Today is our last day on Bora Bora and probably our last trip to Bora Bora. A few nights ago we had dinner (All dinners have been at the Conrad since we have had a meal plan-breakfast and dinner included) at the steak restaurant. The steak was very “French” meaning the steak was rather small and not very good. I say, “I don’t want to come here again.” Claire says, “I don’t want to come here again either.” I was referring to the steak restaurant while Claire was referring to Bora Bora. Bora Bora is the most beautiful place we’ve ever visited and the hotel is close to perfect. The travel is just too difficult.
 
Anniversary plans:
Tomorrow is our 46th anniversary and it will be a memorable one. Bora Bora-Tahiti-Los Angles-St. Louis. We don’t get home until Sunday night.
 
Claire’s snorkeling day:
Yesterday, Claire went on a full day snorkeling tour, returning with a couple of really interesting stories. Story #1-A French lady is on the boat but never gets into the water. The boat arrives at an uninhabited island for a BBQ lunch. The French lady asks the captain, “Ou est les toilettes?” (Translation not needed). The captain points to the sea and says, “La!” (There!). The lady holds it until returning to civilization. Story #2-An American family, with two teenage kids, is on the trip. On shore (of the uninhabited island), the captain walks into the forest/jungle (to get kindling) when one of the kids asks, “Is he going to a refrigerator for our lunches?” Those Americans!
 
Travel plans:
May has been rather busy for me. Earlier in the month I was in Paris. After this trip to Bora Bora, I’m home for two days and then off on my annual trip to South Dakota. Retirement can be so demanding.
 
Dive video stuff:
My first dive camera was a SeaLife and I hated it. The next camera was a Paralenz and I was not overly fond of it. The current camera is a GoPro Hero 11 Black and I could not be more pleased with it. When scuba diving, I use a red filter.  I create the final video using iMovie, color correcting with AquaColorFix. 
 
General diving comments:
Eight years ago, Claire and I were returning from Maui. I was thinking how I really didn’t like to swim in a pool, sit around a pool, swim in the ocean, walk on the beach, collect sea shells, etc. That’s when I decided to learn to scuba dive. When I returned home, I called friend Don S., who has decades of diving experience. Don gave guidance and sent me on this path. Today, I logged my 263rd dive. Some have asked at what point I really felt comfortable in the water…about dive 252.
 
Snorkel video:
The Conrad Bora Bora Nui features over-water villas with diving platforms. The snorkeling is really nice and today’s video was shot within 300 yards of the villa. Très cool!

Note: There wasn’t a Tuesday post. Diving the reef is like being inside a saltwater aquarium. 

The Manta Rays were incredible. 

​French Polynesia is an Overseas Collectivity of France and its sole overseas country. I don’t know how this differs from a Territory, of which France has quite a few. I do know that the residents of French Polynesia are French citizens.
 
After a very nice buffet breakfast, I was on a dive charter for a two tank trip. The dives were on reefs and were lovely.

We arrived in our room at 3:00 PM, 34 hours after leaving home; it was quite a journey. This is the second time we’ve stayed at the Conrad Bora Boa Nui and it’s, to say the least, quite nice. 

​Désolé, my last day in Paris. Today was my cooking class at La Cuisine Paris. In the past, I’ve taken a sauce class plus a couple of food tours. All have been great. Today’s class was soufflés; we made both sweet and savory. Afterwards, I checked on Notre Dame.
 
I’ll be back in St. Louis tomorrow and then Claire and I will leave for Bora Bora on the 19th. I might post during that trip but I won’t send email notifications. In September, Claire and I will be in Paris together.
 
Dinner was something quick dans le quartier, Le Malibar for their incredible hamburger.
 
Please let me know if you don’t want to receive email reminders. I’ll be happy to take you off of the list.
 
À bientôt,
Jeff

Off and on rain today but I was still able to complete the Audrey Hepburn tour and the Coco Chanel tour. 

After so many years traveling to Paris, I am less inclined to travel across the city, utilizing multiple Mètro lines, for dinner. Especially in the 7ème, there are so many convenient dinner options. I had dinner at a small bistro across the street from the apartment and it was wonderful. I started with a Kir (Kir Royal was twice as expensive and I am on a fixed income!), followed by œufs mayonnaise. The confit de canard was quite good but les pommes de terre were incredible. The babba au rhum was self-constructed and presented with a full bottle of rum! Good dinner!

People often ask what I do in Paris so here is a summary of today.

• After preparing for the day, I’m off the the boulangère for a croissant amande (almond) and a café Americano.
  
  
• Another VoiceMap self-guided audio tour, “Finding the Lost Generation in Montparnasse.” Lost Generation refers to the expat community during the 1920’s, including Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, etc. The tour started in Montparnasse and wandered north, ending very close to Jardin de Luxembourg. Getting to the starting point required a Mètro ride plus two RER lines.
  
  While standing outside Gertrude Stein’s apartment, taking pictures, at 27 rue de Fleurus, a man approached me. He introduced himself and I quickly introduced myself as an important personage of Alliance Française de St. Louis (Alliance Française de Paris is located next door). He asked if I would like him to take me to Stein’s apartment! He was nicely dressed and probably in his 80’s…not very threatening. Sure! He proceeded to walk across the street, flash a key on the digicode panel and we were in the private inner courtyard of the building. We walked to the corner as he pointed to the ground level apartment of Gertrude Stein. I took a few photos and we chatted in a combination of French and English. We exchanged cards and parted. Mr. Wasersztrum, I learned, owns the antique bookshop across the street. This was amazing.
  
  
• As I approached the end of the tour, it was time for lunch at a small café near Théâtre de Odéon. A croque madame, frites and a small salad, with a glass of Rosé was perfect, with the background sounds of Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday.
  
  
• After the nice lunch, it was time to sit in the sun in the Jardin de Luxembourg. Then, back to the apartment.
  
  
• Mid-afternoon, it was a walk around the quartier with a stop at the tiny pocket park, Square Santiago du Chili, which is literally in the shadow of Musée de l’Armée. What a perfect place to read a novel and enjoy a cigar.
  
  
• Back to the apartment for a martini and an assortment of charcuterie and cheese.
  
  
• Dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant.

What a super day! I took a Champagne tour to Reims. We visited on of the big Champagne houses, Pommery, and then a small and medium-sized house. 

This morning, I went on a VoiceMap self-guided tour of Belleville. Let’s just say it’s an area of Paris that is quite different from the areas that I normally choose to frequent. If you need to know where to pick up a hijab or robe or a half of a lamb (maybe it was a goat), see me. The doll repair shop was bizarre. I’m rather certain that this will be a one-time experience. 
 
This afternoon, it was another VoiceMap tour, “Through fashionable Paris in the footsteps of Audrey Hepburn.” This tour was in far more familiar areas of Paris. When crossing Avenue des Champs-Élysées, I realized I was rather close to the Swatch store. I was delighted to be able to buy another watch for a friend. 
 
Dinner was at long-time favorite, P’tit Troquet.
 
A good day.