Don't Worry Be Happy

Day 2 and 3 on the boat and cycling through vast farmlands of barley, wheat, corn, canola, sunflowers (not in bloom), poppies.  Riding sweep (at the back of the peleton) in the rain. Luckily only about 20 min at the start of the ride.  You know how much I love the rain!  One of these babies is not like the others.  Our boat Claire d'Etoile (Starlight) The food is ridiculously amazing prepared by our Belgium  Dutch chef Frank. Three course meals every night, elegantly presented and so delicious .  After dinner we started the pétanque competition. It’s like lawn bowling or bocce only with metal balls. Very popular in this part of France. My team didn’t win, but there’s always tomorrow!

With only a couple of days in Paris, and knowing there’d be a bit of jet lag, we didn’t plan much. Spent a few hours at Le Louvre, experienced the city from the hop on hop off bus, managed a few rain showers (intermittent), saw the newly restored Notre Dame (stunningl), and enjoyed some good food. This incredible ceiling is in the room with the French Crown Jewels. It wasn't as crowded as I anticipated for the most famous of them all.  The detail in the stained glass windows in Notre Dame is unbelievable.  I almost managed a selfie without my finger in the way! The flower market   You know all those 'love locks' that people put in bridges? Well it’s now illegal after one bridge partially collapsed under the weight.  Some people still do it and this guy is cutting them off.  Someone’s random art project? After spending a confusing amount of time at the train station trying to figure how to get tickets, which train to take (is it the RER, the R, M, Hall 1,2 or3?) ...