The Sun had the audacity to shine in Paris today!  I went after morning bread, made an omelet and was on my way.  When the noise gets a bit much, a walk along the Seine is perfect , especially after cloudy days of rain and thunder showers. Along the river are  boats converted to bistros, canal boats for commerce and the converted canal boat that is more of a floating home.  Clearly most working canal boats are also homes, but there is a generation of retired and semi-retired canal captains.  They have their deck chairs out, flowers, herbs and the occasional tomato plant.  Since the rain has been  with Paris for the last few months, everything is green and the usual noxious aromas of the ribald crowd has been blasted away from the docks.  The cobblestones and brick are brighter than ever. 
Taking advantage of the weather I headed to the Algerian  outdoor market a few blocks West of the Bastille and hunted for a resupply of Serrano chiles, lettuce, and bananas. Lettuce was easy and a spot-on good price. The rest too pricey for my tight budget shopping. My Arab is limited to a few choice words but I made the deal and off back to the place for lunch. 

The Rant.
Met a guy, an American Governmental consultant. Talking away he mentions he is working on the money issues in the European Union, and he is in France because he says "that's where a New World Order economy is being worked out". Why France? "Because" he says, " France and Germany  " basically  are  the EU show. Could have knocked me over with a feather.   It took me a while to shake the shock off.

The  toast we  gave back in the day and,  good for now as well.
 "Here's to our  Defenders and the battles they have won, Here's to the flag may it's colors never run, May the wings of Freedom never lose a feather"


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