An ideal traverse

Paris graffiti

Today’s homecoming was as perfect as could be asked for. Hilary, Mike, and I had an excellent lunch at a vegetarian restaurant. I had never anticipated that blackberry sauce would be so delicious on mashed potatoes and mushrooms. From there, we walked a bit along the Canal Saint-Martin before I picked up a couple of bottles of French wine and was kindly escorted by Mike to the RER train to the airport.

The security people at Charles de Gaulle airport are the most laid-back I can ever recall seeing. They waved me through with about the same level of attention as the guards at the entrance to the Louvre pyramid. EasyJet also deserves praise, for delivering us to Luton a full half-hour early – no mean feat on a light that normally lasts only seventy-five minutes.

At Luton, I had my final stroke of luck. I caught a bus to Oxford just as it was pulling out of the stop and the driver was kind enough to let me aboard. As such, I arrived in Oxford about two hours earlier than planned. I also managed to finish more than half of Barack Obama’s book while traveling – something I had predictably neglected while in Paris.

Many thanks to Hilary for being an excellent and interesting travel companion. I am exceptionally appreciative towards Mike for housing us, feeding us, and spending so much of his own time helping us to have a really interesting and comprehensive Paris experience. As comprehensive as can be attained in four days, that is.

PS. Photos will be appearing online soon. I have learned to put them on Facebook last. Otherwise, everyone looks at the small ugly versions there, rather than the large nice versions that are posted in other places.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here.

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