I took this photo earlier this week and now, due to rain and winds, those leaves are on the ground. Both Don and I felt a bit blue yesterday because it got much colder and we had a strong sense that the temps had officially moved to ‘winter’ mode.
And we’re not big fans of winter, to put it mildly.
It’s windy today, but sunny.
I’m remembering a couple of questions that were raised during my travel posts.
One reader asked if it was hard to find vegetarian food while traveling. The answer is that is was surprisingly easy. The French and the English love their meat, that’s for sure, but we could always find a vegetarian option on the menu, and quite often, a vegan option. Even on the first night we arrived in Paris, jet lagged and exhausted, we wandered into a bistro down the street and the lovely man behind the bar said he could whip up a salad for us with hard boiled eggs and nuts and other sources of protein. And he did. It was quite tasty.
The world is changing. Vegetarian and vegan options are becoming mainstream. Don thinks that eventually, maybe not in our lifetime, but at some point, meat will be a thing of the past. Raising animals for meat is not all good in terms of the environment, and for both us, it’s not at all a good thing morally. We could never go back to eating meat. Nor do we have to, when there are so many wonderful options out there, so many more than there were when I first became a vegetarian over 30 years ago. I pray for the day when we no longer kill our fellow innocent beings for food. When I don’t have to see cute pictures of cows on the kitchen walls of those who think nothing of turning around and eating them. Or when millions of turkeys are no longer slaughtered so humans can celebrate “Thanksgiving.”
I also pray to do better myself, because though I am consistently vegetarian, I am not consistently vegan. And I still wear leather shoes.
Another reader asked what I meant about the trip being transformational. Well, it was transformational in a few ways. Moving beyond the borders of this country and visiting another country, another culture, is always transformative. We escape the bubble in which we live. We see the world with fresh eyes. We meet people, talk to them, get different ideas and points of view. We see a world that exists quite nicely apart from ours. We also learn about issues that are important to those who live in whichever country we are visiting.
My awareness expands. My world expands.
Also, traveling involves constant visual stimulation and a constant flow of information. Seeing the Seine at all times of day, learning about the history of Notre Dame, or the Tower of London, or the ancient and now gone theaters in London that were once gathering places for live theater. Talking to a cab driver about Brexit: “Well, we’re a democracy and we voted for it, so that’s what’s happening.” Talking to another cab driver about being born in the East End and being a true Cockney. Grappling with the fact that Paris was occupied by the Germans in WWII. That London was bombed repeatedly during the Blitz and seeing the evidence left on the walls of buildings, on the walls of the Tower of London.
I got a greater understanding of history, of the patterns that keep recurring, of the past and how it is echoed by our present. And that there’s nothing new under the sun.
The trip took us far away from the States and into completely different worlds. How could that not be transformational? Also, with all the stress and insanity of the past two years here in the U.S., it was an enormous gift to leave it behind for 2½ weeks and just be. I cannot tell you how much that meant to us, how much we desperately needed it.
We were with each other 24 hours a day, every day, and we loved it. We travel well together. We miss that sense of being away from everything, just the two of us, completely and utterly engrossed in new sights, new sounds, new things, new people. To be honest, we’re still having a hard time adjusting to being back and, if we had unlimited funds, we’d be heading back there shortly.
I felt more free there than I have in years. I felt as if I had wings.
Anyway, I hope this answers those two questions. If you have more, feel free to ask.
One last picture of a sunny porch filled with potted plants. It’s going to get very cold at night this week, so these lovelies will soon be no more. That always makes me sad, but at the same time, I’m grateful that they’ve lasted this long. I fully expected to come home and find them gone due to some freak hard frost, which often happens in October.
Currently reading Michael Connelly’s newest, Dark Sacred Night. Excellent, as always. Lee Child’s newest just came out a few days ago. Susan Hill’s newest Simon Serailler mystery comes out on November 20th. And the great Louise Penny’s newest will be published on November 27th. I’m excited about all of them. The positive side of colder temps? Tucking into some hot cocoa and a good book.
Happy Saturday.
