tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47595474990970175482024-03-13T08:53:25.397-07:00lara simmonswriter * teacher * seekerlara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.comBlogger501125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-21945686484112876682023-06-26T14:30:00.001-07:002023-06-27T04:25:38.357-07:00The Paris Anniversary Marathon Day 4: Miles 21.5-26.2<p>Our last walking day! (Whew!) only around 5 miles to go today, yet somehow, we walked 25,000+ steps (our second longest day). Here’s the rundown for today: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO8A_wbxBEIzENG85NZHJE82Cv-BeG4kt-lfFoewmttqqCRAv1USHhWXkwN6Jww4GAPApZ53KeE-x8jq08QnarsO9eiF4gv6CaHNQ22Oo9BSH-T-eKo5LGLWUoO3yObl9ZFabIeyNZPrfOsc5-IW80gsXSHWyb0KA3DccN-hWfu4ywJliIS5MAH83Dt8/s4032/IMG_9870.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO8A_wbxBEIzENG85NZHJE82Cv-BeG4kt-lfFoewmttqqCRAv1USHhWXkwN6Jww4GAPApZ53KeE-x8jq08QnarsO9eiF4gv6CaHNQ22Oo9BSH-T-eKo5LGLWUoO3yObl9ZFabIeyNZPrfOsc5-IW80gsXSHWyb0KA3DccN-hWfu4ywJliIS5MAH83Dt8/s320/IMG_9870.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Starting at Rue de la Pompe metro station…<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWArhd5FGevgbVj4pu3EzX2XlpMkOIQzoJCkRh9yv-aJcyar6bGhShp-np6M95nt7yuKW5sHhe1TmsAllHr3Psnw85T3nL2DU_XlRfQEZOBvDAmc-9KyDxdJyzumlz3iGKHTfcWl5h4L4FCj2kdsAoeVDYSWJd4FbdGbnq91yxlmgixmIIerkvuXPsmUg/s4032/IMG_9872.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWArhd5FGevgbVj4pu3EzX2XlpMkOIQzoJCkRh9yv-aJcyar6bGhShp-np6M95nt7yuKW5sHhe1TmsAllHr3Psnw85T3nL2DU_XlRfQEZOBvDAmc-9KyDxdJyzumlz3iGKHTfcWl5h4L4FCj2kdsAoeVDYSWJd4FbdGbnq91yxlmgixmIIerkvuXPsmUg/s320/IMG_9872.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We made our way to the Bois de Boulogne, another place Lara had never been before in Paris. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWodaYilb0KCbaH_Wnw_yXm_qyF5HfG0-IIU6JUScecmtKXmcQApRiEb0wetm8yZMCM0R2xOyQG8mkIyHMOQaDNXBNJW0xXU1qDOAe4Qm2wVC9TxdQbPOU5M9OAF1ELDa9aORI0KQAGiQuC3HNedJLmiN_Qo3-5NQ5kVMF7v4nHI4Bs648VZJw7nT1dCk/s4032/IMG_9873.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWodaYilb0KCbaH_Wnw_yXm_qyF5HfG0-IIU6JUScecmtKXmcQApRiEb0wetm8yZMCM0R2xOyQG8mkIyHMOQaDNXBNJW0xXU1qDOAe4Qm2wVC9TxdQbPOU5M9OAF1ELDa9aORI0KQAGiQuC3HNedJLmiN_Qo3-5NQ5kVMF7v4nHI4Bs648VZJw7nT1dCk/s320/IMG_9873.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The entrances aren’t nearly as pleasant as the Bois de Vincennes. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzF2AFhfa4Qse-yXbEaPzq2mtBG00012c81OSHJRir_rERaAxuNtv6S0GEXa7nMD5t0yuBgkJxqS6WFYnXKDHR00af7R2gxVAiVd6GzMqwiHx9idYnDKDc4MzLwHvOWv3VHSJH9bAUeiWY3zsJTPNAWesHtcd_yXF22tC0LYn_2w7DVq-o9TUgdWxV0k/s4032/IMG_9878.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzF2AFhfa4Qse-yXbEaPzq2mtBG00012c81OSHJRir_rERaAxuNtv6S0GEXa7nMD5t0yuBgkJxqS6WFYnXKDHR00af7R2gxVAiVd6GzMqwiHx9idYnDKDc4MzLwHvOWv3VHSJH9bAUeiWY3zsJTPNAWesHtcd_yXF22tC0LYn_2w7DVq-o9TUgdWxV0k/s320/IMG_9878.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>But once inside the park, it was quite lovely with a lake…</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8zfl9n1mZTDi-q5d4Bl8VdwTpMqcVKUcKybuwFBRlFYEM72hXoHL2xuNYa3BhwQwAb7x8cdbXWt5pauj5W4j3RabTyvlcs05-QNDyXvDO0UCAMLD3Lnhqb6swt2420lO0mQ5zhflHFlwOxelhJpr3cs4z9PXQKZHW54I2OunR86iYcB1MP9HggpDUVI/s4032/IMG_9879.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8zfl9n1mZTDi-q5d4Bl8VdwTpMqcVKUcKybuwFBRlFYEM72hXoHL2xuNYa3BhwQwAb7x8cdbXWt5pauj5W4j3RabTyvlcs05-QNDyXvDO0UCAMLD3Lnhqb6swt2420lO0mQ5zhflHFlwOxelhJpr3cs4z9PXQKZHW54I2OunR86iYcB1MP9HggpDUVI/s320/IMG_9879.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIx73qLCteKUAG-rCZvhQKxortlDjXjrIkz119iCR3vmdhGQvK41OeEvierKs6ofpx4Oot_4xTXZVwnCjcyGA56ENbdeiJf_dHeuZPwrMwNF_KaZ5VzKbWr68LfhV0HuDejqdLBXR5nIZIz5MIocQwVxlChJ87BYMQCK260ydOqB1uwgzedFBOj4OstXY/s4032/IMG_9880.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIx73qLCteKUAG-rCZvhQKxortlDjXjrIkz119iCR3vmdhGQvK41OeEvierKs6ofpx4Oot_4xTXZVwnCjcyGA56ENbdeiJf_dHeuZPwrMwNF_KaZ5VzKbWr68LfhV0HuDejqdLBXR5nIZIz5MIocQwVxlChJ87BYMQCK260ydOqB1uwgzedFBOj4OstXY/s320/IMG_9880.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7123fGEk1PkdUQB1CjNLXV-_p1MaOBEtIr7bJ83OTMVJooSOKKnwFXiqnlFRgYqJiw_PLU6mqYh2CcqOnFYY-3k22AOvG6jdj1aq4Jfml3fMsppqBYXED12SqE2w-uDlH3-n5jRh2AsmyRrFeZFrtd9X9Mfve4fI69cjR_oZMlulnT2xREqxexuUXDts/s4032/IMG_9891.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7123fGEk1PkdUQB1CjNLXV-_p1MaOBEtIr7bJ83OTMVJooSOKKnwFXiqnlFRgYqJiw_PLU6mqYh2CcqOnFYY-3k22AOvG6jdj1aq4Jfml3fMsppqBYXED12SqE2w-uDlH3-n5jRh2AsmyRrFeZFrtd9X9Mfve4fI69cjR_oZMlulnT2xREqxexuUXDts/s320/IMG_9891.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>…bridges…</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi499x52XmkQpBeZ-EWVjNG25pShI9-sBqA-_Zt43_6F3UB3wOU6uZACUkg5V-oueuyJxugY7Yqyeoua0Y2QOkbWpKZ0A3uPXoZAv2Bpf3dWay2KH0T-NiwBZc4l8qtiQvnhl3yywWOAL6neshdPPu-r7RkP7Te_ex0NiuTqSqn818Utd5URltx5-b7s/s4032/IMG_9895.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi499x52XmkQpBeZ-EWVjNG25pShI9-sBqA-_Zt43_6F3UB3wOU6uZACUkg5V-oueuyJxugY7Yqyeoua0Y2QOkbWpKZ0A3uPXoZAv2Bpf3dWay2KH0T-NiwBZc4l8qtiQvnhl3yywWOAL6neshdPPu-r7RkP7Te_ex0NiuTqSqn818Utd5URltx5-b7s/s320/IMG_9895.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>…waterfalls…and more. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdn8RANoNx8tFFaauOVpLZefjHGnSh_Lg0mkcJBUNWNmmv27fokF2eUwZMDloQN-6JOgxkgldVc3y-cKwTnL7CBtY7tp8Mj326s2cFM5mgJFYpNTNxwj5OlS5IkY78AQGElsBdGtTA6vGrKMssoixlhCoh9uXpA1yvSzoz5edQbuPA14pvQd64pE36gU/s4032/IMG_9905.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdn8RANoNx8tFFaauOVpLZefjHGnSh_Lg0mkcJBUNWNmmv27fokF2eUwZMDloQN-6JOgxkgldVc3y-cKwTnL7CBtY7tp8Mj326s2cFM5mgJFYpNTNxwj5OlS5IkY78AQGElsBdGtTA6vGrKMssoixlhCoh9uXpA1yvSzoz5edQbuPA14pvQd64pE36gU/s320/IMG_9905.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>After exiting the Bois, we continued up Ave Foch…<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr98cDj-S_wGQ7pVXTCCwYRGvd3vE6S-FSko2vHgwu0dfKk3UFLy7DDP1b8ETDrRKkqGDa1sFw9f9NQ4h5HdLYttJsmaIDnv_r5YteDNZbCl2k6xhyBL_5XJHDxZwITMYMiNCsIZcMTzaVFp5J5FEclxYueI0-qcRBzbTEDvFklUKzIR9UsMAz6TX-2g/s4032/IMG_9906.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr98cDj-S_wGQ7pVXTCCwYRGvd3vE6S-FSko2vHgwu0dfKk3UFLy7DDP1b8ETDrRKkqGDa1sFw9f9NQ4h5HdLYttJsmaIDnv_r5YteDNZbCl2k6xhyBL_5XJHDxZwITMYMiNCsIZcMTzaVFp5J5FEclxYueI0-qcRBzbTEDvFklUKzIR9UsMAz6TX-2g/s320/IMG_9906.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">…to the Arc de Triomphe. </div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz5LmChmWkRhTjGj6BUFZugvU-s5Bqtfi1gtImzoIX1vusUPCdJCml-8JwROShk4eRqbOwl3-um6gnK7kAaYa9OJoKh5QuwcPaOGa-XR0GI0yVWpX0Rwnwtm5UONJD7gGWMK43DZvmXjP0dViJplkk8e7BpxZbZHrNi__v1pVZf-wG1LXpPnFmyR68h0/s3088/IMG_9909.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz5LmChmWkRhTjGj6BUFZugvU-s5Bqtfi1gtImzoIX1vusUPCdJCml-8JwROShk4eRqbOwl3-um6gnK7kAaYa9OJoKh5QuwcPaOGa-XR0GI0yVWpX0Rwnwtm5UONJD7gGWMK43DZvmXjP0dViJplkk8e7BpxZbZHrNi__v1pVZf-wG1LXpPnFmyR68h0/s320/IMG_9909.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>So close to the end and feeling triumphant ;) <div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-jcJWJu6SuhLnNs1ahQdJh27eWEjnNQMVf-0pnS5pJeGTfm4UcP1_uP0Tn3eFu0rllOFvmA85jOQ4kisElQLwBZw9Xl1KtO7NnQAZ93BLecDdA6nmpl_FbUksODQ_Yh1YB3UrkClCzmzML_4osrrcxekuedm3UNpIe6InQaqt0XlvivXqxByplWa-GY/s4032/IMG_9917.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-jcJWJu6SuhLnNs1ahQdJh27eWEjnNQMVf-0pnS5pJeGTfm4UcP1_uP0Tn3eFu0rllOFvmA85jOQ4kisElQLwBZw9Xl1KtO7NnQAZ93BLecDdA6nmpl_FbUksODQ_Yh1YB3UrkClCzmzML_4osrrcxekuedm3UNpIe6InQaqt0XlvivXqxByplWa-GY/s320/IMG_9917.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ended our marathon with a walk down Les Champs-Elysees. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywC-jgswCStmR9q5Oi5w-pTc9Rha-5eLo0IbDPFr-uFX0KUBI9x5D5zaIS-meLM169BPohtufbdkKLiEWWOf2rxBngCJc8Rg7AhUzn3GeGYi7v-tszthAdsSpORpxe3Y_PvdvxWkhybVXW_0tws_w52nQ6ZswvgDtggAgL-NaIqCV-xWCSfLaR-Fi8Z4/s4032/IMG_9920.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywC-jgswCStmR9q5Oi5w-pTc9Rha-5eLo0IbDPFr-uFX0KUBI9x5D5zaIS-meLM169BPohtufbdkKLiEWWOf2rxBngCJc8Rg7AhUzn3GeGYi7v-tszthAdsSpORpxe3Y_PvdvxWkhybVXW_0tws_w52nQ6ZswvgDtggAgL-NaIqCV-xWCSfLaR-Fi8Z4/s320/IMG_9920.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then enjoyed a victory lunch at the very old school Paris cafe, Le Victory. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For our anniversary celebration, we booked a dinner cruise on the Seine. The evening started by taking the metro to my favorite train station in Paris: Franklin D Roosevelt. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KjPLjS9lTL-2buYsj4FdX942Pr1x8BHAZrKP6ASgeU5u5HoAUCG02XtfwVXOInFpYuaeYTpGg10a-0vs8H_hdhoP8qC1z3Y7Ep1LOANX8uu14MXz38eToihIFtPPE3ZBcl4nIxwGYAWl1fF-8vj-VrNLZlh0rKs3IXt4T_ulCt2MFi68ImgPy6iVCbE/s4032/IMG_9931.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KjPLjS9lTL-2buYsj4FdX942Pr1x8BHAZrKP6ASgeU5u5HoAUCG02XtfwVXOInFpYuaeYTpGg10a-0vs8H_hdhoP8qC1z3Y7Ep1LOANX8uu14MXz38eToihIFtPPE3ZBcl4nIxwGYAWl1fF-8vj-VrNLZlh0rKs3IXt4T_ulCt2MFi68ImgPy6iVCbE/s320/IMG_9931.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>When I lived in Paris, this train station always had a distinctive smell that just said “Paris” to me - a combination of engine oil, slightly burning rubber and very subtle perfume. I always try and travel through here at least once, so was glad to make it here on our last night. </span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzBpaEVgx3OC4talITqz3hBiAi6VUT20BtQnLIVfLQpwX2m84JbekZaklhGwXk_XAJbMJ8Vk2JtnWmBryI0oYnJVDnaQLLTEsPf9KK_qbJhd0LXHuM4wj1WqUf3VGYGMODJGE21LFVfWKdt8g-F6uaFgBMD0ztNnbr3p-rK462_Z19QVlMnRFdoW4IJ4/s4032/IMG_9934.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzBpaEVgx3OC4talITqz3hBiAi6VUT20BtQnLIVfLQpwX2m84JbekZaklhGwXk_XAJbMJ8Vk2JtnWmBryI0oYnJVDnaQLLTEsPf9KK_qbJhd0LXHuM4wj1WqUf3VGYGMODJGE21LFVfWKdt8g-F6uaFgBMD0ztNnbr3p-rK462_Z19QVlMnRFdoW4IJ4/s320/IMG_9934.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Rather than spend the evening taking photos, we just enjoyed the views, but I couldn’t resist this shot of Paris’ Statue of Liberty with La Tour Eiffel lit up in the background. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WNOEu7bs6aczwPDi3HOthnxOEtl71TZgvaUCrC4YVYwU-RdS7ivetv9lm-FlSCwI7A5WGei8qwPOcj5ETYrwCGPfX7aAj7kvk-UEUwZoXYXC9nvNepLleZ9Jy8VV6sYRYq6fGHRgbGe9mjTE3wkd0xJT_xoP5sEQ0auOPb0OddncxvEe_ds5LBSuqlo/s4032/IMG_9935.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WNOEu7bs6aczwPDi3HOthnxOEtl71TZgvaUCrC4YVYwU-RdS7ivetv9lm-FlSCwI7A5WGei8qwPOcj5ETYrwCGPfX7aAj7kvk-UEUwZoXYXC9nvNepLleZ9Jy8VV6sYRYq6fGHRgbGe9mjTE3wkd0xJT_xoP5sEQ0auOPb0OddncxvEe_ds5LBSuqlo/s320/IMG_9935.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Exiting our Bateaux Mouche at the end of the night. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the map! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3ljjnuE6u7peGYTov-VvMm8its20jF8sRk4awtTeggByRYhjIG9aTV6K-7sq4HKPTKvhDs_-SxyY-wAQNURi6BRYe00DjGftPbjY29xE3JHQ4pVxYX3w6d25iCfEtzd2J7VNYnyXKcVd_W2A8h1VxBr_RT7cjg2PBi3E09YoYd8mz8LiYWwsJfrhnfw/s1024/de6bb5fc-07b5-44f8-8178-f5ac86632dc9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="473" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3ljjnuE6u7peGYTov-VvMm8its20jF8sRk4awtTeggByRYhjIG9aTV6K-7sq4HKPTKvhDs_-SxyY-wAQNURi6BRYe00DjGftPbjY29xE3JHQ4pVxYX3w6d25iCfEtzd2J7VNYnyXKcVd_W2A8h1VxBr_RT7cjg2PBi3E09YoYd8mz8LiYWwsJfrhnfw/s320/de6bb5fc-07b5-44f8-8178-f5ac86632dc9.jpeg" width="148" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-7274033352922725122023-06-25T11:30:00.001-07:002023-06-26T09:35:37.947-07:00The Paris Anniversary Marathon Day 3: Miles 13.5-21.5<p>For Day 3 (8 miles) we decided to follow the third leg of the Paris marathon route backwards in order to avoid crowds of tourists at La Tour Eiffel later in the day. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEpQrdJtKuX8f9gFMp6cOllXFdnIUi66J2Xg5iymwjJuU7aKr2VupiTXCiVsBt4JTpKc-9BN8XzM7VaiLsSjx0x3uJqbmXGy_0UGysMZVCX5S_XJ4sWRVTMpPSZ74AFEehLjoAnMDFl8CT7W4W-8gl9suW2ogRLgwmqe3b16r2_ZhGPevSSQUwopv7Ls/s4032/IMG_9741.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEpQrdJtKuX8f9gFMp6cOllXFdnIUi66J2Xg5iymwjJuU7aKr2VupiTXCiVsBt4JTpKc-9BN8XzM7VaiLsSjx0x3uJqbmXGy_0UGysMZVCX5S_XJ4sWRVTMpPSZ74AFEehLjoAnMDFl8CT7W4W-8gl9suW2ogRLgwmqe3b16r2_ZhGPevSSQUwopv7Ls/s320/IMG_9741.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>From our Airbnb, we took the Metro to Trocadero to start the day with this beautiful lady. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXsGfmFjG62xMpwfZfUN77SNLpCtkJw5h-ickMBO4VanYTf6QlPhvbIDrO_Cp-gsE2Lstrt-BuxRc7EtJnRxg0K_6lg7mSndPblqLieb3R6XqCQvZuZiznRa9iwG0qDp57Qel3NtYbCK5Ll-m3_Km1hxLzZLX3jsTBChUhYIOEG_ZEfnPTmKS_i6Dd4E/s4032/IMG_9759.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXsGfmFjG62xMpwfZfUN77SNLpCtkJw5h-ickMBO4VanYTf6QlPhvbIDrO_Cp-gsE2Lstrt-BuxRc7EtJnRxg0K_6lg7mSndPblqLieb3R6XqCQvZuZiznRa9iwG0qDp57Qel3NtYbCK5Ll-m3_Km1hxLzZLX3jsTBChUhYIOEG_ZEfnPTmKS_i6Dd4E/s320/IMG_9759.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From there, we made our way to the Seine, walking along the river, and crossing over from time to time based on what we wanted to see. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnp9AyzuWpzxVWTnUI8AMXDswVRqYVVZE7ftT1_2pcU3TN1TWvRgcE5QGEtseqIjFy_K3hdzmsbX7oyJH4CMcjPJqm3N17iDnlWvffwfLVQ5gdJ7n4LJV7_aHFcNfYidxf-h3NuX9ygZBb9hZ-c5ZeY3DSlIxxmXaQWO9fW7mLhQF0S3k9QBqfVum8wOU/s4032/IMG_9765.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnp9AyzuWpzxVWTnUI8AMXDswVRqYVVZE7ftT1_2pcU3TN1TWvRgcE5QGEtseqIjFy_K3hdzmsbX7oyJH4CMcjPJqm3N17iDnlWvffwfLVQ5gdJ7n4LJV7_aHFcNfYidxf-h3NuX9ygZBb9hZ-c5ZeY3DSlIxxmXaQWO9fW7mLhQF0S3k9QBqfVum8wOU/s320/IMG_9765.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Memorial of the Algerian War 1952-62</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlSiAKgq9XTlk0lqh1lZJdqy4Tx11QfEs4k3_eg6R4f8Cf7DsXmvcfQjSrfAwMLxEwVT8Pz5_UVE2EQoFYFfd3VSU0sSGd9pje_tTQ8siRuAMjEVsmaYRWcB7dc7aShSpJu4Z2v66Tl9gUwySpchwsgW-81Pk7PbreXXMiwa3pK8VYilivOSZsKlqwAk/s4032/IMG_9771.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlSiAKgq9XTlk0lqh1lZJdqy4Tx11QfEs4k3_eg6R4f8Cf7DsXmvcfQjSrfAwMLxEwVT8Pz5_UVE2EQoFYFfd3VSU0sSGd9pje_tTQ8siRuAMjEVsmaYRWcB7dc7aShSpJu4Z2v66Tl9gUwySpchwsgW-81Pk7PbreXXMiwa3pK8VYilivOSZsKlqwAk/s320/IMG_9771.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Crossing under Pont de l’Alma</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZX2cuwrhCCWR6gcwiNzSES6y7ZCTNu7KPGhP71IYBsfW3kNOTPwI1O89xF3j-tb5LlRhC9jhKFgjqk5cZngT_4Gtk8EYzn0dPunarsrTUKXDJNEjs_j8cymivgRN5P37d7N6huBpz7EJ9fe-09nbcu322fCyWiuOCh21iaDWlpLfXn7qMYaPtyaPlas/s4032/IMG_9777.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZX2cuwrhCCWR6gcwiNzSES6y7ZCTNu7KPGhP71IYBsfW3kNOTPwI1O89xF3j-tb5LlRhC9jhKFgjqk5cZngT_4Gtk8EYzn0dPunarsrTUKXDJNEjs_j8cymivgRN5P37d7N6huBpz7EJ9fe-09nbcu322fCyWiuOCh21iaDWlpLfXn7qMYaPtyaPlas/s320/IMG_9777.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Grande Palais, part of the 1889 World’s Fair exhibition. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglDM-1UUKu0p7q67w8LIl32z93Ll_uMC5I8sSlieqZXWpBep9PVnSpW3HCriCD9TkUcI9iEZ1lvzZBdN-s3k8ToClKqFTBUirdKoFOAvo4MpLRf7G4p2J-euT0bpJDBlqEEnXt0gTkwvLpF9dra_RORQigG9c0KZXep9RyrDTqnjtEgNCWvQCM_Zia6Q/s4032/IMG_9781.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglDM-1UUKu0p7q67w8LIl32z93Ll_uMC5I8sSlieqZXWpBep9PVnSpW3HCriCD9TkUcI9iEZ1lvzZBdN-s3k8ToClKqFTBUirdKoFOAvo4MpLRf7G4p2J-euT0bpJDBlqEEnXt0gTkwvLpF9dra_RORQigG9c0KZXep9RyrDTqnjtEgNCWvQCM_Zia6Q/s320/IMG_9781.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A statue of Lafayette, given by the school children of the United States in gratitude for his service in the American Revolution. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9knYiTw8KdW08gr5eRrRSfHIEjaQwnGsZRzyFlF9h2mp7D3etqF-iBnEGaUJYXmpyaJtIk0nCo6F7oc5L6uRQVyYcFiGr7p_mYXmBDjlSbfmfm1ujryhk5_jP9o5GCWkOn2M5_7aDR5EiZsQyd_D13NOi6VzlIBvU2QqPld7VhIZNfbfwUrPlPsvuCPE/s4032/IMG_9783.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9knYiTw8KdW08gr5eRrRSfHIEjaQwnGsZRzyFlF9h2mp7D3etqF-iBnEGaUJYXmpyaJtIk0nCo6F7oc5L6uRQVyYcFiGr7p_mYXmBDjlSbfmfm1ujryhk5_jP9o5GCWkOn2M5_7aDR5EiZsQyd_D13NOi6VzlIBvU2QqPld7VhIZNfbfwUrPlPsvuCPE/s320/IMG_9783.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pont Alexandre III, a rather elaborate bridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzhJvbTdX4fCx0flNQsSUfGSCYgoq96X3K_tDrJCwlOeTULHl7KO3W_vXxXTpIbTAo7FPtbTYH7ICFCligHP_y155XEsrMaXKPitNqsyd_cjWoGPQm8eE8nXKt5WMC39CW1ogH-k-TZpZKTZrpUcNSJldy8Fi77_bofScs9dM0DUf6iIMYbNwFe4khU4/s4032/IMG_9792.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzhJvbTdX4fCx0flNQsSUfGSCYgoq96X3K_tDrJCwlOeTULHl7KO3W_vXxXTpIbTAo7FPtbTYH7ICFCligHP_y155XEsrMaXKPitNqsyd_cjWoGPQm8eE8nXKt5WMC39CW1ogH-k-TZpZKTZrpUcNSJldy8Fi77_bofScs9dM0DUf6iIMYbNwFe4khU4/s320/IMG_9792.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">La Tour from a distance, just as beautiful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm_fmYjO9ajBhcXWnO3gl1o-4TAS2OTdhxIGFNLNlCT9pef2Dk7-fSLNCuT3viQZtdP-IfWbcPLO-2Z6DEDBYRGmgsk0jHinzCQZn3QPpRV24l9Tn0hlnqCpdo7EeBB2xkFnfWu-RPS_yZnqIQ8DJ85QLTr_jRKBzRqyqZxd8RYpFZqJWC3RP2PyJoW8/s4032/IMG_9796.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm_fmYjO9ajBhcXWnO3gl1o-4TAS2OTdhxIGFNLNlCT9pef2Dk7-fSLNCuT3viQZtdP-IfWbcPLO-2Z6DEDBYRGmgsk0jHinzCQZn3QPpRV24l9Tn0hlnqCpdo7EeBB2xkFnfWu-RPS_yZnqIQ8DJ85QLTr_jRKBzRqyqZxd8RYpFZqJWC3RP2PyJoW8/s320/IMG_9796.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">French National Assembly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfg1pOrcH9ut-u0O-IdU5VM09SNpbvg5okw8cntwGSfbb1O2oKvCJMMdDkW5CeSkgtoJJiId_AnrEDMzZ6cZDO7JmalvqCYsSU1p6BeMaACKqBkM4UG8V9OJQ3wB0VPTLYjyUg05tk0_KWXuh2laWnv_3ipXFW1ZOwtvuWl3lV8UU_EW7eWsNfoJK4Z0/s4032/IMG_9801.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfg1pOrcH9ut-u0O-IdU5VM09SNpbvg5okw8cntwGSfbb1O2oKvCJMMdDkW5CeSkgtoJJiId_AnrEDMzZ6cZDO7JmalvqCYsSU1p6BeMaACKqBkM4UG8V9OJQ3wB0VPTLYjyUg05tk0_KWXuh2laWnv_3ipXFW1ZOwtvuWl3lV8UU_EW7eWsNfoJK4Z0/s320/IMG_9801.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Musee D’Orsay, once a train station, now home to a wonderful collection of impressionist and other art. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE_oG7O_VXtnN_FyL8QQ5SWEWxkFX8rr02p5vEbOQ2pSA_ua6NXp0IJi8Zg4Lriez0XLvi2PLJ7P43yQrs6vp9Vr7a020apuChl2Yb1rTSsm08m4APwVT2idAwE5Ps88XeF8do-TlQEQEtyP1_4pessPdEn24UYD4EzWUDQ3RlGBwGIfyiiNY4ahyEBc/s4032/IMG_9807.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE_oG7O_VXtnN_FyL8QQ5SWEWxkFX8rr02p5vEbOQ2pSA_ua6NXp0IJi8Zg4Lriez0XLvi2PLJ7P43yQrs6vp9Vr7a020apuChl2Yb1rTSsm08m4APwVT2idAwE5Ps88XeF8do-TlQEQEtyP1_4pessPdEn24UYD4EzWUDQ3RlGBwGIfyiiNY4ahyEBc/s320/IMG_9807.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A view from the banks of the Seine. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPrwVUPCdeRymOnob7300GPqjmQjZRSsE8pTlKPrrsn4wc3hL_Mj9Ytoc6L2Uz54P5k6m-6wHVKMroyRmHg_pJIx7zLuQDum1glGFMBiornTQB_E_b_8hCdsGF5RoYgb19HH90xYKOWTeEmO04FTf448Aer1i80NhOVKmknlnkta6xLpvfisXqnlebVg/s4032/IMG_9814.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPrwVUPCdeRymOnob7300GPqjmQjZRSsE8pTlKPrrsn4wc3hL_Mj9Ytoc6L2Uz54P5k6m-6wHVKMroyRmHg_pJIx7zLuQDum1glGFMBiornTQB_E_b_8hCdsGF5RoYgb19HH90xYKOWTeEmO04FTf448Aer1i80NhOVKmknlnkta6xLpvfisXqnlebVg/s320/IMG_9814.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A rather odd fellow hanging out on Pont Neuf, the oldest of the Seine’s 37 bridges. