On another memorable day trip, we explored the most famous cemetery in Paris (can't remember the name!) where lots of famous folk reside. It's a huge place, dramatically beautiful in some parts. Mostly rainy when we sloshed around, so we wore our 'plastic bubbles' while everyone else used civilized umbrellas.

Jim Morrison, of "The Doors" fame, lies buried there and still, after decades, some guard stays there at all times to protect Jim's grave. Amazing, isn't it! My favorite grave sights to hang out at include Chopin and Edith Piaf.

Famous French Singer Edith Piaf in her Prime

Jim became fascinated with the graves of Yves Montand and Simone Signore, Oscar Wilde (very baroque!) and the memorials to the victims of the Holocaust. Since I've been home, I've been playing my Chopin CD a lot. He was only in his 30's when he died.

Noreen's Watercolor of vibrant flowers in Luxembourg Gardens, Paris

WHERE'S THE JON?

The Squatter

On our day jaunts about Paris, one of my constant things became always to be on the lookout for 'les toilettes.' Often one had to pay a franc or two for this privilege, except when you found what I call, "The Squatter." I swear it took me 3 times to figure out how to do this right without peeing on my pants. Yeah, it's the hole in the floor thingy. One day, after I had it down pat, I stood in line behind this obviously American woman who, it soon became apparent, was entering a Squatter for the first time. I heard her explode verbally in disgust, "OH, MY GAWD!" I smiled knowingly.

MONTMATRE AND THE MOULIN ROUGE

Early one morning, eager to explore the famous Parisian Montmatre area, we ambled where so many of our favorite artists used to hang out in their hay day. Excitement abounded as around every corner there appeared more thrilling things to experience, till we, at my urging, walked down the hill to the famous Moulin Rouge (a moulin is actually a windmill ... I didn't know that before). Sure enough, there it stood, the bright red windmill nightclub type place that Toulouse Lautrec and Degas used to love to frequent ... to be with and paint the prostitutes and dancers.

It was fascinating to see this notable place but I must say the area that housed it reeked. For blocks and blocks in all directions, nothing but sex shops with their neon signs ... 'Sex', 'More Sex','Live Sex,' so much so that next I expected to see 'Dead Sex.! Pimps and hookers hung around every corner. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Talk about low vibrations!!! Update: Since seeing the superb movie, Moulin Rouge, my feeling about the actual Parisian Moulin Rouge has improved dramatically, but the area around it still reeks!

EIFFEL TOWER … WHERE ART THOU?

Jim and Noreen Find the Eiffel Tower at Last!

We didn't see the Eiffel Towel till our very last evening in France. We had just come back from Provence on the TGV Rapid Train (terrific ride at 120 mph) and just HAD to see Eiffel. So, tired as we were, and with Jim starting to get a sore throat from roaming incessantly in ancient Medieval ruins near St. Remy, we took the metro (about an hour trip this time) to the Eiffel exit. Out we got. I said, "Well, where IS the Eiffel Tower?" I can't see it anywhere. Neither could Jim.

As I readied to ask someone, it felt like cheating, so instead I walked across the street beside the River Seine. Still couldn't see Eiffel. Then I turned half way around and THERE SHE WAS! Taken aback by the enormity of the tower and how close I stood to it. I yelled, "WOW!" Never again in my life will the Eiffel Tower have such an impact on me. It also made me realize, metaphorically, how just a slight turn or change in direction can be full of impact and surprise.