Man Descending: Chasing the Sun

I have returned to the Great White (or brown, as the case would have it) North with many memories, more pictures, and still more miles on my shoes. France is a wonderful, beautiful place with so much to see and do, it's a bit overwhelming. Paris is a spectacular example of history in progress- from Roman Classicism to Medieval Austerity, from Modernist Brutality to Postmodern whimsy, from the Mona Lisa to Graffiti. The world meets, chats, and does lunch in Paris. Granted, there were bad experiences and challenges, but I think that what's crucial to remember when traveling anywhere is that no matter where you go, people live and work there. There will be nice and rude people everywhere, spots of luck and patches of misfortune. A city isn't a museum, no matter how beautiful it may be, and that is perhaps the greatest lesson I can give any would-be travelers to Paris- take the beautiful with the run down and the good with the bad. You have to give yourself to Paris, not expect Paris to give itself over to you.

Provence is a bit different. The pace is much slower and more relaxed- perhaps more comfortable for tourists struggling with language barriers and time differences. But again, many of the larger towns like Aix are too chic and energetic to exist in a kind of antique-ey vacuum. I will definitely return to Aix and settled there for an extended stay and come to know the city a bit more as my own, but for now I will remember it fondly for its wonderful people, beautiful weather and scenery, and the roses.

I'm going to create an online photo album and create a public link for those who want to see all of them, but for now, here is a smattering of my favorites (click the photo to see it full-size).

Detail- Eiffel Tower