Back to the Future

I'm excited, too! I went to Paris for the first time thirty years ago this summer, courtesy of a language-immersion program for high school students sponsored by Indiana University. At seventeen, I was intoxicated by everything about that experience--the challenge of trying to function in another language, the thrill of discovering worlds beyond Indiana and the U. S., the wonder of seeing so much art and beauty in one place. Martha and I went to Paris together for the first time in the summer of 2000 and vowed to go back, rent an apartment, and fulfill the Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas fantasy I've always harbored. Not sure yet who's Gert and who's Alice, but we can argue about that on the plane. Meantime, here's an iconic (cliche?) Paris shot I borrowed off the web to set the mood. Stay tuned for our photos, downloaded live from the Left Bank, assuming the gods of technology are in a cooperative mood. A bientot!

Off to Paris!

I'm SO excited. My partner has reserved us an apartment for our ten days in Gay Paris. Here's a link, complete with fabulous photos. We're on a quiet street in the 6th arrondisement, near the Luxembourg Gardens and many lovely shops and restaurants.

We leave on Friday evening, and return Monday, July 10. This blog space will record our adventures, and I'll count on my partner to add links to our lovely daughter Roxie's blog, and also to upload images. Though I'm supposed to be more technologically proficient than the divine ML, the truth is that she can hold her own with anyone when it comes to writing amazing, wonderful, funny, provocative, and profound prose, and she can do the same when that needs to be posted on the internet. So, friends and family, welcome to our Great Paris 2006 Adventure!
--mn