summer – Don't Gel Too Soon

Blocks from the Horror: Beautiful Canal St. Martin

Canal at Villette wide — Near Villette at one end of Canal St. Martin

The bombing and the shootings happened blocks from this, the Canal St. Martin. We took a boat ride down the Canal in June – from one end to the other. It was a ridiculously hot day but cool, beautiful, and peaceful on the water, with plenty of tempting activity along the shore.

Canal side — Parisians relax on a lazy summer Sunday along Canal St. Martin.

Described as one of the “new cool” Parisian neighborhoods, it lived up to its reputation. Bankside restaurants were jammed on a Sunday afternoon, joined by popup boutiques and plenty of energy.

Canal St. Martin trees — From our boat, one of the bridges that cross the Canal: a great view for us, and for those on the shore.

It was my favorite stop of this visit to Paris; so great to be in a place that really belonged to the locals and had that feeling great neighborhoods always do.

Although the beauty remains, residents have been violated and punished. It doesn’t compare to the violence and death inflicted upon so many, but it’s just so damn sad.

DOWN THE SHORE EVERYTHING’S ALRIGHT

There’s a wedding just an hour from this beach (four hours from home) so we have a great excuse for a couple of days in my favorite place. It’s our second time this summer and an extra treat. Sadly, fall is almost here; just weeks after we return comes the onslaught of Big Jewish Holidays and lots of praying – and cooking! Good to have this first.

And this

WEATHER REPORT

It’s Monday night – tomorrow summer is gone, gone, gone. I used to hate the heat and DC humidity but somehow I’ve come to love it. I think it’s partly because of the light summer breezes and the wonderful sound of the train that goes by near here just at dawn. It’s whistle is so evocative wafting through the sunrise. And in summer it seems even more romantic. It’s gone now.. until next year.

Even so, there’s lots to look forward to – both good and challenging. Good is knowing that once more the trees will be turning. I live in a neighborhood in Northwest Washington with big old trees along every street and in fall the leaves are amazing. Spring too because of all the azaleas and winter — but the fall looks good and smells good and reminds me of the first day of school.

This is not a filibuster about the weather – I’m just kind of mind-numb from the three-day weekend and many hours spent at the computer catching up on work for clients. I’m sure entry into the first week of un-summer (I guess it isn’t fall yet even though it isn’t summer either) will pick up my brain again.