Grant & Kathy at the Eiffel Tower
Make Attention : Blogart Back
Faites Attention! (Be Careful!)
Literally "Make Attention!".
Do I have concerns about travel to France given the recent spate of terrorists attacks? France resets my beauty receptors. It purges my ordinary. Art oozes out of every door and window in France. It gets all over your clothes and under your fingernails. Doesn't wash out easily. There are more art exhibits than one can see in a lifetime in Paris. Long before arriving at the last exhibit on your list, the ones you've already seen will have been replaced by newer more interesting ones. Never ending Art. It's not so much that another country wouldn't do. Italy, Spain, probably Japan or China too.
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However, France is for me since it is my heritage and I know just enough French to identify what I'm about to put into my mouth. Trust me there are some things the everyday Frenchman eats that you don't want in your mouth. Well at least I thought it was my heritage until I did a DNA analysis and found out I was 47% Spanish and only 42% French with some Jew, a dab of Viking and a significantly larger-than-average amount of Neanderthal DNA. Probably explains why I have this manic urge to club to death every squirrel and pigeon I see.
So, back to the question. Am I concerned about safety when I am in France? To tell the truth, not any more than being in New Orleans or Austin. The chances of being killed in a terrorist attack: Wikipedia: Number of American civilians who died worldwide in terrorist attacks last year:8 -- Minimum number who died after being struck by lightening: 29". It's a balance thing. It's all about the reward danger ratio? No contest. Beauty above beast. (Especially at those odds.)
This trip, over the pond, we are traveling with Suzanne's childhood friend Kathy and her husband Grant who have never been to Europe. Kathy is the director of the Texas Maritime Museum in Rockport, TX. Grant is a medical supply entrepreneur and wine expert. We are making him earn his keep!
We will be with them for two weeks in France. Paris for a week, a trip to Caen WWII museum and Normandy beaches, a trip to San Malo, ending up outside of Paris at Chantilly near Charles de Gaulle airport. After which they will return to US and we will head to Ireland for two weeks, where we have
never been.
Make attention we will!