Paris! By Day & Night..

 It's my last full day on vacation and I just wandered around Paris snapping pictures with my iPhone wherever I was. It's rained off and on all day; hot when it's sunny and cool and very wet with the rain. 

 This trip has been just what I needed. A get away after a push at work, a chance to re-connect with my Camino experience last year, a chance to do some photography with Olivier and by myself. I'm ready to come home. 

|]^\/=

Finding my Way in Spain and Paris...

I  I went for a Mt bike ride this morning in the forest of the National Park surrounding Fontainebleau. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the white-over-red symbol of the Camino (typical for France, yellow arrows in Spain)  on the trail I was on; that for the third time in my week and a half vacation, I had come across the Camino four times; three of them totally unexpected! In San Sebastián, Bourges France and now in Fontainebleau.  It almost seems like there is some kind of message for me that I am still on my Way, discovering my path. It was so appropriate that I got lost mid-way when it started raining on me very much like my experience on the Camino last year. A bit strange  that I picked up a new scallop shell in the Camino pilgrim office in St Jean Pied du Port and had it tied to my pack as I rode this morning.

 I got so comfortable seeing the markers along the Way that it almost didn't matter where I was going knowing that others had passed this way before and had marked the route. Somehow, this trip last year was a self-discovery and so physically and emotionally challenging, that you just learn to let go of outcomes and learn to trust that you will find your way. It's such a metaphor for life, that the parallels are part of the experience. Learning to let go, learning to trust others (except guys named Rob) that went before you, learning to have confidence in yourself and your abilities.  

  I am in Paris and staying at my favorite place Le Singulier. I met Olivier and Kristin this afternoon. For a couple hours near Norte Damme and did a bit of photography. I am having dinner tonight at Willi's wine bar; another favorite.

Map showing the various routes of Camino in France mostly feeding into St Jean Pied du Port right at the Spain boarder. It's known as Chemin du St Jacques in France or The Way of St James. 

Bourges Camino marker

Olivier and Kristin on the Way in Bourges

Me goofing around

Surprised to see the white-red marker on my ride this morning

On the Way

Lost at an intersection in the rain

View from the Way

Olivier and Kristin in Paris

Willi's Wine Bar in Paris

Onion, tomato and pastry appetizer. Yum!

"Free at last, Free at last"....

"Thank God Almighty; I'm free at last!" 

 i'm on vacation. I finally am here. Sometimes it takes me a few days away before I settle in forgetting about things that occupy my mind back home. 

Yesterday Olivier and Kristen picked me up in Fontainebleau and we drove to Bourges where Olivier grew up. It is about 2 hours South of Paris and an old historic town full of houses built in the 1500's  to 1700's with a massive Cathedral built on top of Roman ruins. We took a tour and did a bit of photography inside and later, really had fun talking over dinner and wine sitting out in a little square. 

 I'm trying to decide where to go next. I have been wanting to go to Arles and Provence for ever, but to do so means several more hours of trains to get there. Go back and chill in Fontainebleau maybe do a bit of mt biking through the forest surrounding there or go see the Roman ruins of Arles or spend a night in Aix En-Provence?

 

Traveling through France....

Today is a travel day all day from St Jean Pied du Port; a small town in the Pyrenees on the Spanish boarder to Fontainebleau just South of Paris. The trip is taking nearly 12 hours due to connections and distance. I'm finding that during these quieter times; my mind wanders thinking about many things; The Camino I did last year, my daughter Heidi  who's birthday is coming up, Olivier, my best friend who I am going to meet, Mary  who I miss. Also thoughts about work and what's next for me there. Sometimes my thoughts cross over to the dark side of judgement about myself or work. Next I think about doing another book of my photographs in photogravure process. Letting my mind wander is a good thing unless it gets stuck on one thing. For me, that's the challenge...not getting stuck.   

Here's to the challenge!

 joyeux anniversaire Arthur! 

|)a\/e

  

Guess where?

Camino! I arrived in St Jean Pied du Port about 1pm this afternoon and couldn't resist doing part of the Camino. I hiked up to Orrison about half way up the pass today. This first step of the Camino is  steep and difficult (2,200 ft in 3.5 miles) and it was all I could do to continue on having started late in the day with heat and light sprinkles. I would have liked to do a few stages, but time and probably my feet won't allow. I was really strong climbing up today, but hobbling as I got back to town 4 hours later. There is something special that draws you to be here and do this. It's an experience

I'll never forget and I wanted a reminder of that experience today. 

Off to Paris tomorrow to connect up with Olivier! 

Dave