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtjMs75fOVt25-lIAAiqxZv88TKK-PhVrzz_GZwlZilD8e57pFeA_g7jNwnATcsyH_7837wwdAVc57rOd5kpQhQ_UFWFCYURV8D3Vf1qiXJMx_Jsrm7Z8l3mAZtm8CoxGfVj1p0SJFGQbQ40OhJzCIda-etOeaI58Ns5VNDBCyxHl8209e5-NzY0GNr8/s4032/IMG_9816.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtjMs75fOVt25-lIAAiqxZv88TKK-PhVrzz_GZwlZilD8e57pFeA_g7jNwnATcsyH_7837wwdAVc57rOd5kpQhQ_UFWFCYURV8D3Vf1qiXJMx_Jsrm7Z8l3mAZtm8CoxGfVj1p0SJFGQbQ40OhJzCIda-etOeaI58Ns5VNDBCyxHl8209e5-NzY0GNr8/s320/IMG_9816.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">A view from Pont Neuf.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjds8zbHa2iaw2JHG3B86piF8aomSbW2jVdt-7a9g9hVdDEeSdz2YDPlBbGLo4gmq0Q6Nsw_bz9yAmpEXHL7n1KwNC9n00J94XsGPmZD6G2d0393vfGFHw4CTfbUh45wm8IellYRq5z04woV2B35he_FG7cRreMt8pvU9VpiyHXHtiWtZQNmG3DS5Ulbwk/s4032/IMG_9821.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjds8zbHa2iaw2JHG3B86piF8aomSbW2jVdt-7a9g9hVdDEeSdz2YDPlBbGLo4gmq0Q6Nsw_bz9yAmpEXHL7n1KwNC9n00J94XsGPmZD6G2d0393vfGFHw4CTfbUh45wm8IellYRq5z04woV2B35he_FG7cRreMt8pvU9VpiyHXHtiWtZQNmG3DS5Ulbwk/s320/IMG_9821.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A partial shot of Notre Dame, currently undergoing construction from a fire that struck in April of 2019.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDimd-G43675NqGJ5G3vAtu8hlhfcTCh2fbpQQ4z4PRlaqDaq4nD-qIDv4gYD0QS7OXIKAvZZTXUp6oTCQjJLG_IlMAy4zvJq5_hW66Pe226mEQLdgwKFNBv0gN-qnNprKP-V4tDudVJ9TZylOXOmIIIKvaXDD-bYUffSXwmeTB_eqUvWGAvAjo49N7Bo/s4032/IMG_9832.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDimd-G43675NqGJ5G3vAtu8hlhfcTCh2fbpQQ4z4PRlaqDaq4nD-qIDv4gYD0QS7OXIKAvZZTXUp6oTCQjJLG_IlMAy4zvJq5_hW66Pe226mEQLdgwKFNBv0gN-qnNprKP-V4tDudVJ9TZylOXOmIIIKvaXDD-bYUffSXwmeTB_eqUvWGAvAjo49N7Bo/s320/IMG_9832.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a quick stop at an old school Bar/Tabac for croissants and cafe au lait, we are back on the march. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXSGLRqtcQAy7ULruv1SQNmzfvTznMt2NZmCm7QqPBClMeUKzJg0rAFNvcbFUtPTMjnB6aUkZ-7ew95Y8nwv2am8PWyxpAcCfvC7oQ0F_1_dCEg-O7dssQhwO6tQ23q01nsz1JzYD7VntqOTsFM746Sm-g0xbeKm7h5m8dFhJp_KmyytQ36wgUR-ekuw/s4032/IMG_9837.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXSGLRqtcQAy7ULruv1SQNmzfvTznMt2NZmCm7QqPBClMeUKzJg0rAFNvcbFUtPTMjnB6aUkZ-7ew95Y8nwv2am8PWyxpAcCfvC7oQ0F_1_dCEg-O7dssQhwO6tQ23q01nsz1JzYD7VntqOTsFM746Sm-g0xbeKm7h5m8dFhJp_KmyytQ36wgUR-ekuw/s320/IMG_9837.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The Arena de Lutece (the original name for Paris) built in the 1st century and once home to gladiator fights and dramatic performances, today was hosting a Bocce (Petanique in France) tournament. </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieATveZYjgy9aleIjJWRSsR6OGLQBxQ0qePtymbK3brJUoBEYw376cWeNctdzPMhQKRvPFeRFwW1iqzo1_ojNWJ4oYzs_D8Kld0fy1YEk2yzEQ2pkTWfqTnib831LxSBLiRXytihmnPkyDcsa7RiBM9FFPqI3qGlLyadkOdMRUQl3pKHKfSthT8CrZLVk/s4032/IMG_9839.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieATveZYjgy9aleIjJWRSsR6OGLQBxQ0qePtymbK3brJUoBEYw376cWeNctdzPMhQKRvPFeRFwW1iqzo1_ojNWJ4oYzs_D8Kld0fy1YEk2yzEQ2pkTWfqTnib831LxSBLiRXytihmnPkyDcsa7RiBM9FFPqI3qGlLyadkOdMRUQl3pKHKfSthT8CrZLVk/s320/IMG_9839.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>One of the most beautiful parks in Paris, we took a quick stroll here…</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIDURJd1ULgnKU8UlnQ1dsI892k2hvJvclt9m5cvPJ-XReY4-CHa2VvnF1bjjS9M68T2yf6ilT01hNWGf9ZyI-P9qn0sd36Mn8Q9Eyy4SqvBApvHVXP7SVicc_yGVZrJdOHFcdMA0rQB5BgQpqi09gQYcM-_9_7YU9txSb8QqSRtOW51zNgTNS5puq2g/s4032/IMG_9840.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIDURJd1ULgnKU8UlnQ1dsI892k2hvJvclt9m5cvPJ-XReY4-CHa2VvnF1bjjS9M68T2yf6ilT01hNWGf9ZyI-P9qn0sd36Mn8Q9Eyy4SqvBApvHVXP7SVicc_yGVZrJdOHFcdMA0rQB5BgQpqi09gQYcM-_9_7YU9txSb8QqSRtOW51zNgTNS5puq2g/s320/IMG_9840.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>in the Jardin des Plantes. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ARWGLXy4BDHK1I3nVbaayggRYp3FfR5FUhePr_NME6CmDOIHgVkS5kkaDIo1wmC7mNuUg0H8CgamWQ7Zd6p1p9etQzOpkOWGj0sZVVTolIEqFtPZ17G6r4aaWTTTui-9ercB_P4tG5SCWz5WbFwvv1geDOmkP8IDN3A-lDxQB-3GeNw8ZagIG7GP3Wo/s4032/IMG_9843.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ARWGLXy4BDHK1I3nVbaayggRYp3FfR5FUhePr_NME6CmDOIHgVkS5kkaDIo1wmC7mNuUg0H8CgamWQ7Zd6p1p9etQzOpkOWGj0sZVVTolIEqFtPZ17G6r4aaWTTTui-9ercB_P4tG5SCWz5WbFwvv1geDOmkP8IDN3A-lDxQB-3GeNw8ZagIG7GP3Wo/s320/IMG_9843.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before heading above ground in the 12th arrondissement to the Promenade Plantee. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkm0vF2ksl7h7jkyUxi79Bl7NPH-Np81qpPHPmTeSkwVrzJErqnRC589HsV_bBXXbzcLGTy6EQiRJfIqabqHF-c8gwM32WTRU6CLEVXvjxXCV-5PymOORKyg63PPdFHInyZrH1T2ph7sOKmLamSOcibrIorfobKRAeP_HyYUllJxSmII1jDXAs9spDYs/s4032/IMG_9844.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkm0vF2ksl7h7jkyUxi79Bl7NPH-Np81qpPHPmTeSkwVrzJErqnRC589HsV_bBXXbzcLGTy6EQiRJfIqabqHF-c8gwM32WTRU6CLEVXvjxXCV-5PymOORKyg63PPdFHInyZrH1T2ph7sOKmLamSOcibrIorfobKRAeP_HyYUllJxSmII1jDXAs9spDYs/s320/IMG_9844.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A raised garden path built on an old train trestle. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqRqKUZu8JPSCMb_a5-Vdg70J3pc4b58T0vVh1YdgCDQoin5HhvLJgRWGWKwzORNSRwFcXYgfOtt4MaoSNIMkmaWWrsBAqPMStPOTtTx06U8CoH5sRaAsWzTf9QX2CFOvPToksmPuZFSl108LTWR8K_7wsGtF9d-F1pcScLtah-6UzCmE2K_Y7BSkouo/s4032/IMG_9848.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqRqKUZu8JPSCMb_a5-Vdg70J3pc4b58T0vVh1YdgCDQoin5HhvLJgRWGWKwzORNSRwFcXYgfOtt4MaoSNIMkmaWWrsBAqPMStPOTtTx06U8CoH5sRaAsWzTf9QX2CFOvPToksmPuZFSl108LTWR8K_7wsGtF9d-F1pcScLtah-6UzCmE2K_Y7BSkouo/s320/IMG_9848.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORrmx1U6qGXYVFBUzRK85YA3Gk4rwAf0c0ZSNtQoab9YwV4GZ3Mvjq04J2U2jdcJGRtsblBqcOJmYR26c5gNVXju2Qnti-anf2BEQzMepbku8C2JJr_olwBauEfS6DEumxOXt8DpC3nXBJ655tYSEzHVMlcawhomOVu5mk83DBXKmP9FlrZ6tO5okV5Y/s4032/IMG_9850.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORrmx1U6qGXYVFBUzRK85YA3Gk4rwAf0c0ZSNtQoab9YwV4GZ3Mvjq04J2U2jdcJGRtsblBqcOJmYR26c5gNVXju2Qnti-anf2BEQzMepbku8C2JJr_olwBauEfS6DEumxOXt8DpC3nXBJ655tYSEzHVMlcawhomOVu5mk83DBXKmP9FlrZ6tO5okV5Y/s320/IMG_9850.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This path was one of the places Jesse and Celine walked in “Before Sunset.”</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTuzZg0Y3I7RHI28hd1PrBhqxGvnIKOlkB_qXB--W__YJidE5udrKGduT64KMpPkcr_hmtPRdkHkOB2zcScek2590ahLqJG8TNAU2EDQQ4lKAaPWaieAv7pt-Pc1_l20qipIfye1uJnX5APlpsyhYLTcuZrd5yD1w6affh9Oo132KS8O3Vh2jHV1PHmc/s4032/IMG_9853.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTuzZg0Y3I7RHI28hd1PrBhqxGvnIKOlkB_qXB--W__YJidE5udrKGduT64KMpPkcr_hmtPRdkHkOB2zcScek2590ahLqJG8TNAU2EDQQ4lKAaPWaieAv7pt-Pc1_l20qipIfye1uJnX5APlpsyhYLTcuZrd5yD1w6affh9Oo132KS8O3Vh2jHV1PHmc/s320/IMG_9853.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How cool for the residents to have this garden path instead of trains going by. </div><div><br /></div>One day to go! Here’s the map of the day: </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y5lx8DddQV-LNDIkzlEFO384LdeTycICytM0oeq5X9vLUZOpSShJ95sRavs_9WO3-9f8U70oR9dGTIRZMKwWNIRX4twT2Y-htvfU9XHkvr91HZlOSBjNZzYdsVxMKtaW0thztpqKZTlBRN2l0c7ZT_eJz91SttdwhpeztHVk-Gc4ThtxKMiqcIsjssM/s1024/bc82686e-ef4d-459c-87c0-60ede9c79112.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="473" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y5lx8DddQV-LNDIkzlEFO384LdeTycICytM0oeq5X9vLUZOpSShJ95sRavs_9WO3-9f8U70oR9dGTIRZMKwWNIRX4twT2Y-htvfU9XHkvr91HZlOSBjNZzYdsVxMKtaW0thztpqKZTlBRN2l0c7ZT_eJz91SttdwhpeztHVk-Gc4ThtxKMiqcIsjssM/s320/bc82686e-ef4d-459c-87c0-60ede9c79112.jpeg" width="148" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-57641546503187610012023-06-24T08:03:00.002-07:002023-06-26T08:27:13.000-07:00The Paris Anniversary Marathon Day 2: Miles 6-13.5<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjH9su6DhoEQ_rIU6ghNZRLPjQbni9UWOCFCKpTsjGiZ15718LZ8WeDBhwYfMB0aXF2c77gXXE0BkXKDVW578qBG-EsUzVDCv_iozQOdxV4eP2uPDwNcdgBn4gA0CzA7UFB0lRz6ZvFchjAZk8sRm5ZwbXa9_mBvKsDoKPznhBw3-ajkf6v1BGKNnSpI/s4032/IMG_9701.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjH9su6DhoEQ_rIU6ghNZRLPjQbni9UWOCFCKpTsjGiZ15718LZ8WeDBhwYfMB0aXF2c77gXXE0BkXKDVW578qBG-EsUzVDCv_iozQOdxV4eP2uPDwNcdgBn4gA0CzA7UFB0lRz6ZvFchjAZk8sRm5ZwbXa9_mBvKsDoKPznhBw3-ajkf6v1BGKNnSpI/s320/IMG_9701.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Section two of the Paris Marathon is all about the Bois de Vincennes, Paris’ largest park, located in the 12th arrondissement. Rather than try and follow the route exactly, we just wandered around the park for 7 miles then found the closest Metro station and headed home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuTULF33BFhsyZy0EF4drHBiyk8X5kTTcANQZEqH7LeoTna5O86I1PXGFFxIIaDcAYN6-UkEqUNTsO57Vk2FPCKAW9HNCOQZBATm_hmAdH-gIXTyfDkS7ekTQ__8Fw4ayZrM3yw9LqyBfEn3HhnAGoY85WbagS_zjcvepszjzZKCR_G6Xt7GT7x-5TqE/s4032/IMG_9673.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuTULF33BFhsyZy0EF4drHBiyk8X5kTTcANQZEqH7LeoTna5O86I1PXGFFxIIaDcAYN6-UkEqUNTsO57Vk2FPCKAW9HNCOQZBATm_hmAdH-gIXTyfDkS7ekTQ__8Fw4ayZrM3yw9LqyBfEn3HhnAGoY85WbagS_zjcvepszjzZKCR_G6Xt7GT7x-5TqE/s320/IMG_9673.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Entrance to the Bois de Vincennes closest to the Port Doree Metro station. This park reminded us a lot of Seattle parks in that it connects to the neighborhood around it via many different streets and entrances and also has a lot of different things happening in the park: lakes, baseball and soccer fields, biking paths, horseback-riding trails, even a Buddhist Temple (which, unfortunately, was closed today). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa1nKyv_nTqRFdcnXv-tPopIGMXVHDCOonhObXxf0N8mlvn3bJ_j8M-_klKtGx70JtBpYm-AEnGmVfpN7RrCbQIO5vhYU_dKchQjfKeWnrJnGqt6ycdS0hUov-ohTmE9OdehfrW-r7RWUAlUkHgoq9abcVElAZ8uzOOsFKesou9k-XYb4Zesboi8Rjj8/s4032/IMG_9675.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa1nKyv_nTqRFdcnXv-tPopIGMXVHDCOonhObXxf0N8mlvn3bJ_j8M-_klKtGx70JtBpYm-AEnGmVfpN7RrCbQIO5vhYU_dKchQjfKeWnrJnGqt6ycdS0hUov-ohTmE9OdehfrW-r7RWUAlUkHgoq9abcVElAZ8uzOOsFKesou9k-XYb4Zesboi8Rjj8/s320/IMG_9675.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Boats available for rent on Lac Daumesnil. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrM4eKfMdqhjBWwfZanHOJlNyZaCYJJQ5MA9UD0BvnbE-mbejnmLkc-j5c0o7dYxrMl-haSr1rUXsrb0UgiMUF8XTv8wDGBsnSUP7CdJgk7f3v6yH2Lf0-2PFP1enIeN-ckx8i44HfObqNvWudJkaO4A4LgaOJRqNfUBf4SjRGWHUyMCRBjWsKooM1bxM/s4032/IMG_9678.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrM4eKfMdqhjBWwfZanHOJlNyZaCYJJQ5MA9UD0BvnbE-mbejnmLkc-j5c0o7dYxrMl-haSr1rUXsrb0UgiMUF8XTv8wDGBsnSUP7CdJgk7f3v6yH2Lf0-2PFP1enIeN-ckx8i44HfObqNvWudJkaO4A4LgaOJRqNfUBf4SjRGWHUyMCRBjWsKooM1bxM/s320/IMG_9678.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Temple of Love (on the left) above the grotto of Lac Daumesnil. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuxWrT0LhM8qho6fJ_s-oeekJKOVMhxaoYG-NKm-qfk_3jAiTPvhe4l-ReHoaGfenNZv8dI1Ej2mpzkc5u3VrfUEFsKuoSHPtQwDawxixZKGzdw4tEYG12Py2v4hqrhHYP6NVaVaVw0G6HFDgf0_zvxaUxYbUpBTL7qTmRYg5cJ4wFSWDfgZPE9p-ON8/s4032/IMG_9680.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuxWrT0LhM8qho6fJ_s-oeekJKOVMhxaoYG-NKm-qfk_3jAiTPvhe4l-ReHoaGfenNZv8dI1Ej2mpzkc5u3VrfUEFsKuoSHPtQwDawxixZKGzdw4tEYG12Py2v4hqrhHYP6NVaVaVw0G6HFDgf0_zvxaUxYbUpBTL7qTmRYg5cJ4wFSWDfgZPE9p-ON8/s320/IMG_9680.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Mark in the grotto. <p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivI5efAd13fcOQjhUAKpRr3VQ4p6pN--bkJcPWIUwqlg0V9U6QV_6VRSTr4RCcZhujZaa0_ZSLHDOTo6A3tw9qnLecCsCT7ev85ZQkoaBqt17NUmcAfyCjfwMguLEedD-lvz24o44ZFDqcbzKazh8CeZcJIZJRG7M16gFYZznVMkub3D7nuz-89x1nOfw/s4032/IMG_9682.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivI5efAd13fcOQjhUAKpRr3VQ4p6pN--bkJcPWIUwqlg0V9U6QV_6VRSTr4RCcZhujZaa0_ZSLHDOTo6A3tw9qnLecCsCT7ev85ZQkoaBqt17NUmcAfyCjfwMguLEedD-lvz24o44ZFDqcbzKazh8CeZcJIZJRG7M16gFYZznVMkub3D7nuz-89x1nOfw/s320/IMG_9682.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Waterfall in the grotto. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24VTJAAVJTRBZlxbV-yn6UsVXGIyBQ8U14SL3FnUVh0xXz4wGAKrtlkfyszknQgDEQM28ldrZs2P9bu6Rm_sAgJAARuqDGCYNy4im7eb70LDr1oDQrId7FrUbKU4PJEo-Y0QGX88rx4iX1aCWjyb-7xzzdV9FRLPiDQR2UXMYzzuWmnjb_HGuOoZW1l8/s4032/IMG_9687.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24VTJAAVJTRBZlxbV-yn6UsVXGIyBQ8U14SL3FnUVh0xXz4wGAKrtlkfyszknQgDEQM28ldrZs2P9bu6Rm_sAgJAARuqDGCYNy4im7eb70LDr1oDQrId7FrUbKU4PJEo-Y0QGX88rx4iX1aCWjyb-7xzzdV9FRLPiDQR2UXMYzzuWmnjb_HGuOoZW1l8/s320/IMG_9687.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Another view of the lake. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8_63gS5lRcLl1yXO1Numd7e07QMttMfalFHBvrhzku_-f0ulZcArTNj4oDmYHsg8VTAnvCmz-7UQeq8Bf-pCQ_J4vZDTSxw4SdL_mn9v3D9hd8kChYAPW2Xgaqh8DSIrs-SuQ-HB_9skmKZ78cITT7Rv83wpnNJWFxtIs63DkWnk-VtbqSJHQ-s0o5Y/s4032/IMG_9690.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8_63gS5lRcLl1yXO1Numd7e07QMttMfalFHBvrhzku_-f0ulZcArTNj4oDmYHsg8VTAnvCmz-7UQeq8Bf-pCQ_J4vZDTSxw4SdL_mn9v3D9hd8kChYAPW2Xgaqh8DSIrs-SuQ-HB_9skmKZ78cITT7Rv83wpnNJWFxtIs63DkWnk-VtbqSJHQ-s0o5Y/s320/IMG_9690.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A Buddhist statue in the park.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZa2eCGirAz37EtkVKUDYdNCGANZGaONcWmDGQr07c4NkEw0QUDh0IWnXxQjzg2kAwVM2VTCAxVAdxVt52g3EjNQ5ueQErDYTSzL1Q5pcT5NFJkEnRTtHNAMZGTcebe1JFYN8AtyCmBK2YqTeW2YID8cAG7mpJQJLq4ukhsNcdQwJ-kqqBubIdp3-lds/s4032/IMG_9695.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZa2eCGirAz37EtkVKUDYdNCGANZGaONcWmDGQr07c4NkEw0QUDh0IWnXxQjzg2kAwVM2VTCAxVAdxVt52g3EjNQ5ueQErDYTSzL1Q5pcT5NFJkEnRTtHNAMZGTcebe1JFYN8AtyCmBK2YqTeW2YID8cAG7mpJQJLq4ukhsNcdQwJ-kqqBubIdp3-lds/s320/IMG_9695.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This lovely bright green plant covered lots of the streams running throughout the park. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G0TqlVg3-tVVvyTQtfSbvvWEo-5upMKmUMtjLTrT1Az42NeSOu3KtPKPzUC07fqfkKvNKdR6R3tnknG3ZUiqhuIsIO6sGzOCws-opQw5kA0ufbiAneqc1tFeaeSjIF8ea3vaAp5yrrcnsV_7ElyDVGA3OIq8KrrKXHQo3l4liAVeDppq_fCAlr5aaF0/s4032/IMG_9705.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G0TqlVg3-tVVvyTQtfSbvvWEo-5upMKmUMtjLTrT1Az42NeSOu3KtPKPzUC07fqfkKvNKdR6R3tnknG3ZUiqhuIsIO6sGzOCws-opQw5kA0ufbiAneqc1tFeaeSjIF8ea3vaAp5yrrcnsV_7ElyDVGA3OIq8KrrKXHQo3l4liAVeDppq_fCAlr5aaF0/s320/IMG_9705.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Finally reached the Chateau de Vincennes right around 7 miles. It was open for tours, but we were wiped out, so put that on our list for next time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNr1oP6qneJtBjzARRqqR-510TIilm7wrsMwFOdy-dN3v3VL09h5WIMrK_J4-V8x9Q3tmxp2WA3KcFNKju1QKJwpXxVXncLEo48vGyjHjjSolaeL4qp39DMDODKHT7ULatJthn_oDZ1G7bfP9-_-zqynIUBArCpC84FQx0eP6XT_b-H9qaYpvMff3efg/s4032/IMG_9710.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNr1oP6qneJtBjzARRqqR-510TIilm7wrsMwFOdy-dN3v3VL09h5WIMrK_J4-V8x9Q3tmxp2WA3KcFNKju1QKJwpXxVXncLEo48vGyjHjjSolaeL4qp39DMDODKHT7ULatJthn_oDZ1G7bfP9-_-zqynIUBArCpC84FQx0eP6XT_b-H9qaYpvMff3efg/s320/IMG_9710.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The Chateau is known for two things: its chapel (above) featuring “flamboyant gothic architecture” and its keep (below), the tallest in Europe. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1v_BuSGSS_ajyVYqxweX2ZqlunfMWGZ4rilAnMpSUGoeKfyKLFPWDz9-8bwhpM9nMmo5sfvO6AehXTGxiaT3ZbgJ-SWqwlG0cohkIMPvHLQufi01l6MtlLwC8s2n4f9jFKbgGmzIpw64w1PpVIr0kRVZlKBpQxOXKTM4J7Oiyn94Mz3JHb66S_-SMmU/s4032/IMG_9712.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1v_BuSGSS_ajyVYqxweX2ZqlunfMWGZ4rilAnMpSUGoeKfyKLFPWDz9-8bwhpM9nMmo5sfvO6AehXTGxiaT3ZbgJ-SWqwlG0cohkIMPvHLQufi01l6MtlLwC8s2n4f9jFKbgGmzIpw64w1PpVIr0kRVZlKBpQxOXKTM4J7Oiyn94Mz3JHb66S_-SMmU/s320/IMG_9712.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two exhausted travelers, headed for home. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0CoRAJRUubiM9cOT8sBzAz44upDQb8qlp1uPkPkkF_9tj2dwmfPktdFI6yBdLuq58PbRWqR6y3qhwfA0xtJMKZMbJebIRuk_6QjnCXVJPm015CnLJyCG0dBSAuWlTKUiWGXExhmqwlTngZ3IkBpKwOQl_MidSnpc95hC17xAGJ_ovsHNGw8dxjh5wRc/s4032/IMG_9715.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0CoRAJRUubiM9cOT8sBzAz44upDQb8qlp1uPkPkkF_9tj2dwmfPktdFI6yBdLuq58PbRWqR6y3qhwfA0xtJMKZMbJebIRuk_6QjnCXVJPm015CnLJyCG0dBSAuWlTKUiWGXExhmqwlTngZ3IkBpKwOQl_MidSnpc95hC17xAGJ_ovsHNGw8dxjh5wRc/s320/IMG_9715.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOcacXa-Jg1Mx6UW37RnscCDL3mYC10jtTna1PuJhB7WuqQsph0sVNNHfd1XPLj3ZKncreSXVG3ehV0OLB4sbOKyOMvxsM_Kk3Y8B0W_qtboKEkUGOouN1pX_0Uyg_AxPv1E9UNc27mAU6gR6pK8NNMQZ4HoxaFzqmZT1fkIDnrvdhVGF8QfLzWO5Ru8/s3088/IMG_9716.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOcacXa-Jg1Mx6UW37RnscCDL3mYC10jtTna1PuJhB7WuqQsph0sVNNHfd1XPLj3ZKncreSXVG3ehV0OLB4sbOKyOMvxsM_Kk3Y8B0W_qtboKEkUGOouN1pX_0Uyg_AxPv1E9UNc27mAU6gR6pK8NNMQZ4HoxaFzqmZT1fkIDnrvdhVGF8QfLzWO5Ru8/s320/IMG_9716.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Map of the walk: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZY0Y0w2j-5_OSCVk33Op_kRwveVTMPshyHtG_HsX_r9-WklagOXJJeixmnAOyaDEe0rWAsNFIATFA9SD5MQuoxa2zP11pTCzrLUJ19WaeAWf56IaErbWxNcmrwP81Evqbr-305emT4-7fm3TfOPbRDLhj4aXbPkw4vLdaha0z5coEJtIQ5K9F70gflak/s845/6c95e0fd-d63c-4ec8-8926-b9008e9aa96d.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="390" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZY0Y0w2j-5_OSCVk33Op_kRwveVTMPshyHtG_HsX_r9-WklagOXJJeixmnAOyaDEe0rWAsNFIATFA9SD5MQuoxa2zP11pTCzrLUJ19WaeAWf56IaErbWxNcmrwP81Evqbr-305emT4-7fm3TfOPbRDLhj4aXbPkw4vLdaha0z5coEJtIQ5K9F70gflak/s320/6c95e0fd-d63c-4ec8-8926-b9008e9aa96d.jpeg" width="148" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BONUS: We spent the rest of the afternoon watching and listening to Paris’ Pride Parade, which crossed right outside our windows for the rest of the afternoon. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyGHKR11Q9HpqlWhdwUNXTYCtBZHBvs4rKdkzJ3vkp58oVDCmAn6CfGWP-bNb4seK1DjzzbNXQGJUHnjt7TRg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-41998935537715404432023-06-23T10:52:00.001-07:002023-06-23T11:39:59.874-07:00The Paris Anniversary Marathon Day 1: Miles 1-6<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ELuYRA0trfNaklglPX759ngr21lvwv2NCvmOv4YIGXBNK7JcWQQVQA8-k-AJXMMem5wz9qJpTKjgZ7bf3ca-d6GXJa-hzdoD5PGlXAOSDIXCbfGSdt8ozjVkcf8nu_v4mBARXK-fmjxTGQVCh5JvKdlO8TeAjZRdAG2RBRtXCYW8G3ptI80vbDgDkjs/s4032/IMG_9552.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ELuYRA0trfNaklglPX759ngr21lvwv2NCvmOv4YIGXBNK7JcWQQVQA8-k-AJXMMem5wz9qJpTKjgZ7bf3ca-d6GXJa-hzdoD5PGlXAOSDIXCbfGSdt8ozjVkcf8nu_v4mBARXK-fmjxTGQVCh5JvKdlO8TeAjZRdAG2RBRtXCYW8G3ptI80vbDgDkjs/s320/IMG_9552.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Paris Anniversary Marathon Day 1: We set off from our Airbnb with the bright red door a bit later than we hoped, but still early enough that we avoided the worst of the heat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2ufYK_KvjNIb1ekYtYPzC82IY7MCJexB0-y_t3fOkz-0ptXaTiabzutetctv48U6hFSDESi87gZK3dD0cqF6NddQLZSHFzyRpJc3pwXY2FFZwANJX2RSVX5TgpWLb7AhDPpExjuwRb9-HXCxuZMT7Yo2-qHyj2UZOFByi4uxm_VVwC7Rg4extxHc5fI/s4032/IMG_9553.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2ufYK_KvjNIb1ekYtYPzC82IY7MCJexB0-y_t3fOkz-0ptXaTiabzutetctv48U6hFSDESi87gZK3dD0cqF6NddQLZSHFzyRpJc3pwXY2FFZwANJX2RSVX5TgpWLb7AhDPpExjuwRb9-HXCxuZMT7Yo2-qHyj2UZOFByi4uxm_VVwC7Rg4extxHc5fI/s320/IMG_9553.