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Nuit Blanche -- White Night

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An excuse to stay up all night sponsored by the City of Paris. We don't actually understand French modern art.  Or maybe we don't understand anyone's modern art... One night a year the city of Paris runs the event called Nuit Blanche,  which I (Tom) attended 12 years ago and we've been looking forward to since before we arrived.   We accept that we don't "get it".  But,  that's ok.  It's fun.  And one of the areas where they were concentrating this year was less than a mile away. But, first,  lunch.  We picked up sandwiches and macarons at what had been one of our favorite bakeries in 2006 when we lived down the street.   With the weather remaining great,  we had a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens. Now, Nuit Blanche... Nothing says French Art like outdoor roller ball Or tall women posing next to statues of DeGaulle Or soccer under black light in glow-in-the-dark, neon rain jackets. But, Paris at...
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Gilets Jaunes

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Yesterday was the 4th week of demonstrations throughout France by the Gilets Jaunes.  First, a little bit of background and then I'll tell you about our experiences.  Gilet Jaune means yellow vest and refers to the bright yellow safety vests that drivers must carry in their cars.  These have become the symbol of the protests because the near term cause of the protests was the increase in the gas tax. The gas tax increase is an attempt by Macron to push drivers to use more climate friendly forms of transportation such as public transportation or hybrid vehicles.  The gas tax increase combined with higher world oil prices to dramatically increase the cost of transportation, especially for those who live outside the major cities and are forced to drive. The public perception is that Macron is president for the rich since the changes are only helping the wealthy.  The general population of working and middle class is suffering and having an increasingly difficul...
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Goodbye Paris -- See you again sometime?

(This was written before we left Paris to return to the US...) For two days now the John Denver song, "Leaving on a Jet Plane" has been running around inside my head: - Because I'm leaving on a jet plane. - Don't know when I'll be back again. - Oh babe, I hate to go... We've developed something of a new relationship with Paris on this trip.  All told and across many years of our time as a couple, we've spent nearly an entire year in this city.  It's a beautiful place.  The people ARE nice to Americans.  There's something to see around every corner.  sometime the views are awe inspiring.  It's a walking city.  Mass transit is everywhere.  It's safe.  It's no longer a mystery to us.  We know the differences between cutesy and normal Paris.  We can notice the small courtesies that we receive.  But...  The metros are very crowded and the buses come irregularly.  It's also dirty, smelly and some places aren't well ...
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