By 1812Blockhouse Owner/Publisher Thomas Palmer
Greetings from Paris!
At the same time that events are going on all across America to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday, I find myself in the Old World. It is perhaps altogether fitting, however, that at the moment I am in Paris, in the country that came to the aid of the American colonies and facilitated our victory over England — a place I will be visiting next week.
I arrived in Paris last evening, after crossing the English Channel via ferry. It was, to be honest, not the most pleasant way to make that trip. I am planning on making the return trip to London via Eurostar, traveling through what is known as the Chunnel.
As I make this trip, I am reminded again of the different ways in whichever various countries and our citizens operate. I am stunned by how cashless Europe is, for instance, much more so than in the USA. I am consistently surprised as well by train service; a city of Delaware or Mansfield size would certainly have real service to nearby communities. The trains are remarkably adapted to modern life with amenities to allow for the charging of phones and also ubiquitous wi-fi.
Speaking of technology, I have been keeping in touch with family and friends back home largely via Facebook. Last night I posted several photos taken within a two or three block radius of my Airbnb located on the famous Left Bank, and within such a a short distance of the cathedral of Notre Dame that I heard its bells last night tolling as I walked to have dinner at a small Paris bistro.
I find it terribly interesting that I can be recognized as an American without speaking. Imagine you saw someone from here walking up and down Park Avenue West in Mansfield or Sandusky Street in Delaware. Do you think that you would immediately think to yourself that that person is from England or France? I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing, but we Americans tend to be very conspicuous. I also speak French quite well, which comes in amazingly handy here. Yesterday, I had to negotiate a train ticket transfer with the local agent in the city of Caen, entirely in French.
II did make a point to go and stand front of the restored Notre Dame last night. I have included a handful of photos from my walk in this post.
I will be making additional posts in the coming days where I will share more observations from my trip. All the best to everyone in Ohio.
Thomas
