I was in Paris on Thursday, I will be back down there on Monday

[DFW]

I expect the Gare du Nord to look like an armed camp and all hand luggage to be sifted through, all to no avail.

But other than seeing more gendarmes on the street, like I did after Charlie Hebdo, I also expect the Parisians to defiantly not let themselves be intimidated into becoming either scared rabbits or someplace like East Berlin, where groups of various branches of the Vopos and/or Stasi were practically on every street corner.

I have spoken with my Parisian friends on the phone, and they all say, with typical French cynicism, "ce n'est que le début, on n'a pas vu la fin." I fear they're right, but they will not let it change their city. They'll give that so very Gallic shrug, and say, "C'est comme ça."

Like they always do, like they always have.

[Weidman]

1. Stay safe on your travels!

[DFW]

7. I've had more near-misses than a cat or a bad horse shoe player

I once blew off a day in Brussels to accompany my wife and about 6 neighborhood children to an amusement park over in Holland. That day, when I should have been landing at the old Terminal 2 at Düsseldorf Airport, a deadly dioxin fire brok out in the terminal I usually landed at right at the time I usually arrived. Killed a bunch of people.

Then, a day after I was the Frankfurt Airport, some "heroes" decided to set off a bomb right at the place I had been the day before and exactly at the same time.

Another time, I was landing at Zavantem in a tiny commuter plane when a huge gust of wind turned the plane 90° and the wings were suddenly vertical just a few feet above the ground. The VERY sharp pilot spotted a small disused runway perpendicular to the one we supposed to land on, revved the propeller, and set us down on the side runway.

Then there the time I was on a Cubana plane from Havana to Montréal. It was an old Soviet-built Ilyushin-62, a copy of the long-disused British Vicount-10. The first attempt at take-off failed, and we returned to the terminal. The second attempt was successful, but after 90 minutes, we turned around and headed back to José Martí. I asked the Flight attendant what was going on, and he said the navigation equipment was defective. A pilot from Québec in my row asked what he said (I spoke in Spanish), and when I translated, the pilot said BS, they're dumping fuel out of both wings (it was clearly visible), so they fear an explosion. When we got back to Havana, I asked how much time was needed to repair the plane this time? The Cubans said we were lucky to have gotten back alive, and we'd have to wait for another plane.

And so on, and so on, and so on. Catching professional bands of thieves from Croatia, rooting out corrupt cops in Belgium, you name it. I guess at some point my number is up, but what are we supposed to do in the meantime, crawl into a box because the sky might fall in? If you suddenly see me stop posting, it's either because we nominated Herman Cain for President, or because I finally boarded the wrong plane/train/bus/Métro. But any of us can get run over by a truck (my wife did, and she was sitting her car when it happened!), and we don't spend our days worrying about that, either.

[Demeter]

25. Farming?

[DFW]

30. That would require staying in the same country more then three days in a row

Its appeal has grown on me over the years, but it's too late now.

Besides, less vacation.

[uppityperson]

2. I envy you and grieve for them

[DFW]

10. Grieve for them. Don't envy me

I run down there two or three times a month. Routine by now, although it won't feel routine next week for sure.

[uppityperson]

16. If you ever want a break, I'll zip over for you

But I see you are already in Europe.

[DFW]

17. i ALWAYS want a break!!! And I need someone to take my place some day.

If you know anyone who can spot counterfeit money, works well with security services, and speaks French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Russian and at least one Scandinavian language, do I have a job waiting for YOU!!

[uppityperson]

19. Well I work well with security people

That sounds like quite the job. I'll keep my ears open, know of some who speak 4 of those but not all.

[DFW]

21. I painted myself into a corner

I made sure I had job security, but now it looks like I'm stuck there until I'm 90.

[Skittles]

28. no one is indispensable

no one

[A HERETIC I AM]

29. Including you and your ass kicking. n/t, but a smiley awaits.

[DFW]

31. Agreed

There's a difference between being indispensable and irreplaceable.

Besides, if I drop dead tomorrow, it's their problem, not mine.

An old French friend of mine always used to remind me that the cemetery was full of indispensable people.

[underpants]

3. ?

This isn't the beginning and this isn't the end

?

[BeyondGeography]

4. Only the beginning

[DFW]

12. Their way of saying:

"It's not the first time, it won't be the last time."

[Hekate]

5. Stay safe, DFW

[DFW]

9. We have every intention of it!

Thanks, Hekate!

[Capt.Rocky300]

6. Despite the RW smears of the French....

people, they are not cowards nor intimidated by such barbarism. Stay safe sir.

[DFW]

8. Will do.

Ever vigilant!

[smirkymonkey]

11. Be safe. Please report back on your observations.

I always love hearing of your posts on Europe, I lived there for a short time and miss it, so I really enjoy your posts.

[DFW]

13. I'll be there until Wednesday

I rarely spend the night there any more. I can get the 6PM Thalys train and be back home by 10:30 in Germany. This time, we're combining my work with some private stuff. One of our friends has asked us and some other friends to dinner, and we said we'd be there way before this happened.

I've been in Europe for years now, and speak not only German (I live in Germany after all), but also the languages of most countries that border on Germany. It's sort of home by now, so I see the good, the bad and the ugly. As with the States, anyone who thinks there is no bad or ugly here must read only travel brochures.

