France

On 3/1/09, we got on board a plane to Paris. Yoriko flew business class with Augustin, while Eustache, Aema and myself were in the back cabin. I was going to Europe for some EU review panels, and then to give some lectures at an engineering school in Noisy-Champs, near Paris.

Once in Paris, after spending over an hour recovering our train tickets from the SCNF (they had been purchased with a card that had been cancelled since then, but wanted me to produce anyway), we hopped on the train. There was a stinky dog in the luggage room, where I sent Eustache because he misbehaved. The owner of the dog took offense and made a scene. Don't call stinky dogs stinky.

At Mamoune's house in Nancy. 3/8/09. This is were Augustin took his first steps.

At the Versailles castle. 3/11/2009.

and at the Petit Trianon.

We went to the Musee du Quai Branly, a horrendous building by Jean Nouvel which hosts collection of Oceanic, Asian, and African arts.

Augustin at the Courbevoie apartment where we stayed. 3/12/09.

On the TGV Est, the high speed train between Paris and Nancy. 3/13/09

In Diemeringen, at the restaurant Chez Jojo (real name: La Fringale, I believe). 3/14/09.

The road between Diemeringen and Nancy, quite peaceful, and Augustin in the Diemeringen house.

Place d'alliance in Nancy, with Papy Jean-Claude.

Eustache and Aema went to school at St Dominique for a month. It's the school nearest my mom's place, and they had a carnival celebration for the kids (mi-careme). 3/17.

Beaubourg Museum. 3/18/09.

The merry-go-round at the Pepiniere, the garden in the heart of Nancy. 3/21

We went to the Pepiniere with Romain, Jeanne and Pauline, the kids of Laurence and Fabrice.

Laurence et Fabrice also took us to la foret de Haye, where you can slide down hanging off a cable. What fun!

We visited my friend Pauline and her son Etienne, along with Vincent. Pauline's kitchen has a million dollar view. 3/24

We were back in San Francisco on 3/28. And this time, I was in business class with Augustin. We were treated like rock stars.