3-19/20-2024 Travel and Arrival
My plane left at 9:15 for Seattle. Check in was very fast because, strangely enough the airport in Spokane was empty.
In Seattle, after waiting for 3-hours, the plane was about another hour late because of some mechanical problem. After a long and tedious “sit” on the airplane, we still arrived on time in Paris, about 10 hours later. How does that happen?
The last time I went through customs, it was a quick 45 minutes. This time, there were so many people, that at first, we waited outside the door to a hall that I’m sure had more than 1000 people snaking through lines to get to the kiosk. There was not enough room for more people so we crowded up the hallway. It took almost 2½ hours to get to the front of the line. I was ready to drop. I was glad that I had a 3-hour layover in Paris before taking the train to Strasbourg so I wasn’t late getting to the train. I had just enough time for an espresso.
The most remarkable thing about the train is that its about 240 miles from Paris to Strasbourg. Yet, it took only about 2 hours to get there by TGV. For perspective, it’s about 280 miles from Seattle to Spokane and takes over 4 hours to drive that. I love the TGV in France.
My cousin, Fabienne, picked me up and we went to her house in Bischheim for a late lunch. I had to wait before going to the apartment in Strasbourg because Aude wasn’t home until late afternoon. After lunch we went for a little walk around her village. I noticed a few interesting and unusual things. One of the shops on the street had the name of “ROC Eclerc”…I had no idea what the words meant BUT I saw under the sign the words…”La maison du devil.” (The house of the devil) Really! Take a look. —You might have to zoom in…—
What is this, you ask? A center for cult activities? A new religion? An hallucination after 30 hours with no sleep? Naw. The word is not “devil.” It’s “deuil” d-e-u-i-l. This is a word that my American English mouth cannot pronounce. Period. The word means “grief” and the “house of grief” is a funeral home. Fabienne had a good laugh at this and asked if I thought I’d find the devil there?
We continued on our walk and ended up going through a little park. There was a small community garden which I think was mostly for herbs and medicinal plants. There appeared to be a lot of community education going on at this little garden.
The most interesting thing about the park, was this mystery object.
It’s really very clever. At the top of the sign, it says…”Did you know!” (Le saviez vous!) Then there is some interesting information about cigarettes and smoking. (4000 chemical substances in cigarettes, tar, mercury, lead etc….) Then you’re asked to vote. If you think this information is true, put your cigarette butt in the “VRAI” hole. If you think it’s false, put your cigarette butt in the FAUX hole. If you zoom in, you can vaguely see that there are cig butts in both holes. Fabienne said the city comes through every once in awhile and empties it. So, whether you believe it’s fake news or not, the cigarette butts are responsibly disposed of. Brilliant!
When we were a short ways away from Fabienne’s house, we were met up by Francis (Fabi’s husband) on his bicycle. He’d spent the afternoon with their granddaughter, Mia, and was just coming home. It was a good thing too cuz my suitcase was soooooo heavy and Francis carried it for me. (Special hugs to Francis.)
At the apartment in Strasbourg where I am staying, we had to walk up 4 flights of stairs. I’m staying in (sharing) an apartment that belongs to Aude. She’s lived here most of her life, except for the few years she was in the United States being married and having kids. As a single mom of 3 kids (twins + 1), she returned home and raised her kids in this ginormous place that is right on the canal and a few minutes walk from all the cool tourist stuff (which I’ve already seen several times).
Photos taken from my balcony window
After a basic orientation to the place, I said goodbye to Fabienne and Francis and got settled in.
And that’s where I’m leaving it for now. Another day. Another writing.
