Oh, Sweet Paree'

France, what a beautiful region. It's been an amazing week experiencing the French countryside, agriculture industry, interesting people and gaining knowledge of a region I know little about. As I type this I'm sitting in the airport in Marseille, France along the Mediterranean coast. Time has been tight the last couple days so I still have photos to post of Paris!!! We had a very short time in the city of romance and fashion, but it was a neat place to swing through. This is just one of the many amazing Cathedrals that are located throughout France.













In the media we hear quite often that the European countries are environmentally friendly and the rumor appears to carry some weight. There are a lot of roofs that have trees and plants growing on them… not in pots but as a roof. The front of building had just about every plant you could imagine covering the wall all the way to the top. Not only environmentally friendly, but it gave the building an unusual texture and color with flowers and shades of greene.

















Just down the street was the giant piece of architecture we were looking for. The Eiffel Tower proved to be even more massive than I ever imagined.


















I would guess at least four large town squares could fit in the base of the tower. We chose the less ambitious route for getting to the top. They have a large tram like thing that about 40 people could fit in. You have the choice to go to the first deck or the top deck. I went to the top deck to soak in the sunset...










You know Paris is a big city, but when you are that high above the sky and can't see the city limits, you know they're lot of people. To prove it, here's a look to the east...













And when we finally came down, it was getting dark...






As I have previously mentioned, the blue lights on the tower are reported to be in honor of France taking over the Presidential position in the European Union.
I love to take pictures and when I travel I also like to catch a shot of the hotel rooms I stay in. I failed to do that the last couple of times, but I did take this picture outside the window of our magnificent room in Paris…














And looking the other direction...








That's Carroll County farmer Aubrey Famuliner who was in the room next door. We didn't lean out the window too far. It's the fourth floor!
The following morning we packed up again and left town on a Bullet Train to southern France. Everywhere you look, what a view!! I'm a little behind on the pictures, but we've relocated to another country where I should have regular internet access. I can't wait to share pictures of some of the meals we've had. Yes, David I know you'll appreciate that!!

By the way, thanks so much for your comments. I apologize for not sending notes back but please know I love to hear your thoughts!!

Heading South

We've covered thousands of miles already and it's only day 3. Of course many of those miles were on a plane to get here in the first place. Tuesday we made the trek back to Paris and had the unique opportunity to visit the US Embassy in Paris, but we were not allowed to take any pictures. I saw a lady get in trouble for taking pictures across the street, so between that and the guns the guards were carrying, I decided not to risk taking a photo.
During out visit we me with Elizabeth Berry, Administrative Counselor for Ag Affairs at the US Embassy. We had an interesting discussion with her about trade between the United States and France. For example, each year the United States imports $2.3 billion in goods from France. On the flip side, France only imports about $700,000 in goods from the US each year. Quite a difference that I'm sure France does not mind. According to Berry France has come up with several reasons to keep our products out of the country, but of course none grounded on scientific basis, but lame excuses and delays. The prospect for change does not seem ideal because France just took over Presidency of the European Union July 1st. Needless to say, that gives the country and little more muscle to flex.
Moving on to more fun topics, Tuesday night we had the chance to do what everyone in Paris should do…. Climb the Eiffel Tower. Well, we didn't climb so much as ride the tram to the top, thank goodness. The pictures do not do it justice but I'll try anyway.

Following our trip to the top, many in the group took a boat ride on the Seine River around many parts of the city. While they did that, the rest of us took a hike to the Arch De Triumph. According to ALOT class member/tour guide Johnny Veibrock, Napolean built the massive piece of beautiful architecture for his wife.

It rains ALOT here too,

The ALOT Class XII adventure continues in France. Yesterday we were on Omaha Beach. This is another photo of La pointe du Hoc where the bomb craters and German bunkers were located. Several ALOT class members have gathered in a bunker out of the rain to listen to our guide.


By the way, thanks for the notes. It's great to know someone is reading and checking out whats going on. Keep me posted and I'll do the same!!

Over the edge of the cliff is Utah beach where soldiers first landed on D-day. Those cliffs were only one of many obstacles they had to overcome.













