MY TRIP TO FRANCE. Part Ten: The Embassy

Tuesday, June 5, 2012     

Day Ten

A church in Valognes at 5:30 in the morning on our walk to the train station.

We woke up at 4:45am and by 5:20 were walking, pulling all our luggage, about a mile to the train station.  It was dark and we only encountered about four cars.  By the time we reached it we were in the hazy dusk of morning’s genesis, so peaceful and very damp. 

Enjoying the train ride to Paris.

So we are now on the train heading southeast toward Paris.  We will arrive in a little less than three hours.  The day brightens even with a thick cloud cover, revealing the countryside and villages more with every passing moment. 

I am wearing her out!

I am reading the book I bought at Vivian's La Fiere Inn called No Better Place to Die by Robert Murphy about his experience as a soldier who was one of the first to go in on DDay to Normandy as an Airborne Pathfinder.  Reading it while still here is quite an experience.  I will probably read for much of this train trip.

The Paris bistro we frequented, and today we get an omelet.

This afternoon, we have been invited by the Ambassador himself to tour the US Embassy in Paris as his special guest.  He may not give the tour but it was he who extended the invitation.  I must say that riding the train between Valognes and Paris is a very comfortable and enjoyable experience!

A lavatory in a public toilet.

We had some time before we met with the team for our visit with the Ambassador.  We descend into the flurry that is Paris once again.  After we drop off our luggage at the Avalon, we decide to wander up to our little Bistro for an omelet.  Again it is amazing.  Always thinking it may be the last whatever, we embrace and relish each food, shop and experience. 

Fitting room in the aisle of this clothing shop.

We then meandered and tried on a few clothes at various shops.  In one shop the fitting room was in the very middle of an aisle, a circular round rod which you would pull the curtain around it until you were secluded.  When done you just pull the curtains back and the area becomes the store aisle again.  We talked and walked and enjoyed a light misty sprinkle.  

We never get tired of admiring the many churches in France.

We got back to the Avalon hoping they would let us have our room early so we could get ready for our Embassy visit.  Indeed they worked us into a very nice room on the fourth floor.  It is so much bigger and the view way better then we had before.  The team, in a maze of rendezvous, ended up making our room the base point for changing clothes, cleaning up and leaving their stuff.  We finally secured our cabs and arrived at the Embassy which is located at the foot of Champs-Elysees.  We walked right by it last week and didn't even know it, or suspect that we would be connected.  And now we are to be honored guests of the Ambassador himself.

I still am not used to the bike lanes of Paris.

We arrived at the Embassy entrance and were escorted through security.  Unfortunately we were under the impression that we could take no photos, so my camera remained under lock and key with security while my mind took in every sight.  One camera went in so the team could document their accomplishments on this mission.  I hope to get one or two to have for myself.  The images are clear in my memory.  An unforgettable place.

Our room in the Avalon, sampling our Embassy chocolate.

After we had ascended the spacious stairs we were greeted enthusiastically by Charles Rivkin.  He drew us into his amazing office and talked to us and with us.  He gave us his history which, he told us can be googled and found on Wikipedia.  He told about the honor it was to serve as the Ambassador of France because his father was Ambassador of Qatar.  Mr. Rivkin said he learned French in school and has been an exchange student in France.  Further study was done for this assignment.  His French is excellent.   

The view from the pizza place where we all had dinner.

He took the time to ask about the mechanics of his tandem parachute jump and I have rarely seen a more attentive person than him.  The team was praised and given accolades beyond any the team had ever received.  He asked me in a very sweet way who I was to the team.  When I told him I was Rachel’s mother he smiled spent several minutes in conversation just with me.  I told him I loved his speech and even though most of it was in French, he was so inspiring, it was the feeling. 

Our amazing dinner.

He must have spent about an hour with us.  He gave us each a bottle of French Champaign and a large box of Embassy chocolates.  He made a big deal out of Rachel being here as a woman Golden Knight!  He told us how impressed he was with her. 

Real Petit Fours!

He told us that even though the French don’t outwardly show a lot of patriotism but they love that Americans do.  They are impressed that the Marine guards, who cannot stand to see our nation's flag not fully unfurled, will ask permission to untangle it and let it fly free—the large American flag on a pole which is on the front of the Embassy, attached to the balcony of the Ambassador’s office.  The French guards watch those US marine fellow guardsman perform this task so respectfully.  I am so proud of them!  Tears stung my eyes.  Mr. Rivkin had to return to work.  He bid us a warm and grateful goodbyes and promised to write to their commander a letter of high commendation.   He then turned us over to his aide, Dennis, who took us through the rest of the Embassy.  A small shopping room containing gifts and food to buy inspired us to make a couple of nice purchases.  I bought myself a scarf and a tie for Ric.

Other treats in the shop.

When we all left, a feeling of amazement came over us all.  We talked about it all the way to the Metro station.  We quietly rode the Metro back to our room and talked and laughed again. 

Rachel led us all through town for a long way--uphill for some of it.  We ended up at an Italian restaurant and I ordered spaghetti with zucchini and Rachel ordered a Margarita pizza.  It perked us all up!

We walked by the Square Louis Michel. 

On our way home (I had expressed a desire earlier to sample a petit four) we saw a confection shop and went in to check it out.  It was a shop of sweets that are created by this man and his—either wife or daughter.  Girls and women all look so young in France, no one has gray hair because they color it, as far as I have seen.  When we asked if they make petit fours, he brought out four amazing creations and explained that a petit four is any bite-sized work of art!  He had made a raspberry gazebo, a tiny lacey tart, a chocolate caramel triangle and a jelly tart with a raspberry on top…they all were so beautiful that we all ooed and ahhed. 

Aaron and Noah on our way back to the Hotel. 

Street repairs in Paris.

 

They answered our questions about the other treats.  The man then brought out a tray of six of his creations and said “You try.”  We posed holding them while they took our picture then sampled the exquisite petit fours.  We bought a few of their chocolates to bring home to the states.  Again we walked away from another place having gained special friends.

Beautiful Paris balconies.

I went downstairs to ask for a second pillow.  The gentleman at the counter told me: ‘No second pillow, we cannot do that.”  I said, “I must have a second pillow.” “We cannot share pillows between rooms.” “But I had a second pillow when I was here four days ago. It was in our closet.” “Look in the closet of your room.”  “There is no closet in my room and no second pillow.”  He was quite adamant as was I.  When I told him that I needed it because of my back, he said, “You don’t need a pillow for your back.  You go out dancing and find a nice French man to dance with…”  I informed him my husband would not like that.  He assured me, “He won’t know.”  I laughed and shook my head No!  The young Malaysian girl who had been listening to this shocking dialogue patted my arm and said smiling, “I am very happy about that,” meaning she was relieved to hear my reply!

This is not the place you want to take your date!

 He assumed the attitude of defeat and went in search of a pillow.  He went in and out of several storage rooms and after some time, he came in with a pillow that looked like it was new.  I thanked him profusely he waved a “you’re welcome.”  Rachel, who I found in our room ready to go searching for me, cracked up at the whole story.  She told me she would have given up a lot sooner if she had been down there.  I held up my pillow like it was a trophy.  

This is from my travel journal.
How I love my Canon Powershot!