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Hopping on the Metro at Filles du Calvaire, we came out at Place de la Concorde, the start of the actual Paris Marathon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirY7Ri_tiOJ0Ob5hNluJ8S51iMf-jn_iZXh0mb7fHewcR6EirDMLq6_e4_-6Do6_DdwHuQ1H1BR5sOWQeLwDPK-geD7guxvEIWcUUjwWeoo_OPe7bhHb4zqyhQajmHzJFE5pwGZE-1bmVUjuXJPh_NFh-gI3pPUyUP7XU2kr07H07I_sl6995pPBpMX9Q/s4032/IMG_9557.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirY7Ri_tiOJ0Ob5hNluJ8S51iMf-jn_iZXh0mb7fHewcR6EirDMLq6_e4_-6Do6_DdwHuQ1H1BR5sOWQeLwDPK-geD7guxvEIWcUUjwWeoo_OPe7bhHb4zqyhQajmHzJFE5pwGZE-1bmVUjuXJPh_NFh-gI3pPUyUP7XU2kr07H07I_sl6995pPBpMX9Q/s320/IMG_9557.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Walking through the Jardin des Tuileries instead of alongside it, added a few steps to our route right up front. It also became apparent that following the turn-for-turn directions of the Paris marathon website was not as easy as it sounded. Taking what we learned in London, we improvised the route, while still hitting the highlights. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMoUsZqeVPaG-0DR6dD_gxw-TEF8JCglv-AJu9LDMb2sM4vRl_tw29t97rdPSfwV0lVsQFNj2yzIieb9MTrovWdKLnC0-J4XLlfgUOqwG6ngJSTPAMjtURs55nHO87uUzFX3j7rRtJYH1iKIJzjFsnIKUpjSCJI4SCcbO7R2_UUlepQqmcg6VzJ9Rg0Q/s8114/IMG_9562.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3728" data-original-width="8114" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMoUsZqeVPaG-0DR6dD_gxw-TEF8JCglv-AJu9LDMb2sM4vRl_tw29t97rdPSfwV0lVsQFNj2yzIieb9MTrovWdKLnC0-J4XLlfgUOqwG6ngJSTPAMjtURs55nHO87uUzFX3j7rRtJYH1iKIJzjFsnIKUpjSCJI4SCcbO7R2_UUlepQqmcg6VzJ9Rg0Q/s320/IMG_9562.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Place Vendome. The column commemorates Napoleon I’s victory in the Battle of Austerlitz. Now home to upscale designer stores like Dior. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwia09-zUttjYBwHBXhcRCFSYlbdQT4CIjKLHOnTYEig_339w-PjbUXLY8JKZ6zZAjbkFA9LkvDmIGE3UJFDCU1NVYBPt13lBb3qmXrV1mI3iS1vgf2ckPvZAkFnIFTrFgf3io2gl4D_3vLRGhXuFwDCtkH8ZSVpgUcOWeSyJt9Za31szdNbjaEiFmUDs/s3088/IMG_9571.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwia09-zUttjYBwHBXhcRCFSYlbdQT4CIjKLHOnTYEig_339w-PjbUXLY8JKZ6zZAjbkFA9LkvDmIGE3UJFDCU1NVYBPt13lBb3qmXrV1mI3iS1vgf2ckPvZAkFnIFTrFgf3io2gl4D_3vLRGhXuFwDCtkH8ZSVpgUcOWeSyJt9Za31szdNbjaEiFmUDs/s320/IMG_9571.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Palais Garnier, Paris’s National Opera House. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoMbL3EKtBV9w-lzOPULsIFNRQ_Q4OfhUyFnQWcg8hm2ChdAwDldm5d-m2Z23Ly2g5K4utcTiD2Mv0FzSiuOolcMn7t1kTcPGXYjjYEN-daW8pYTD-i9fVeqht86PSkGT2UsywjCTMCv7jIZdfgXW5oN-apUkNa7cBrG8g7NYUySFF3jNol6QPBfLGZg/s8948/IMG_9577.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3788" data-original-width="8948" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoMbL3EKtBV9w-lzOPULsIFNRQ_Q4OfhUyFnQWcg8hm2ChdAwDldm5d-m2Z23Ly2g5K4utcTiD2Mv0FzSiuOolcMn7t1kTcPGXYjjYEN-daW8pYTD-i9fVeqht86PSkGT2UsywjCTMCv7jIZdfgXW5oN-apUkNa7cBrG8g7NYUySFF3jNol6QPBfLGZg/s320/IMG_9577.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Next stop, Musee du Louvre where Mark almost fell for a charity scam, but was saved by a heroic young Frenchman. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6c9MVJydBTIJdlWtPACxzHKuXbxkviUMTBa0xuFTbJT75dXnCW0_xPYAOczgPVpLHPKCvdpqFb2gnlxkvKCwe6M0BQpl449WAcoPwrghx5SJMv01zP8DHdhIpAy-Iql7VUWHxpUYUzWcFwUrp_Igox4ck2zkKfAvUCIR7ZTTBAdFc-Ib0JIWdH40s0s/s3088/IMG_9582.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6c9MVJydBTIJdlWtPACxzHKuXbxkviUMTBa0xuFTbJT75dXnCW0_xPYAOczgPVpLHPKCvdpqFb2gnlxkvKCwe6M0BQpl449WAcoPwrghx5SJMv01zP8DHdhIpAy-Iql7VUWHxpUYUzWcFwUrp_Igox4ck2zkKfAvUCIR7ZTTBAdFc-Ib0JIWdH40s0s/s320/IMG_9582.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>From the Louvre, a brief stroll along the Seine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SibJtZN4yD_xTzkDLzsmM5KnUvwm73j0d389_cRj447aSaXp92_Q3khKqh-Cp5YDoy7_FQW_kXxuGWspeK6_4CbZqxZF3V4e1FF3f5Ktp9GX_2Gkqxnh3q-3qAZitMVoYJYBnt7jLXoW0ke1pVWq9hWnQqRDhDeEp47nNQXrEFcLZu2rzkZ19gfnDLs/s4032/IMG_9584.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SibJtZN4yD_xTzkDLzsmM5KnUvwm73j0d389_cRj447aSaXp92_Q3khKqh-Cp5YDoy7_FQW_kXxuGWspeK6_4CbZqxZF3V4e1FF3f5Ktp9GX_2Gkqxnh3q-3qAZitMVoYJYBnt7jLXoW0ke1pVWq9hWnQqRDhDeEp47nNQXrEFcLZu2rzkZ19gfnDLs/s320/IMG_9584.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwB6EbBWiOqHwf_9S9gnDLnA72b7KGY65RRyolv7JUCoLjb1G32MAQiYCAvc_2QmfmoDvNRDcC9DN10VJeLiORnLwd-ZBAB1O7JZ6FQv8Fx21lTnqiIrcQyvIlNfijRJN8PMwll2NqSHorWD9QrgANZm1i4ZBchzJgrdFzlymE6ox8SPef62onbgby6o/s4032/IMG_9588.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwB6EbBWiOqHwf_9S9gnDLnA72b7KGY65RRyolv7JUCoLjb1G32MAQiYCAvc_2QmfmoDvNRDcC9DN10VJeLiORnLwd-ZBAB1O7JZ6FQv8Fx21lTnqiIrcQyvIlNfijRJN8PMwll2NqSHorWD9QrgANZm1i4ZBchzJgrdFzlymE6ox8SPef62onbgby6o/s320/IMG_9588.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Then past the Tour Saint-Jacques, the remains of a 16th C church destroyed during the French Revolution. </p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlvnQ330g_jkKCh6hV0lX-OkPHh8-uJXKapW0RouPGEwG9qlptD5_f-k-utuUP2-KBKZcG4wymJFc5lCDqE2CZAADujgVdKyd5ad9LDxfWT_TMMQzegh3-ll8ym2x-3Pc6wG_hIOS_kSS5cI8-jBhijBUR8-ljssfIKsuUs9NgDbLV-uj1VAL4YJvsPE/s4032/IMG_9591.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlvnQ330g_jkKCh6hV0lX-OkPHh8-uJXKapW0RouPGEwG9qlptD5_f-k-utuUP2-KBKZcG4wymJFc5lCDqE2CZAADujgVdKyd5ad9LDxfWT_TMMQzegh3-ll8ym2x-3Pc6wG_hIOS_kSS5cI8-jBhijBUR8-ljssfIKsuUs9NgDbLV-uj1VAL4YJvsPE/s320/IMG_9591.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Hotel de Ville (City Hall), site of Robert Doisneau’s famous kiss. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79G5fc9F-kJPvUbj2vWHz3GxtWb0lDQFyDF-3xWe5gqAdSsm0QF9KjkYIUOOFUqGnwQ9fYVGMej8z95WyjcnrEwD_h-JZmGmQBbtvqpNOlSRU0fwrvJ9LGwrk6qZ3_shKvdxBqWXumQsIU7Cxia_IGmIw325bkEBWorBZrXa0Y9KVf_lgrjOF2xCKr-o/s4032/IMG_9602.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79G5fc9F-kJPvUbj2vWHz3GxtWb0lDQFyDF-3xWe5gqAdSsm0QF9KjkYIUOOFUqGnwQ9fYVGMej8z95WyjcnrEwD_h-JZmGmQBbtvqpNOlSRU0fwrvJ9LGwrk6qZ3_shKvdxBqWXumQsIU7Cxia_IGmIw325bkEBWorBZrXa0Y9KVf_lgrjOF2xCKr-o/s320/IMG_9602.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A brief detour from the route takes us past Centre Pompidou and its collection of modern European art. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPw-p9y4zfIw4TP0NfoKF6NBUtEkZqFcOusJVmwS4gL3DvXEx2d9UOdkRArCjKbUJSLgIVS-dojIfaYu8I5KL8Pn9wgoF2FNKdetJ7zCPbMy2XVcdLyuJU9hYhcvUFkudUkfSs9LE9bZiIJMxtP4MZvgkUJbVwWxqnxz9ofIRurVAM0UEvtkO-yCjr0k0/s4032/IMG_9603.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPw-p9y4zfIw4TP0NfoKF6NBUtEkZqFcOusJVmwS4gL3DvXEx2d9UOdkRArCjKbUJSLgIVS-dojIfaYu8I5KL8Pn9wgoF2FNKdetJ7zCPbMy2XVcdLyuJU9hYhcvUFkudUkfSs9LE9bZiIJMxtP4MZvgkUJbVwWxqnxz9ofIRurVAM0UEvtkO-yCjr0k0/s320/IMG_9603.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Pompidou Center was designed by Richard Rogers, the same architect who designed the Lloyd’s of London building from Day 1 of the London Anniversary Marathon, and one of Mark’s favorite architects. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe9h7Y-RyPtzjyDW9rYOk5e7b0V8ZK50xf4TIJa-3lFvgT9Ws8DxfcF1hW6gTAoGED1rBO0zy0zsVtyUykWxYQBUlVtVGQsr2GR5QZsbClNMwtzRNxUZhf2mKB6REOsJXuXQ1ttDutcgbGVR36v4jZHP67MasVlp04t_2BRO1zOfgvbniqXMMq-73a28/s4032/IMG_9611.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJe9h7Y-RyPtzjyDW9rYOk5e7b0V8ZK50xf4TIJa-3lFvgT9Ws8DxfcF1hW6gTAoGED1rBO0zy0zsVtyUykWxYQBUlVtVGQsr2GR5QZsbClNMwtzRNxUZhf2mKB6REOsJXuXQ1ttDutcgbGVR36v4jZHP67MasVlp04t_2BRO1zOfgvbniqXMMq-73a28/s320/IMG_9611.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Another detour to rest for a moment at Place des Vosges, Paris’ oldest planned square, in the Marais. Victor Hugo lived on this square at one time. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29p3EGovtn8ctak3wsHzHl5L_1Cd65nfKw1X0N0o3kw8tjcACXyWi4hVPfY_HawX8PQLQgwDPNH9UipFi8qI7jJzwh30c0-bk_jOXlz-iDUVCaamc4l1AyYVMQ7eaFFx72UNarDmpiV55fIgzfmUYjvKIK7VEjvHcJNpN4AxZWlzn5dNFjmEL-doruSI/s4032/IMG_9620.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29p3EGovtn8ctak3wsHzHl5L_1Cd65nfKw1X0N0o3kw8tjcACXyWi4hVPfY_HawX8PQLQgwDPNH9UipFi8qI7jJzwh30c0-bk_jOXlz-iDUVCaamc4l1AyYVMQ7eaFFx72UNarDmpiV55fIgzfmUYjvKIK7VEjvHcJNpN4AxZWlzn5dNFjmEL-doruSI/s320/IMG_9620.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Finally, Place de la Bastille, monument to the French Revolution, and the end of the planned route for today. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyFLnRVKx_MbzS_tPcC54HRknElH6wrk5QAzzbyYCM2F1I0yZJNRwPYwa1t-aYRdFE6WhlT6dlHxqCdXAyUupLdNLv3ktDXsmq_sJiNQPe27rlwKocOciYIGKA4GrbXBCooAm02xPYSdM2MRoGU2Hjd-8UPLbxqewVQoIeZcyRszFBLlED0gf8kwyVnw/s4032/IMG_9623.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyFLnRVKx_MbzS_tPcC54HRknElH6wrk5QAzzbyYCM2F1I0yZJNRwPYwa1t-aYRdFE6WhlT6dlHxqCdXAyUupLdNLv3ktDXsmq_sJiNQPe27rlwKocOciYIGKA4GrbXBCooAm02xPYSdM2MRoGU2Hjd-8UPLbxqewVQoIeZcyRszFBLlED0gf8kwyVnw/s320/IMG_9623.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We added a walk along the Canal St. Martin, taking the route from 5 to 6 miles. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFU_dC_hhjW7Xx-d_c2R-AJPpu82RigC4wE3a9OasSZyqqjgnkoSRLTjP1JR518bc5ZitKfN6g-67ZuGp-1TDir-Sx1I99Qn9j1QI8B4N4kLT26QKfeJQCjLwDn-imYWYBIA8OzkGHs4qAlnrXYD_6-sV_fd2eBC1tPR_ov4tNSL7KMKDl_nrYFmyCEA/s3088/IMG_9624.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFU_dC_hhjW7Xx-d_c2R-AJPpu82RigC4wE3a9OasSZyqqjgnkoSRLTjP1JR518bc5ZitKfN6g-67ZuGp-1TDir-Sx1I99Qn9j1QI8B4N4kLT26QKfeJQCjLwDn-imYWYBIA8OzkGHs4qAlnrXYD_6-sV_fd2eBC1tPR_ov4tNSL7KMKDl_nrYFmyCEA/s320/IMG_9624.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mOiBtKw5yPx9D9KBwF51K_ls_doRl38HfDt0panP9c4IoJ7UBskrY912AsrM1odhm1_bdL43ZMG8BYUiWDKi0shtwsNz-XT49qHQ2C3-53WNdmj7325dwYAIi56E_p_mWepYK9dGebSUBwVPrGisOAbaXn3eTk7ZfnjIznQp6LEI1IAw9yQmP3eJmpU/s4032/IMG_9628.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mOiBtKw5yPx9D9KBwF51K_ls_doRl38HfDt0panP9c4IoJ7UBskrY912AsrM1odhm1_bdL43ZMG8BYUiWDKi0shtwsNz-XT49qHQ2C3-53WNdmj7325dwYAIi56E_p_mWepYK9dGebSUBwVPrGisOAbaXn3eTk7ZfnjIznQp6LEI1IAw9yQmP3eJmpU/s320/IMG_9628.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The Bastille as seen from Canal St. Martin. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQSVd3z_VqrlwxAQMQieCkGpHuNXNC91rJ5kAKgC1P-GHYKUNHdrOt4B2Js2GKcHtWJtNWXTXOnb1ps4nh13S7oip5BQMG4TiOdcVeM6fMB-5Yos6nD3GsiBs5jM1ic7XGjqyc11uJQSnA8gv9DD1LIsd7tSYx87JN8HZtwIdLatfnIx6NgBKX-YfVeU/s4032/IMG_9634.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQSVd3z_VqrlwxAQMQieCkGpHuNXNC91rJ5kAKgC1P-GHYKUNHdrOt4B2Js2GKcHtWJtNWXTXOnb1ps4nh13S7oip5BQMG4TiOdcVeM6fMB-5Yos6nD3GsiBs5jM1ic7XGjqyc11uJQSnA8gv9DD1LIsd7tSYx87JN8HZtwIdLatfnIx6NgBKX-YfVeU/s320/IMG_9634.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, we stopped for a well-earned respite at a bistro near the Canal St. Martin. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And today’s map…</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IpLR0x66QfdgAKuwvt7OxpieQ_ag8aryUL9BrcQ77REGY0k-W_xrP7Ik1rmxaQpLeTHne5va2p2cy1fpnxX2fEeMCGsX3kH6RhBGKQP-KiJCE2Ko6zRd0U6j9wg-RrVNzwsq5qdVoEBZMdOG3BQIkeW9d5YOXwLjwp31TQeNiiX1TwB_q2tkjh3kRwc/s812/d6390aec-c78d-4146-94b9-e8b3818bef7d.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IpLR0x66QfdgAKuwvt7OxpieQ_ag8aryUL9BrcQ77REGY0k-W_xrP7Ik1rmxaQpLeTHne5va2p2cy1fpnxX2fEeMCGsX3kH6RhBGKQP-KiJCE2Ko6zRd0U6j9wg-RrVNzwsq5qdVoEBZMdOG3BQIkeW9d5YOXwLjwp31TQeNiiX1TwB_q2tkjh3kRwc/s320/d6390aec-c78d-4146-94b9-e8b3818bef7d.jpeg" width="148" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-45498070975974287432023-06-22T13:30:00.001-07:002023-06-23T09:58:19.915-07:00Love from Paris <p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpYttX27HCjnIImuJjb-unM1CfT-YGT8JSbb3bXBtl3kDlOZ-34N7ZieoHtIkpQGpSg4EEJuFwmUZXlvoeV8iU3xWLko061RfhUMwxLdvR-dubD03twJY4Jt9aSNm06Z33T0EBObmTHv0k5AhlWJzQWQCoaGsgQEKF0kP03EzW304SmGEBDkxy0OsQck/s4032/IMG_9542.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpYttX27HCjnIImuJjb-unM1CfT-YGT8JSbb3bXBtl3kDlOZ-34N7ZieoHtIkpQGpSg4EEJuFwmUZXlvoeV8iU3xWLko061RfhUMwxLdvR-dubD03twJY4Jt9aSNm06Z33T0EBObmTHv0k5AhlWJzQWQCoaGsgQEKF0kP03EzW304SmGEBDkxy0OsQck/s320/IMG_9542.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">6/22/23</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am grateful…for an uneventful trip to Paris on the Eurostar…that we eventually got the door, wifi, stove, fans and washing machine in our Paris Airbnb to work…for a delicious (healthy) dinner of Greek couscous salad, shredded carrots and cubes beets. </span></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-22004727640036670342023-06-21T13:30:00.001-07:002023-06-23T09:49:15.887-07:00The London Anniversary Marathon Day 4: Miles 23.2-26.2<p><br /></p>With only 3 miles to go today, we were feeling good, so we took a short detour to ride the new Elizabeth Line from St. Pancras to Farringdon and then onto Green Park. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXAfwRCVhbwCVMsgceZolA4_V5kYHz6qb3kBJGwt-qFU6jFdZQ6StGmzX7aUhzfMAgLFXU3kBIh47bQM2gICDJ7sXtAV5y4lr7ogvacXKfFnCB_AaFr5SbdzIXpSWBCFVOVqw3gd6FDhMw3g29xIK2XA5TXWEdo4Dfza_dRfBVDG926u6LhT_mm-_s3k/s4032/IMG_9462.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXAfwRCVhbwCVMsgceZolA4_V5kYHz6qb3kBJGwt-qFU6jFdZQ6StGmzX7aUhzfMAgLFXU3kBIh47bQM2gICDJ7sXtAV5y4lr7ogvacXKfFnCB_AaFr5SbdzIXpSWBCFVOVqw3gd6FDhMw3g29xIK2XA5TXWEdo4Dfza_dRfBVDG926u6LhT_mm-_s3k/s320/IMG_9462.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2mJi8Kpr6GsHOwC1jHdyhU2WQjP8cdCZiMTkkLHodg6T8V3JWn4HanrQ34_zilq5nvXdkBEyHiJ9ayKuXIFIshJAS28EJehNEPanUxaTakDrjCYnJ_BMVtkGQVU0rrP2UyRYp7TOYxSmUpb-4nA_MjVySevYU5HBwLhLR9ZDa8XUxeRLg8gOe1hmXIM/s4032/IMG_9463.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2mJi8Kpr6GsHOwC1jHdyhU2WQjP8cdCZiMTkkLHodg6T8V3JWn4HanrQ34_zilq5nvXdkBEyHiJ9ayKuXIFIshJAS28EJehNEPanUxaTakDrjCYnJ_BMVtkGQVU0rrP2UyRYp7TOYxSmUpb-4nA_MjVySevYU5HBwLhLR9ZDa8XUxeRLg8gOe1hmXIM/s320/IMG_9463.jpeg" width="320" /></a><div><br /></div><div>The only other place we saw full barriers was at the Westminster tube station (the one closest to Parliament), but all of the Elizabeth line stations seemed to have them. That and AC! </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TTpoL2eI47TD4GkrNN-7qgoHsGrlEoEJAPSa45t0FUBfltbR3TvrTCwS_h6cxhQJexhxZLZ1vA655INB01c5ujsM-IJqrIUIAeEulFRZ5Sz8Y87WuA-6VuKabPgXdfqBx6W2sjjChQot3tYAJaVqskwy5xnKTDbyK5ldOJZ2DQYVSnh2-M-JlR9BxDA/s4032/IMG_9464.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TTpoL2eI47TD4GkrNN-7qgoHsGrlEoEJAPSa45t0FUBfltbR3TvrTCwS_h6cxhQJexhxZLZ1vA655INB01c5ujsM-IJqrIUIAeEulFRZ5Sz8Y87WuA-6VuKabPgXdfqBx6W2sjjChQot3tYAJaVqskwy5xnKTDbyK5ldOJZ2DQYVSnh2-M-JlR9BxDA/s320/IMG_9464.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Back to Green Park for Day 4. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3o3v-fS_JWovaQI1bjmd5dkvI3xy9lFiB-0icb7V6LeOS674fnii5IU6XT4iGfuRS8BxCPr9A_YVqxuKcFjKXgnzqpykC6Jw2X12aI3lyOrOZFQXTGKQa_CMqvMeIJK0-rI4nAOeYYWJpZ5ISRxLAvkrOH05yjG1kkUJo0-zUu2SKCjo6y_0MP6fpzrk/s4032/IMG_9467.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3o3v-fS_JWovaQI1bjmd5dkvI3xy9lFiB-0icb7V6LeOS674fnii5IU6XT4iGfuRS8BxCPr9A_YVqxuKcFjKXgnzqpykC6Jw2X12aI3lyOrOZFQXTGKQa_CMqvMeIJK0-rI4nAOeYYWJpZ5ISRxLAvkrOH05yjG1kkUJo0-zUu2SKCjo6y_0MP6fpzrk/s320/IMG_9467.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A quick stop at Buckingham Palace, where we just happened upon the changing of the guard. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyxqLoqYzv78Y1uqQEYiCvL6dWCckQa1DuEGqPvg9ZtxCcBK5vNJrR8WKBmm7KXGkmtYeJ_O3bhXpbnb8kF8w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>The changing of the guard at Buck Palace. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjz7m5nxbd0PxaEbHMFl1Zc3E-54uI8HGPDDFrK3QAuv4eJHpTEvMQ_NmC5HY9f0zT1sFhv5suIfjI_pL8ZFg356V2EBuyP7Q93aCzQsB6Hgz1Ami_uk-b2LLg3FY7WpA_hq0LLMH__XtrIu9KQs_EXC2k4-zUY6P9uy4o6AFUCnNihFhU7iAagD7I6f4/s4032/IMG_9475.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjz7m5nxbd0PxaEbHMFl1Zc3E-54uI8HGPDDFrK3QAuv4eJHpTEvMQ_NmC5HY9f0zT1sFhv5suIfjI_pL8ZFg356V2EBuyP7Q93aCzQsB6Hgz1Ami_uk-b2LLg3FY7WpA_hq0LLMH__XtrIu9KQs_EXC2k4-zUY6P9uy4o6AFUCnNihFhU7iAagD7I6f4/s320/IMG_9475.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Mall that leads to - or in this case away from - Buckingham Palace. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdDdZChCnsDseYlRNE9rMoEFVEBg1-qcmkiEfp6lADE4Qs71eNpFpiP93WoBece_J7WwELLVwuqN8Usbhfp-i8ZMEOqXWLte3GxInAujROjY9JtU26iPbHfwC1uNzaNP1MoGURiQCzPF_sxq1-ytqEvnEw36txXmSPLI_pCny4EC-Qi8NCmUW_VCOXak/s4032/IMG_9477.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdDdZChCnsDseYlRNE9rMoEFVEBg1-qcmkiEfp6lADE4Qs71eNpFpiP93WoBece_J7WwELLVwuqN8Usbhfp-i8ZMEOqXWLte3GxInAujROjY9JtU26iPbHfwC1uNzaNP1MoGURiQCzPF_sxq1-ytqEvnEw36txXmSPLI_pCny4EC-Qi8NCmUW_VCOXak/s320/IMG_9477.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Trafalgar Square. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHLdr3NfiekpnM1IMRehh6ywwi6ClSgCSKEv7cEqsu-dv7tFxsFMe0MXE71X7U3cfjqRUYGpLeKsrDgwekFrc2qf4qYy_notOAkCodZdtko4yPAX72EBJZ-ZjLQ_H_BfBbdtvvgLpSxFhPwn4qly6glUlpIrs0Rul3spujSjxGFxDIJBOnk5jRFOGko8/s4032/IMG_9484.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHLdr3NfiekpnM1IMRehh6ywwi6ClSgCSKEv7cEqsu-dv7tFxsFMe0MXE71X7U3cfjqRUYGpLeKsrDgwekFrc2qf4qYy_notOAkCodZdtko4yPAX72EBJZ-ZjLQ_H_BfBbdtvvgLpSxFhPwn4qly6glUlpIrs0Rul3spujSjxGFxDIJBOnk5jRFOGko8/s320/IMG_9484.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Piccadilly Circus - London’s Times Square. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZa5YV8zrIQ4hpfZaBEKpTEzptWJKNFSC1CAO1FaoIdfTGo6crw9yXExEqaXylAGEXldglQL-9_AsTEtTrS14YIWkZeh2bV7L3kTcNm10tcQM1IPdVyJ6QMvvPXuO1eud1wJ3c5BBGGf21BEM7aC-Y6veR2gFo7LfeKnjiiSHClaKSBrVHzye7tczL8P4/s4032/IMG_9498.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZa5YV8zrIQ4hpfZaBEKpTEzptWJKNFSC1CAO1FaoIdfTGo6crw9yXExEqaXylAGEXldglQL-9_AsTEtTrS14YIWkZeh2bV7L3kTcNm10tcQM1IPdVyJ6QMvvPXuO1eud1wJ3c5BBGGf21BEM7aC-Y6veR2gFo7LfeKnjiiSHClaKSBrVHzye7tczL8P4/s320/IMG_9498.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">London’s China Town. Sadly Lee Ho Fook’s no longer exists, but on the plus side, we spotted no werewolves. However, Mark does claim to have seen a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vick’s. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjjsEWKLTLyDenTZOPXXcWC6mGKjZLDUV2hPYhBAwLJetT7mCo9JxHQrqYciHiSxDMDPbRfYE8JGQx-kuRI_LD0gOqN1S9V1c1BIWjwb73n9yJCw0I-pVUFTPNmevhPZaU_YRbbHlfXRHOIgQ3cG_PgfmVgD404uPKbvbuV9d1ZgzSS7J-PZbbcXzafs/s3088/IMG_9509.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjjsEWKLTLyDenTZOPXXcWC6mGKjZLDUV2hPYhBAwLJetT7mCo9JxHQrqYciHiSxDMDPbRfYE8JGQx-kuRI_LD0gOqN1S9V1c1BIWjwb73n9yJCw0I-pVUFTPNmevhPZaU_YRbbHlfXRHOIgQ3cG_PgfmVgD404uPKbvbuV9d1ZgzSS7J-PZbbcXzafs/s320/IMG_9509.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Covent Garden. Where we hit 26.2 miles and turned off the Garmin. Mission #1 accomplished. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUk2PI6iD5Krc8C_6DalE--N8VX9aY7rMlINzRgJtbx0GgVnfPJPkP5zl2sUixxvbdaTxLcRFqFAiln78TfL0Tnf7j2t3-vD1PmSMTnPeCaglMXH4ECoTIkDV-IAEWu8WXEMQsvrJ-bJOVaN5jvOPbEIRp6co8mI40GI9cXG4zj2-GNAsMQvN9UDtCWA/s4032/IMG_9528.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUk2PI6iD5Krc8C_6DalE--N8VX9aY7rMlINzRgJtbx0GgVnfPJPkP5zl2sUixxvbdaTxLcRFqFAiln78TfL0Tnf7j2t3-vD1PmSMTnPeCaglMXH4ECoTIkDV-IAEWu8WXEMQsvrJ-bJOVaN5jvOPbEIRp6co8mI40GI9cXG4zj2-GNAsMQvN9UDtCWA/s320/IMG_9528.