The REAL Final Post

This will be the REAL final posting. We hope you've enjoyed our trip. We have! In this final post we may actually repeat some earlier observations, but this is Duane's blog and he'll do as he pleases.
What Duane says here is entirely his opinion, although in most cases, Paula agrees with Duane, That's why we've been married for 45 years!
FRANCE: We still love her (France), but we think we're done with her. With the possible exception of the hapless people at Air France, we love the French People. They do have their idiosyncrasies, but we've found them to be genuine and decent people with a long, complex and spectacular history. They'll be fine. One direct quote that we fell in love with comes from a French woman we met in a brassiere in Aix en Provence. In discussing the work culture of the French people she said, (And I quote) " The French really don't like to work much. They normally start late and slow down early."
EUROPE: We've had a smashing good time traveling around Europe, and there is still plenty to see. However, we think we may stop for awhile and go somewhere else. Perhaps Montana? Maine?
AMERICA: She is still the BEST! As noted here before, we (U.S.A.) should climb down off our "We're Exceptional" high horse and learn a few tricks from others. To be certain, we are an exceptional country, with exceptional people, but we've got to settle down and realize it is not 1960 anymore. Large parts of the world have caught up with us in many ways. Some are now certain we're no longer relevant. Duane had more than one person say, "The American Dream is Over!"
Sorry, Duane got a little heavy there for awhile. He'll stop now. On the lighter side: We do know how to Air Condition a building! We do know for certain that drinking fountains and free public restrooms are essential to a living the good life! We do know how to design a parking garage! Any state that outlaws foie gras should be boycotted. That is just silliness! America has some marvelous wine! We should drink more of it! It is a health food! America should stop apologizing for not having good food. America has great food!! You just have to hunt harder for it and the hunt is good for you. We are ALWAYS glad to return home. It's better here! Sorry Denmark and Finland, 8 months of winter is just TOO Much!

And now for the final post. . . .

Each year we wrap up this blog with a final posting. This year, because of the multiple contests, it takes on a whole new aura of excitement and anticipation. I know you are all waiting with bated breath to find out who the winners are. . . .
Although, in review, there were very strong contestants in the "Couple of the Day" contest the runaway winner was the couple from the "Odd Side" of Paris. He of the iridescent blue suit, hat and scarf and short stature and she, tall, beautiful, statuesque and sporting new Louboutins. Luckily we got a picture of them so you can go back and review!! WINNERS!!!!!
The "T-Shirt of the Day" contest is much more crowded and complex. . . . So complex that we awarded The Win to two equally compelling T-shirts. . . . .
Winner #1 . . . To the young woman with the shoe fetish and the Winning T-Shirt: LIFE is SHORT - BUY the SHOES! . . . . . So elegantly stated and such Sound Advice!!!!
Winner #2 . . . To the thoughtful young woman with a Hopeful approach to life and Winning T-shirt: DON'T LET THE BAD GIRLS HAVE ALL THE FUN! . . . . . One just knows this woman is going to be president of the World Bank some day. Look for her on the cover of the "Economist!"
The only real contestant in the "Curious Person of the Day" was the young man with the black tux with tails with green, yellow and white paint splattered over the entire suit and with the added Powerful Exclamation Point of Turquoise and Pink hair . . . . . and the ever attentive entourage.
Honorable Mention goes to the woman dressed entirely in pink including PINK Hair. She Rocks!!!

Air France has some "Splainin" to do.

As many of you know, Air France was the primary participant in what will go down in the history of aviation as one of the most bungled events ever. I'll back up a bit for those of you reading this for the first time. . . . . . On Saturday afternoon we left Paris to return to the USA only to turn around after only 3 hours of flying time. That's not nearly enough flying time! The captain said, "We've blown out an engine and must turn around. We probably won't crash and burn, but we might, so we're going home so we can burn up over France." That's not exactly what he said, but that is what we heard. We didn't crash and burn! We landed back at CDG and got off the plane to what we expected to be an Air France Ground crew completely prepared to handle 450 stressed, angry, scared and dehydrated travelers. They weren't! It was as if they first found out we were coming back when we landed. They had NO plans, NO action had been taken to take care of us, NO action had been taken to rebook us on other flights, No action had been taken to find another airplane for us, No plans to get us into hotels for the night. . . . . . In short. . . . . They had NO CLUE as to what to do with us. After over 2 hours they finally started to move some of us through (WE were at the beginning of the line) and found us Hotels near the airport.  This nearly 3 hours after we landed!
We were told to return at 7:00 AM at which time, we were told, they would have new flight reservations all worked out for us. . . . They didn't! When we arrived (actually at 6:00 AM) there was NO ONE there, but what really surprised us was that at 7:00 AM there still was NO ONE there. They finally arrived around 7:30, but had NO reservations, NO plans, NO idea what they were going to do with us. After nearly 3 hours of waiting we (Duane and Paula) finally got a reservation on American Airlines, but had to walk about 3/4 of a mile to get ticketed. We waited in line at the AA reservation desk over an hour until finally getting ticketed and then to passport control and security. We finally arrived at our gate 15 minutes before take off and boarded the wonderful American Airline's 777! We were ecstatic! I expect some of those poor people who actually got in line at 7:00 AM are still waiting for a flight home. We are home and finally slept in our own bed last night! It was heavenly!
I almost forgot to mention. . . . . In Both situations, when we landed and on the next morning Air France did feed us the worst sandwiches ever produced in the entire history of French food. Duane actually took a bite out of one (In desperation) and quickly spit it out. . . . It was THAT Bad!

