Ah Memories: Our French Friends

Our friends Jean_Marie and Francoise from Paris were here for 3 days in a hotel right behind the Kodak Theatre here in Hollywood & within walking distance to our house. We hadn't seen them in 8 years & had a LOVELY, simple, family-type time. We went up to the Observatory & out to Venice Beach; Ate Indian food and at Baja Fresh. They brought us a can of Foie Gras made by her family in the south of France.

We miss them already but happily we both have Skype and WebCams so we were able to see and speak with them this morning ( 11am here) the "Magic" time there in Paris....meaning late in the day when everything turns a lovely yellow/orange color & long long shadows are magical. Best time for photos. Jean-Marie is a fabulous photographer & has take photos all over the world.

I met them in Japan over 27 years ago when we were all traveling there. We ended up traveling together in Japan for about a week & staying in Minshukus and Ryokans...yikes don't remember how to spell those but they're similar to a B & B or a guest house or some even like Hostel. It was a good time many years ago.

Over the years since then they've visited us in the states two or three times & we've seen them inParis several times as well.

OH my, the craziest trip with them in, maybe, 1984 was from Paris through the south of France to have an al fresco dinner & Foie Gras with Francoise's family. This is the trip where some dumb Americans learned the difference between pate & Foie Gras. WOW, what a difference!!! and THEN , and THEN on to the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain !

We slept on a blanket in a park because there were no rooms to be had. It was hot and noisy 24 hours a day. I don't thing ANYBODY slept much. I know WE didn't. No, we did not run with the bulls but had a great viewing spot on top of a fence. I would never be able to climb up on that fence today. Sure glad we did it when we were able to.

Note: Francoise told me that a Fig Chutney is especially good with the Foie Gras on top of a "good" , slightly toasted bread.

Well, I got carried away on memory-lane. It felt good !