The Palace of Westminster

I’ve been lucky with almost a month of sunshine, with just a few cloudy or partly cloudy days. especially in the last two weeks in London and Paris. Right now the sun is shining brightly as I compose this blog in the town of Stevenage, a town a mere 20 minutes on the train from Kings Cross station in London. This extended sunshine makes up for the month of dreariness in December in Amsterdam. But whatever the weather conditions might be, it is what it is, so it wouldn’t stop me from exploring whatever particular place I’m in. But I am happy with the sun. The temperatures have been averaging 60 degrees. As a result, I am doing a lot more walking. In the last two weeks I’ve done the most walking on the trip so far. In Paris alone I walked a total of 31 miles in 3 days. I’m going to need new shoes (just like Leo). In Paris and London, cities which I’ve been to twice before, I revisited some places I really like and explored new uncharted territory. If I’m in Paris I will always go up Montmartre hill to the Sacré-Cœur and sit on the steps. Sometimes I’ll decide to walk down this avenue or that boulevard without knowing what I’ll come across, like a mural or a statue or a cool storefront.

La Galette Des Moulin-Montmartre

Red Box along Albert Embankment

In London and Paris, I stayed outside the city center, in East London and on the eastern edge of Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement of Paris respectively. These weren't tourist areas at all. They are working class communities.These are communities with families of first and second generation immigrants as well as newcomers from various parts of the world. I ventured out one day to High St in East Ham, which was a bustling street with all kinds of shops and restaurants and it’s pretty much all for the locals. I most likely would not have gone to these areas otherwise. The same is true for New Barnet, the town I stayed in for 3 days before London. New Barne is on the northern outskirts of London. The last stop of the Piccadilly line stops there. I pet sat three cats; Izma, Chica and Bella. New Barnet is a town I had never heard of and wouldn’t have gone to. Just like the east sides of London and Paris. That's the fun of this thing sometimes, not knowing where I’m going and ending up in new places. It’s walking around, trying a coffee from that shop or a sandwich from that restaurant. Or it’s just plainly walking down a new street or park, like the Covert Way Local Nature Reserve in New Barnet. I had a day before my next pet-sit in East London to take care of Rudi, so I had to book a night in a hotel. This is where I accidentally booked a pod in Hackney. I wrote about that experience here.

Barking Rd-London

Canary Wharf

Rudi of East London

Bella of New Barnet

Izma of New Barnet

Chica of New Barnet

On this adventure I’m really very grateful to be able to go to places like London and Paris and just walk around and photograph all the things I come across. When I walk around, I really enjoy photographing the shiny glass towers at Canary Wharf as well as the distressed storefronts on Barking Road in Plaistow. I’m excited to go anywhere and photograph anything. In London I ended up photographing a burlesque show right by Piccadilly Circus. The show was great (House of Burlesque-London) It was a new venue for this production and they had an enthused, energetic, sold out crowd. Sometimes on my walks I need to remind myself that there is no rush and to sit, relax and reflect on some of these places I get to go to. In Paris I bought lunch and ate in Jardin du Luxembourg as the sun shone down upon me. Of course while on this trip, I have my ups and down, like everyone else. The questions of my sanity still come across my mind, for taking this trip to begin with. It’s completely different than anything I’ve ever done in my life, so it can be uncomfortable at times. Recently I was missing Austin. I was reminiscing about just the simple things like taking the 20 minute leisurely walk from my apartment on S Congress ave to Trader Joe in the Seaholm District. It’s a lovely walk along and across Lady Bird Lake. Then after, I meander through the downtown streets towards the South First Street Bridge and make my way back home. Sometimes I have some strange experiences and my mind thinks ridiculous things. In the end they are silly or absurd and really of no consequence. Of course as I’m going through it, I’m thinking the gods are against me, like my last night in Paris.

