Paris, France

The Arc de Triomphe at night, with the Eiffel Tower in the background.  You can actually go to the top of the arc for viewing the city.  It's in the center of one of those round about circles, including the Champ Elysees.  Originally commissioned by Napoleon in the early 1800's I think, to celebrate all his army victories.  Unfortunately, he was deposed before it was finished, and actually didn't go through it except in his casket.

The Eiffel Tower was built around the beginning of 1900 for the National Exposition or something like that.  Originally, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world, and was to be taken down 20 years later.  Fortunately, it's functionality for broadcasting radio and tv helped to preserve it by giving it further use.

I have trouble getting a good perspective when taking photos of the Eiffel Tower.  It's so big!  Like almost 1,000 feet tall to the top.  We were going to climb the tower, but the stairs were closed when we arrived, too late at night.  I've yet to climb the darn thing.  Apparently you can climb to the first and second tier, and the elevator takes you to the top, if you chose that.  Anyway, I liked this view of it, with the street lights blended in, even though it's not in landscape, I couldn't find a good-enough landscape to replace it.

Sometimes it seems like they don't make food that's not awesome in Paris.  We just walked around to find this place, and it was very good!  That's my lamb chops, and Mark had scallops I think, and on the right, you can see the last escargot shell remaining. 

This was a typical brasserie with their own interpretation of the classic croque monsieur if I am spelling that correctly.  A ham and cheese sandwich, albeit exceptionally delicious.

These are pastries in a little patisserie around the corner from our hotel, I think it's called Guest.  Why are most Parisians not overweight?  And how are so many petite?

  Not an exciting picture, but I wanted to capture a really fun restaurant.  This is another place we went to by recommendation from one of our locals.  Le Relais de Venise restaurant is very near our hotel, at Porte Maillo.  It's a regular, where you just sit down, and get the fixed menu.  Steak and frites.  Oh, you chose the wine, which was delicious.  The steak is out of this world.  So tender and delicious, with a sauce I can say may be close to Bearnaise.  Buttery, herbs, and so on.  Then of course a huge pile of frites, followed by your choice of dessert.  Absolutely worth the wait.  They do not take reservations.  You wait around the block, but the line goes pretty fast. Very fun, and great food.

Actually, one last note on logistics:
The Air France bus from the airport to town was perfect.  It's a bit of a haul, and the buses are nice and inexpensive.  Here's the one we used, #2 to our area of Porte Maillot.  It's only like 14 or 16 Euros.

Nanjing, China

Dinner in Nanjing was incredible.  It's apparently a famous old restaurant from maybe 100 years ago.  I wish I got better pictures of the food.  I think my focus was off because of the steam getting to my camera.  Top left is the stinky tofu.  Yes.  Stinky tofu is what it's called, and yes, it's stinky.  Think stinky cheese and you have it.  Top right is in dark, I forget how it's prepared, fish.  Really tasty.  On the same plate is exceptional duck.  In front is arguably the best chicken I've ever had.  The broth is so rich and delicious.  It's spicy hot, but not too hot.  The chicken falls off the bone.  It has an interesting effect on your tongue I asked my local guides.  It makes your tongue tingle, like numb feeling.  Very interesting.

Nanjing stinky tofu.  Think stinky cheese.  Stong flavor, strong garlic-like feeling in your mouth.  Delicious.  Enough said.

This is where we walked to from the hotel for dinner.  Really bustling happening town altogether.  The yellow and red vertical sign is where we ate.

I've seen so much, and still, so little here.  Unfortunately, my battery died just as we were getting in the beautiful bullet train from Shanghai to Nanjing.  State of the art, modern facilities here, for sure.  Not the China we remember from 20 or even 10 years ago.

On the bullet train.  The pinnacle of traveling.

Some fashionable kids walking around in Shanghai.  Made me think of my girls.  Today is Moira's birthday.  Happy 19th Moira!  I love you!

Shenzhen, China

This is a very small sample of the many many highrises in Shenzhen.  The growth is phenomenal.  Nearby are Huawei and Foxconn (Apple factory) for example.  The city popped up from a farming town less than 30 years ago.

Smart and Trendy here.  Getting ready for Chinese New Year, the biggest celebration of the year.

I would be remiss without adding this photo.  Indoor pool in my hotel.  I've been in the pool every day of this trip so far I think.  I swam here twice, and once at the Sheraton, also a 25M indoor pool.