And many of those who lost their life in the battle were laid to rest here in France. Following the war, the land for the cemetery was donated to the United States.













One thing we have learned for travel sake, bring your umbrella. On each tour the sun was out until we were a hundred yards away from the bus. That's when Mother Nature would cut loose with a little rain and wind. As you can see Garrett Hawkins and Dan Devlin were looking very fresh following our rainy hike.


Later in the day we traveled east to Reams, France located northeast of Paris. We learned a little about the Champaign Industry in France and how they are trying to protect the Champaign name. I'll work on posting the audio so you can take a listen to the report instead of writing everything out.
Following Monday's lesson, today we visited one of the well known Champaign companies for a tour of the Champaign Caves where they age 100's of thousands (if not millions) of bottles of their delicious product. I say delicious because they insisted that we try their Champaign. Being the grateful and obedient guests that we are, we were happy to oblige. Te he he…hiccup hiccup..

This is ALOT Class member Vance Keaton. As Vance was holding the bottle we learned its value is somewhere around $15,000. They were preparing several of these large bottles to be shipped to the purchaser located somewhere in Dubai. That's Jeff Case overseeing things and trying to figure out how to get that thing home before they notice.

A New Adventure

As I type this message, we are driving down the road taking in more of the French countryside. I'll first say the buses are not too easy to type on, due to lack of legroom and the fact we're driving down the highway. We spent this morning on Utah beach, where US troops landed on D-Day at the start of World War II. Following that stopped we moved over to the cemetery where soldiers who lost their lives during the battle are buried. There's about 175 acres that France turned over to the United States Including the Cemetery memorial and the memorial that has been erected at Omaha Beach. I'll try and post additional photos later. My computer does not seem to speak French either so we are having issues. This is a photo of Utah beach. The German soldiers used these bunkers for protection and firing weapons. The lumps in the ground you see are where bombs fell around them.













Now for a couple observations I've made, starting with the flight into Paris. The farmland from the coast into France appears to be in very small plots and that appear rather choppy. Most of the acres were not squared off either. However, as we flew close to Paris, each field dedicated to agriculture production was larger and a little more similar to the U.S. Midwest. Another observation of the countryside, it really is kind of what you might expect. Many of the homes are stone with red roofs. Not all of them are red, but many of them are and it's kind of an interesting sight. They also appear to love flowers and tree. Along many roadsides there are young trees lining the shoulder. Every house is surrounds by beautiful flowering bushes in the yard with window boxes draped in pink red or white flowers too.

Happy Independence Day!

Every family has traditions, most often surrounding the Winter months but something I remember as a child may be a little different. In the Ozarks this time of year, combines are usually rolling. Not for corn or soybeans, but fescue, the perennial crop that a lot of people use as grass seed for their yard. My dad and brother logged many hours in the combine taking in another fescue crop. Each bin would be dumped into Greeny, the ol dump truck. At the end of the day we'd drive Greeny to town to unload and wait in line for our turn. From the top of the hill I could see the fireworks from the fairgrounds 5 or 6 miles away north. Every 4^th of July I think of those days. I also think of mom's lemon tea, a mixture of lemonade and iced tea, which, come to think of, I've not had in years. I know what I'm going to drink tomorrow!!

And the fair tries to draw to a close… Sunday August 19th

Rise and shine, it’s time to load things up. While packing I call Mike just to confirm that he has the missing golf cart. That's a no. I look around the trailer, another no. Now what do I do about my missing, borrowed golf cart?

While my friend Brad and I drive around the campground in search of the cart I realize this is not going to be easy. Do you know how many white two seater golf carts exist? Exactly! I don't usually get too worried but its time to call in the professionals. For cryin out load the thing could be on the way to Mexico!

As the State Patrol pulls up, Mike calls. He’s at the Red Radio and there’s an abandoned golf cart 20 feet away that could be ours. My first thought, I know that I didn't spend much time in the Bud Tent, so I DID NOT leave it behind.

