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The French Ride
  • Bruce Dimon
  • Bruce Dimon

The French Ride

After a few days in Paris to shake off the jet lag, I'll rent a motorcycle for 15 days and ride through the Alps down to the Riviera and back. Читать далее
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  • Bruce DimonThe French RideBruce Dimon
    The great glass and iron dome
    The view of the Opera from the roofEnjoying a shopping experience, imagine thatOf course there's a glass walkway out to the middle of the void

    Galeries Lafayette

    1 сентября 2024 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    I needed to buy a swimsuit and some souvenir gifts for the family. The Galeries Lafayette is a historic department store. Some people say that it was the Prototype for the modern department store. It also has one of the best views of Paris from its roof.

    I needed to buy a French bathing suit for the hotel pool. You see, the American bathing suits are too large and baggy for hygienic purposes, according to the French. American style baggy shorts are worn at the beach, but not in pools. Official suits are available in two sizes, small and tiny. Yes, I am talking about men's swimsuits. You will be happy to know I did not buy the tiny Speedo size.    Читать далее

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  • Bruce DimonThe French RideBruce Dimon
    Take the pedestrian underpass
    Remembrance ceremonies are frequently held at the tomb of the unknown soldierThe scooter is looking for an opening to get to his exitGet into the inside of the circle is easy, getting out of it is hardThe paralympic symbol on the arch

    Arc de Triomphe

    1 сентября 2024 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    When I was in high school, the Étoile was where I used to meet my friends. Then we would head out for a night of... culturally enriching experiences.

    The traffic around this circle is crazy. It uses the old rules of priority to the right. That means that anybody entering the circle has the right-of-way over people already in it. It's crazy because you race in at full speed and slam on the brakes because the people at the very next street are racing in at full speed too. And yet, a lot of crazy tourists decide to cross this on foot instead of using the pedestrian underpass.

    A ceremony had just concluded at the tomb of the unknown soldier underneath the Arc.    Читать далее

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  • Bruce DimonThe French RideBruce Dimon
    You buy food from the man in the window and eat it on the street

    Crêpes for Dinner

    1 сентября 2024 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    This crêperie is only as wide as the window you see. Inside, it's barely big enough for the chef to work. The door in the picture is not for customers, but for the apartment building. You buy your food at the window and eat it on the street. I had a galette (savory buckwheat crêpe) with ham, egg, & cheese; it was delicious. After that, I ordered a sweet crepe with chestnut cream. The French do fast food right.Читать далее

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  • Bruce DimonThe French RideBruce Dimon
    Posing for a picture
    Posing for a pictureI wanted to see the Olympic ringsAlways spectacularFrom the Pont d'IénaFrom the right bankFrom the right bankThe sparkling lights are prettier than I expectedFrom the Pont d'Iéna

    Eiffel Tower

    1 сентября 2024 г., Франция ⋅ 🌙 73 °F

    I told myself that I did not need to see it, but something made me want to see it. The sparkling lights were added after my time in Paris and were as pretty as the guidebooks say. There was a huge crowd but plenty of space to easily accommodate them.

    I expected a lot of Instagram poses but was surprised at the number of ladies in formal gowns. Some of them brought professional photographers. Some of these pros illuminated their subjects with bright lights. One was filming a wedding proposal with a massive diamond. Another filmed a quinceañera. The girl's glittering gown swirled as she danced with her father. You can hear some of the music in the last video.    Читать далее

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  • Bruce DimonThe French RideBruce Dimon
    Beer and laundry
    Bavette Steak, always a great choice.

    Laundry and Beer

    2 сентября 2024 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Remember in college when you used to drink beer while you did laundry at the laundromat? It's still fun!

    I am in Aix-les-Bains which is where I will pick up the motorcycle at 6:30 tonight. I have plenty of time to do laundry before checking in at the hotel.

    At this Cafe, I experienced French friendliness and helpfulness. It happened because I respected their customs. I arrived about 10 minutes before 2:00. I asked them if it was too late for lunch and the man replied, "of course." You see, they only serve lunch between noon and 2:00 p.m. I missed it, my fault.

    I said I would like a beer and to sit outside. They served me a beer and then, after a few minutes, the waitress came out to ask if I would like something to eat. I asked what was available and she replied that I could have a bavette. This steak, also called flap steak in English, is a popular meal in France. It's a long, flat and tender cut of meat that comes from the bottom sirloin, near the flank steak. It is a lean cut and tastes like flank steak. It came with a creamy cheesy herb sauce for the meat, homestyle potatoes, and Ratatouille.

    So why did they serve me lunch after lunch hours? I think it was because they're nice people, they genuinely want people to enjoy their food, I did not fuss when they said it was too late for lunch, I was content to just have a beer. The business is always right and the customer is often wrong. I was wrong to show up late. They were right to tell me I was too late. Then they decided to go the extra mile. They offered me what was convenient for them.

    If I had complained about lunch closing at 2:00 or tried to tell them that it was the wrong thing to do, I would have experienced rudeness. I would have deserved it too. The Americans and English who complain about French rudeness don't get that they were rude first. Vive la difference.    Читать далее

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  • Bruce DimonThe French RideBruce Dimon

    The French Ride Office

    2 сентября 2024 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    At last, it's time to pick up the motorcycle. I rented one exactly like the one I owned so that I wouldn't have to deal with unfamiliarity on a strange and challenging road. These guys were great and the bike was set up perfectly. I should have taken the picture but I forgot.

    Not only do these guys rent motorcycles, but they are also real travel agents. They found the coolest hotels and the best routes. They planned a better trip than I could have from across the ocean.    Читать далее

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  • Bruce DimonThe French RideBruce Dimon
    Poulet croustillant and soggy fries. The beer from Brasserie du Mont Blanc was delicious.
    They call Aix-les-Bains the Riviera of the AlpsBeautiful Lac du Bourget

    Dinner on the Beach

    2 сентября 2024 г., Франция ⋅ 🌙 73 °F

    I'm dining at an outdoor cafe on the beach in Aix·les-Bains - Riviera des Alpes. The sun is setting and the sky is beautiful.
    The food is disappointing but the beer is delicious. I ordered "poulet croustillant" which sounds lovely, but is just the French version of chicken fingers. I also had a delicious beer from Brasserie du Mont Blanc. That's a brand to remember.

    Smoking is allowed at outdoor tables and you would be surprised how many young people smoke. It's mostly young women and I guess they do it to stay thin. Most French women are very slender.
    I remember how it suppressed the appetite. It's been five decades since I quit and a whiff from the next table triggered an addiction response. No worries though. I remember how much easier it was to breathe after quitting. I still breathe well and I plan to continue.    Читать далее

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  • Bruce DimonThe French RideBruce Dimon
    This is what I came to see
    Col de Semnoz, Mont Blanc is behind that hazeThe inhabitants of the Col de Semnoz.Col de Semnoz.The musical cows of Col de Semnoz.

    Col de Semnoz

    3 сентября 2024 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    My first Alpine mountain pass was Col de Semnoz. It was too hazy to see Mont Blanc but the closer mountains were beautiful. There are a lot of tractors on the roads and hundreds of bicyclists. The latter are easy to pass but the former, not so much.

    With the engine off, I heard the cowbells. The animals came towards me as if I had a treat for them. Or maybe they knew who I had for dinner last night. I left when they got close.

    This was a good introduction to mountain riding because the parts with step drop-offs are short and the road goes through a forest for most of it.    Читать далее

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