This is the breakfast that comes with the hotel.  So delicious.  Poached egg, sollandaise sauce. asparagus, slow roasted cherry tomato, like candy.  Emmental cheese, olive topenade on top.

Hong Kong dining at Bo Innovation

Bo Innovation is a trendy place in Hong Kong, with 'Molecular Gastronomy' cooking taking from traditional Chinese style, and doing a molecular spin on it.  I love this photo, it says so much.  Our waiter explaining the course in front of us, all three tomato items.  Both Tony and I thinking, um, okay.  The first, an incredibly delicious tomato, I think it was super low temperature cooked.  Behind it, our egg waffle 'bread'.  The middle item was also tomato, but I am forgetting the details.  It's a wan ton skin deep fried, I think, with a fancy sauce, something tomato... I wish I could remember.  On the far left exemplifies the food for the night.  it's a tomato marshmallow.  Yes, it has a tomato flavor, oh, and the dried green onion leaf on top.  The wine was paired with the dishes, also quite unique.  A fascinating experience all in all.  The bottle on the left there is a sort of vinegar used, I forget where.

This is the best soup dumpling I've ever had.  Okay, fine.  It's the only soup dumpling I've ever had.  This is a special dish, we were told.  Again, it's a traditional chinese dish (apparently) gone molecular.  The dumpling itself is 'stuffed' with soup.  Across the top is a special ginger.  It was good, and so surprising.  Virtually everything we ate were tastes I was not expecting, and amazingly delicious once I got over the surprise.

This is a nice seared scallop.  What's unique, and our instructions were to divide the scallop into 4 bites, then eat with the four surrounding flavors, the tall was a foamy spicy something, then salty,  then bitter and finally the sweet cherry gelatin in dark red there.  Delicious.

This is two kinds of cod, with seaweed, a really light seaweed like it was baked or something.  Note the little flowers, called something like sisal?  This was delicious too.  As you can see, the bites are small, but both of us were satisfied after we finished.  Really fun!

Dinner in Palo Alto

We went out on a double date last night, with our friends E and J.  They are friends from the neighborhood, that go way back, and we cross paths in a number of our circles, between church, and kids, and the gym, and book club and more.  They have two daughters and a son, our sons are the same age, and one of their daughters is the same age as Moira.  We have done soccer and I think baseball together, E and I used to coach the kids in soccer, Kirsty is in book club...., and already I digress...

Last night was the first time in a long time, we got together, and it really was a blast!  We went over
to their house for delicious margaritas before we left, and were into great conversation and laughing virtually immediately.

Reposado, Palo Alto
We had reservations for Reposado in Palo Alto, on Hamilton, just south of University.  I have seen the place from the street, and as you can see from the picture, it's one of those contemporary makeovers of an old something.  I think it was a creamery or something.  It really is a nice looking place, really impressive architecture and interior design, although I had this feeling of just a little too perfectly done, if that makes any sense - a bit too Palo Alto shee shee (try the link above, and you'll get an idea of what I mean with the flash website, music and animation- just a bit over the top).

Anyway, a really fun place, a bit noisy, but we had an awesome waiter, Mario, and he says, his kids call him Super Mario...which I called him all night long, largely because he was.  A number of us had the Cadillac margarita, which was very fresh, and tasty, and the appetizers came, and were totally impressive, even though it was simply empanadas and guacamole, salsa and chips.  Dang, those empanadas were so good.  Really good fillings.  I wonder what was in them!?

I had the lamb chops, which are not what I think of as a typical Mexican item.  Ironically, they were perfectly cooked, and drizzled with a nice smoky burnt mole sauce, and draped over what was mashed potatoes Mexican style, with chopped cabbage, cilantro, corn salsa sort of thing.  Actually, a really nice combo.  E had the short ribs, which were also delicious, definitely a little more of a Midwest flavor, and the girls had a fish dish, which I didn't get a chance to taste, or really even see.  We kinda huddled E and I chatting, as did the girls.  It was kind of loud to have a whole-table conversation.  Just a note, there is a crow's next area, with a small bar upstairs, which seemed a whole lot quieter...tips for next time.

After dinner, we went for a stroll down University, which would be dumb not to do.  It's such a happening place, and a really nice warm evening.  We were looking for a specific place, a frozen yogurt place.