Lolo Brow

Fou Fou Kaboom

Bettsie Bon Bon

MC and Producer Tempest Rose

I had made a friend in Paris the last time I was there so when I knew I was coming back, we made some vague plans to meet for dinner. She was working during the day and I was just walking around Paris. We texted each other during, trying to figure out when and where we’d meet. My phone battery at this time was extremely low. She eventually suggested a place for dinner. I replied groovy and then quickly looked at the map to see where it was. I saw that it’s in the 11th arrondissement. Then the phone goes dead. Fuck! I have no idea what time we’re supposed to meet. She could be texting me back saying, “I’ll meet you in a half an hour.” It's around 6pm. Also I forgot the name of the restaurant. I used all my brain power to remember where it is from my brief look at the seconds ago. I do have a charger, however. So I decided to hop on the metro and just to go in the direction where I think it is and find a place to charge my phone. In Paris, for travel on the trains, there’s a refillable pass called Navigo Easy that you place on a card reader at the turnstile to gain access to the metro. Just as I put my pass on the card reader a woman calls my attention. A piece of my cheap glasses that broke earlier in the day fell out of my pocket onto the floor. I had a back up pair with me, so why I kept the broken pair is beyond me. I turned around to pick it up. Meanwhile someone went through my turnstile. That was my last ride on the card. So I had to go to the kiosk and put more rides on the card. I get on M8 and get off at Saint-Denis because that’s the general area of where I think the restaurant is and also there are a lot of restaurants, bars, etc so I believe I’ll have a greater opportunity to charge my phone. I’m hoping to find a Starbucks. I came up from the metro. I saw a McDonalds but no outlets. There’s a KFC across the street but no outlets there either. I start walking up and down Bd Saint-Martin. I’m thinking that my friend is texting me,”Hello are you still there?” I passed by a hair salon. I saw an outlet. How can I get that outlet? I kept walking. Where are all the Starbucks? My friend, “Hello, do you still want to meet? I’m feeling desperate. I’m passing all these bars and restaurants. There’s a small supermarket, I check to see if there are any outlets in there for me to use. Nothing. My friend, “I guess you don’t want to meet.” I see myself holding my arms up with my phone in one hand and my charger wrapped around the other, on my knees, grunting real loud like some mad man.”Ugh, Ugh” Luckily, it doesn’t get to that. I come upon a small boulangerie and I see two, sweet, European sockets. I order a latte and plug in. I read my friend's text. “I made a booking for 8:30”. I replied, "I’ll be there.” It’s about 7pm. I look at the map and see the restaurant Persil is just off of Rue du Temple, the cross street is Rue Amelot. I was pretty close, just a stop away. I decided to walk it since I have the time. My phone is now at 17%. That’s enough. I leave the boulangerie and start walking. I reach Place de la République, a plaza that has several streets originating from it, including Rue du Temple. I double checked the map. My phone is at 12%. I don’t keep the directions active because I fear my phone will die. I start walking down Rue du Temple and look for the cross street Rue Amelot. I keep walking but don’t see the cross street Rue Amelot. I walk further and still no Amelot. I look at the map. I see that I’m several blocks away in the other direction. How can that be? 6% Okay it seems to be a few blocks this way and a few blocks that way. I should mention here that my back up glasses are not as strong as the other ones that broke earlier in the day. I’m walking, and still can’t find Amelot. I don’t understand what’s going on. I look at the phone. I see where it is. Then the phone dies again. Are you kidding me? Is this ridiculous or what? I wanted to scream like Superman does at the end of the first movie when Lois Lane dies. I feel like a clumsy fool. I have bad phone battery management. I keep walking around without a clue. I spot a little kiosk by the bus stop that has a small map on it.. I rushed to it. I immediately looked for Rue Amelot. I see it on the map. It’s just a few blocks away. I walk briskly towards it. I don’t even know what time it was. I’m on Rue Amelot and after walking one direction on Amelot then the other way and then back the other way again, because I was finding it fast enough the first time. I finally found the restaurant. It was actually only 8PM, so I was early. I reflected on the crazy odyssey I was just on? Eventually my friend arrived. She is with her friend who is staying with her, from Austin by the way. The rest of the evening was magnificent. The dinner was absolutely wonderful. I had Lasagna di Prezzemolo. We all were amazed at the deliciousness of our meals. What’s more, the atmosphere in this small, intimate restaurant was first rate. We had sparkling conversations throughout. A truly wonderful way to end the night and erase the awfulness of the few hours earlier. By the way, the reason why I was so off was I thought the restaurant was off of Rue du Temple but it was actually Bd du Temple. Two streets both originating from Place de la République. Geesh!

Grand Bassin Rond at at Tuileries Garden

Queen Elizabeth II Great Court-British Museum

Golden Jubilee Bridge

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise

The next day I was back on the Eurostar, back in London and then up to Stevenage for another house sit. In this round, in addition to Stevenage, I'll be in Cleethorpes, Bedford and Glasgow. That's all for now. Check out my plethora of photos from London and Paris, And check out these photos for sale to help fund my continuing trip. Have a wonderful Spring.

How are you?