So East it's Ouest

So basically the coolest thing has happened.  When talkin car, yeah you know guy talk and all that: piston, horsepower, chassis, spark plug...I mentioned that my favorite car in France is an old style Renault I didn't even know the name of it.  When in the midst of the conversation a friend says I have one of those.  'Yeah I drive it in the summer, it's a really fun drive'. Uh excuse me, first thought maybe I could sit in it and take a picture second thought maybe I could drive it a tad.  'I have to fix a few things up on her'.  Awh no go, ah well.  One week later 'you know I lent this car out to a friend awhile back, once I get her up and running well again would you like to have it for a bit?'   Jaw drop, rent this little gem of a car?  Tool around in the countryside with a little no heat, no power steering, no vacuum brake beauty?  Uh yes!  And so it was that in early March I was given the gardian ship of Gerty Blue otherwise known as...

If Paris was a person I would go up to her (she is that catty girl from high school didn't you know) and say 'you must have some serious personal problems' and walk away.  Paris has never liked me.  This trip Paris liked me even less.  My latched bag was no problem for the sneaky pickpocket that snagged my wallet.  Lesson learned,never keep your passport and cash in the same area and don't carry it on you when traveling lock it in your bag in the hotel (or hostel).  Flashback to Chicago as I am somewhat mawkishly ogling my passport looking back on my 3 last visas and international stamps thinking to myself how I want to fill this passport up in the 5 years it was valid.  Flashforward reaching into the vide of my purse in order to pay for metro tickets only to touch the soft leather bottom.  What passes through your mind?  First sheer panic, then you convince yourself that you haven't looked well enough.  You return to your hotel you search ev...