[smirkymonkey]

15. Thanks, I lived in Austria (Wien) for a while and loved it. My brother lived in Germany for a while

and I visited him there as well. I always love to hear about the experience of expats in Europe. I would love to hear more of your experiences of an American in Europe. I think it is fascinating. Really.

[DFW]

20. I blend in more than most Americans

I made it a point to learn the language of almost every place I travel to frequently, and even those of a few of places I don't often, but often meet people from there. I made it a point to learn Swiss-German, Catalan and Dutch because I have friends from there, and like being treated as an equal when I'm there. I knew I had made it in Germany when some people I knew started talking about "foreigners." I said, "hey, wait a minute there." One of the Germans said, "you don't count, you're one of us now."

[smirkymonkey]

24. Heh, Heh!

Me too! I look like a native and often dressed the part. People were shocked to find I was American after addressing me as fraulein, frequently.

[DFW]

32. I don't look much like a native in Germany

Sometimes in Spain, but up here, or points farther north they have trouble reconciling the fact that while I might sound like one of them, I don't LOOK like one of them. Being married to one of the more comely (and very typically German) friendly natives, the "Beauty and the Beast" comments often come fast and furious.

[smirkymonkey]

36. Yes, I saw a photo of your wife. She is beautiful! As are your daughters!

You are a very lucky man!

[DFW]

40. Every now and then you gotta get lucky at something

It just so happened that I got lucky with the most important thing in the world.

[DFW]

14. Just got this message from the Democrats Abroad in my emailbox:

Today the world mourns the violent attacks that took place in Paris, France last night. Paris is the City of Light, the city of Enlightenment, and one of the great lights of freedom, symbolized by her gift to America, the Statue of Liberty and the shining light of her torch. This, the most recent in a series, is an attack on the world and on democracy.

People were killed, people were wounded, families have been left bereft, Paris is scarred and we mourn along with the rest of the world. Our thoughts are with the people of France, our members in France, and all those affected by this tragedy.

But we will not succumb to darkness, we will not be afraid, we will not give up on our shared values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Together we will emerge from this tragedy more united and stronger than ever, and the City of Lights will shine again.

Democrats Abroad Executive Committee

[pnwmom]

18. Bon voyage, DFW!

[DFW]

22. Merci!

Avec moi, c'est un voyage sans fin (with me, it's a never-ending journey).

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. It's always good to hear from you, my dear DFW...

Partly because it means you're safe, and partly because you always have such interesting things to say.

I know you're vigilant!

[DFW]

35. I have this deep-seated aversion to being blown up

So far, I've given in to it!

[merrily]

26. Have a safe and productive trip.

[DFW]

34. This one time

I think I'd be happy with just "safe"

[merrily]

37. I have mentally encased you in safety and invincibility. You will be safe, I promise.

[DFW]

41. Sounds like we'll have nothing to worry about!

[merrily]

43. A promise is a promise.

[tavernier]

27. *grabbing you by the ankle*

PLEEEZE take me with you!!!

[DFW]

33. Be careful what you wish for

One day, many years ago, my immediate superior (and a good friend) was visiting from the States. I told him I absolutely had to work one of the couple of days he was here and offered him the option of tagging along. He took me up on it. After the 18 hour day, 9 of which were spent traveling, and the other nine were spent hectically racing around a neighboring country, he remarked that he was exhausted by the pace, and should have picked a day when I had a less stressful schedule. I said he was out of luck, as EVERY working day for me was like that. He just shook his head and thought I was stark raving mad to have work days like that. I asked him what he thought I did every day, went to some office from 9 to 5 and scribbled on paper all day?

[merrily]

38. "Because the wish fairy has no return counter" merrily's neice.

[DFW]

44. Niece speak not with forked tongue

Or however Tonto would have put it.....

[tavernier]

39. Work??

Oh no, you can just drop me off on Rue Montorgueil and I'll spend the day perusing the markets and bakeries. A croissant from Stohrer's, a cappuccino around the corner. And once you're finished, I'll treat you to escargot and wine. 😄

See, I'm a great traveling partner! ✈️🚣🚂

[DFW]

42. As we used to say in the music biz,

That's a great gig if you can get it!

[tavernier]

45. And I do, every couple of years!!

Have a safe trip and remember to get up and stretch your legs on the plane. My last trip earned me a nasty blood clot and I spent one of my vacation days in the Paris hospital. :p

[steve2470]

46. Stay safe, thank you for your first-hand accounts

I am very impressed with the French people. They are reacting as normally as possible, and not overreacting so far, Sarkozy and Le Pen excluded.

[DFW]

47. Not first hand until tomorrow

My wife and I are packing our bags tonight, and expecting 100% useless strict security and customs controls at the border and train stations tomorrow. Those of the perps still at large will have anticipated all of the above, and not be anywhere near train stations, airports or anywhere else that is a logical place to try and catch them--unless they are already wearing suicide bomb belts and not planning to return. In THAT case, there's nothing any of us can do, least of all some border guard/customs agent placed at some stationary location where either the trouble comes to him or doesn't show up at all.