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmvyDPDJzj8tdG8t__DomXZbKgyVBaqijzeITGlt6J3EhgmKQ026w6uqd32UcTtac75U-BXoihttWj8I1T2sO8KVpO1Ok_ulPTuTmaYq2vESDMOBoWGwD6GxQo_gW1jEo24CYYp6L5g0KDk1vs5UhdiGkZVUyD8jNExSH5hxpl09LMtQltu4oNPWdVOY/s4032/IMG_9524.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmvyDPDJzj8tdG8t__DomXZbKgyVBaqijzeITGlt6J3EhgmKQ026w6uqd32UcTtac75U-BXoihttWj8I1T2sO8KVpO1Ok_ulPTuTmaYq2vESDMOBoWGwD6GxQo_gW1jEo24CYYp6L5g0KDk1vs5UhdiGkZVUyD8jNExSH5hxpl09LMtQltu4oNPWdVOY/s320/IMG_9524.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>To celebrate, we had afternoon tea in the lobby of our hotel….</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaXVLOhauom80NFAUOgzyH5vgEhkApt75_EaGVzysbmDQ7IuZalgkDrcMWfb2MkJqmRU7-z9bNZvnW3aqDwwuILGmiV0MTfEwg0DW_597CibhYO-YwX2RHa4xPNFbmj5dHEr8qShML8xAG0eop5C9jMUQ3y2qDBjsIJfVF4TtEWuivTjJoLC7axumEmw/s4032/IMG_9531.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaXVLOhauom80NFAUOgzyH5vgEhkApt75_EaGVzysbmDQ7IuZalgkDrcMWfb2MkJqmRU7-z9bNZvnW3aqDwwuILGmiV0MTfEwg0DW_597CibhYO-YwX2RHa4xPNFbmj5dHEr8qShML8xAG0eop5C9jMUQ3y2qDBjsIJfVF4TtEWuivTjJoLC7axumEmw/s320/IMG_9531.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then went for a visit with the big guy….<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAhghLxeWOmwerJKF0GwXFWJnENYsiOLRsFNaHJULA0mNfVkaCsej1cNDJMx29G4BSc-Bx6U9IAsX6z4xA0oN_BNvmsyhTuzTqMbfAKbZ9nN56azFkHLH1S69wrETZz7Yy6v6eQbBnk4rHbU3z_gxqeapWc8-AqIjIKc4wmoVhEJvqHIvbI9MNyQ0Pu8/s4032/IMG_9535.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAhghLxeWOmwerJKF0GwXFWJnENYsiOLRsFNaHJULA0mNfVkaCsej1cNDJMx29G4BSc-Bx6U9IAsX6z4xA0oN_BNvmsyhTuzTqMbfAKbZ9nN56azFkHLH1S69wrETZz7Yy6v6eQbBnk4rHbU3z_gxqeapWc8-AqIjIKc4wmoVhEJvqHIvbI9MNyQ0Pu8/s320/IMG_9535.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ending the day with drinks on the terrace at the Houses of Parliament with our favorite Labour MP. (Also, the only one we know.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYqiqzF19-Na8LX0PIDXJ-exRxM9l8pGlQ88MmCVQVYVAwx-qhWYd343HG-iX75oXwHMmV39nDbks4e_tDzg1RVt6FTJfQOYdJQCzh5k3wpy8hcv-58UeHQjhvDJYy7GMl98Ye7zTnDZXDC5tx-WwHabodLHjK9ur1nGiynF6_DN_3EXxySoqwyMnSu8/s1024/fa44e52a-b75f-42c6-b7b5-1ef2cb7ad9f0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYqiqzF19-Na8LX0PIDXJ-exRxM9l8pGlQ88MmCVQVYVAwx-qhWYd343HG-iX75oXwHMmV39nDbks4e_tDzg1RVt6FTJfQOYdJQCzh5k3wpy8hcv-58UeHQjhvDJYy7GMl98Ye7zTnDZXDC5tx-WwHabodLHjK9ur1nGiynF6_DN_3EXxySoqwyMnSu8/s320/fa44e52a-b75f-42c6-b7b5-1ef2cb7ad9f0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Map of the Day: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInHHOMOp5hjaTqu_DXJPun-n8P_-H2vdzUs6ed1n1SblROFk4obhAwchAFuSI_u60boKmpv5r3dRaj52Quv_wsbu3Y_JySqPEX6QUxze5wgn4yggAoC8rvs_muV6yJeTSC95N57gaJTn_K_rFf4EYCdBqNmpFduQdnTGpSx7fgB1igiINLyPlgSDV9ik/s1024/7cc7778e-6c54-481e-8f34-07cfec95f088.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="473" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInHHOMOp5hjaTqu_DXJPun-n8P_-H2vdzUs6ed1n1SblROFk4obhAwchAFuSI_u60boKmpv5r3dRaj52Quv_wsbu3Y_JySqPEX6QUxze5wgn4yggAoC8rvs_muV6yJeTSC95N57gaJTn_K_rFf4EYCdBqNmpFduQdnTGpSx7fgB1igiINLyPlgSDV9ik/s320/7cc7778e-6c54-481e-8f34-07cfec95f088.jpeg" width="148" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div></div></div>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-3321818535943146202023-06-20T13:30:00.003-07:002023-06-23T05:28:29.514-07:00The London Anniversary Marathon Day 3: Miles 18-23.2<p>Taking what we learned on Day 2 with us into Day 3, we got a slower start this morning and took things a bit easier - only 6 miles (plus that pesky 0.2) walked today. Starting at our hotel, we made our way towards “the flat” in the City of Westminster where Mark lived from 1991-1994. Happening upon a few things along the way…<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQSuACRxAa48pRjuPWrK4Xe0HSDBT7S243MH-rXb6W8VtrMUbIUIBwoV4spySDSj8p3eVqwzuKTZ6tGc6-zLBAtB3DaVG9SpFq9P_xguppCy15a1UFSz9_s3hFjK1PV0a_nfXbNwrbM89ai-QtbnZExHJyLDq7yx2t5FH8CoFEpTJ7Cmr5CtVPv6trCE/s4032/IMG_9429.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQSuACRxAa48pRjuPWrK4Xe0HSDBT7S243MH-rXb6W8VtrMUbIUIBwoV4spySDSj8p3eVqwzuKTZ6tGc6-zLBAtB3DaVG9SpFq9P_xguppCy15a1UFSz9_s3hFjK1PV0a_nfXbNwrbM89ai-QtbnZExHJyLDq7yx2t5FH8CoFEpTJ7Cmr5CtVPv6trCE/s320/IMG_9429.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is either the Houston Church or the Euston Church, two churches right next door to each other that look confusingly similar. At first we thought “Houston” was a typo for Euston, but nope, there are two of them. If you know which one this is, let us know. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU23tliSG9Vt04c_tfUCRhWdOqCZSAcpseLG0NyJ3APZ5NmQO5XLk-0iM1b6VGMX4CZ6Q780gEvLIL9VTXPBjV8NdBH-h5GaaPJgh6tlxP0iG0Zjsx6GeALIafUq7pMvhLJ3fSV3YzFQzUF2NwyuRf3LaHQXRwh6AmfaMTJqR_EiigAFIOR7z5gMzwOAU/s4032/IMG_9432.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU23tliSG9Vt04c_tfUCRhWdOqCZSAcpseLG0NyJ3APZ5NmQO5XLk-0iM1b6VGMX4CZ6Q780gEvLIL9VTXPBjV8NdBH-h5GaaPJgh6tlxP0iG0Zjsx6GeALIafUq7pMvhLJ3fSV3YzFQzUF2NwyuRf3LaHQXRwh6AmfaMTJqR_EiigAFIOR7z5gMzwOAU/s320/IMG_9432.jpeg" width="240" /></a><p></p><p>The Telecom Tower. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQGDc9m3YJcN--3YLnBVx9eHo8LgpkMkbaXNyQ_T-cnfxenJYmyoJVXyqW3f52vt4X-BzN1FvkyP6BVPwLQyvEVdPp3r5te8G1d4XLUufSRZ_NyXUpCkPs_9QtriqmTrmagQwzGiSkfnCWEHxgZ9aAX3IElxmBw2yZkMmHjbhHwGmQplrLQxSFa7Fzrw/s4032/IMG_9438.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQGDc9m3YJcN--3YLnBVx9eHo8LgpkMkbaXNyQ_T-cnfxenJYmyoJVXyqW3f52vt4X-BzN1FvkyP6BVPwLQyvEVdPp3r5te8G1d4XLUufSRZ_NyXUpCkPs_9QtriqmTrmagQwzGiSkfnCWEHxgZ9aAX3IElxmBw2yZkMmHjbhHwGmQplrLQxSFa7Fzrw/s320/IMG_9438.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The flat in New Cavendish St where Mark once lived thanks to Sister Christine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiVXP8GZ3Z3pzyFzKWXVsnwg4pu9I13P8Md75QsU9a76WVG5x3PbDLgT3O58kk7Z0yaLIeCLO2cS4-bDgQMLFO1l_WJQ9JmqishPvgkro30HdDZQ7gMoHEbFco2-KEdVCJssdC1t_toecFjA77nXIpEa9v9gTNxxSu-ZcFmtsT024SUlRAhQhknS9waY/s4032/IMG_9440.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiVXP8GZ3Z3pzyFzKWXVsnwg4pu9I13P8Md75QsU9a76WVG5x3PbDLgT3O58kk7Z0yaLIeCLO2cS4-bDgQMLFO1l_WJQ9JmqishPvgkro30HdDZQ7gMoHEbFco2-KEdVCJssdC1t_toecFjA77nXIpEa9v9gTNxxSu-ZcFmtsT024SUlRAhQhknS9waY/s320/IMG_9440.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Turns out Mark is not the only VIP to have lived in the flat. Wilkie Collins, father of the police procedural, was born here in 1824. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g3t3MajYXSdkK1_NtMF32Tu_Jy3J_JtMmHL-_FqAwEDrWKzfNvagNIJY6bmGp4nVi247zTU0aX0JATmUSn63FUgwOwBzLijoMZg2-nJEKNX5c-_1_ua8gO_EXz7pbAaaextWp6ySGjc_akjGolZ03do7e7xvFJ8v3sbzyr4Rh33g67ztWz66vkT99Gg/s4032/IMG_9434.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g3t3MajYXSdkK1_NtMF32Tu_Jy3J_JtMmHL-_FqAwEDrWKzfNvagNIJY6bmGp4nVi247zTU0aX0JATmUSn63FUgwOwBzLijoMZg2-nJEKNX5c-_1_ua8gO_EXz7pbAaaextWp6ySGjc_akjGolZ03do7e7xvFJ8v3sbzyr4Rh33g67ztWz66vkT99Gg/s320/IMG_9434.jpeg" width="240" /></a><p></p><p>Dry British wit on display at the local coffee house. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFOgcrciu78I6XjYqbedaEgyBP7dZgtvrlg29ZYglmPhvE9YXe_WRxKpTpGOAkiRrlDh-cDK1TcNBoPQnp1uAbxJ0CdFmMxBl7A3HfUh9acMvuQSQvLVCtVeyQrdyGtNKl-VV00AEJQKOIxVxopxFTOq2w_FCTGg3BI3Q9H7Iu0REIq8dFNt_lomAMhI/s4032/IMG_9436.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFOgcrciu78I6XjYqbedaEgyBP7dZgtvrlg29ZYglmPhvE9YXe_WRxKpTpGOAkiRrlDh-cDK1TcNBoPQnp1uAbxJ0CdFmMxBl7A3HfUh9acMvuQSQvLVCtVeyQrdyGtNKl-VV00AEJQKOIxVxopxFTOq2w_FCTGg3BI3Q9H7Iu0REIq8dFNt_lomAMhI/s320/IMG_9436.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>A thumb drive of tech bros (our made-up collective pronoun of the day - to see more fabulous collective pronouns, click <a href="https://www.countrylife.co.uk/country-life/collective-nouns-for-people-and-professions-84184" target="_blank">here</a>).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsFMGvOpwyfYmWERv05Koho0GuFC6VgilYt9dmLdjRBtqE9uQlb306lP2gtsTO-rd1KFbMrDHDrJGQ2lqfzIhYtYgfNJjtcRaiKurU-2T5DEOQ5dUbwaYd0J2PuGbDKZTaN4cmqd_oQFipU9LlEXKzunp6VOuqYYks1Np3SxP8wcg7_cXnxehTasgvgs/s4032/IMG_9446.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsFMGvOpwyfYmWERv05Koho0GuFC6VgilYt9dmLdjRBtqE9uQlb306lP2gtsTO-rd1KFbMrDHDrJGQ2lqfzIhYtYgfNJjtcRaiKurU-2T5DEOQ5dUbwaYd0J2PuGbDKZTaN4cmqd_oQFipU9LlEXKzunp6VOuqYYks1Np3SxP8wcg7_cXnxehTasgvgs/s320/IMG_9446.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Marble Arch. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MgCRZIU5L1IEMJB7NrBbfGcTMSJlmPX3FNbhFoIIyrfY9uxGG3v-p-LJFuGawPdiqrJoB4ellppNkPu4ej1nZLxZlBNgjp2e0y-os0_F0klP-P682Wblje0gR72i9dLAwndgkQLEkQfv0Qy8kAejlemWJPeRO73QEp9rqbrrk0gbeIdG_vx6PkSYk4U/s4032/IMG_9451.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MgCRZIU5L1IEMJB7NrBbfGcTMSJlmPX3FNbhFoIIyrfY9uxGG3v-p-LJFuGawPdiqrJoB4ellppNkPu4ej1nZLxZlBNgjp2e0y-os0_F0klP-P682Wblje0gR72i9dLAwndgkQLEkQfv0Qy8kAejlemWJPeRO73QEp9rqbrrk0gbeIdG_vx6PkSYk4U/s320/IMG_9451.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hyde Park, though not the corner. </div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB838u4FotOvmcAO_KIk8DuDJYwc403Jem34cDCDJJ8xHZjlMwimLrid3oOBEaxPShtdsDIaRGaHYBydagzOBOnK1TbklAB01Tib27wm2E5BT4F_rjLEn8aKv5O2IG2Ku2Zsm-rY2uaYda_tPv1NzDSlcgko1qqVIheTCnCf_K77pzFBhlj_FUSeLTFE/s4032/IMG_9453.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB838u4FotOvmcAO_KIk8DuDJYwc403Jem34cDCDJJ8xHZjlMwimLrid3oOBEaxPShtdsDIaRGaHYBydagzOBOnK1TbklAB01Tib27wm2E5BT4F_rjLEn8aKv5O2IG2Ku2Zsm-rY2uaYda_tPv1NzDSlcgko1qqVIheTCnCf_K77pzFBhlj_FUSeLTFE/s320/IMG_9453.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Albert Memorial. He must have been quite a guy because his memorial is fit for a Buddha. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y93_o-omjXQ9SpUkTUdlN4LGSUnJuOK1DskLI46Qd5IPJYoHKyr0VIOkoJaSrfrafyBSawyL7KZHNPVReL9yA8OiIejCArkXz1OTscchZDDQVenqjLqaZBH5lqQTRr1oN1NdL65KkHTBqgW-FH7ONH1k4IFYINOcXEtwSnqZhZ_XHJ9Af4OvQ-wD8VE/s4032/IMG_9454.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y93_o-omjXQ9SpUkTUdlN4LGSUnJuOK1DskLI46Qd5IPJYoHKyr0VIOkoJaSrfrafyBSawyL7KZHNPVReL9yA8OiIejCArkXz1OTscchZDDQVenqjLqaZBH5lqQTRr1oN1NdL65KkHTBqgW-FH7ONH1k4IFYINOcXEtwSnqZhZ_XHJ9Af4OvQ-wD8VE/s320/IMG_9454.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Albert Hall, where Lara saw Billy Joel in concert in 1990. Still a highlight of her year abroad. </div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1TlGgGP8AelRb52W_7Gdyv8e2A7UYMBgt3tzUQfKL0Naqy8C2ptPfcWSXDD6TZEyd7N4XK1H_rb3SmiTp831khiljXHr6_yTy8V8y63FwJOf2JHLSoszGDrmYg_Ldg4DZrz8U4mUmyrIKGMVolLVDgiP_u-Dh-h0F169xmX5nVLDYYXWD9Y-CcrVfyI/s3088/IMG_9456.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1TlGgGP8AelRb52W_7Gdyv8e2A7UYMBgt3tzUQfKL0Naqy8C2ptPfcWSXDD6TZEyd7N4XK1H_rb3SmiTp831khiljXHr6_yTy8V8y63FwJOf2JHLSoszGDrmYg_Ldg4DZrz8U4mUmyrIKGMVolLVDgiP_u-Dh-h0F169xmX5nVLDYYXWD9Y-CcrVfyI/s320/IMG_9456.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">The Wellington Arch, also known as Green Park Arch, with Nike atop was our end point for today. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0WOQ0tCXsUGXBQg1d8vf8ZvJddzNScXOUaXo4NcGwJM2C50qbTT51rU8ABWX8JUtai6ofN4YUIB4lOlFMcbg9eYb5v-RMsOiZGpU56bRCCxfHA0CBhoIJUsRV0VYXCPz6x7lGCwcIJ4y1xCn2QlqiVHL-593_lMHk6BGLUVPKaaJAOlTHsDa3Z9aWP4/s1600/2ad5d82e-048e-4708-9828-05d9c8fea6ec.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0WOQ0tCXsUGXBQg1d8vf8ZvJddzNScXOUaXo4NcGwJM2C50qbTT51rU8ABWX8JUtai6ofN4YUIB4lOlFMcbg9eYb5v-RMsOiZGpU56bRCCxfHA0CBhoIJUsRV0VYXCPz6x7lGCwcIJ4y1xCn2QlqiVHL-593_lMHk6BGLUVPKaaJAOlTHsDa3Z9aWP4/s320/2ad5d82e-048e-4708-9828-05d9c8fea6ec.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a day of walking, Mark’s old gang met us at the Betjeman Arms pub at St. Pancras for dinner and drinks. Day 3 in the books. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMJv_sv4dhw5ddK4142x4VVhV4TsNWBA0HgqktEixvZXnKx5Ap-hBrN9U0sE_Mtm2w_OiGslfYgJJ8JDN7Ty_Y_3qu85zWPepgQ-3HIFTlTwJZm54HmtUQkYCQ69ieWUbGlCzNmkbbVU11P-H7x6EuNruGDDHbhd4_yfCUxiQBjIiBQk8sKl58PLltUM/s812/ef1b5c68-84af-429a-912d-a8f48e9f2d1c.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMJv_sv4dhw5ddK4142x4VVhV4TsNWBA0HgqktEixvZXnKx5Ap-hBrN9U0sE_Mtm2w_OiGslfYgJJ8JDN7Ty_Y_3qu85zWPepgQ-3HIFTlTwJZm54HmtUQkYCQ69ieWUbGlCzNmkbbVU11P-H7x6EuNruGDDHbhd4_yfCUxiQBjIiBQk8sKl58PLltUM/s320/ef1b5c68-84af-429a-912d-a8f48e9f2d1c.jpeg" width="148" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-80300255958197082242023-06-19T11:37:00.027-07:002023-06-22T22:22:32.763-07:00The London Anniversary Marathon Day 2: Miles 9-18<p>Yep, we did 9 miles today and it was a bit much in the summer heat. Round about mile 8 the wheels came off the bus and we had to make some adjustments, but we ended the day strong - and even went for a short walk later that evening after dinner. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU04hUrgnw09b4qT0dCImGddPKZ3GsYs3lmrAYeYvunIZ-bT48R60riQsRnIFMNOjO84jTFzWZDcjnVyZzFFwLE-bywDOEMQ7e3jkzApEqVuY_ojxCmJzH0OKfqDE9rsW4vjbx-qBxlWBbhcRDc0jV2-qm_73limyxiTdzR4HuZgRDYW4fXfm54jLZ84/s3088/IMG_9315.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU04hUrgnw09b4qT0dCImGddPKZ3GsYs3lmrAYeYvunIZ-bT48R60riQsRnIFMNOjO84jTFzWZDcjnVyZzFFwLE-bywDOEMQ7e3jkzApEqVuY_ojxCmJzH0OKfqDE9rsW4vjbx-qBxlWBbhcRDc0jV2-qm_73limyxiTdzR4HuZgRDYW4fXfm54jLZ84/s320/IMG_9315.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel at Kings Cross/St. Pancras station, our new home base. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsODpbmaRRR69GjHGuck_StaamFG2pNFSNLLTbUQ8efMVnDIsT8Af2IzQdzw4hfo-RgVy4i3QKA-f05n-1HF27VmrDsRJdgSsxqtsjK2a-VJmeBhQdfAdyi1VEtPUFzigW6Ad5p1PSO6yEacod6y8micNaAW-0O_GM0ON6BDJ7VYQGNThhbF64LCwsyM/s4032/IMG_9320.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsODpbmaRRR69GjHGuck_StaamFG2pNFSNLLTbUQ8efMVnDIsT8Af2IzQdzw4hfo-RgVy4i3QKA-f05n-1HF27VmrDsRJdgSsxqtsjK2a-VJmeBhQdfAdyi1VEtPUFzigW6Ad5p1PSO6yEacod6y8micNaAW-0O_GM0ON6BDJ7VYQGNThhbF64LCwsyM/s320/IMG_9320.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>A beautiful old hotel that was once a gem for rail travelers, in the 80’s it was run-down and full of rats, but has been nicely redone and is a great place to stay in central London if you’re splurging on a vacation. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our first destination for Day 2 was the Barbican, but we saw a few interesting things along the way….</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAY1hJ_wyStX2toL7qfZ2qcDRC1Y0MaNPCDXjqqCv1iGQLXCeKu-b4M3UiO9GUYCnbg_uhoK_Pt8aV1QpRH6p5D7sPJO02u8cn5lrdiWzF2K8bWp4WL2Cp5DIQ25CYevNMgB6FAh4Ai-BIslGyBfwcT6iDsJGT-Ol_o1h9B4T7TAYBJ3wr5DgwiU7Df_I/s4032/IMG_9322.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAY1hJ_wyStX2toL7qfZ2qcDRC1Y0MaNPCDXjqqCv1iGQLXCeKu-b4M3UiO9GUYCnbg_uhoK_Pt8aV1QpRH6p5D7sPJO02u8cn5lrdiWzF2K8bWp4WL2Cp5DIQ25CYevNMgB6FAh4Ai-BIslGyBfwcT6iDsJGT-Ol_o1h9B4T7TAYBJ3wr5DgwiU7Df_I/s320/IMG_9322.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9P-0j0vfcWZY6NKcAv7vO5ZnP2WwAOr1NCpH9HytbzmH9YXjEeS7AbNtGTP2SkjGSsKTnA-1uP9uHGQGhFAOie_Es1z5jymE9vTHA5Jw2Ux6NXMBu07Lwlfiav184eTIK_4f3eFpJA1_woeysqOo_PRSqznQv6hgyzHy6STkY0vuY8ysIJ9W8NFHOJ8/s4032/IMG_9323.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9P-0j0vfcWZY6NKcAv7vO5ZnP2WwAOr1NCpH9HytbzmH9YXjEeS7AbNtGTP2SkjGSsKTnA-1uP9uHGQGhFAOie_Es1z5jymE9vTHA5Jw2Ux6NXMBu07Lwlfiav184eTIK_4f3eFpJA1_woeysqOo_PRSqznQv6hgyzHy6STkY0vuY8ysIJ9W8NFHOJ8/s320/IMG_9323.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cool old London building with a black cab just happening by.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRQ3ej-QSD_VAqdvLmQmwAABdrrxPtOnH29u1bVRkRm2SVgskEMMsOikk2B5x1e910waw_JUU4tGvCGI3XNCqa5Ze0tK4wltmU2UqYXZDjOwPSdjFCbmGzE866CXCmj6oqneEva7KWugHDCSs4qmbSfmxUMp9Cz4hXY_gFgmlIxhOCNzIEw4nUXcm89I/s4032/IMG_9326.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRQ3ej-QSD_VAqdvLmQmwAABdrrxPtOnH29u1bVRkRm2SVgskEMMsOikk2B5x1e910waw_JUU4tGvCGI3XNCqa5Ze0tK4wltmU2UqYXZDjOwPSdjFCbmGzE866CXCmj6oqneEva7KWugHDCSs4qmbSfmxUMp9Cz4hXY_gFgmlIxhOCNzIEw4nUXcm89I/s320/IMG_9326.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An old horse trough repurposed as a flower bed. </div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1ctt9pWLNHwkDXCXIgDohEXvoVPeAGrzk9CgUm-D-w0SA0VPJazdAPrHe-haOgeJLhcrVRV2m3e2Cpw25ihCH5uwtCfF52swI5EwN_-mCQMGqqE4POX9DLnYwbNAigXrlUEvJQ9R70YDKe0NOfjUzddFHiOF_v3D4GVkJfkpdhy8vcUDIYo_k3pJjrM/s4032/IMG_9356.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1ctt9pWLNHwkDXCXIgDohEXvoVPeAGrzk9CgUm-D-w0SA0VPJazdAPrHe-haOgeJLhcrVRV2m3e2Cpw25ihCH5uwtCfF52swI5EwN_-mCQMGqqE4POX9DLnYwbNAigXrlUEvJQ9R70YDKe0NOfjUzddFHiOF_v3D4GVkJfkpdhy8vcUDIYo_k3pJjrM/s320/IMG_9356.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>The Barbican, an area of the city that was bombed during WWII was reimagined as an arts and cultural center. Originally not embraced for its brutalist architecture, it’s grown on Londoners in the past forty-some years. A one bedroom flat in the Barbican can be yours for around £900.000. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcxR3Tg_LPJMZ5O3Oqt7RRgzAUefdfM4jI5EM6ra0JbvIS1JwyX5FLJPBrk3BH3JM7SmaR5V3lBXAJlekKJ7hTsZpj4cYBDX1pTG3VX4gbIxfmNFfINnfvAyJ5sN3qJ-no0-WCmb65aIfnI2TLQgbtqC19W-RjUcAxR9HAtOlth6Ii7jniZUvHGauy80/s4032/IMG_9354.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcxR3Tg_LPJMZ5O3Oqt7RRgzAUefdfM4jI5EM6ra0JbvIS1JwyX5FLJPBrk3BH3JM7SmaR5V3lBXAJlekKJ7hTsZpj4cYBDX1pTG3VX4gbIxfmNFfINnfvAyJ5sN3qJ-no0-WCmb65aIfnI2TLQgbtqC19W-RjUcAxR9HAtOlth6Ii7jniZUvHGauy80/s320/IMG_9354.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Right-on toilets at The Barbican. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRj84woPx3S0Z_diaecekGk2qzWSBHFKJhXta5UKDkY8Dk18L3-OXGQMK6l8nY8WQEehkRn9qbDkP70FmmiIUirD4_qyY_0R5t-VnRQwf1FXXiib_9QnbUZQcAuufXh_qfK_g_8HUSNsC5VdWFWlx0s3oGARthjqMomI8oVGN9JJSfDBvWzSZGigM6xg/s4032/IMG_9353.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRj84woPx3S0Z_diaecekGk2qzWSBHFKJhXta5UKDkY8Dk18L3-OXGQMK6l8nY8WQEehkRn9qbDkP70FmmiIUirD4_qyY_0R5t-VnRQwf1FXXiib_9QnbUZQcAuufXh_qfK_g_8HUSNsC5VdWFWlx0s3oGARthjqMomI8oVGN9JJSfDBvWzSZGigM6xg/s320/IMG_9353.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>A scale model of the Barbican project. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhna8RDT9GRW6-vfQp6UdNghLj9yV9zrCX6JhpEYXVPN-bSMtLyvDBXkN7aLqw96dVIhbOVv7LoWlT9TNi0g04_Qlk_3kd7mcl_rZsWe3zo9lFedx60LCeMN4gOPVGTFJapSEzxa3_Y68PMb_kXWjtSCjPgkEljdL2GJpNYmB8UzCGBxMJMhZUI97GXmNI/s4032/IMG_9349.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhna8RDT9GRW6-vfQp6UdNghLj9yV9zrCX6JhpEYXVPN-bSMtLyvDBXkN7aLqw96dVIhbOVv7LoWlT9TNi0g04_Qlk_3kd7mcl_rZsWe3zo9lFedx60LCeMN4gOPVGTFJapSEzxa3_Y68PMb_kXWjtSCjPgkEljdL2GJpNYmB8UzCGBxMJMhZUI97GXmNI/s320/IMG_9349.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The library at the Barbican. The site also includes a theater, cinema, conservatory, art gallery, bars, restaurants, shops, etc., etc. Was once home to the Royal Shakespeare Company, which has now moved back to the site of the original Globe Theater. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBwE9r4IUREkU8Bw6N1-IcQcoWDzNwXgu-DfEcJpNpIo5ie216yYgiGlHYw-phlZvSFAg_C38mwFCV3VA3-8LEIlIzww-i9b6u2aQ9RzDGEEnCPlS4Hbhbqjj2pc57pmrILHtrFUv8oPnsVEZXU7P3hgZxW_hvmV7wFAVPkwL7dwcQKYNMRZe1OP4p9Q/s4032/IMG_9348.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBwE9r4IUREkU8Bw6N1-IcQcoWDzNwXgu-DfEcJpNpIo5ie216yYgiGlHYw-phlZvSFAg_C38mwFCV3VA3-8LEIlIzww-i9b6u2aQ9RzDGEEnCPlS4Hbhbqjj2pc57pmrILHtrFUv8oPnsVEZXU7P3hgZxW_hvmV7wFAVPkwL7dwcQKYNMRZe1OP4p9Q/s320/IMG_9348.