Mike checks it out and thankfully it is our golf cart. Now who played this little prank? While racking my memory, I continue loading my stuff. On the last bundle, my neighbors (who helped put the awning down) ask if my golf cart was stolen. They were enjoying the evening of fresh air around midnight when a couple guys zipped by on another golf cart. Ten minutes later the two walk (stagger) back, heading back to the fairgrounds, intoxicated and whispering about their search for another cart. When the two notice my neighbors they try to casually walk away. Within minutes one of them comes from the other side of my trailer jumps on the golf cart and zooms away. Not very subtle huh?

So did my neighbors see who it was? Do I know who they were? No!

According to my friendly neighbor, "it was a cowboy and a midget cowboy!” (I'm sorry, it's not politically correct)

Just to confirm I understand things, you mean a tall guy and a short guy, or a tall guy and………Wizard of Oz size guy?

Friendly Neighbor: "Seriously, Wizard of Oz” No Way!!

That sums it up, I don’t know who did it. Later that day I visited with my friend Stacy at the Gerken Dairy Center. When I told her the story she laughed and told me the bandits had been in the dairy center the day before getting ice cream and were part of the set up crew for the concert the previous night!

So here is what my deductive reasoning tells me… thankfully, bandits eat ice cream. Also as part of the set up crew, they entertain themselves during the concert by "borrowing" a golf cart from the fairgrounds and dump it in the campground. Instead of walking back they "borrow" a cart from the campground (ours) and take it back to the concert grandstand when they are ready to call it a night. Just so happens, that's where the radio is parked. Whew, it's time to go home!

So in 2007 State Fair Summary…

A saturated Jeep

An uncooperative Air conditioner

1 written warning on the golf cart

Mike’s car towed -- twice

Mike’s new cell phone… flattened

Janet’s keys, locked up -- twice

Two golf carts -- one busted, one stolen

Two sets of neighbors coming to the rescue

Two cowboys, one average and one vertically challenged

And 11 days of good ol fun you won’t find anywhere but at the state fair….. Priceless!

It's raining, what a surprise...

Another day which means another morning, afternoon, and evening of rain lightening and thunder. Glad I had the fun of fixing the gutter yesterday. Did it work? I don't see buckets of water pouring down in front of the window, but its wet and I'm not stepping out to check it out...

Back to the fair...

Saturday, August 18th

By now, we’ve had several experiences. The past couple days have been surprisingly calm. As I sat in the radio that morning I had a feeling. Somewhere deep inside there is another story in this 2007 State Fair. When, what, who, I have no idea but there is a sneaking suspicion.

It's Saturday night and the last night of the fair. I decide to leave the golf cart at the camper for the evening and enjoy the grounds on foot. By 1 a.m. I'm back at the camper and I realize the golf cart is gone. It has to be one of two options.

a. Mike and his family took it for the evening.

b. Someone is playing a joke and moved it a short distance just to hide it for the night.

Holy House!

That’s how I feel tonight after spending time closer to the skyline. My mom and nephew are here visiting this week. Mom does a pretty good job of keeping busy so that means a lot of things get accomplished around here. My spare bedroom now has a fresh coat of paint on it. I came home from work yesterday and finished up the top part. Mom had an unfortunate encounter with a ladder a few years ago so she avoids those these days.

Tonight I came home to another home prepared meal. After that we stepped outside to tackle another chore. With all the rain my gutters are working overtime and have started pulling away from the house in revolt. When it rains, water pours down from the gutter and it’s found a way into the dark depths of my basement…. Blah!!!

I’ve been trying to sweep the water out each day and hope for things to dry, but before you know it there’s more rain. Tonight, while mom is here to break my fall or call for an ambulance if necessary, I climbed on the house to fix the gutters. After scooting all the way around the house and replacing a few things, we are back in business!! Hopefully that will hold for a while.

The countdown is on for the next big adventure which means I need to wrap up the state fair. Stay tuned and we’ll finish things before we start the next adventure.

Back to the fair…

Thursday, August 16^th

We are back in business now that we have a golf cart again. As we travel the grounds interviewing people attending the event, one of us will be in the Red Radio while the other is on the grounds doing the interviews. We use our cell phones to keep in touch and know when an interview is ready to begin. During one such report Mike is ready to do an interview but realizes his cell phone is gone. After backtracking to where he has been on the golf cart he finds the phone in the road where its been crushed by a truck and trailer. It doesn’t work any more.