Excuses, excuses. What else can I offer for being off-line for so long? But in my mind they were good reasons. I have returned to rewriting my Nanowrimo novel from last year and gotten much more involved with my writer's group. Plus I have taken a wild-ass run at on-line dating. The jury is out whether I pissed away my money on that venture.
My trip plans have changed. Instead of Ireland I will be traveling to London and Paris. My friend, a co-worker, asked if I would mind changing our trip to London. She has a soft spot in her heart for London and wanted to go back and take me. Well, what the hell. I only added one stipulation. If we were going to be that close, I had to see Paris. Why not? The French seem to be the only people out there with any balls. Plus, I have to wonder whenever we Americans beat up on someone for so long, how legitimate are our complaints? We always say, where would France be without our help in World Wars 1 and 2? Well, we would probably not be a country without France's help in the Revolution. Give it all a rest. There's nothing wrong with the French. Besides, I like President Sarkozy.
In light of our trip plans changing, of course my reading list has changed. I am thoroughly enjoying "Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French," by Stephen Clarke. Clarke is British, but he does not go in for the predictable French flogging. He is an entertaining writer who helps us understand the French in light of their own history and culture. Yes, they have some real oddities. But on the other hand, some of the French arrogance seems more than justified. Just take a look at the section on the school menus for French public schools. My God, I couldn't get food like that anywhere in Colorado without taking out a second on my house. The French know how to eat and eat well. Butter. Wine. Meat. And yet the French are far healthier than we are. Why? They eat everything fresh. They eat in moderation. And they eat far more slowly than we Americans do. I learned from my reading, and my experiences in Spain, that once you take a table at most restaurants the table is yours until you are done. In other words, they expect you to enjoy your meal and to make the most of it as a social experience. Eat slowly and let your food digest in a relaxed manner. Back to Clarke's book; it is very entertaining and profoundly informative. I highly recommend it.
I haven't found a similar book for London yet, but will most certainly look for one. But for plain travel information, I am enjoying "The Unofficial Guide to London," by Lesley Logan. This is one of the "Unofficial Guide" series and as with the others I've read, it seems to do its intended job very well.
One very useful website for lodging in London is ttp://www.travelstay.com/maps/Map_London_London.htm
This is a great place to find much lower cost lodging than any listed in the travel guides.
That's enough for tonight. I will be back with more in a few days.
