Summer 2017

     It is early days but I have heard already from Herr M.-L.  He wrote to send me New Year's greetings and of course to find out when I am coming this summer.  Since I will not have to return to the U.S. before September, I think that I want to stay in Weimar all of July and August.  So, I wrote back and asked him for the monthly rate for those two months.  I don't think I should have to pay the daily rate for 2 months.  Granted he has never raised the rate in the 7 years that I have been staying there but the day rate for 2 months is too much.  So we shall see.  He has not written back with an offer yet.  Of course Christmas is 2 days away and he has 2 small children so I do not expect to hear so soon.

Paris-Spring 2017

     As I mentioned before, I am retiring from my job this June.  I have two friends who are also retiring then.  We were talking yesterday and thought it might be a good idea to give ourselves a retirement present.  Then we thought that a Spring Break trip to Paris might be the thing!
     Paris in the Spring!  How wonderful!  I don't think that I have been there in at least 5 years(?).  But the time doesn't matter.  What matters is that I haven't been there in a while and I miss it.  It is so great to be there.  There is so much to see, do, and experience.  Of course you must go to the Louvre for many hours.  It is in many ways too much.  Just to see the Renaissance works takes a long time.  If you want to see the French oils, much less the rooms, the jewels or the Egyptian works, you need two days.
     The Orangerie with the Monet murals and the D'Orsay are also places one must visit again and again.  I also love just walking around the Marais district  and along the Seine.  Walking at night after dinner is also one of life's great pleasures.  And so we come to the food.  Going to Paris just to eat would be a worthwhile trip.  I have eaten a lot of meals there and every single on of them was fantastic.  When I am there I will talk about the places I eat.
     I speak what I call "traveling French".  Meaning I can read and order from a menu in a restaurant, check in to a hotel,  buy a train ticket and read the information tickets in a museum.  I don't think, in fact I know, that I can carry on a conversation.  Even so,  anyone I have ever encountered there, in a restaurant, hotel or museum, has never been anything but kind and helpful to me.  I know people say the French are rude but I have never experienced that.  It is probably A very proper demeanor or a response to rude Americans.
    In any event, the thought of going and the planning I get to do is exciting.