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A Barbican Tower. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp60p9BUsLLvDQkXADiHdrLEUEIniZRCFgvoyLRiiVNdgN8TpUW5oCOMe5iRviOtVMvsldqTHYjJFXTuUwYDh74Jt7W-CR20bqGHhzTjPhUrCwvbmjMW2VfuRPy5E9ppUzBnLZuAbIkbUNmg9j4mZfbq-V6FTFaE7u4CaFJfTnOXUGC8Gen7ZIdYuzbZA/s4032/IMG_9343.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp60p9BUsLLvDQkXADiHdrLEUEIniZRCFgvoyLRiiVNdgN8TpUW5oCOMe5iRviOtVMvsldqTHYjJFXTuUwYDh74Jt7W-CR20bqGHhzTjPhUrCwvbmjMW2VfuRPy5E9ppUzBnLZuAbIkbUNmg9j4mZfbq-V6FTFaE7u4CaFJfTnOXUGC8Gen7ZIdYuzbZA/s320/IMG_9343.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Your intrepid walkers at the Barbican, before getting lost and trying to find their way out. Assuming people who live here full time eventually figure it out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1LaCHPt_16wpkJQNc1DTQC6VvazI0WP3X0xudsKRcogn5iC5KKK5cnMJm8fnT1MlMWIXxYML0FEJXTG5w42NXsNNqavEc6xS5Tq8hCs4MrkJIudN2N6pFeDXt5nzFN3vfzHDf7dPf7sPMs1hGCJwYn9wGzRefUrPrXLtNgBoBVLJquQvy53sgmRYxhY/s4032/IMG_9365.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1LaCHPt_16wpkJQNc1DTQC6VvazI0WP3X0xudsKRcogn5iC5KKK5cnMJm8fnT1MlMWIXxYML0FEJXTG5w42NXsNNqavEc6xS5Tq8hCs4MrkJIudN2N6pFeDXt5nzFN3vfzHDf7dPf7sPMs1hGCJwYn9wGzRefUrPrXLtNgBoBVLJquQvy53sgmRYxhY/s320/IMG_9365.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Next stop: St. Paul’s - the Notre Dame of London - where they charge you 22 quid (£22!) to go inside - more than it costs to see great modern art at the Tate (free!). <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipClA0rPacnpquk-6RD_C16ml3QtdYruPeH6ok-o3OwSmV8aFSIYJnmYjEgRmmiHVRYgUoBxKXm7SzddKA8eV3yRgkRaKB5crygBNaT4p2bdSQ2T1wavs1RIB78HZlGUnw3nPSrG96tCdh17sA9ebdHcmaFZEbhf6QbTMmGxcvP69JfqNFfpUnO-vDYFs/s4032/IMG_9371.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipClA0rPacnpquk-6RD_C16ml3QtdYruPeH6ok-o3OwSmV8aFSIYJnmYjEgRmmiHVRYgUoBxKXm7SzddKA8eV3yRgkRaKB5crygBNaT4p2bdSQ2T1wavs1RIB78HZlGUnw3nPSrG96tCdh17sA9ebdHcmaFZEbhf6QbTMmGxcvP69JfqNFfpUnO-vDYFs/s320/IMG_9371.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Another view of St. Paul’s. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcNm3T9dby3VV6az5zsYV7JcQll2xm4Ap1-ICJ_nweczzPlFRxmjNnaLdPwc1qDuXW6mIV90uIqyyepdigP02OwAXrF90HmEExh6hvZWkw_goPUsRBWO_fUMB_KmmKE9Zz354pBNORjX2c-lUyxvzfSN3DgjafLgDa27TUb9wy2IsUmpNoxxUkdwrjrw/s4032/IMG_9372.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcNm3T9dby3VV6az5zsYV7JcQll2xm4Ap1-ICJ_nweczzPlFRxmjNnaLdPwc1qDuXW6mIV90uIqyyepdigP02OwAXrF90HmEExh6hvZWkw_goPUsRBWO_fUMB_KmmKE9Zz354pBNORjX2c-lUyxvzfSN3DgjafLgDa27TUb9wy2IsUmpNoxxUkdwrjrw/s320/IMG_9372.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Our one and only picture with one of the ubiquitous - and quite unattractive, but for a good cause - Morphs. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsEfxYan0jC4CieRGiYglYr3ajLIuQcwnSFmKxdYcKdDutvAzCutywBIAk_kNgVuG8Zp0-WFOGaLJp8wK_07PtVdpeccGKdwALB3OLXWINzId1yjLIdeyDa-pjvrUShTpVaOyT5iB9Zb18_WwZ7c2WNSeChLAxeAP69EdptNbTR1w5a14sIBQSeNxROE/s4032/IMG_9381.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsEfxYan0jC4CieRGiYglYr3ajLIuQcwnSFmKxdYcKdDutvAzCutywBIAk_kNgVuG8Zp0-WFOGaLJp8wK_07PtVdpeccGKdwALB3OLXWINzId1yjLIdeyDa-pjvrUShTpVaOyT5iB9Zb18_WwZ7c2WNSeChLAxeAP69EdptNbTR1w5a14sIBQSeNxROE/s320/IMG_9381.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Inside St. Mary Le Bow. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XkcP5Lnvj0_ncjTp4IQK8MDrSsdQQS9fVW3vvP8rJk3rkRL_d2LGzfsc48ZlL4BU_d98jGAt2KmzeJ8brHwh53h0K7V2WBD-lF2cDooXEK9fYWnrCHTSKXMWKvyVNZBJeSoz1QgWUf6zh5ZOqGenCiBKKsEMPjFxE55DdYRS5efUOU2gwh3inYP1kIA/s4032/IMG_9383.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XkcP5Lnvj0_ncjTp4IQK8MDrSsdQQS9fVW3vvP8rJk3rkRL_d2LGzfsc48ZlL4BU_d98jGAt2KmzeJ8brHwh53h0K7V2WBD-lF2cDooXEK9fYWnrCHTSKXMWKvyVNZBJeSoz1QgWUf6zh5ZOqGenCiBKKsEMPjFxE55DdYRS5efUOU2gwh3inYP1kIA/s320/IMG_9383.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">St. Mary Le Bow, a church in the east end of London. If you are born within the range of its ringing bells, you are a true cockney. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bepkfqVi5esivkkGMSo3B70AhLC7yr7FLY6MY8F82MWrb5GS9vZYAFGj7aTkvQEtB0SN6jcUjNANntT8uuRJmHCtmBR1N9NzoWv2npBLz7sIVoBNMmWgn1OUYQMRcIsDVtMcuW4BVzeQYfVZ6hg471B0rOcgW9vvXbKMb9KY_B9gFEKxVNFuAJovomI/s4032/IMG_9389.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bepkfqVi5esivkkGMSo3B70AhLC7yr7FLY6MY8F82MWrb5GS9vZYAFGj7aTkvQEtB0SN6jcUjNANntT8uuRJmHCtmBR1N9NzoWv2npBLz7sIVoBNMmWgn1OUYQMRcIsDVtMcuW4BVzeQYfVZ6hg471B0rOcgW9vvXbKMb9KY_B9gFEKxVNFuAJovomI/s320/IMG_9389.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>A walk across the Millennium Bridge, aka “the wobbly bridge” because when it opened so many people went to walk across it, it started wobbling dangerously and almost tipped into the Thames. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilZfZA-8biS2bw4S3HH1x7HMWYtDqzVvwWXF0dtDp7UFDDchCHJPJIYM6TM_44sNkIrcpQeyzvBVfF1tfqOtpc3Zt4LBZXYRp08zBSn07xcWidObjKINSm3yvqsddo19BX8JYyEc1aW15NlTQDupzYpuGhiL--xz1mwq_6hUpvCj88PeMnUF3qFhRde4/s4032/IMG_9390.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilZfZA-8biS2bw4S3HH1x7HMWYtDqzVvwWXF0dtDp7UFDDchCHJPJIYM6TM_44sNkIrcpQeyzvBVfF1tfqOtpc3Zt4LBZXYRp08zBSn07xcWidObjKINSm3yvqsddo19BX8JYyEc1aW15NlTQDupzYpuGhiL--xz1mwq_6hUpvCj88PeMnUF3qFhRde4/s320/IMG_9390.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The Tate Modern, a free and fabulous repository of modern art. We chose one gallery at random, then laid down on the lawn for a quick respite before walking on. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsHjqApiVqMpsFpYdiGzNvZQ6Byk7M57jRnU8LcZFMzpvve4mqv74HPYTxzhqFcXbOSKRddpZgDJ5cKLhiWtUAouNYJtLlYls2-O4K5V4J17moSCC9JovY_LQb2lV6B3V3kyu0Y5LieG_Mmymdrngye2dRbOBlqH6vSjKhnxjLjIdi2sjsApoN2seiLs/s4032/IMG_9397.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsHjqApiVqMpsFpYdiGzNvZQ6Byk7M57jRnU8LcZFMzpvve4mqv74HPYTxzhqFcXbOSKRddpZgDJ5cKLhiWtUAouNYJtLlYls2-O4K5V4J17moSCC9JovY_LQb2lV6B3V3kyu0Y5LieG_Mmymdrngye2dRbOBlqH6vSjKhnxjLjIdi2sjsApoN2seiLs/s320/IMG_9397.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><3 <3 <3 at the Tate. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5jCLU7ZOKzyn7mo6Roh22Nh4hW4MCutRqfH_u4u2SA8rBoCItT5nl5oCA1rOK_-V1yGTiaZgXP4zMwfAtXCG4PxXOS6pHATdV_vbD-FUp0Xm4zbLjrflHeNN0akPfZWa-bukEjo3fCWc0xERvoBCw2JUoU6XZxWARxjMvXwdGuoO1VMVaDTtRQ--JfQ/s7920/IMG_9403.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3906" data-original-width="7920" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5jCLU7ZOKzyn7mo6Roh22Nh4hW4MCutRqfH_u4u2SA8rBoCItT5nl5oCA1rOK_-V1yGTiaZgXP4zMwfAtXCG4PxXOS6pHATdV_vbD-FUp0Xm4zbLjrflHeNN0akPfZWa-bukEjo3fCWc0xERvoBCw2JUoU6XZxWARxjMvXwdGuoO1VMVaDTtRQ--JfQ/s320/IMG_9403.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The tide was low, so we made it onto the bank of the Thames. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6pbKjwNfxGlxuV0kak_--1ZDOeo5XTz6HQ-JwlpKcdSLnDOzP_kq1Xh6AVJ5wcirtVznTBIWpxZl2m3c1BnqNz-7DL526vHfA6CdXDmiznLuInMJRX3nTlt3ItJs2icFi1mbo7K2elv4hAQQ5nfO6YClquQTKM7YvyzxIFMCtHaFbNIVKkh7RryJRU8/s4032/IMG_9405.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6pbKjwNfxGlxuV0kak_--1ZDOeo5XTz6HQ-JwlpKcdSLnDOzP_kq1Xh6AVJ5wcirtVznTBIWpxZl2m3c1BnqNz-7DL526vHfA6CdXDmiznLuInMJRX3nTlt3ItJs2icFi1mbo7K2elv4hAQQ5nfO6YClquQTKM7YvyzxIFMCtHaFbNIVKkh7RryJRU8/s320/IMG_9405.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>The Rose and Crown. The very first pub Mark went to when he moved to London in the 80’s. (Also the site of the very first fight on the marriage marathon.) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7xRMoNeE4gieLLz2oaho_rb-033-Rf4jXL9R6ioV_a1NQJBt9XVSDD2WWKj-edx718uC6LgtLJ6kFXG2dyV32_hiGqUklggDroQnhhoHUjlaBJAKHdqiT3xG-pAf8vdq74x-tgA9YeV9Anhf8_mxlLWufIgP8ZLnDn_Syd_YbRV2J_8HAGP_p-hchXg/s4032/IMG_9426.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7xRMoNeE4gieLLz2oaho_rb-033-Rf4jXL9R6ioV_a1NQJBt9XVSDD2WWKj-edx718uC6LgtLJ6kFXG2dyV32_hiGqUklggDroQnhhoHUjlaBJAKHdqiT3xG-pAf8vdq74x-tgA9YeV9Anhf8_mxlLWufIgP8ZLnDn_Syd_YbRV2J_8HAGP_p-hchXg/s320/IMG_9426.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The British Library - home to early editions of Shakespeare, Beatles lyrics written on Jude’s first birthday card, and the Magna Carta, along with other great works of literature. Also happens to be the view from our window at the St. Pancras, so this photo means we are almost done for the day! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Map of the day: (Includes a tube ride, but doesn’t include the first half of the day. Close enough.) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLucTu3k-H11Ek_Dp5mO68CjlwtlAgjVOiCiYpNIo3ydetr3iuOKXqxpKDBJ-J4vrxqmZRmcwyXn4-liqYxoCuTi5CQhj0qEzy4byK8VzMSe_jX5mvdgREJVBa2Ijb5YNZbEiNWy_KAhYbae0hOa5x5OjwO85ZraEcYxAaJ_DXI_xLfcPQdfxHVV_tt78/s835/3bf3b9a8-5754-49aa-82ae-480c30e443ee.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="386" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLucTu3k-H11Ek_Dp5mO68CjlwtlAgjVOiCiYpNIo3ydetr3iuOKXqxpKDBJ-J4vrxqmZRmcwyXn4-liqYxoCuTi5CQhj0qEzy4byK8VzMSe_jX5mvdgREJVBa2Ijb5YNZbEiNWy_KAhYbae0hOa5x5OjwO85ZraEcYxAaJ_DXI_xLfcPQdfxHVV_tt78/s320/3bf3b9a8-5754-49aa-82ae-480c30e443ee.jpeg" width="148" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-45251500310719117312023-06-18T05:30:00.000-07:002023-06-22T11:36:59.118-07:00Believe <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6vwPaO8RtHy5_M7sQOeRMrpLFBAxea4aYo82eEh7dX5esFNVj3c7Cwx0urfcx3hx6qFp0dgsrKJEo6uSfenX8VQd8GsDRlG6REEeLdQnFbaIilwSHkuOKzLhsAQCIy9rVPngWCtJ67xtARsSykPOlv0pD8BCLzGcwOyLy_XO8BSwyI814QGypbNcxfQ/s4032/IMG_9302.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6vwPaO8RtHy5_M7sQOeRMrpLFBAxea4aYo82eEh7dX5esFNVj3c7Cwx0urfcx3hx6qFp0dgsrKJEo6uSfenX8VQd8GsDRlG6REEeLdQnFbaIilwSHkuOKzLhsAQCIy9rVPngWCtJ67xtARsSykPOlv0pD8BCLzGcwOyLy_XO8BSwyI814QGypbNcxfQ/s320/IMG_9302.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The real-life pub that is called The Crown and Anchor in Ted Lasso<p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">6/18/23</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am grateful…for a lovely afternoon with Cathy in Richmond (aka Ted Lasso country)…for a delicious Indian curry for dinner…for some downtime with the Great British Bake-off. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">For Ted Lasso fans, a few additional shots from Richmond :) </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu8uiyzKq1oMWYxzTxpFVqfwkeBBP59bhFvynfNOrCYy4_rPPWUxVEkEVC3jXZ0u0NCwPw6T4H2Oy8kcl-wkLLoCC1wCJnDVrlywCaKRgXEAkh2y1P3q54aIlPsm4zyUiUA2nhh_nkdD0czwZ1o3COCWiZq6QKMRrI64VJOQw-yFEqG1F3pC0zt1ZmK4/s4032/IMG_9286.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcu8uiyzKq1oMWYxzTxpFVqfwkeBBP59bhFvynfNOrCYy4_rPPWUxVEkEVC3jXZ0u0NCwPw6T4H2Oy8kcl-wkLLoCC1wCJnDVrlywCaKRgXEAkh2y1P3q54aIlPsm4zyUiUA2nhh_nkdD0czwZ1o3COCWiZq6QKMRrI64VJOQw-yFEqG1F3pC0zt1ZmK4/s320/IMG_9286.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>The alley where Ted and Beard live. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerf4fnR-k_kvhbW3ZVkVjfWPL7MtCTB3MZ7a8Rhyw_p7GUb8Ezn7TSUFO7b8dKZfLVGncgP0RaECH_dG5KYQSomJ_1IEwc_gwpmi6OSHfprznEhouM1PPouqCY6Jpw7sP7660U1mvfPgwu9WjdAip2wIEFP3_0EqOqB5SMY4mcoHoylWCzX95hVyx04o/s4032/IMG_9290.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerf4fnR-k_kvhbW3ZVkVjfWPL7MtCTB3MZ7a8Rhyw_p7GUb8Ezn7TSUFO7b8dKZfLVGncgP0RaECH_dG5KYQSomJ_1IEwc_gwpmi6OSHfprznEhouM1PPouqCY6Jpw7sP7660U1mvfPgwu9WjdAip2wIEFP3_0EqOqB5SMY4mcoHoylWCzX95hVyx04o/s320/IMG_9290.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The famous square with the red phone boxes. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0cx3IENrDmZg_AOPgBW_e2tTlICNM48ZLKLQyETUA-DgJooGBSwZ_J_weXV3JKKczuubslJ2qv4cQiQNF8ofGlgC-wh_808dRMIJYk6GnyySFekL_VCtyqzy-tMzMyxnl7sTnHIURYMHASdMXLKdeJ2sZZ0z6q37pJk6CI4oOpCNjB2Y0QdF6-DNt20/s4032/IMG_9298.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0cx3IENrDmZg_AOPgBW_e2tTlICNM48ZLKLQyETUA-DgJooGBSwZ_J_weXV3JKKczuubslJ2qv4cQiQNF8ofGlgC-wh_808dRMIJYk6GnyySFekL_VCtyqzy-tMzMyxnl7sTnHIURYMHASdMXLKdeJ2sZZ0z6q37pJk6CI4oOpCNjB2Y0QdF6-DNt20/s320/IMG_9298.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>The alley where Ted and Beard often meet on the way to work after grabbing a coffee. <p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPUaQBQRn0wf2tlXPsP-h5suiE08DrzSWYzxpd3x9YsNKHnuQTadbPw_kGK6TmRZYRPDbr8aFkiE0-eGvsWE7efD6QwqJIHWOQ-D_Zg74ITJVvQzQIyyaYXtKnvAK32GDVpHstqInzZvP5rxoFVWagoBN9qBDP-5YkgzpFcMrxNKsxohPMsRUVbqP-14/s4032/IMG_9303.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPUaQBQRn0wf2tlXPsP-h5suiE08DrzSWYzxpd3x9YsNKHnuQTadbPw_kGK6TmRZYRPDbr8aFkiE0-eGvsWE7efD6QwqJIHWOQ-D_Zg74ITJVvQzQIyyaYXtKnvAK32GDVpHstqInzZvP5rxoFVWagoBN9qBDP-5YkgzpFcMrxNKsxohPMsRUVbqP-14/s320/IMG_9303.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The inside of the pub. </div><br /><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-73792302031816211112023-06-17T11:30:00.002-07:002023-06-22T22:22:15.865-07:00The London Anniversary Marathon Day 1: Miles 1-8<p>To celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in late June 2023, my husband and I decided to walk a marathon in London (his favorite city, after Seattle, of course) and Paris (my favorite city, sorry Seattle). We started in London, with our friends’ house in Walthamstow and the St. Pancras Renaissance at St. Pancras/Kings Cross as our home bases. </p><p>On Day 1 we completed 8 miles, taking the overground train from Walthamstow Central to Liverpool St. Station (after a fabulous breakfast at a new breakfast/lunch/dinner/coffee spot in Walthamstow - <a href="https://hayatigardens.com/" target="_blank">Hayati Gardens</a>). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMiwaFV0gwoU5-8I1pF5OgP-1pDo3GlsR7vq5StT6-lgGvi3Rj09Jj5bWHGN03rOxMnIYVlJthMac6Tyz-anYAAByb40KrMtETHVfn52YQfAu0y9SZmaz89q9XlUBivyW0urwoeW1KcEYj73FmsaJtkLJCS5nlOwla1LhAlf4HBTlIkWzx25HL4HKh4o/s4032/IMG_9202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMiwaFV0gwoU5-8I1pF5OgP-1pDo3GlsR7vq5StT6-lgGvi3Rj09Jj5bWHGN03rOxMnIYVlJthMac6Tyz-anYAAByb40KrMtETHVfn52YQfAu0y9SZmaz89q9XlUBivyW0urwoeW1KcEYj73FmsaJtkLJCS5nlOwla1LhAlf4HBTlIkWzx25HL4HKh4o/s320/IMG_9202.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Hayati Gardens, our favorite breakfast spot in Walthamstow. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1n4YJjPZIfi19Ndge87MIPGDSBTcR0fB0gXGLmFyWVpqXwswGNrbwrU8rrgvhx9QpqgQ8sdKuNjVVXMXngKd8Xxef2Rg3TYlDg52oimjIeH8bxwY9I-YGbLnWXVCcwdG_h6VatfqS2NLVkHSxYGX6V_aJGK3u1zELt_VTd6Luk-tiKjQMRhUZSyu94c/s4032/IMG_9204.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1n4YJjPZIfi19Ndge87MIPGDSBTcR0fB0gXGLmFyWVpqXwswGNrbwrU8rrgvhx9QpqgQ8sdKuNjVVXMXngKd8Xxef2Rg3TYlDg52oimjIeH8bxwY9I-YGbLnWXVCcwdG_h6VatfqS2NLVkHSxYGX6V_aJGK3u1zELt_VTd6Luk-tiKjQMRhUZSyu94c/s320/IMG_9204.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Walthamstow Central on the Victoria Line, a great place from which to explore the city of London. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaLmZim-IfVO_P8axDCcR8b93LyzcHVdZiwHAmoL1JyaBkVjl601P1RzwwJ0h61Ccice62kWdMxrZyfQ86KToTA3hW9of3pqEAoeBcvo_TzY0dG5Qrw6DdmWLNWKEc9MTmAECRGaOosgJ3OIlYsm6SaBV92HEd-PQ1LYIhd-lJWQiA_IkLuXT7_yK36s/s4032/IMG_9209.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaLmZim-IfVO_P8axDCcR8b93LyzcHVdZiwHAmoL1JyaBkVjl601P1RzwwJ0h61Ccice62kWdMxrZyfQ86KToTA3hW9of3pqEAoeBcvo_TzY0dG5Qrw6DdmWLNWKEc9MTmAECRGaOosgJ3OIlYsm6SaBV92HEd-PQ1LYIhd-lJWQiA_IkLuXT7_yK36s/s320/IMG_9209.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Liverpool St. station, which is currently undergoing renovation and was rather difficult to navigate in these tourists’ opinion. (Nope, we haven’t started walking yet…)</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUPxkBh4lAeYwLYALW1ys7qFRuxTTL86rHu1oKisqL9TxLcDGwnGmDDvFIlPR1Tb_sYV9_ruHGL2fTenBQZIehY71QpVWMV798PNUi7MsdRfoOo9Y155W8xC7SMxTQ8VbHmim47Naf2NfTNvJPMxIM4_ENzpT5ST01SYpEirMWIPWUwRZwIdLwWeofH8/s4032/IMG_9210.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUPxkBh4lAeYwLYALW1ys7qFRuxTTL86rHu1oKisqL9TxLcDGwnGmDDvFIlPR1Tb_sYV9_ruHGL2fTenBQZIehY71QpVWMV798PNUi7MsdRfoOo9Y155W8xC7SMxTQ8VbHmim47Naf2NfTNvJPMxIM4_ENzpT5ST01SYpEirMWIPWUwRZwIdLwWeofH8/s320/IMG_9210.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Now we’re on our way. First stop, the City of London (the original walled city, now the financial and banking district) and some of its eclectic architecture. The modern, oval-shaped building above is affectionately known as “the gherkin.”<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihq8T1C6rs5oaMgHiHP4ebY5fAd-fm4riNm5245zUFWK6563k8IumJYYuKpTfg1uNK7mdP7cKc7mwfwWiAJhw4MjEWc57DluHmTaxwJ4rbzkxlpq6d694lXjqAdcoICfBKtSF2zC0kWVA7bZzbwRez7ut2-6nLm1aPcgqq1VDRwDHzsytcqpa_Zd3MeAM/s4032/IMG_9219.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihq8T1C6rs5oaMgHiHP4ebY5fAd-fm4riNm5245zUFWK6563k8IumJYYuKpTfg1uNK7mdP7cKc7mwfwWiAJhw4MjEWc57DluHmTaxwJ4rbzkxlpq6d694lXjqAdcoICfBKtSF2zC0kWVA7bZzbwRez7ut2-6nLm1aPcgqq1VDRwDHzsytcqpa_Zd3MeAM/s320/IMG_9219.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>The Lloyd’s of London building, one of the earliest modern structures in “the city,” this was the coolest building in the area in the 80’s when Mark lived in London, and, in his humble opinion, still is. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3qqvmkSl9zC16T10fCqIpH-NipFamgwl6MqAF57VYKzPwquzgYDqziW7uDgXV598DzbzG84QtGH9yXSpqn7Kuet6djrYJbkN9JHlALZ_A3WuT5Ncjdeh38vGlpKeF6ugVMR7iSY0Qx_AgbdiPMPHAFWC1vV3vsXU6W0IGL9EioAM3ZQnfuJjNsImSEY/s4032/IMG_9226.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3qqvmkSl9zC16T10fCqIpH-NipFamgwl6MqAF57VYKzPwquzgYDqziW7uDgXV598DzbzG84QtGH9yXSpqn7Kuet6djrYJbkN9JHlALZ_A3WuT5Ncjdeh38vGlpKeF6ugVMR7iSY0Qx_AgbdiPMPHAFWC1vV3vsXU6W0IGL9EioAM3ZQnfuJjNsImSEY/s320/IMG_9226.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Known as “the Monument,” this tower </div><div>commemorates the Great Fire of London in 1666. In the plaque below, the Catholics who refuse to relinquish their “popish frenzy” are blamed for the fire, which Mark’s mom - a cradle Catholic - got a real kick out of when she visited the Monument in the 80’s. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECVS4qO_l9OEClAyv1LayKjB_qvh16wiTIj0_mZfhD-q6AGDDtetHfd97Djv-WLdUlMhbu4-Ry3URjU2ySw1oq_WMJ9BaudrOAdzGsTR0C9IZsb2qYnv7KL4Vtgt82YowtznlX8hhfIFiHdi62hS3aRyHoXNEk3tuflwNiI2WFSfGGeThv8NBEBC-Y6U/s4032/IMG_9229.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECVS4qO_l9OEClAyv1LayKjB_qvh16wiTIj0_mZfhD-q6AGDDtetHfd97Djv-WLdUlMhbu4-Ry3URjU2ySw1oq_WMJ9BaudrOAdzGsTR0C9IZsb2qYnv7KL4Vtgt82YowtznlX8hhfIFiHdi62hS3aRyHoXNEk3tuflwNiI2WFSfGGeThv8NBEBC-Y6U/s320/IMG_9229.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_wXsmjKT6s88ZRBu3Hnjn6KSlsgbQy7kzjm3-lDHif5zBVL3we_5N7HQzxnyDiO32hzK993heJ2lo4nu9p0J4bbnOj8QmCgi3tH6_yP_kHy9HZxxGEDH1i8gxF1WNBdEey623Ab_9q8UfsVL9lIDkv7K0-DXOv0dMJ9B41LgMLQjFdgEjcruIYfbfN8/s4032/IMG_9238.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_wXsmjKT6s88ZRBu3Hnjn6KSlsgbQy7kzjm3-lDHif5zBVL3we_5N7HQzxnyDiO32hzK993heJ2lo4nu9p0J4bbnOj8QmCgi3tH6_yP_kHy9HZxxGEDH1i8gxF1WNBdEey623Ab_9q8UfsVL9lIDkv7K0-DXOv0dMJ9B41LgMLQjFdgEjcruIYfbfN8/s320/IMG_9238.