Stay tuned. . .

We are on our way to Charles Degaulle Airport. Once Duane gets home, changes his T-Shirt, underwear and socks he will post some more late arriving photos, so don't leave just yet. We'll tell you when you can stop reading. There will be last minute observations (Spoiler Alert - There will be potty humor), impressions, feelings and last minute tales, so stay tuned.
This potentially WORLD ALTERING story. . . . . . . Last night at dinner Paula was sharing her thoughts about her meal (Fish and Chips) with our waitress. It was NOT good. They gladly prepared a second plate and declared it perfect. . . . . It wasn't. . . . The waitress shared how the chef used a "Special technique " to deep fry his fish. . . . Paula was NOT impressed. It was still awful. We countered that we had been in France for 7 weeks and had enjoyed wonderful cod fish  in other French restaurants. . . . . . Now, this bit of critical news set off the waitress who quickly and forcefully informed us that the Hotel had many English (British) quests who LOVED  this Fish and Chips! Here's where you should be aware (Scared even) that the Apocalypse could be just around the corner as the French are now, apparently, taking culinary tips from the British! The Horror!!! As for us. . . . We're running for our lives!!!!!!!!!

Don't abandon us just yet

We are in Paris. . .Actually we've been here since last night, but Duane was too worn out to wrestle with the Wi-Fi. We purposely reserved an afternoon flight so we could sleep late and have time to repack. The "Sleeping Late" thing didn't work out so well, but we will now have time to go through our bags and throw stuff away. We expected at least some rainy, misty, nasty, cool, perhaps even cold weather. . . We got NONE of that. Instead it has been unseasonably warm. . . Mostly upper 70s and low 80s. Now, we're not complaining, but we have all these sweaters and coats and scarves and long underwear and bear grease that we've never even used. I guess we'll bring them all back home, but some stuff (Duane's $1.00 Flip-Flops) will get to stay in France! Actually, Duane expects someone in Aix en Provence is already the proud owner of new (Slightly used) flip-flops. We hope he or she enjoys them. They worked well! Duane will definitely keep his Silk underwear because it is just so wonderful! (It is also very warm!)

We're on our way back to Paris

Traveling by TGV is simply one of life's wonderful little treats. Duane thinks it might be a great big treat. Compared to the cattle roundup mentality of flying, this way is far superior. Instead of one door, like in an airplane, there are 2 doors on each and every car . . . Easy in-Easy out! It is clean, Very FAST and on time, every time! And you can see the countryside too! It is going by VERY FAST, but you can see it!

This morning was anti-climatic all around. There just isn't much you can do on your last day. The drive from Aix en Provence to Avignon was punctuated by a side trip to Les Baux, a fun place to visit. Paula managed to rip the bottom out of her "Linens Budget" and we came away with a new table cloth, new napkins and some other miscellaneous linens and cottons and draperies. Paula is thrilled. On to St. Remy for lunch and then to Avignon for the train. 

Starting from Aix we started looking for gas stations and looked and looked and looked all the way to the Hertz lot. We never found a gas station. How is that possible? We have noticed this before, but never when we actually needed gazole! We took the hit and turned it in without a fill up. That hurt! Hertz, we believe, is part of a vast conspiracy that allows them to charge double for Gazole. In the entire 10 days we had the car we filled up once. I think we saw only 2 gas stations the entire time. How's that work?

And more about the toilette habits of the French. . . We arrived at the Avignon TGV station for our ride to Paris. There are hundreds (Maybe thousands ) of people here. This is the only TGV Station in the area, so everyone is here! Take a guess how many toilettes there are? . . . . . Give up? . . . . Yes! You are correct! One!!!!!!

And they wanted Duane to pay to pee again. He didn't! That now makes several divisions of the French Police that are searching for Duane! It's going to take more than a tiny girl in a red shirt yelling loudly at Duane in French to make him pay to pee.  He walked right on in and out with a smile on his face. He feels better now! As you know, we LOVE the French, but they do have some very irritating habits! Duane will gladly overpay for Gazole, but .5€ to pee is out of the question! 

I promised a dinner report from last night. . . Duane screwed up . . . He was certain he had made dinner reservations at an Indian Restaurant. He didn't. . . It was another Moraccan Restaurant! But it turns out Moraccan food is very, very good! We had the best seats in the house garden (I'll post pictures when I can) and had a spectacular last night out. Duane had lamb and apricots (Yummy!) Paula had chicken and veggies. Paula loved the veggies. Duane ate the chicken! The restaurant gardens were absolutely gorgeous and we declared it our favorite place of all our venues. Ain't that weird? Glad we saved it until our last night. The train is slowing down! Gotta go!

You're Going to Laugh!

It seems you can have too much of a good thing. . . After nearly 7 weeks of primarily French food, we had Moroccan food for lunch and have made dinner reservations at an Indian restaurant. The French Food Police are out and about and we'll have to sneak out in disguise to have dinner, but Duane just simply can eat NO MORE foie gras! BTW, lunch was outstanding! Dinner report will follow. If you happen to see Duane and Paula it is not us! We're in deep cover to avoid the Police!
We've also noticed. . . . In addition to the belief that the French NEVER go to the restroom unless locked inside their home, they also never get a "Chill." Today, once again, the sun is out, the temps are in the high 70s and the French are wrapped up in scarves, sweaters and the occasional light jacket.   One other observation that just dawned on Duane . . . . There are NO public drinking fountains! NONE! No wonder they don't pee.