Well, even though this newsletter is posting in July, it really is the June edition. I finished a draft on June 30th but when I was getting ready to post it, I accidentally deleted it. Oh boy. Note to self - jet lag and technology don’t always mix well.

I spent six weeks in France and didn’t post to Facebook or Instagram one time. At first I felt guilty about that. Wasn’t I supposed to share what I was doing? Wasn’t I supposed to let all my friends and family - and complete strangers - see all the wonderful places I visited and all the delicious food I ate? But as the days went on, I settled into - just experiencing my trip for myself.

What did I do instead of clicking on my phone? For one thing, I read books - twenty-five of them. All of those books were what you might call light reading, but who cares? I enjoy reading books about the places I’m visiting while I’m there. In Paris this time, I decided to re-read the mystery series by Cara Black starring her sleuth Aimee Leduc. I enjoyed reading about places very near my apartment - and even a mention of my very street! I kept looking at the map to see just where the action was taking place. These books are a great introduction to Paris - the real city which is beautiful but also big and gritty at the same time.

Now that 'I’m back in Portland, someone asked me what I miss most about Paris. I have to say - as cliché as it sounds- I miss the cafés. I didn’t go to a café every day (even though I thought I should) but sometimes just walking by them with their chairs full of people chatting and drinking made me just as hoppy.

And on a hot day there was nothing like sitting on the terrace under a big tree. You can’t see it, but I assure you the omelette I dug into after taking this photo was delicious.

My last few days in Paris were brutally hot and air conditioning non-existent in two-hundred-old buildings. In the apartment, we have portable air conditioners that have a tube that sticks out the window to blow the hot air. That worked fairly well - except on the day it was 94 degrees Fahrenheit.

So there are some things that are better here in a younger city.

A few years ago someone asked me why I’d been to Paris so many times. (This last trip was my twelfth time). All I could say was, “Because it’s Paris.” There’s really nothing else to say.

This makes me think of a song sung by Joséphine Baker and more recently by Madeleine Peyroux. Some of the lyrics:

J'ai deux amours
Mon pays et Paris

This translates to: I have two loves - my country and Paris. (I have to say, right now Paris is a lot easier to love. )

So Paris, *au revoir* for now, I’ll be going back soon.

How are you spending your summer? I’d love to hear from you.

Au Revoir Paris

So Paris, au revoir for now, I’ll be going back soon.

Au Revoir Paris

So Paris, au revoir for now, I’ll be going back soon.

Je Suis Ici