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Leaving the city, we walked over London Bridge, to get an up close and personal look at the modern structure affectionately known as “the shard” (seen below on the left). <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTOUzoOd3NpR3GsTIJGImxsAaTc7nhh-iKLT9o7nl3GAglZaKaczwQRI4M-1rA3YUCjrXubPYRwm1_nEYchJFf-QvXAXcZ3xHhn3ir8jIn_IWpTMmbAG8rJcD9vhHnDQTxPEItXzloRhI5lXws-ANGreSNGIUJlEkwCYabZkkrAtjM6DatUquWDULstk/s4032/IMG_9239.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTOUzoOd3NpR3GsTIJGImxsAaTc7nhh-iKLT9o7nl3GAglZaKaczwQRI4M-1rA3YUCjrXubPYRwm1_nEYchJFf-QvXAXcZ3xHhn3ir8jIn_IWpTMmbAG8rJcD9vhHnDQTxPEItXzloRhI5lXws-ANGreSNGIUJlEkwCYabZkkrAtjM6DatUquWDULstk/s320/IMG_9239.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UdWf3q7knikNoM2sLWBThwWCbF2iqdocwOL2PVL-l303rL_M8duX-7WcpYDBFfuDDH5-FWjtxmspCTPSf1HcaYC0HKFPSIM9J-T5PfZFsindc17K8lnkPFaGcEM_dptal85lJLKpx4TdMfPcAZI6IiHqSHW7F-RsEd9-TZX6wSW5hL8B5clegCwOUAY/s4032/IMG_9235.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UdWf3q7knikNoM2sLWBThwWCbF2iqdocwOL2PVL-l303rL_M8duX-7WcpYDBFfuDDH5-FWjtxmspCTPSf1HcaYC0HKFPSIM9J-T5PfZFsindc17K8lnkPFaGcEM_dptal85lJLKpx4TdMfPcAZI6IiHqSHW7F-RsEd9-TZX6wSW5hL8B5clegCwOUAY/s320/IMG_9235.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Shard in and amongst some of the older buildings in this part of London. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ThRAOrBj4fHsBIiyofEVbab4K_pMS_cadff7NE3hJMvsTg3rr4I5gcMDdTShimUXqqSlUH0WxxO5o4c7P0FFIHsCCs2Itmito9aduXKPD3wAeq1TZzREkXO8yoFVKnvCCFoRIoGTph9Rc0Kw_OfflkjQIkW9TdG8naNHUsqb_Y-phniqUBfWtzGNK9Q/s3088/IMG_9249.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ThRAOrBj4fHsBIiyofEVbab4K_pMS_cadff7NE3hJMvsTg3rr4I5gcMDdTShimUXqqSlUH0WxxO5o4c7P0FFIHsCCs2Itmito9aduXKPD3wAeq1TZzREkXO8yoFVKnvCCFoRIoGTph9Rc0Kw_OfflkjQIkW9TdG8naNHUsqb_Y-phniqUBfWtzGNK9Q/s320/IMG_9249.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Unfortunately, the observation deck was closed, so this selfie had to suffice. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIuRKUx-8qUwZMl_LH73-2u-ftLdR0dLdAIDGiQuyDnbBN1Ara-P71CoxGQrCZZf6JeYgTYhQiNtb3zz-I3SoMHBQeE_iT9pMv9OGuTAD5eWfOd06rRimOUEhWB4NrBaZ4CC2VXfqY_ONmWRnFE-v1_uTCuzrm7sqcmJcA43QytqI8sbtgFZfjDQE56E/s4032/IMG_9252.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIuRKUx-8qUwZMl_LH73-2u-ftLdR0dLdAIDGiQuyDnbBN1Ara-P71CoxGQrCZZf6JeYgTYhQiNtb3zz-I3SoMHBQeE_iT9pMv9OGuTAD5eWfOd06rRimOUEhWB4NrBaZ4CC2VXfqY_ONmWRnFE-v1_uTCuzrm7sqcmJcA43QytqI8sbtgFZfjDQE56E/s320/IMG_9252.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>A nice shot of the Tower of London from London Bridge. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvzstf8ntVLmfdUFlxjgwkwA9WDppq60R-RwnErwTyRGag2Jyd4S5LEix57Np0VwL2U7i0WDNEWTYvwq7EG66m9uJFwP4OcR07sVEyEKgkVgGV8crPi548D7d9W3Bv8qKXk5WGPN0E6xZyt3dsEJ1i0eLWbA52ibBj7W9UCc6bnus152iONL1PiJbh0g/s4032/IMG_9257.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvzstf8ntVLmfdUFlxjgwkwA9WDppq60R-RwnErwTyRGag2Jyd4S5LEix57Np0VwL2U7i0WDNEWTYvwq7EG66m9uJFwP4OcR07sVEyEKgkVgGV8crPi548D7d9W3Bv8qKXk5WGPN0E6xZyt3dsEJ1i0eLWbA52ibBj7W9UCc6bnus152iONL1PiJbh0g/s320/IMG_9257.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>After a wander around the Embankment, and some lunch, we made our way back to Liverpool St. station via Tower Bridge. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaxZk9LelDQRzMPGvcyjl17GYVWQiVxm5WCGENoOnOmEP2aho3V8zCX4CQ3JU8VI7Vf_cidRT3s7OvCXsnFiGgJWZrkkM5mrTxQFk0dkWF-KiaZew6xungEaod3-nehgWWMVzxljejYqCxtYramnwx5d6he3xhcrgfq1szZdiQPKfG865tO3wyLqeKLk/s4032/IMG_9278.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaxZk9LelDQRzMPGvcyjl17GYVWQiVxm5WCGENoOnOmEP2aho3V8zCX4CQ3JU8VI7Vf_cidRT3s7OvCXsnFiGgJWZrkkM5mrTxQFk0dkWF-KiaZew6xungEaod3-nehgWWMVzxljejYqCxtYramnwx5d6he3xhcrgfq1szZdiQPKfG865tO3wyLqeKLk/s320/IMG_9278.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Mark trying to make heads or tails of the timetables at Liverpool St. station. We did eventually find our train and make it back to Walthamstow Central. Whew! <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here are maps of the first day: </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBbi4XlEQ6Bo07l0GkNqIHjbvSX-vWL7APygW64Fg_h-1U8TkiL4C81COK6kKyCkSTiOnDAjqqu7prvvrgkzfGAy1c-016_NT4rMG93NHI2CkMRUGyJ7uW7vEuvd9jo1HD7rFNt86sMDtKB7wtB1clHM9A087XNMWdgJ91KJaSCJZtJce1xMm9j9fwx8/s831/94ac26b9-e223-43fc-a611-f34c4422ef46.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="384" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBbi4XlEQ6Bo07l0GkNqIHjbvSX-vWL7APygW64Fg_h-1U8TkiL4C81COK6kKyCkSTiOnDAjqqu7prvvrgkzfGAy1c-016_NT4rMG93NHI2CkMRUGyJ7uW7vEuvd9jo1HD7rFNt86sMDtKB7wtB1clHM9A087XNMWdgJ91KJaSCJZtJce1xMm9j9fwx8/s320/94ac26b9-e223-43fc-a611-f34c4422ef46.jpeg" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE2HrO16sXTrzB2uhwUDZHgaUQ9s29ZiVSsnvRgIKJ8esn49lEnwjecK4gIv_BPrfz0z_sTZ4esxtzFRElS4uk8ZRD6yKHYnrF7Y4vKSWtgBpe_VGXu41IniMOHnjf5TWM4933_7h75iXwnSuE--pIhc8eUujgTAgfLxSosCa4NTMXAayClFsTNgJhME/s1024/e145ec31-bccf-43ea-b0bb-e670236c1aa9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="473" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE2HrO16sXTrzB2uhwUDZHgaUQ9s29ZiVSsnvRgIKJ8esn49lEnwjecK4gIv_BPrfz0z_sTZ4esxtzFRElS4uk8ZRD6yKHYnrF7Y4vKSWtgBpe_VGXu41IniMOHnjf5TWM4933_7h75iXwnSuE--pIhc8eUujgTAgfLxSosCa4NTMXAayClFsTNgJhME/s320/e145ec31-bccf-43ea-b0bb-e670236c1aa9.jpeg" width="148" /></a></div><div><br /></div>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-89411534616314742092023-06-16T06:30:00.003-07:002023-06-17T13:01:14.464-07:00Gare du Nord a London St. Pancras<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">6/16/23</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOPdPa19TgCqn_J7cNw_fejrYT1RG8BFWujCaTY8G0c18Nu52OwhgjhWfi90UuxeqkIi8V7flcL3OqDN4n8WEJ22BosTWm_WqxNNS5_rZ9eC7_rz0qnpb9NEng8Kanqi76kct4CJjv2MvJ5WueYLOGUSw2nYHCCXhQ6KhMZT7FSIBBJewRdn0P1sL/s4032/IMG_9194.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOPdPa19TgCqn_J7cNw_fejrYT1RG8BFWujCaTY8G0c18Nu52OwhgjhWfi90UuxeqkIi8V7flcL3OqDN4n8WEJ22BosTWm_WqxNNS5_rZ9eC7_rz0qnpb9NEng8Kanqi76kct4CJjv2MvJ5WueYLOGUSw2nYHCCXhQ6KhMZT7FSIBBJewRdn0P1sL/w240-h320/IMG_9194.jpeg" title="You know you’re in London when…" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am grateful…for an easy journey to London on the Eurostar…for reconnecting with my husband and having a great chat…for a lovely meal at Nando’s. </span></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-68775889536140215462023-06-15T06:30:00.001-07:002023-06-16T23:13:56.424-07:00The Power of Words<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">6/15/23</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jyLYPqEoJiaReedbflyj_mDqXibSQlscsgYdP-N7rbCIGau0aNtZD66xYak5R99UsOiz0pjVeUr3k6VgDN1S_9mnW3T6XhAfxfPC3npNGVbHVKVu2l9AEHSkDQcBgQP_9K25eQQYtgunoIJPWRN0sMacetksILScvCXl7huEH_I9rOiJCgaGhPwo/s4032/IMG_9156.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jyLYPqEoJiaReedbflyj_mDqXibSQlscsgYdP-N7rbCIGau0aNtZD66xYak5R99UsOiz0pjVeUr3k6VgDN1S_9mnW3T6XhAfxfPC3npNGVbHVKVu2l9AEHSkDQcBgQP_9K25eQQYtgunoIJPWRN0sMacetksILScvCXl7huEH_I9rOiJCgaGhPwo/w240-h320/IMG_9156.jpeg" title="Poster from a free art exhibit merging literature and photography" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am grateful…to have stumbled upon a free art exhibit in The Orangerie of the Parc du Luxembourg…for the consciousness to remember that one negative interaction with one rude Frenchman does not define a people or an experience…for the book “The Paris Library,” which has filled my empty hours over the past couple of days. </span></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-22489180288501614222023-06-14T06:30:00.001-07:002023-06-16T23:07:02.577-07:00To Sleep, To Read, To Be<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">6/14/23</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qgc1y6F_Ui9PgZEaorCMXh--Itv5kgERfxZuZ8f4HIkucf7B5Ao8jEUoOGIXsLGaxeU2KHgJfeSyB7i2OOI-KdCqiCBx8PozRcYszrA2Wt7xn4Qcm39tpvor7IDkuG3igunKSKHj9i6sAv5sheBM8eriKClvkaCrhk-1Mhm-fj5oK-Mt8d3dQvCg/s4032/IMG_9115.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qgc1y6F_Ui9PgZEaorCMXh--Itv5kgERfxZuZ8f4HIkucf7B5Ao8jEUoOGIXsLGaxeU2KHgJfeSyB7i2OOI-KdCqiCBx8PozRcYszrA2Wt7xn4Qcm39tpvor7IDkuG3igunKSKHj9i6sAv5sheBM8eriKClvkaCrhk-1Mhm-fj5oK-Mt8d3dQvCg/w240-h320/IMG_9115.jpeg" title="Paris Street Scene" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am grateful…for two fabulous naps, one in the morning and one after lunch…for time spent on the streets of Paris and reading in the park…that my husband made it safely to London, where I will meet him shortly. </span></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-47165695635506238772023-06-13T06:30:00.001-07:002023-06-16T23:00:36.555-07:00So much depends upon<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">6/13/23</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UxRV9p7mxNvA7MhLtnaRSh8Kmk6MrTqFV7qsUkCf8rRKHl-CNbXKsmXwRTJvP5go9H1ee3tzozT_Irgn1uKbV6eZugkFUzAVqRvwi47Cow28FfWmj-gGyAOJCp2xTRdJTphI8icp_4fwu599fx3sjMACzCl3jGBiQenSU1MYzm4OOjd47OyZ6Jnc/s4032/IMG_9084.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UxRV9p7mxNvA7MhLtnaRSh8Kmk6MrTqFV7qsUkCf8rRKHl-CNbXKsmXwRTJvP5go9H1ee3tzozT_Irgn1uKbV6eZugkFUzAVqRvwi47Cow28FfWmj-gGyAOJCp2xTRdJTphI8icp_4fwu599fx3sjMACzCl3jGBiQenSU1MYzm4OOjd47OyZ6Jnc/w320-h240/IMG_9084.jpeg" title="The Red Wheelbarrow Bookshop in Paris" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am grateful….for finding a new English-language bookstore in Paris (and a great new book!), The Red Wheelbarrow…for a long walk in Luxembourg Gardens…for a delicious croissant - my first since arriving! </span><span class="s2">🇫🇷</span></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-14444327550942579032023-06-12T06:30:00.004-07:002023-06-16T22:46:25.208-07:00On the Other Side <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Mxcewrj4SUUBnWremztGT4RfI6hQSapmblWDlqto_s6LBtRUEClYeYXSb5Q0ROrSDZbTcKEQI4dsRzGyiF2_Xqg42ve_mofgdzF9SVmbyx-Tf2q5jZvjkiZVCP3A4_2QUcpKt2arwibw_kQACBDYa-bdaXW14WIQqEyaQRKhhx2a3a7S1ORI2J6G/s4032/IMG_9012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Mxcewrj4SUUBnWremztGT4RfI6hQSapmblWDlqto_s6LBtRUEClYeYXSb5Q0ROrSDZbTcKEQI4dsRzGyiF2_Xqg42ve_mofgdzF9SVmbyx-Tf2q5jZvjkiZVCP3A4_2QUcpKt2arwibw_kQACBDYa-bdaXW14WIQqEyaQRKhhx2a3a7S1ORI2J6G/w240-h320/IMG_9012.jpeg" title="The grave of Simone de Bouvier and Jean-Paul Sartre in Montparnasse Cemetery" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">6/12/23</span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Today I am grateful to have my body back from sickness…</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">for a walk outside in the fresh air at Montparnasse Cemetery…for a healthy meal of sweet potatoes and rice. </span></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-61315038117525892822023-06-11T05:30:00.003-07:002023-06-16T22:49:30.864-07:00🤢🤢🤢<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">6/11/23</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgTwu9UDposyrRufpuS6DdQ8g4tAqwLPrWtoGDHrmB-vGbyZc05Mi8diR9tZy88cUn6xQQSfyOp9t_7Retc6rSp7zrcpAo7vG0Wng2aOr_H7wq0J0NIx2bO6qP-zMBOzwNN7C73l6WZ5jQgaJwqsGEB07vp5e_BcQEFn4u-Ykp4ros3Wm_eKdJemV/s4032/IMG_8999.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgTwu9UDposyrRufpuS6DdQ8g4tAqwLPrWtoGDHrmB-vGbyZc05Mi8diR9tZy88cUn6xQQSfyOp9t_7Retc6rSp7zrcpAo7vG0Wng2aOr_H7wq0J0NIx2bO6qP-zMBOzwNN7C73l6WZ5jQgaJwqsGEB07vp5e_BcQEFn4u-Ykp4ros3Wm_eKdJemV/w240-h320/IMG_8999.jpeg" title="Airbnb entrance" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Today I am grateful for Gin Gins ginger chews, Nuun electrolyte tablets, and the ginger turmeric tea which have helped get me through this day with a stomach bug. I am grateful for hours and hours of sleep. I am grateful for a good book to keep me company as I rest </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">(“The Kunstler’s in Paradise” by Cathleen Schine) and Glen Harrold’s meditations to soothe me to sleep and help heal my body. </span></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-64004450284537798232023-06-10T05:30:00.003-07:002023-06-16T22:52:13.670-07:00Paris Encore!<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">6/10/23</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcOLdbgSdWMPnEjpy6EaoxnxYAKGho5J2Wr8uA_kYVKsa74SPEtfVNdRghzWCXM43ymZYoXPonoVYdFOIGkrCZUSKS4-Q48rsh1j4SzqdiG01lzMKPn8GfD1JtdII-0GMRQ78BawfO_bU1Rdz2SF23y5ywxZsBAs75CLTE4d8scZKSnaDD-aVKPnd/s4032/IMG_8989.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcOLdbgSdWMPnEjpy6EaoxnxYAKGho5J2Wr8uA_kYVKsa74SPEtfVNdRghzWCXM43ymZYoXPonoVYdFOIGkrCZUSKS4-Q48rsh1j4SzqdiG01lzMKPn8GfD1JtdII-0GMRQ78BawfO_bU1Rdz2SF23y5ywxZsBAs75CLTE4d8scZKSnaDD-aVKPnd/w320-h240/IMG_8989.jpeg" title="First view of Paris after exiting Le Metro" width="320" /></a></div><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;"><p><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></p>Today I am grateful that my spiritual tools continued to work through train closures and reroutings, hard to work appliances, and stubbed feet. I am grateful </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">that within mere hours of arrival in Paris I was mistaken for a native Parisian! I am grateful to be in Paris again! </span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-16765420380590404772023-06-09T13:30:00.001-07:002023-06-16T22:54:15.151-07:00SEA to CDG<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;">6/9/23</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnDWo5hHuQV8uZMe5eNepqoTi_dgJEi4JVS1U17qxWd5d0gKw5c6ZrR2C6lKIPYdrYIpIQ4LAjDClNNRATPy1Elc-iO_5oS2jo-mIhdbHMcpEUCFalfPwQMRa1q94Xqe4I5Mhrr-OpcsZqtY4GA0WQVb_xXRAnXFtf9IGG69x9o8_IsTxitTSrrOF/s4032/IMG_8984.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnDWo5hHuQV8uZMe5eNepqoTi_dgJEi4JVS1U17qxWd5d0gKw5c6ZrR2C6lKIPYdrYIpIQ4LAjDClNNRATPy1Elc-iO_5oS2jo-mIhdbHMcpEUCFalfPwQMRa1q94Xqe4I5Mhrr-OpcsZqtY4GA0WQVb_xXRAnXFtf9IGG69x9o8_IsTxitTSrrOF/w320-h240/IMG_8984.jpeg" title="View of downtown Seattle from the view spot" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Today I am grateful for the mental and spiritual tools I have cultivated over the past 21 years which helped me to deal with a 2+ hour plane delay while sitting (and walking and doing yoga) on the tarmac. I am grateful </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">that I packed enough food to make the above more comfortable. I am grateful </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">for good sleep on the plane so far. I am also grateful for an early morning run and this view from “the spot” near my home. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-53579553218595876472022-01-03T16:17:00.002-08:002022-01-03T16:17:43.423-08:00And Yet the Spark Remains<p> "<i>...[B]e not afraid</i>." --Luke 1:30, Mace New Testament</p><p>As someone who is "spiritual, but not religious," I don't usually quote the Bible, but this is what the guides want me to tell you today: <b>Be. Not. Afraid. </b></p><p></p><p>There seems to be so much fear in our world today, but is it really more than we have lived with every day of our lives? Illness, disease and death have always been a part of our world. Death is all around us, especially at this time of the year. The trees have shed their leaves and only the evergreens remain alive to decorate our world. The many colors of life - red, yellow, pink, purple! - have been replaced by only a few: blue, green, white, gray. That sameness can feel like death, like the flatness that sometimes accompanies grief. And yet we know that underneath it all, the colors of life still exist. They wait for the day when yellow fills the sky and shines down on all below, lightening and brightening our world once again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEoWVGFyJDPYMQNR6_85voss-8PdirmRUoicDEQEj3-1HfeWzhBZEcMNb4z64rUu17ScixyRhZcgOqqyrV7lhMdil_EMRV6sm-q9LLK7kqee7ZqoL8qxATvHCHHk3btafAxRLvKs5wnw0nkgkNUUIpjuBFE4h9zC1PZV_0pjnmvrnA_I1Y9Uu1Nl0u=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEoWVGFyJDPYMQNR6_85voss-8PdirmRUoicDEQEj3-1HfeWzhBZEcMNb4z64rUu17ScixyRhZcgOqqyrV7lhMdil_EMRV6sm-q9LLK7kqee7ZqoL8qxATvHCHHk3btafAxRLvKs5wnw0nkgkNUUIpjuBFE4h9zC1PZV_0pjnmvrnA_I1Y9Uu1Nl0u=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Some of us may feel flat and dull this time of year. Dead, without energy or inspiration. And yet, those same colors, that same brightness, lives on inside of us. When you feel down, low energy, like life is not worth living, pause for a moment and turn your attention inside. Take a deep breath. Look for the spark of life that lives inside of you. The spark of light that causes life, that brightens and inspires. It is always there. You need only look.</p>I leave you today with this quote from "A Course in Miracles:"<span style="color: blue;"><em> <span style="color: black;"> </span></em></span><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;"><em><span style="color: black;">The power of one mind can shine into
another, because all the lamps of God were lit by the same spark. It is
everywhere and it is eternal. In many only the spark remains, for the
Great Rays are obscured. Yet God has kept the spark alive so that the
Rays can never be completely forgotten. If you but see the little spark
you will learn of the greater light, for the rays are there unseen.
Perceiving the spark will heal, but knowing the light will create. Yet
in the returning the little light must be acknowledged first, for the
separation was a descent from magnitude to littleness. But the spark is
still as pure as the Great Light, because it is the remaining call of
