Paris does abide. The last time I was in France was for my sister in law’s wedding, in Grenoble in 2019 I think. Before then, it was for a few days with my wife and my other sister in law, touring Notre Dame and the Champs Elysée. We stayed at a VRBO in a wealthy part of town, an old townhouse which had been occupied by the Nazis and was full of closets of papers and books and trinkets — and it was haunted. The most memorable time I had in Paris was on a layover, three nights I think, alone on a work trip. I went to the Louvre and Shakespeare and Company. I walked along the Seine. It was April and drizzling, cool and the tourists had not yet arrived for summer. I ate pasta and drank wine and read a book, the cool air blowing over me and to the muffled sounds of Paris. Paris does abide. https://www.artpal.com/joeldhirst?i=319328-37