Left Detroit on Iceland Air with Dr. Ibrahim Atallah on Saturday night, reaching Iceland in the morning. The airplane ride was smooth as usual. Iceland Air is like Iceland, friendly, smooth, serene, and humane. Iceland is such a perfect entrance into the European Union. It is always a breeze, and the wait is short. The whole transit time is about an hour. To tell you the truth, I wish it was longer so I can enjoy some of Iceland on the shelves of the airport, or at least eat one of their famous hotdogs.
Arrived in Paris at 1PM, and took bus 350 all the way to Porte something, then took metro 12 to Monte Martre where our airbnb is. The apartment was a wonderful choice, with breeze windows and nice view over Monte Martre and the back of Paris.
I come to Paris for no reason but to return home. This last year and the beginning of this year have been so hard on me, that I needed a break. Paris is a refuge. It has been a refuge for all thinkers, writers, and painters. The beauty of it and humanism heals.
We walked the streets of Mont Martre. As usual, tourists blanket the city like street pigeons, like a rat problem, but they blend in. The walls love them, and the streets don’t mind them, and Parisians have settled to live with them. It is sunny and breezy, in a perfect May. The birds chirp in french. Girls smile and smoke. Cafes are still filled. They are check points of social life in Paris. You must socialize to pass.
Wissam Charafeddine 