creation. Put all your faith in it, and God Himself will answer you.</span></em></span> (T-10.IV.7&8)</p><p style="text-align: left;">If you are not feeling the spark today, put all your faith in it anyway. Know that it is there, inside of yourself, inside of others. Trust that it is there and soon it will reveal itself. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Sending love and light to you today and always.</p><p style="text-align: left;">P.S. If you are looking for guidance in these dark times and would like to ask a question of <u>your</u> guides, please send me an email at: lara(dot)g(dot)simmons(at)gmail(dot)com. An email Akashic Records reading is on a sliding scale from $25 - $50 for up to three questions. <br /></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-66392644088168895322021-09-01T11:00:00.000-07:002021-09-01T11:00:01.068-07:00Announcing Two New Meditation Groups! <div class="separator"></div><p><i>"When in doubt MEDITATE</i>.<i>"</i> --Monk who taught a meditation class I attended at Whistler many years ago <br /></p><p>Good Morning One and All! Today I would like to let you know about two new meditation Meetup groups I am starting this fall. If you are interested in meeting with others to meditate as we approach the dark days of winter, please join us! <br /></p><p></p><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" height="180" id="D_photoGallery_image" src="https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/b/5/f/600_498352063.jpeg" style="display: inline-block; height: 338px; opacity: 1; width: 600px;" width="320" /></p>The first is a <a href="https://www.meetup.com/violet-flame-meditation-group/" target="_blank">Violet Flame Meditation Group</a>. I have talked about the Violet Flame Meditation before on this blog (see post <a href="http://www.larasimmons.net/p/the-violet-flame-meditation.html" target="_blank">here</a>), but briefly, the Violet Flame Meditation was gifted to the world by Ascended Master Saint Germain for the purpose of transmuting negative energies. We will be meeting bi-weekly on Wednesday evenings (7:00 PM Pacific Time) to practice this meditation and to support each other in releasing any negativity we are experiencing in our lives. For more information or to join our Meetup Group, please click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/violet-flame-meditation-group/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /><p></p><p>The second group is the <a href="https://www.meetup.com/being-and-becoming-womens-meditation-circle/" target="_blank">Being & Becoming Women's Meditation Circle</a> and will also meet on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM Pacific Time on weeks when the Violet Flame Meditation group is not meeting. This group will follow the basic flow of a peace-making circle, with a meditation at its center, and will allow for sharing and connecting around meditation and spiritual practice. For more information or or join our Meetup group, please click <a href="https://www.meetup.com/being-and-becoming-womens-meditation-circle/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>If you would like more information, please send me a message through <a href="http://www.meetup.com" target="_blank">Meetup</a>.<br /></p><br /><p><br /></p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-83935254718588288742021-08-26T08:24:00.004-07:002021-08-26T08:24:26.531-07:00<div class="" dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_p1"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">"<i>Do your best and leave the rest.</i>" --Lord Krishna from the Bhagavad Gita</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">I have been thinking about this quote A LOT this week as I move through (another) time of confusion and uncertainty. It is from the <a href="https://www.geetagirl.com/podcasts">Geeta Girl podcast</a>, whose mission is to help their listeners use the wisdom in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita">Bhagavad Gita</a> to improve their lives. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FuNCi9iRj5g/YSexiFtcSwI/AAAAAAAADJs/GXwVrsQVNrMgIi6n4nUZMhVTk5y1c78CACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FuNCi9iRj5g/YSexiFtcSwI/AAAAAAAADJs/GXwVrsQVNrMgIi6n4nUZMhVTk5y1c78CACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_6400.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>One of the things they point out specifically is that "the Geeta" is not only a holy book or a fabulous story, but is actually a practical handbook that we can use to increase our life skills and improve our actions, thereby improving our lives. <br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">So often it can feel as though we are victims of circumstance or that the events in our lives are outside of our control, and often this is true (Hello Global Pandemic!), however, if we can learn to act more skillfully (notice they don't say "rightly" or "correctly"), we can improve our lives and the situations and lives of those around us, and have <i>some</i> control over how things go on a day-to-day basis. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">I love this idea of constantly developing our skills and it is what my blog, my books, my work and this page is all about, Being AND Becoming. Embracing who we are now and where we are now, while also evolving and growing into the next version of ourselves. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">If you are interested in gathering some more tools for your spiritual toolbox, I highly recommend checking out this podcast. If you do, let me know what you think!</div></div></span></div></div></div></div><p> </p>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-44817466484436310922021-08-17T12:02:00.002-07:002021-08-17T12:02:43.844-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HFs26r2pBXo/YRwHHy3-4BI/AAAAAAAADJY/vrua5GixMdkGBeLF_P8IJ35f1CtkC4iZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HFs26r2pBXo/YRwHHy3-4BI/AAAAAAAADJY/vrua5GixMdkGBeLF_P8IJ35f1CtkC4iZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/IMG_0692.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">"<i>The only way to enhance one's power in the world is by increasing one's integrity, understanding, and capacity for compassion.</i>" </div><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;">--David R. Hawkins, MD, PhD</div></div></span><p></p><div class="" dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_rk"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">I have been thinking a lot about INTEGRITY today because we are trying to buy a home in a super-hot real estate market and we seem to be running into a LOT of greed and not a lot of integrity. It's disheartening. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The temptation is to play "the game" along with everyone else; make promises you know you won't keep, make offers you have no intention of honoring, throw a little BS of your own onto the pile. But it just doesn't FEEL RIGHT. So we aren't. We are staying in our integrity, being honest about who we are and what we are willing to do and hoping...that our integrity attracts the right and perfect home for us. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Either way, I am finding that there is a certain power in doing the right thing, even if it doesn't yield the result you want. It's an internal power that feels almost holy and I think it's what Dr. Hawkins is talking about here. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The world would tell us to "take" power or "grab" power, but true power only manifests when we decide to BE power, not in the world's definition, but in God's and in our own. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">I invite you to BE the power today. Wield your integrity in the world as the powerful weapon that it is.</div></div></span></div></div></div></div>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-79062346385890542462020-07-24T13:16:00.025-07:002022-01-03T16:26:10.902-08:0052 Weeks of Anti-Racist Action (#52weeksofantiracistaction)<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHeBnO83Qjnm5Uaeht1qTsQTQBiJ4uouAmB5-sgCxfb47-v-arR3Vd0Fb3Dnyub2bY6QpQrx5ivobhVO_pZeap77bMa4ZmzmRFRPyNAvaXU6-n_CWkHa2kM-IbkGpil4fr3Br5_zQ2szApQ1XjOAw4zwSGdxyr1bcSpAvlhMb8Ttw8rkmpALgBEJRc=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHeBnO83Qjnm5Uaeht1qTsQTQBiJ4uouAmB5-sgCxfb47-v-arR3Vd0Fb3Dnyub2bY6QpQrx5ivobhVO_pZeap77bMa4ZmzmRFRPyNAvaXU6-n_CWkHa2kM-IbkGpil4fr3Br5_zQ2szApQ1XjOAw4zwSGdxyr1bcSpAvlhMb8Ttw8rkmpALgBEJRc=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">One year. It has been such a positive experience for me to focus on
becoming more anti-racist this year. In many ways it was the perfect
year. Teaching online gave me time to reflect on how to be culturally
responsive every day with all my students; being quarantined at home
gave me more time for reading and listening and paying attention to the
racist and anti-racist events happening around the world; being alone
much of the time gave me a chance to reflect on my own thoughts and
experiences and failures in the areas of racism and anti-racism. Thanks
to those who have come along with me on this journey, and especially to
those who have joined me on it, given me an idea, shared a podcast or
article, drank coffee with me at a BIPOC-owned business, etc. The idea
of sharing this journey on Facebook came from <span><span class="nc684nl6"><span>Dana Spindler Cavin</span></span></span>.
Thanks Dana! I hope it has landed as intended, as a way to hold myself
accountable and share resources for becoming more anti-racist. It was
not meant to be performative and I hope it didn’t appear that way. If it
did, my apologies. I will still be posting things I think are important
to share, but it probably won’t be every week. I will be out here
however, trying to learn, grow, lead and love in as anti-racist a way as
I can. I hope you will too. </span><p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
52:</b> Our racial justice group’s assembly presentation is being shown
during Community Time at school this week. I was hoping to be able to
share it here, but as it includes student names, I can’t. It was pretty
cool to see how it all came together and I feel hopeful that this
generation will do better than mine did at making progress towards
racial justice. </span></p><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_fj"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 51:</b> In honor of Asian American Heritage Month, taught a lesson centered around the poem <a href="https://poets.org/poem/peaches?fbclid=IwAR1oQayGE3s2yTAPsvi-TgydYinlxp3oyibnAWJ-jHzEdC1RLmxVP8iRSqA" target="_blank">“Peaches” by Adrienne Su</a>. One of the activities was to identify how the poem is a WINDOW into another person’s experience or a MIRROR for your own experience. It was cool to see how students answered this question and made connections. If you read the poem I’d love to know how it is a window or a mirror (or both) for you. </div></div></span></div></div></div></div><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week 50:</b> Worked with students in our racial justice group to plan an
assembly in June to educate our school about racial justice. This is
going to include singing on Zoom - singing! - something I haven’t done
publicly (is Zoom considered “public?”) since high school. </span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b> Week
49:</b> Donated to the Equal Justice Initiative in honor of the birthday of
my friend Christy who has taught me a lot about how to be anti-racist
and more inclusive through the example she sets in how she lives and in
her posts here on the Facebook. </span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></b></span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
48:</b> Started to plan a lesson for Asian American and Pacific Islander
Heritage Month. For the first time I am trying to include students in
the planning. I have always meant to do this for Black History Month,
Native American Heritage Month, Pride Month, etc., but never “had the
time,” so I am finally trying to walk the walk. So far, “crickets” from
the students, but I will persist. </span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Week
47: </span></b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Modified some curriculum this week to make it more culturally
responsive and less biased. It’s very satisfying to “un-whitewash”
something. </span></span></p><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_jg"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 46: </b>Signed a petition sponsored by Black Lives Matter to ask President Biden to end 1033, a federal program that sells military-grade weapons to law enforcement, including school and campus police. To read more on this issue and sign, see below: https://blacklivesmatter.com/demilitarize-our-neighborhoods/?fbclid=IwAR2TZ8p5dhhy98x9AwVldUrhZWCZ-fVPCDvshb3mhobYJkGebjcn1_UNnPY</div></div></span></div></div></div></div><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
45:</b> Welcomed back one of my favorite podcasts, “Still Processing,” on
which two NY Times culture writers (Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris)
offer their perspective on many aspects of American culture. Always
interesting and intelligent, they often share a perspective I might not
hear elsewhere and that challenges me to expand my thinking. </span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">https://www.nytimes.com/column/still-processing-podcast?fbclid=IwAR0d6obFi8YJpMmYbqDyA0iIMsJM171VpP2-0bBAQEkef2xLxrqE9ZKi9uc</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
44:</b> Binged “Insecure” starring the amazing Issa Rae. Instantly went to
the top of my COVID-19 Top 5 binges (Ted Lasso, CB Strike, Schitt’s
Creek, and Grey’s Anatomy are the other four). Funny, heart-breaking,
well-written, well-acted show that was also educational for this white
woman. Spoiler alert: My heart is still aching for Issa and Lawrence.
Can’t wait for season 5! </span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> https://www.hbo.com/insecure?fbclid=IwAR0A3Y7t915feHaqaXkAit92gsu0wB1e2iRvlMw2fpnNeNb96wB1tUpH1AQ</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week 43:</b> Donated to the political campaign of Marcus Flowers. He is running against Marjorie Taylor Greene. </span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
42:</b> Attended my racial justice group meeting this week and listened
while teachers and students of color shared their experiences of living
through the past two weeks and all the weeks and years before that. </span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/?fbclid=IwAR00Ip1NZmxNFdvGbz7A8sf5yKta95GA2Xcb3SyySGkeSkYo9CKTq5MpZjk</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week 41: </b>Made a donation to <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/hateisavirus?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXHcy-G9hB1EnX1unoLDeLgopfZ3lUA-woWy4RG5Hpsb3opWD6Sq-SiFs3A75Q1jEkuYiHhl9C-9AS9Kn2lGomBd7TLNVhveOBpjg8skshwH2WLjzqVFjawou6Tm7Dvtk2rhKp54lRPLLQYKypGarML&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#hateisavirus</a></span>. Found this organization on a list of resources to help stop the violence against Asians. (With thanks to <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/yogawithadriene?__cft__[0]=AZXHcy-G9hB1EnX1unoLDeLgopfZ3lUA-woWy4RG5Hpsb3opWD6Sq-SiFs3A75Q1jEkuYiHhl9C-9AS9Kn2lGomBd7TLNVhveOBpjg8skshwH2WLjzqVFjawou6Tm7Dvtk2rhKp54lRPLLQYKypGarML&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6"><span>Yoga With Adriene</span></span></a></span> for sharing this list). </span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Week
40: </span></b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Two excellent podcast episodes (#3 and #4) from Scene on Radio’s
series on Men with co-hosts Celeste Headlee and John Biewen. They do
such a great job of exploring race and feminism at the same time. I
learned something new about the Montgomery Bus Boycott and they speak
eloquently about why we must listen to Black women as we try and change
our world. Highly recommend. </span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> http://www.sceneonradio.org/men/?fbclid=IwAR0Z4Hkiqv1SFwhGm2pSxnc7DhM0VOlWYS7LzxGPoNgXqmuV2QN7BtMiPk0</span></span></p><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_oo"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 39: </b>“We can’t simply believe in equality...we have to create it.” —From the UNCF website</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">This week I made my monthly donation to UNCF. I started this before <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/52weeksofantiracistaction?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZX_zVX7iZ_JAha5dtILd3Ljk2LPeNPzxjAsP6Z5Qr5MR-vBVl_1rpoVnJa36TtCKb0y7oG5jv4lVwgPdynRhhwJH-i4sh2vwJJ0eja508aufekDmz-IdG4quv4Tf8-lJrQ&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" tabindex="0">#52weeksofantiracistaction</a></span>, around the time of the 2016 election aftermath, but I’m keeping it going as a part of my anti-racist efforts. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">It’s not just about money, but a large part of the systemic inequalities that exist in the US were specifically designed to keep rich white people rich and everyone else less rich. To address the inequalities is going to mean sharing the wealth as well as other resources. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">If you want to donate the the UNCF, follow this link: https://uncf.org/?fbclid=IwAR0wDIJqaLgeSmnreBjhoOOYUTi9sgoB3SzqEZT5wyv5e8Vdti-QHOW-u9Q</div></div></span></div></div></div></div><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
38:</b> Listened to an <a href="https://thisislovepodcast.com/episode-26-the-kinseys/?fbclid=IwAR1vaRifGu8VoCbren0Hs8FiPbD15tPCF-2QBpDJPlouWWzPDj2yKxC8CCY" target="_blank">episode of the podcast “This is Love,” about Shirley and Bernard Kinsey</a> who met and fell in love while protesting to
integrate movie theaters in Tallahassee. After their son was born they
wanted him to know about his history, so they began collecting art,
historical documents and artifacts about the Black experience in
America, amassing a collection which eventually travelled to museums all
over the country. They have also written a book (with their son),
documenting the collection, “The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of
Bernard and Shirley Kinsey,” which is available on their website (<span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="http://www.thekinseycollection.com/shop-2/?fbclid=IwAR2QuqdHQWIbz5taZw_eLeCGD5lZ7QK8eNfsVboOEgylhoStz1Ls8DKICt8" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">http://www.thekinseycollection.com/shop-2/</a></span>), and which I am excited to receive in the mail soon!</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Week
37: </span></b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Listened to three episodes of the podcast Reply All on issues of
race. Sharing this felt a bit problematic when this Friday two of the
producers of the show (one a regular host and one a host of the series
on race) stepped down because they actively blocked unionization efforts
at Gimlet, efforts which were being led by people of color. A good
example of, “If you spot it, you got it” (Oprah Winfrey), I guess and
also a good reminder to me that I, as a white person, must always be
willing to interrogate my actions and motivations.</span><b> <br /></b></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week 36:</b> Started reading “We Were Eight Years in Power” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, a series of essays about the Obama years.</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> https://bookshop.org/books/we-were-eight-years-in-power-an-american-tragedy/9780399590573?fbclid=IwAR0CbWiJ35zn0m9cggI88KzfYnb6IE8HpngDbukZxZ_dlCi6eEAbrWHGySY</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
35:</b> In honor of Black History Month, my running group is supporting
local Black-owned businesses on our runs. Last weekend we ended our run
at Black Coffee Northwest. The coffee and pastries were delicious and
due to “dine-in” restrictions, they have turned the eating area into a
venue for artists of color to display their work. I met two fabulous
young artists you might want to check out: @gfaulks and @easleytribe,
both on Instagram. This weekend Poindexter Coffee - with thanks to Mouse
for the idea!</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
34:</b> Joined my school’s newly-forming racial justice group for staff
and students. Excited to start working with others to make our school
community a more just and equitable place for all.</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b> Week
33:</b> Recorded a (possibly? potentially?) inspirational video to be
shared with students at the MLK Jr Day assembly this past week. I talked
about this project and asked them to take some action against systemic
racism.</span></p><p><b>W</b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>eek
32:</b> Finished the “Seeing White” series of the podcast Scene on Radio.
