This was another day for revisiting the past in Paris. It began by catching quick shots of automotive history that cruised right past my lens. The first was spying a car that was almost underfoot when we lived in France some 52 years ago but now virtually extinct. 
The Citroen 2 CV or Deux Chevaux…so named to reflect its French taxable horsepower of two horses. It was the lowest tax for a car so it sold like hot crepes even though ugly as sin. They are now used as tourist taxis. Paris always was, and still is, a car fest feast for the eyes. Read more
B08 LOUISE REVISITS THE MADELEINE CHURCH
B07 PARIS: YESTERDAY AND TODAY
Yesterday we had one of those relapse days where we couldn’t get to sleep and then couldn’t get up. LA must still have its teeth in us. Today dawned bright and clear (the weather has been spectacular…warm and moist.) We set off on the promised mission for AFNer Richard Amaral who asked if we could verify that Harry’s New York Bar was still at 5 rue de Danour. He and his wife visited it in the late ’50’s and have good memories. Well, the exterior is still there but, being from Hollywood, we had to make sure it wasn’t a facade.
Inside it looks like nothing has changed since Hemingway used borrowed pencils to scratch out his novels. Sorry Richard, I mentioned your name but the bartender said he wasn’t born until the ’70’s but his father might remember. They’re celebrating 100 years and the bar is still in the family.
To further verify the veracity of the bar, I had a beer in the honor of Richard and his wife. It was a small effort to salute a long-time marriage. Read more
B06 OUR FIRST DAY IN PARIS
We have just completed our first twenty four hours in Paris beginning with our grand arrival at Charles De Gaulle airport. We were met by long time friend Herve Laurent who, immediately, made us feel at home by joining rush hour traffic on the peripherique freeway that circles Paris. It was so like LA that even the graffiti seemed familiar.
We arrived in the 14th district of Paris, not too far from the Montparnasse tower…the tallest building in Paris. Our daughter, Chrise, was waiting with a meal and a bed. After so many hours without good sleep it was a hard choice but we went for the food and wine first. After our customary twelve hours in bed, we got up feeling drowsy and already late for lunch.
Since breaking her foot after falling down her circular staircase, Chrise said there were errands that needed to be run so we split up into teams. Louise went with our grandson, Kade, with a list of grocery items and other needs. Not surprisingly it turned into a chocolate hunt and neighborhood tour. I was teamed with our crippled daughter who, after a month on crutches, was almost able to outrun me, including zipping up and down metro stairs, hopping on buses and dodging the ubiquitous motor scooters that fill in the spaces between the Parisian taxis. Our chores were far ranging but I was certainly on the right team. Read more
Categories: France, l'Avant Comptoir, Paris
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B05 THE DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED
We are in a last minute flurry of tying up last minute details before our good friends, the Crofoots, pick us up for our breakaway trip to LAX. We will be taking all the drugs to prevent travel tiredness but, for me, it’s too late. I already have jet lag. Unfortunately, Louise has “buyers remorse.” When I woke up this morning she was unpacking her suitcase. A heart to heart conversation, plus locking her bag with a TSA lock and new combination, has solved that problem for the moment. We’re off at 1930 (7:30 PM) for Paris via Zurich and will land at Charles de Gaulle at 1800 (6PM)…just in time for the cocktail hour. We’ll be in Paris for a few days, then on to the 24 hour race at Le Mans…the place where we began our life together fifty three years ago.
a bientôt . Louise and Ray
Wish us luck on this great adventure.
Louise and Ray
Categories: Los Angeles
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B04 ADRIFT ON THE SEA OF BUREAUCRACY
We are finally committed. The MG was taken to Direct Express last week and is now securely loaded in a container headed for Le Havre. It is bunked in with an over-restored 1949 Chevrolet pickup truck…exactly like the one I learned to drive in 1950. Almost at the last minute we took it in for a tune-up because of some concern about the carburetors. The mechanics worked hard to get it ready for delivery to Direct Express the next day. At the end of the day they called to say it was running beautifully and they were going for a test drive. The next call was alarming. During the test drive the mechanic pushed the clutch pedal in and it never came back up. The clutch connecting rod had severed. There was no time to get a new one from Moss Motors so they elected to weld it the next day. I called the shipper and begged more time. The worry wasn’t over. Just before we picked up the MG they adjusted the newly installed choke cable. The wire broke. With no time left it was decided I’ll have to order a new one and install it myself in France. Why all these problems you might ask?
Categories: Los Angeles
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