So, I spent ten days in Nantes (yes, the Nantes of the Edict of Nantes (1598) abrogated by Louis XIV (1685)), Normandy, and Paris. Surprising, I suspect, those who mistake my making IR jokes about France for a dislike of France. Remember that the only government that I tell more jokes about than the govt of France is the govt of the U.S.
So, as usual, I do have my own two-cents worth of thoughts about places that I visit. One, the French nationals in Nantes and Normandy were as friendly and helpful as you will find people anywhere. Ok, maybe this has to do with my inept attempts to at least ask directions to the bathroom and for a cup of coffee in their language. Two, Jules Verne rocks--got to go to his house (now a museum) look at the models and posters of movies made from his books and just ponder for a moment or two the breadth of imagination that filled those rooms during Verne's lifetime. Three, Saumur Champigny is a great red wine varietal. Four, I still feel like a 10 year old school boy when I see castles and ruins--loved Clisson, Angers, and Guerande. Five, Normandy was chilling, I walked where death and destruction were mighty and heroes still lie, I'll admit it, I wept. Point du Hoc (hail to the Rangers), ya'll climbed that under fire--wow. Omaha beach, that ravine is the path of the beach, through that foliage, and oh yeah the guys shooting at you from up there. For an old airman, and pointy-headed academic geek, it was a nearly overwhelming experience. Six, Versailles is a low rent district palace in comparison to the Peterhof, Catherine's Palace and the Winter Palace I saw in St. Petersburg last May, sorry France, but ya'll don't have enough gold leaf covering everything. Seven, did you see the "Marriage at Cana" by Veronese? No, but I saw that little painting on the other side of the room called "Mona Lisa". Of course I saw the Marriage at Cana--it is huge. You really need several hours or only one hour to go to the Louvre--do you want overload or just to look at some specific art? Finally, Parisians told me to enjoy the snow because it doesn't happen that often, well if I wanted snow I could have stayed at home.
Anyway, that is the abbreviated two cents. I'll say more,maybe even share a picture or two later. Meantime, go to my website to see pictures as I post them: http://www2.gcc.edu/dept/pols/faculty/stanton/
So, as usual, I do have my own two-cents worth of thoughts about places that I visit. One, the French nationals in Nantes and Normandy were as friendly and helpful as you will find people anywhere. Ok, maybe this has to do with my inept attempts to at least ask directions to the bathroom and for a cup of coffee in their language. Two, Jules Verne rocks--got to go to his house (now a museum) look at the models and posters of movies made from his books and just ponder for a moment or two the breadth of imagination that filled those rooms during Verne's lifetime. Three, Saumur Champigny is a great red wine varietal. Four, I still feel like a 10 year old school boy when I see castles and ruins--loved Clisson, Angers, and Guerande. Five, Normandy was chilling, I walked where death and destruction were mighty and heroes still lie, I'll admit it, I wept. Point du Hoc (hail to the Rangers), ya'll climbed that under fire--wow. Omaha beach, that ravine is the path of the beach, through that foliage, and oh yeah the guys shooting at you from up there. For an old airman, and pointy-headed academic geek, it was a nearly overwhelming experience. Six, Versailles is a low rent district palace in comparison to the Peterhof, Catherine's Palace and the Winter Palace I saw in St. Petersburg last May, sorry France, but ya'll don't have enough gold leaf covering everything. Seven, did you see the "Marriage at Cana" by Veronese? No, but I saw that little painting on the other side of the room called "Mona Lisa". Of course I saw the Marriage at Cana--it is huge. You really need several hours or only one hour to go to the Louvre--do you want overload or just to look at some specific art? Finally, Parisians told me to enjoy the snow because it doesn't happen that often, well if I wanted snow I could have stayed at home.
Anyway, that is the abbreviated two cents. I'll say more,maybe even share a picture or two later. Meantime, go to my website to see pictures as I post them: http://www2.gcc.edu/dept/pols/faculty/stanton/