It ended with the host sharing two basic premises that he believes need
to be embraced if we are to make headway against systemic racism: 1)
Race was constructed by white people 2) It was constructed for the
express purpose of justifying exploitation of those who were deemed
“non-white.”</span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b> </b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
31:</b> Listened to the podcast Scene on Radio this week. In season two
(called “Seeing White”) the host, John Biewen, with the help of his
friend Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika and many other thought leaders on the
issue of race, investigates whiteness. He explores how whiteness was
created, the exploitation that created it (Ibrahim Kendi argues that
exploitation came first and the codification of exploitation came
later), and all that this creation has wrought. The idea behind the
podcast is that when white people spend time thinking about race, they
generally don’t think about whiteness and in order to understand
systemic racism white people must understand their role in it. I am
finding it to be a difficult, and very valuable, listen. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">https://www.sceneonradio.org/seeing-white/?fbclid=IwAR2gT0Q1dinPME8BLeBO0VJQbLqQ76R-_74QBhCl2kc7mzOWv9MMaZUKjx4</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b> </b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week 30:</b> Chose something from the Black Lives Matter collection on Netflix for my binge this week. Thanks <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/SeattleDove?__cft__[0]=AZU5Ka-SPABYR6Xk7lPYaZHXxhA4GG3Wk-oKWJw6_do3WcFRsXQr1XVNFQ7aJ0Mf0wYQBAfjoXrGf0Hh04WVKnx5QfRUOlj2oXrYRigVzDfsCgpIAiFzp6Ad-fXNHjuDzco&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6"><span>Robyn Riley</span></span></a></span> for the recommendation.<span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu"> </span></span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b> </b>https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/pose?fbclid=IwAR00Ip1NZmxNFdvGbz7A8sf5yKta95GA2Xcb3SyySGkeSkYo9CKTq5MpZjk<b><br /></b></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b> </b></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 29:</b> Watched the Red Table Talk episode where Jada Pinkett Smith, her mom Adrienne Banfield Norris and daughter Willow Smith interview Olivia Jade. It was interesting to note that my head was with Banfield Norris, but my heart and my gut were in knots as I watched Olivia Jade go full “dear-in-the-headlights” in response to Banfield Norris’ pushback. Having been a twenty-something privileged white girl, my body sided with her automatically, or so it seemed. I felt her shame and I wanted to go into defensive mode. But I didn’t. I just stayed with the uncomfortable feelings and let them subside. </div></div></span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 28:</b> Was schooled by a student about the death of Angel Haynes, a trans woman of color who was murdered in October. He asked me to sign this petition -</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://www.change.org/p/alex-azar-transgender-rights?fbclid=IwAR3BLY6o2ocEU0PqLQtn2Pe1RRtDvEitiFCJ04ZMb7rPSHOuqdTsy3cXNTQ" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.change.org/p/alex-azar-transgender-rights</a></span> - which I did. I am posting here in case you would like to sign as well. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The text explaining the petition includes this quote, which I love: </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">--Mark Twain</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
27:</b> Finally listened to the final episode/interview for the “In the
Dark” podcast. Heartbreaking. Hopeful. Inspiring. If you think
systematic racism doesn’t exist, listen to this podcast.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">https://www.clarionledger.com/videos/news/2020/10/13/curtis-flowers-talks-apm-reports-dark-podcast/5976320002/?fbclid=IwAR3g9c5grh2qfHuV3Rhf075Lwsjd6ImuMvHlRolqVCgXvqWsVhy_X67dYsU</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 26:</b> This week I listened to a fabulous TED Talk on deconstructing racism, one headline at a time. It’s funny and serious and contains, I think, some important insights for white people. </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">With gratitude to <span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/dr.cat.saunders?__cft__[0]=AZU_3Qxq-KuJvoyh4T15hICXDbSlSkXq6eH7RlAcbatWCLolGOJkNW9mT83RdndXjBz4g88MkkRORW_JHj5XG5FeIf2ielOmWMW5O7Gmhf_0guuKpYgCiLZ0bghRNmnrEGU&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="nc684nl6"><span>Cat Saunders</span></span></a></span> for sharing. This post comes with an invitation to share in the comments of any of my #52weeksofantiracistaction posts anything you think I might enjoy/benefit from/learn from, etc. in this area. I can’t guarantee that I will read/watch/do it, but I will consider it. Thanks in advance. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">https://www.ted.com/talks/baratunde_thurston_how_to_deconstruct_racism_one_headline_at_a_time?fbclid=IwAR1vaRifGu8VoCbren0Hs8FiPbD15tPCF-2QBpDJPlouWWzPDj2yKxC8CCY</div></div><p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
25:</b> This week, in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, I read some
Thanksgiving perspective pieces written by Native Americans. This is one
of my favorites for its combination of truth-telling and hope.</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">https://time.com/5457183/thanksgiving-native-american-holiday/</span></p><p><b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Week
24: </span></span></b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">This week I supported a young activist who is petitioning our
future VP to pave the way for people of color to tell their stories
about the racism they have experienced in this country. Also listened to
a podcast about racism in the classroom and reflected on my own.</span></span><b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> </span></b></p><p><b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> </span></b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 23:</b> This week I supported a black-owned business, purchasing this t-shirt from a company whose mission is “to inspire others, uplift women and celebrate black culture.” </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://mahoganymommies.com/collections/t-shirt/T-Shirt?fbclid=IwAR0As0yzev49uryQFEI1WUtIAVgo3SeNXcRypKjqGmmAGVvtDy1kpI_cJpI" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://mahoganymommies.com/collections/t-shirt/T-Shirt</a></span></div></div><p></p><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_164"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 22:</b> Made donations to the ACLU and the SPLC. Enough said.<span></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aclu.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1pSHqWVgAD_gU9txgtXYJFEtytrPoFqVDh-avhbFrumOsmMedx2M9L9zg&h=AT0dZB_oEnHgNPEXCM9yg9OQ0i3uGdXMcVHzkNlkm4VzB027JlDHwgnbUUDL3nU3yX9qEKoRtDzJ4IlnwrOnbnBumJtqmI0r5bolE4wTwiz0MXaU_ZRSWySBtnUpf5Wal5JMsD8&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0hp4vYcuHe5EOK0ss7fxgYLj-PY0AHHUIu-PluOBLIn4WunPvdKCax-V7mGqMPbMsrNM8lbDdFdfyGHY0S-r1fpBxBiWSr-mwKOPdB4A2YrYiMCMFjdKKeK1RJ5W7ZVRBkjOOnVIO5xlAIHYLfKcPRvmk" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.aclu.org</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://www.splcenter.org/?fbclid=IwAR3KvmAT8TUp-GXhC025IpitBJD8BoO-0s5LT46vmY1roilA1p8nnTOrD-g" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.splcenter.org</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span> </span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 21:</b> This week my action is to ask all of you to take action. If you are so inclined, please spend an hour sometime this week praying, meditating, holding space, setting an intention, taking political action or whatever your preferred expression is, to change our country for the better. We need all the positive vibes we can get for a decisive and fair election and for a peaceful transition to the next phase in the life of our country. For the protection of those who are most vulnerable based on the outcome of the election, and that our flawed democracy may continue on the path towards greater freedom, greater safety for all, greater peace and greater inclusivity. </div></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">If you do something, post it in the comments to inspire the rest of us. And, if you feel so inclined, ask others in your network to do the same. Sending love and peace to you all during these tumultuous times.</div><p><b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Week 20: VOTED <span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 rgmg9uty b73ngqbp"><img alt="💙" height="24" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t49/1/24/1f499.png" width="24" /></span><span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 rgmg9uty b73ngqbp"><img alt="❤️" height="24" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tef/1/24/2764.png" width="24" /></span><span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 rgmg9uty b73ngqbp"><img alt="💙" height="24" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t49/1/24/1f499.png" width="24" /></span> </span></b></p><p></p><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_17u"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 19:</b> I continue to make my way - slowly, because spare time for reading is in short supply these days - through the book “<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zinnedproject.org%2Fmaterials%2Fdifferent-mirror-multicultural-america%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0TCrc1eu0B1gHKs10-6Bb8NorYeXf9lKCarRCx92fPb8lHaDGhl6tTIFA&h=AT3mywci0NSekkoaax1Ov5tZ8s6SuFPCk-NsZ-LqMzQWQ7xlzrkhub9m_kQUWiNKdkYLMzZojwRZVmAoUsst4uvfN0Dbb6rhY_TWYU1VL2cmoCmWV215dO_e-RyjJkUkXB_ky2s&__tn__=H-R&c[0]=AT0TvuDYS57HR8zhubPRQ6W6Z6Ukh8dB-Eql4-Jr4IcVdPTav6WqU9aeAHBy1H7VYuwoNtU05WYM3K9b9KJ1TP4faoBnpuOYsUtp646rMal_gKrVOxssPnRURlfZPKCmy1i-RQLQ14PYP0HjdD1HNiV_JxbsoHPFCxTqyog" target="_blank">A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America</a>.” This week I read about the theft of the California territory from the Mexicans. We are not, nor have we ever been, who we say we are or want to be. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">The men who configured this nation and wrote our constitution had seemingly high ideals, but only for RICH WHITE STRAIGHT ABLE-BODIED CIS CHRISTIAN MEN. Those men were allowed to pursue their life, liberty and happiness at any cost to everyone else. Lying, cheating, and outright theft were tactics they used frequently to pursue their “high ideals.” That left a whole lot of people SOL. And it still does.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Saying this out loud on Facebook is my action for the week. I believe we must be willing to face the truth about our past before we can move toward a different future.</div></div></span></div></div></div></div><p><b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Week
18: </span></span></b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">This week I spoke up twice in ways that felt scary about racism and
white privilege in front of “audiences” I wasn’t sure would welcome the
message.</span></span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
17:</b> Like many, I was disheartened at the outcome in the case of the
police who killed Breonna Taylor, so I took action as requested by
groups I follow (Black Lives Matter, Color of Change). What gives me
hope is the hope of the leaders of these groups. They have just begun to
fight. I stand with them.</span> <br /></p><p><b>Week 16:</b> Spent time on the site posted below, examining the phases of racism and my own place on it. I found it really enlightening and am sharing it as my action this week. I believe in the power of heightened self-awareness to lead to action and change. <span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">https://racismscale.weebly.com/?fbclid=IwAR0P5j1UdTgYaUVUkVnvWmVJTpgggfRsKhv2o73mKuJ2PgNOJWS8SjgxPPs<br /></div></div><p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
15:</b> Post a bit late, but action completed. Attended another session of
PD which included Race & Equity training. Planned a lesson for my
7th graders based around this TED Talk for our storytelling unit: https://www.ted.com/talk/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?fbclid=IwAR259441D5PqiJ6gTEaa2LQSO7nV5Tva4mjZ3T7CtDTNUUqdYRptyucrzw4</span></p><p><b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> </span></b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><b>Week 14:</b> This week I signed up to make a micro donation every time DT tweets. Money goes to BIPOC organizers in swing states. If you have the resources/inclination, please join us. Defeat by tweet! </div></div><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://defeatbytweet.org/?fbclid=IwAR2Vc_vKDGq-vAaxu_8xQ2TN1Ohg_pm5qs5Que15e6TLK0gI4tKrTLCJ7T0" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://defeatbytweet.org</a></span></div></div></span><p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><b>Week
13:</b> It’s been a busy week. I attended a teacher training on race and
equity, listened to multiple podcasts featuring/about Kamala Harris, and
made a donation to fight voter suppression by our government. Here’s a
link to a great episode of NPRs Code Switch about varying opinions of
Kamala Harris among Black Democrats and the political power of Black
women in the Party. </span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">https://www.npr.org/2020/07/13/890416712/kamala-joe-and-the-fissures-in-the-base?fbclid=IwAR2yI3QOx3vB8dl5scfZhwu3HefUvxtJrEKO35YpXqFbI1C0VhXRev8u0rg<br /></span></p><p><b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Week 12: </span></b><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql b0tq1wua a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">This
week I attended a seminar for teachers on how to make our grading
practices more equitable. My anti-racist action step this week is to
make changes to my grading policy to make it more equitable. </span></p><p><b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Week
11</span></b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">: This week my anti-racist action was to continue to binge Grey’s
Anatomy, which has been my go-to show since the pandemic began. This
may, at first, seem lame and self-serving, but Grey’s Anatomy is a great
example of representation in action. The show consistently features
actors of all races, creeds, social and economic backgrounds, gender
identities, sexual orientations, size, ability, etc. It routinely
features actors who do not meet traditional “Hollywood” beauty and
attractiveness standards (to be fair, it also features many actors who
do). It gives these actors central roles and meaty plot lines rather
than just bit parts. It deals often and directly with important and
timely issues like police brutality towards and murder of black and
brown people, implicit bias and sexual harassment in the workplace and
the harmful outcomes that result, dismissive attitudes towards women and
people of color in the medical community, etc. It is a show I am proud
to support with my time and entertainment dollars. We wield more power
than we realize with these two commodities, our time and our money.
Using them to support businesses that advance our stated ideals can be a
powerful step toward a different world. </span></p><p><b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"> </span>Week 10</b>: Listened to the first three episodes of the (controversial) podcast <a href="https://www.thisamericanlife.org/712/nice-white-parents" target="_blank">Nice White Parents</a>
this week. I have to admit I saw myself as an elementary school parent
in the well-meaning - but unthinking - parents in episode one. Oof. I
have been feeling lately that there isn’t quite enough action in my
weekly action. Educating oneself is important, but change requires
ACTION. This week I am committing to fill out parent surveys from my
sons’ schools not just with what’s best for them in mind, but to educate
myself before filling them out about what is best for students who may
not have the advantages and privilege my sons have and to use my “vote”
to advocate for those decisions. </p><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><b>Week
9</b><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j irj2b8pg enqfppq2 jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">: This week I started a book I have
been meaning to read for a long time, “<a href="https://bookshop.org/books/a-different-mirror-a-history-of-multicultural-america-revised/9780316022361" target="_blank">A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America</a>.” Although I know the history I learned in school
was whitewashed, reading the truth about the “founding” of our country
is still hard. We have always - and continue to - fall FAR short of our
stated ideals. I hope that we can one day live up to who we say we want
to be. </span><div><span data-offset-key="62q9l-0-0"><span data-text="true"><b>Week 8</b></span></span><span data-offset-key="62q9l-0-0"><span data-text="true">: I have listened to <a href="https://themoth.org/stories/treasure-island" target="_blank">this episode </a>of The Moth featuring Boots Riley before, but this week I listened to it again with my family. It is a powerful first-hand account of an encounter with law enforcement. Keep listening after the main story for a second one that is also powerful. </span></span></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Week 7</b>: This week I read Trevor Noah's book, "Born a Crime," an informative - and often hilarious - exploration of how racism is constructed and carried out.
https://bookshop.org/books/born-a-crime-stories-from-a-south-african-childhood/9780399588198 <br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Week 6</b>: This week I continued my anti-racist education via Ijeoma Oluo, reading an article she wrote for The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/28/confronting-racism-is-not-about-the-needs-and-feelings-of-white-people - about talking with white people about racism. It made me think about something my counselor taught me about conflict. <br /></div><div><br />
</div><div>In any conflict between two people, both people are usually hurting, but
in order for there to be movement and resolution, the feelings of the
person who is hurting at the deepest level must be recognized, honored
and healed first. She recommends using the chakra system (the energy
centers in the human body) to identify who is hurting at the deepest
level.
The deepest level of hurt is at the level of the root chakra, which is
about survival, matters of life and death. Emotions that may come up
based on a hurt at this level are terror or fear. This chakra is located
at the base of the spinal cord, around the area of the perineum.
Further up the body is the third chakra, around the area of the stomach.
This chakra is about confidence and self-worth. Emotions that may come
up based on a hurt at this level are shame or self-doubt. Therefore, if
two people are in conflict and one person is experiencing survival-level
hurts while the other person is experiencing hurts at the level of
their confidence in themselves as a person, the person who is
experiencing the survival level hurt needs to have their hurt addressed
first because it is a hurt at a deeper level. </div><div><br /></div><div>I believe this may help explain why white people and people of color experience such a disconnect when discussing matters of race. The vast history of murder of Black people at the hands of white people for simply living their lives makes it clear that for people of color racism is - and always has been - a matter of life and death. It is a first chakra hurt. As such, it must be recognized, honored and healed before the hurt that racism has done to white people, which I would argue for most of us is a hurt at the third chakra or above, can be addressed. I believe the failure of white people to recognize this "hierarchy of hurts" may explain why, when racism is discussed in mixed-race groups, the process is often messy, hurtful and often ends with things seeming worse than they were before. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If progress is going to be made, I believe that white people need to recognize the deep level of hurt that is experienced by people of color because of racism and must be willing to put their own feelings of hurt on the back burner until the survival-level hurts of Black people and other people of color have been healed. This is likely going to take a long time. It will probably not happen in my lifetime. It may not happen in my children's lifetime. It took more than 400 years to get to where we are today and it is going to take time for these hurts to heal, especially when that healing must, of course, include lack of further harm. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I believe that white people must make a conscious choice to put aside their own feelings of hurt and empathize with the deep level of hurt that people of color experience. It doesn't mean we aren't hurting and that we can't give each other comfort at those times, but we cannot - and should not - expect people of color to confront our hurt until their deeper level hurts have been healed. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
[Much of what I know about the chakra system I learned from Anodea Judith's book, "Wheels of Life, https://bookshop.org/books/wheels-of-life-a-user-s-guide-to-the-chakra-system-rev-and-expanded/9780875423203. If you are looking for a kick-ass counselor, I highly recommend Dr. Cat, https://www.drcat.org/] <br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Week 5</b>: After being called out on Facebook last week, I went back and read the "Checking Your Privilege" chapter in "So you want to talk about race," by Ijeoma Oluo. She recommends making a list of all the areas of life in which you have privilege, so I did this and spent a lot of time this week thinking about how that has played out in my life and how it may have adversely affected others.
[This post is a little bit late due to an online seminar I was attending this week. Week 6 post coming soon.] <br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Week 4</b>: This week I read the book I bought in week 2. A much-needed book that gives people of all races tools for participating in conversations around race. If anyone wants to read it, ping me in the comments and I will share it with you. https://bookshop.org/books/so-you-want-to-talk-about-race/9781580058827 <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Week 3</b>: Made a political contribution to a Black candidate for Congress. Systemic racism is baked into our Democracy. In order to change it we need voices of color in positions of leadership. Here are some candidates you can support this year: https://www.ebony.com/news/meet-the-18-black-women-running-for-a-seat-in-congress/ <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Week 2</b>: This week I put my money where my mouth is and bought a book for everyone in the house by a Black author in support of black publishing power. It’s not too late to support the movement! It also might be a great time to purchase a copy of “Black Widow” by my friend Leslie Streeter! https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/leslie-gray-streeter/black-widow/9780316490726/<br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Week 1</b>: A friend posted this on her Facebook page recently: "The past few weeks have led to a lot of conversations about racism – How did we get here? What is my responsibility? What can I do? Should I be protesting? etc. I know that many of you have been having these same conversations. Maybe you have been protesting, listening more to Black people, reading, calling your representatives, posting on social media, donating, etc. Suddenly, it seems like there are so many things that we must do…and we need to do them now.
How can we make this sustainable? How do we make anti-racism a way of living?
During my teaching program, I started the uncomfortable work to understand and address systemic racism AND to evaluate my own privilege. I learned that this must be ongoing work. I cannot read one book and be anti-racist. I cannot simply celebrate diversity in my classroom and be an anti-racist teacher. I am going to commit to 52 weeks of action. Each week, I am going to do one thing that I will post it to FB so that you can hold me accountable."
I have decided to join her. 52 weeks. 52 action steps toward a less racist, more sustainable world for all. Will you join us?
#52weeksofantiracistaction</div>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-41626949196227300832020-04-17T11:31:00.002-07:002020-04-17T11:31:17.166-07:00Travel and Kinship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span data-offset-key="b0rij-0-0"><span data-text="true">"It is a cliché to say that we are all kin, but it is true. Even if we hail from different clans, travel makes you certain that kinship is true not only in sentiment but in fact." --James O'Reilly </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="em3te-0-0"><span data-text="true">Hopefully this pandemic is doing the same thing. It has the potential to anyway. I see people everyday supporting neighbors, friends and strangers in this time of crisis. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="23jg5-0-0"><span data-text="true">Travel is something many of us may be missing, so today I want to know where you would go if you had the ability to safely teleport to another location for an afternoon? </span></span></div>
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lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759547499097017548.post-24597642981647666782020-04-14T17:38:00.004-07:002020-04-14T17:38:59.592-07:00This Will Also Change
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHphFxX5aHA/XpZVsK22PEI/AAAAAAAACts/Op0ApURh7vA6ppuLdhhSnlieJvrI12hIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/change.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="744" height="318" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHphFxX5aHA/XpZVsK22PEI/AAAAAAAACts/Op0ApURh7vA6ppuLdhhSnlieJvrI12hIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/change.png" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Once
upon a time there were two siblings who lived together in their
father's house. Upon the death of their father it was his wish that
they split all of his assets fifty-fifty. When the time came, they
divided his houses, his livestock and his money equally.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> After
this was done, however, they discovered two rings which had not been
mentioned in the will. The first ring was made of pure gold,
encrusted with diamonds and it sparkled from a great distance. The
second ring was made of plain silver. It was old with many scratches
and any shine it may have had at one time was long gone.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The
older sibling immediately took charge and said, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"As
the oldest one in the family the gold ring should be mine, I will
give it to my oldest child when the time is right."</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
younger sibling did not complain and so they received the silver
ring.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Many
years passed. The older sibling had sold the diamond ring and made a
great fortune out of what their father had left to them. They had a
huge house and a fancy car, and yet they were dissatisfied with their
life. The younger sibling, on the other hand, lived in a modest house
and drove a modest car. They had endured many hardships in their life
and yet they were very happy.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> One
day the older sibling could not stand it any longer. They went to
their younger sibling's and said, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"I
do not understand, you have suffered many losses and have not made
much of yourself in this world and yet you are happy. I have had an
easy life and have made a great fortune and yet I am miserable. What
is your secret?"</span></i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The
younger sibling just smiled and reached into their pocket. They
pulled out the old silver ring, even more scratched and dull now than
it was when they inherited it. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"It's
this ring. It has made all the difference in my life."</span></i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The
older sibling grabbed the ring and inspected it closely. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"This
ring?! What about this ring makes you so happy? There is nothing
special about it at all."</span></i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> "Not
on the outside,"</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
younger sibling began, as they gently took the ring and pointed
inside.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> On
the inside of the ring was an inscription. It read, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"<b>This
will also change.</b>"</span></i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The
older sibling read it over a couple of times and still looked
puzzled. Looking up at their younger sibling they said, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"I
don't understand. How has this ring made you happy?"</span></i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The
younger sibling smiled again and said, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"I
kept this ring with me always as a reminder of our father. When
things were going badly, I took it out and held it. One day I noticed
the inscription inside and it reminded me that, 'This will also
change.' This reminder helped me get through the hard times, because
I knew they would not last. Likewise when times were good and I was
happy I would take the ring out and think of papa and read the
inscription, 'This will also change.' It reminded me that this happy
time would not last forever, and that I should enjoy it fully."</span></i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The
older sibling resisted the urge to grab the ring from the younger
sibling's hand. All of a sudden they were struck with the thought,
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">'This
will also change,'</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and
they knew that the wisdom of the ring would always be theirs.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">--My
retelling of a Burmese folktale told by SN Goenka </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">at a <a href="http://www.larasimmons.net/2012/12/3-rules.html">10-day Vipassana Silent Meditation Retreat</a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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A:link { so-language: zxx }</style>lara simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02993584916640656415noreply@blogger.com0