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FRENCH TRAVEL WITH OREGON AND IOWA

French travel started out bumpy. I found my seat on the second plane, the long haul plane out or Minnesota. But it was occupied. That’s no way to start. Simple adjustment, right? But the lady had the same ticket for the same seat. At least that’s what she said. Then we all looked at our […]

PARIS RIVER: HOW WATER MAKES THE CITY

The Paris river divides the city like the Willamette divides Portland. But instead of an Eastside / Westside divide, Paris goes with Right Bank and Left Bank. One method means knowing the compass, the other is much more simple. Think of finding a place with directions that include east, west, north, and south. I’m already […]

PARIS NOTES AND LESSONS LEARNED, SO FAR

The top pic is the view from the hotel window. One block of Paris notes to work from is not enough, but it shows a consistent theme. I’m picking my new apartment out in these buildings, except mine is on the back side, the Eiffel Tower side. From my window there’s a tower view of […]

WHAT TOWER TOWERS OVER EVERYTHING? ONE GUESS

Some Guy said he ate lunch underneath everyday because it was the only place he didn’t have to look at it.

TIME MOVES ON WITH A DEGREE OF SADNESS

Time moves on when you see is a collection of kid bikes, the same collection Toys R Us sold. The same bikes the rich kids rode, the hand-me-down bikes, and the bikes kids rode into teen hood. Lots of bikes going one place: The scrap yard.

UGLY BUILDING IN PRETTY CITIES, PT 1

An ugly building grows on the people who see it every day. Living near ugly architecture doesn’t make anyone ugly, but it’s not wonderful reflection, either. Imagine seeing the same eye sore every time you went to town. You’ve got one where you live? There’s at least one for every city. Portland has one, Paris […]

MONA LISA ON THE RUN

Via Rick Steves: “Due to renovation works in the Louvre, the Mona Lisa has been temporarily moved to a different wing of the museum.” Mona Lisa travels, gets a new wall, hides out. Such a mystery.

MILITARY PARADE IN ELEVEN ARMY MEDIC VETERAN STEPS

    1. Join the service and serve the agreed upon time. USMC, USN, USA, USAF, etc.   2. Go to boot camp. If it’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done the rest of your life, you’re not trying hard enough.   3. Go to school and get qualified to do a military job.   […]

CLIMATE CHANGE DIRECTION: WEATHER HOAX?

Who needs climate change help the most? Paris, France. That’s right, Paris. The same Paris of the Paris Agreement President Trump rejected. See the problem in the top pic? That’s the Eiffel Tower in the shade, except it’s not shade. Smoggy look for the City of Light. Call it a unity smoking day of a […]