A weekend in Paris

As the proverb says, “To see Paris and die”... In my case, “to die” from the heat! Surprisingly, it was +34°C in the shade!
I moved along the streets in short rides with a bottle of water in my hands, since it was sold for €2 or €3 everywhere.

I naively believed that Parisian women would have an appearance of sophisticated ladies, giving everyone languid looks while sitting in outdoor restaurants with a glass of Veuve Clicquot wine and a thin cigarette in a mouthpiece between their manicured fingers. In fact, it turned out that Parisian women are plus-sized black women, who wear tasteless tightleggings, and Arab women wrapped in headscarves…

Indeed, reality often doesn't meet our expectations about it.
But the oysters, which we enjoyed at the outdoor veranda of the restaurant on the Champs-Élysées, turned out to be as fantastic as I had thought! They looked just great on a silver platter, served with ice, and we helped them finish their lifelong journey with dignity that warm Parisian evening. :)

When my daughter went to primary school, I promised her that one day I would definitely take her to Disneyland in Paris. Today I have fulfilled my promise! Though with a slight delay. However, does it really matter whenever to go there? After finishing the first grade of school or the first term of university? Her dream has come true and this is the main thing!

“Paris is France, but France is not Paris!"«.

You can understand what a true expression it is if you drive 200 or 300 kilometers away from the capital. Small villages and towns situated along the banks of the Loire would present to you their clean green streets lined with cobblestones, cozy cafés, shops and unhurried people... Here you can still feel the spirit and charm of this beautiful country that we remember from books and old movies. And the majestic castles built in the 15th…17th centuries and perfectly preserved till nowadays, would amaze you with their grandeur and architectural perfection.

Louis Xlll, Francis I, Catherine de' Medici, Diane de Poitiers… These walls remember everything about these names: their intrigues, love matters, betrayals… The history of France and the history of Europe was created here.

After driving 500 kilometers by car along the fantastic roads of the south-west of France, I caught myself thinking that it would be a good idea to return there and cross the whole country from north to south and from west to east by motorbike. These are completely different feelings…