The most difficult is the unknown

At the grave of James Douglas Morrison

Morning visitors to Jim Morrison's gravesite

Cimeterie Pere' LaChaise (Eiffel in distance)

Paris is a complex city. Her streets radiate from hubs - plazas and monuments - all outward and intersecting at angles. There is no grid. I would never want to drive here.

Trocadero

Summit of Eiffel

 

 

The Metro has been a blessing and with a 3 day pass ($47 Euro) I have been able to go anywhere I wanted. The system is vast, the trains are safe, clean and efficient.

I am staying at 32 Blvd. du Temple (www.airbnb.com) - a block from Republique. The location is excellent and a 20 minute walk to the Louvre - which I won't see. There are multiple Metro lines at Republique, a major hub.

My hostess, Eliza, is my contemporary. She is very intelligent, helpful and has very good English. She has a piano in her 3rd floor walk-up. She works at the hospital. She loves art and jazz. She is divorced and has 2 sons. Sadly, her eldest (28) was diagnosed at age 15 with schizophrenia and has been institutionalized near Versailles for the last 4 years. This is a heavy weight on her.

She invited me to join her and her ex - Phillipe - to go to a friends art exhibition opening. Should be interesting.
The weather - awesome. All sun with mornings about 45 F and afternoons in mid-60's. Warm in sun.

. 

Republique

 

Jane and I have always sought out friendly bars while traveling. Lots of fun and great opportunities to meet people and trade information. Parisian bars are really cafes. "Bar-lite" and not much fun.

I am posting from internet café' and I hope the pictures transfer. They speak for themselves.

Today I went to the Basilica del Sacro Coure and climbed the stairs (6 Euro) to the top of dome. There is a wonderful artists community in adjacent square with street performers, painters and musicians. A very genuine feel of Paris.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmartre

Tourists and Hippies

From the Dome



Sacré-Cœur, Paris

OK gotta bounce and get back for the exhibition tonight with Elisa and ex-Phillipe. Wish me luck.

Tomorrow - TGV to Bayonne and gotta get a bicycle.

Prologue

 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James

Sure - the idea came while watching the movie "The Way". Sometime late last summer, or early fall.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441912/

It seemed like something that realistically could be done. It's not like hiking the Appalachian Trail, or single hand (solo) sailing the Atlantic. Both nearly impossible for me at this point in life. "The Way" seems like a reasonable challenge, an appropriate adventure - if properly planned and the body willing.

The first step was to approach Jane. As I am sure you'd suspect, she took awhile to thaw to the idea. And she's not going to warm. But I am the first to admit - I am a very lucky man to have such a wonderful woman in my life. We have this notion of independence in our marriage, but it's an appearance. We will miss each other.

I have recounted to a few of you - Janie has been very patient and affectionate as the departure date (Monday the 3rd) approaches. It's nice. At night she comes to me and gives me a big hug. "I am going to miss you".

"I'm going to miss you too".

"Do you think you're going to meet a strange exotic woman there?"

"Maybe."

"Would you go running off with her and start a new life?"

"I don't think so.  uuuhh..... Wait a minute - you mean someone like Penelope Cruz?"

Then another night, "Are you going to be OK? What if something happens to you. You're hurt, or you ... die?"

"Janie - if you had the choice - either I run off with a Spanish actress, or get hurt and die, which would you choose?"

She's still thinking on a very slow death.

In time, Jane has come to acquiesce. She will still worry. She's a good woman. And she might become a bit lonely. But, believe me, within 2 days of my return, she'll be asking about my next trip.

 Until my return, dear friends, please give Jane a call now and then.

People seem a bit surprised. "Who are you going with?"

"By myself."

I did invite my good friend, Robbie, from UConn. For professional reasons he had to decline.

But this is a long 5 week trip. At times it will be grueling. There are many unknowns and situational decisions will be made reading the conditions at the moment. It's not about fun. It's a test.

"But why are you doing it? Are you searching for ... God? Your soul? Meaning?"

So Dear Intrepid Reader (IR) - I will attempt to answer all your questions, and more, in the FAQ section of this blog.

Please don't hesitate to ask - I will try to post Q and A - and update the FAQ as time and technology allow.

Until then - Thanks for your interest. Please check back from time to time.

FAQ

Intrepid Reader (IR) - Tom, why are you doing it? Is this a late mid-age life search for ... ?
Tom - Basically, I'm just looking for a bit of a challenge and new experience. I'm open minded. Let's see what comes.

IR - We see you want us to call Jane and offer comfort. What's her number?
Tom - 867-5309*

IR - Gosh it looks difficult. What have you been doing to prepare?
Tom - Well, went to the gym quite a few times in late December and then early January. But then came down with a rather nasty cold. Since then I've been overindulging on YouTube videos.

IR - You must have some reservations. Anything you want to share?
Tom - I just hope Michael Pitt doesn't show up at the home doorstep when I'm gone. Jane might never let me back in.

IR - What's your plan?
Tom - 3 days in Paris. Upon arrival at CDG on March 4th I will take the RER Metro to Republique Station and walk to my apartment (www.airbnb.com) to drop my bags. Then on to Cimetere Pere Lachaise to visit the graveside of James "The Lizard King" Morrison. (I omit French punctuation).

Day Two (March 5th) - up and out early to the top of the Eiffel Tower by 10:30. I want to visit the Parisian catacombs. Notre Dame. The Latin Quarter. I have no plans to see the Mona Lisa.

Friday the 7th - I have a TGV train from Montparnasse to Bayonne arriving at 3:15 (15:15).
I want to start the Camino from Bayonne no later than Monday morning the 10th.
On April 11th - I have to be in Lisbon for a flight home

The rest is unwritten.

IR - But so much unknown. There must be more concern?
Tom - Sure - Michael Pitt taking my job filling Jane's ice cube trays.

IR - are you going to share your "pack list" for us to catalog?
Tom - no.  "No" is a good word.

IR - You think of yourself to be a big invincible guy. Do you think that's realistic at your age? What if it goes bad? What's your Plan B?
Tom - a Bus.


IR - So you're done! You completed the Camino. Any regrets?
Tom - Si. Absolutamente. Under the complete misconception that most of Europe speaks some English, I was woefully unprepared for the fact that an extremely high percentage of the people in Spain and Portugal speak no English. In fact, should you go, expect that at any moment when you critically need some piece of information, you will need to know some Spanish to get it.


Jane had given me a highly rated Spanish language course on DVD - Fluenz. I didn't get beyond disc 1. I bought flash cards and CD's for the car. I regret not having worked to strengthen my 3 years of high school Spanish. A big opportunity missed.






* from Jenny       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WTdTwcmxyo