Paris

I had a memorable stay in Paris. I attended an intimate concert inside Ste. Chapelle, rode a bike all over town, walked along the Seine, explored many parks, took in a few new museums and ate at a few notable restaurants.

On and Off the Autobahn

After I dropped off my mother at the Airport in Amsterdam, I had a week before I needed to return the car in Basel. I very nearly stayed in Amsterdam. But they had just rounded up Queens Day Celebration, the streets were full of garbage and it smelled of barf. So I elected to make better use of my wheels, exploring roads too small for the map on the borders of Switzerland, Italy and Austria. Did I pile on the miles! And I got into a lot of places that would have taken weeks by bus and train. I was so satisfied by the places I stayed, as I look back, I can’t believe I had all those inspiring experiences in the space of only a week.

Clockwise Around the Alps: Innsbruck to Chamonix

Passing through five countries in quick succession caused me to notice differences & similarities between cultures I might not have been aware of otherwise. I can’t say I have a favorite. I was most charmed by the set of nonverbal noises and gestures that are unique to each language. It seemed to me that this is where the culture and the individual meet.