this is why i'm returning to l.a. tomorrow!

check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFc1pr2yUU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

"LA BOLSA"

I took the TGV -- wonderful, comfortable, high-speed trains that race all over France -- to Perpignan to visit my friends Patricia & Didier, who live in Palau del Vidre, a tiny village on the western coast of the Mediterranean. We wined & dined on Patricia's delicious food, & sang Didier's favorite songs in their sumptuous flower garden under mostly-sunny Catalan skies.

We visited the beautiful 12th. Century Roman/Gothic Cloister of Elne, which is practically next door to their home, and where more than 600 Jewish babies were born between 1939 - 1944, saved from the internment camps by a Swiss lady named Elisabeth Eidenbenz.

Next day we hopped over to the other side of the Pyrenees, to Spain, to buy some cucumbers (to help the poor Spanish farmers) & gape at the giant eggs on top of the fantastique Dali museum in Figueres. Further along the coast we stopped for coffee in the sea-side town of Roses, which boasts the now-closed restaurant of Ferran Adria, the "greatest chef in the world -- 2010," where I'm sad to say I never ate.

We then decided to drive up the steep mountain to Cadaques, to look at Dali' & Gala's home perched at the top. Just as we reached the pinnacle I noticed that my carry-bag, containing my special sunglasses, precious Kindle and important notebook, was missing. I must have left it in the cafe in Roses. We immediately made an about-turn & drove the hairpin curves back to Roses. I ran inside the cafe & when the waitress saw me she smiled & said, "la bolsa?" Then she reached under the counter & produced my bag, with all its contents. Ole!!! What a relief!. Feeling like the luckiest girl in the world, I promised my friends I'd buy them dinner in Cadaques. Alas, it was too late to drive back this time, but next time...

Now, in Paris, enjoying my last precious days, doing my usual wandering & gawking at the beauty of the city, stuffing myself with incomparably delicious bread and excellent bistro meals. But, I'll say this about French restaurant food: in general - they prepare meat (& fish & poultry) and potatoes to perfection, but where are the vegetables? Patricia tells me that in France they eat vegetables at home; the restaurants hardly bother. I confess I'm looking forward to fresh steamed kale, broccoli & cauliflower, spinach & garlic, chard & other greens, & great mixed salads back in Los Angeles.

Why can't we have high-speed trains all over the USA? Obama asked for them when he got elected but did we get them? At least between Los Angeles & San Francisco, please!

love & bisous & besos!

pictures from paris

re pictures above, i discovered this on the facade of the public school on my street. i'm told that all the schools in paris bear this plaque with its own statistics. how's that for french guilt! if anyone needs a translation please ask.

picture below - your faithful correspondent in the gardens of bagatelle, next to the bois de bologne in paris...





picture below -a plaque on chemin vert, around the corner from my apartment on the avenue parmentier, explaining that mr. parmentier is responsible for bringing potatoes to france from south america, and the reason why we have french fries. brilliant!




tomorrow i'm taking a train to perpignan to visit some dear friends, returning on saturday for another 9 days of paris - and love, perhaps...