paris Plage

This would never fly at home. Ever. Can you imagine telling commuters "Oops, sorry, the only major highway through Paris is now a pedestrian mall, but just until the first weekend in September, no biggie." It is something else to see all the traffic diverted, and I just haven't heard a peep, not one angry customer, no complaints. Every here just shrugs their shoulders, et viola! Beach.

All Parisians really do vacate and allez dan les pays. They travel and go places, see things, go with family, go with friends. The staff is slightly up in arms that they can only take a week, as the french are quite accustomed to taking their 3 weeks (at least) and are incredulous in their realizing they don't have more time.

Vite

Very quickly what I saw while in Londontown.

Perhaps the decorator was going with a "peoples we conquered' theme using all Aborignal prints here at the hotel.

This is a new office tower and each corner is a different color. You can't see the Lime Green and Royal Blue sides.

  Back on the Eurostar to Paris.

I will go back, soon, most likely.

Londres overnight.

I am sitting here on the train to London like a dullard, but at least I am plugged in so I can type to you. The reason I am a dullard is because I left my headphones at my apartment. Thank goodness I dropped the 25 Euros on this international plug. This is also the first time I am writing at a proper desk as I am here on the Eurostar, which left ONTIME! (take notes USA). It is also insanely quiet and quite lux. I am in business class its not the norm but, commuters in and out of NY have no idea what they are missing, unless they are more well traveled than I am, which isn't too difficult.

Um, get this. I have champagne, Its normal here. It isn't Veuve or anything, (Pannier Brut to be exact, but it is a wonderful way to travel.) And the seat is too big. I am sitting Indian style and have room on both sides, but I am not complaining. I can't believe the website said this train was full as there is one person per row, evenly distributed of course.

A minute brilliance, packing my adapter.

While bulleting through the farmland they are harvesting at 9:30 at night, as the sun is still up. Talk about productivity, it must only be the farmers with super strong work ethics, or maybe its because the are owned by Germano-American agriconglomerates, but hey. Here the DNA is still intact. Genetic modification is a no, no.

Just passed Haute Picardie and a cool windfarm was becoming all blinky, and all the blinks were synchronized on the gloaming french countryside.

For dinner aboard the train I will have the filet mignon. I could have the trout souffle de Sud-ouest France with crayfish cream sauce, sauteed spinach butter and grilled tomato with emmental cheese instead, but I am not the biggest fish fan.

Yes that is my mini bottle of Burgundy.

I was lucky enough to sit next to two bankers, one working for a British bank in France, and one Australian who was in London, but was originally a Kiwi, but has since moved to Australia. She works for B&B, which is probably the name of a bank that I know, but they are talking derivatives, market properties and fah fi fah. I am watching them through the reflection in the windows. He is going to get her a taxi once we arrive in London.

I am getting quite the thrill looking out the window and typing to you, glad that I can do so without looking. Wahoo, french keyboards finally taught me how to type! Have you seen a french keyboard? Google it, they are BIZARRE, I mean, different.

These two in the foreground are the bankers, she a bit older in beige, he to the left, upon arrival at St. Pancras Station.