I agree with your beliefs about the transformative power of travel abroad. Two years ago, I travelled to Ireland ( so far my one and only trip off North America). As an American with many trappings of our consumer driven culture, it was good to see happy and contented people with less “stuff”. Ireland is a democratic republic with labor unions, the highest percentage of home ownership in Europe, healthcare for all, excellent education for all, and a gorgeous unspoiled environment. Americans need to see the way others around the world live!
I didn’t know all those facts about Ireland, Carolyn Marie, but I’m not surprised. Americans need to, if they can, see how other countries provide for their citizens and how the quality life is better because of that.
I understand what you mean by transformational. When I travel, especially out of this country, my world expands. I see that the world is so different then just the USA. It has changed me and I hope to someday travel out of this country again. Meanwhile stay warm. The colder weather is here and I’m home and snuggled in.
It’s very cold and windy here today. Yuck. Ah, well. I’m currently sipping hot chocolate!
I am still enjoying your travel posts. They transport me to my past visits to some of the same places. And your photos are much better than mine. :)
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Eve, and that they brought back good memories.
I am so glad you had such a marvelous trip. I hope someday to get to Italy. The art and culture there just amazes me. So glad you and Don travel well together. John and I always did also. It’s just not near as much fun traveling without him. I miss him so much.
Judy
I know you do, dear friend. It doesn’t get any easier. You were devoted to each other. Much love being sent to you.
Such a fascinating journey! Thanks for sharing! Some of those images are still floating through my mind. Also,i love your marmalade crock.And, yes to spectacular skies and magnificent rainbow presence!
That was a day I will remember for a long time, Grace!
I was in Berkeley earlier this week and daughter and I discovered a new to us vegan grill restaurant. She had “B”LTA (avocado) and I had a “bratwurst” sandwich. Both of us chose tortilla soup as the complimentary side. They were all delicious and we want to return to try the fried “chicken”. I agree that there were many vegetarian options in England. We had no trouble finding delicious food for our meals.
Sounds delicious! We had no trouble in Paris, either! It makes traveling so much easier. Though when Don was filming in Prague, he did have a problem finding good vegetarian food. Hopefully, that’s changed.
One doesn’t realize what one takes for granted as normal until one travels and meet other people’s normal.
In relation to Brexit there is sadly clear evidence of hidden Russian funding for the leave campaign so how democratic it was remains unclear. Our serious crime units are currently investigating.
I don’t know if you have ever had a chance to see the war graves in France or Belgium for WW1 and WW2? They are very moving places. I must confess to being really shocked and actually quite upset that your President wouldn’t visit them because of the rain. Remembrance is taken very seriously in Europe.
Please, don’t call him “my” President. The first thing I did after he was elected was march in a massive protest in NYC carrying a sign that said “Not my President.” And I’ve never, ever said his name in conjunction with that title.
The only thing Trump takes seriously is himself. Nothing else. He’s an embarrassment and today’s action is just one in thousands upon thousands of embarrassments since he started campaigning. Most of us are mortified and sickened by him. I cannot wait until he is indicted. And he will be.
And I know about the Russia link and have thought that to be a possibility for two years. They messed with our election and with Brexit. I didn’t choose to say that to the cab driver because it wasn’t appropriate.
Thanks, Rue.
You are quite right, getting into arguements with cabbies isn’t advised.
I didn’t mean to offend you by suggesting you endorse him or his actions. I only meant to differentiate the President of the United States, as there are political leaders from all over the world in France this weekend.
No offense taken! xo
No doubt that he was afraid to get his “hair” (?) wet!
And he demonstrated earlier that he isn’t sure how to use an umbrella. What a dolt.
I wondered if anyone engaged you in a conversation about the fake president of our country. I know he is simply a joke to most of the world, and I wondered if people you met and chatted with ever asked any questions.
Interestingly, no one did. We started the conversation a few times, but people seemed to want to stay away from that subject, either because it didn’t interest them that much or out of respect for us.
The older I get the less I can take this cold weather Claudia…going out in it just chills me to the bone…
I know. And the sheer length of the winter season can be so bleak.