L'Amour Frozen Yogurt Cafe
Okay, this place also struck me as, hmm, like I was being marketed to?  They have their own formula, different than most of these frozen yogurt places.  There are 10 self serve yogurt machines, I am not going into all the flavors, except for the ones I had, which the mango was stellar, and the red velvet was, mmm, okay, pretty good.  So, you self-serve your yogurt, and then your own toppings- a huge selection, all the usual, and then some.  Probably 50 or more choices.  Then, you weigh in.  It's 47 cents an ounce.  So, yes, it really was amazingly delicious.

Jib Jab
Dang, what a great evening.  One of those dates where you say, geez, why did it take so long to get this on the calendar, and we need to do this more often.  It was one of those times when I was happy to be.  Happy to be married to my princess. Happy to have good friends.  Happy to live in such a beautiful place, and have the resources to do what we do.  Basically, a pretty simple date, all in all.  Aren't they the best?

I really haven't seen their kids in a few years, and seeing them when we arrived was in stark contrast from how I remember them, as kids.  They are young adults.  Seeing them, I couldn't help think of how time is flying by.   And, somehow, I had this feeling of - mm, I look forward to our future, in their hands.  It was really nice to see them, and converse with the new adults, sensing their energy and passion and compassion.

This is my first post using someone else's pictures.  I was thinking I wanted to add some restaurants and so on, but who takes pictures at a restaurant?  Anyways, I think the pics add to the piece, just, they aren't mine.

There are a huge number of great places right around here.  Another of my favs, is the Italian Osteria.  Basically, kitty-corner to Reposado.  There is another place I like, Indian, buffet style.  Really good food.  A fun place to get a bunch of folks together for lunch.  No matter when people show up, lunch is served, and the food is great.  It's called Darbar .

GI Jane, Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim, Gerbode Valley - Pelican Inn Ride

Yes, thank you all, my patient followers and not-so-patient followers.  I am now busy with work.  Needless to say, life goes on, and so should the Jib Jab.  There has been lots going on.  It's not that.  I just haven't had the luxury of so much blogging time.  It may even mean, Jib Jab gets more concise.  Heaven forbid.

Jib Jab and Swimming
So, getting to it, GI Jane.  One of my swim buddies, (starts with a D, ends with amon) sent an email to us, Zola swimmers, saying his inspiration for us is GI Jane.  Remember when she pulls master chief out of harm's way?  Remember her one-arm push-ups?  So, that's our inspiration for the Trans-Tahoe swim, coming up this summer.  I swam with this tight-knit group, as the new kid on the block, which is an oxy-moron because I am about 15 or more years older than everyone else on our team...  Anyways, there is a legendary battle with 'the girls' team.  I forget their name.  They always seem to win.  Last year, it seemed like the tide was turning.  As we were about 10 miles into the swim, we were gaining on them, about 100 meters every 30 minutes or so.  We were virtually neck and neck at 11 miles, and in the last mile, they disappeared.   I hoped it was behind us, but alas.  They beat us again.  We are sure they are cheating.

Jib Jab - continued - The Grand Canyon
On another note, my best buddy, and friend since college was out last week for work.  We got together, and did a little hike around my house, which is actually, a pretty amazing hike [note to self.  add pix]  You can see San Francisco, Stanford, east bay, the San Francisco bay, and bay trees.  Lots of them.  It's both wooded, and open fields, and very hilly.  It's an awesome trail, anyways, Mike is my favorite adventurer.  Just a super short list of some of our adventures, on the top of my mind; camping, fly fishing, Wind River, Wyoming.  Heli-skiing, Banff, Canada, Grand Canyon, rim to rim to rim, twice.  Numerous ski trips, and other fun stuff.  So, always wanting to take it one more level, Mike has been talking about rim to rim to rim, all in one day.  He has said it before, so this time he says, so, are you in?  I can't help myself.  I smile, and start laughing.  I know I can't say no, even though it's ridiculous.   So, I am like, okay, so, it's 50 miles, which, on a flat surface is probably a 15 hour hike at a fast pace.  The Grand Canyon adds about 35,000 feet of elevation change, both up and down, just guesstimating (nice word!).  So, yeah, all said, maybe a 20-22 hour hike, if all goes well.  With any hiccups.  Well, disaster.  So, he says, we better start training.  I love him. [i will add some pics]

Jib Jab -extreme - Mountain Biking
I think last section is the extreme, and this is continued, don't you think?  :-)
So, a new arena I have thrown myself into, and am loving is mountain biking.  I have some great new friends, and re-acquaintances, who I have been totally enjoying riding with, and getting educated on riding and trails to ride.  So, another friend and brother in law[starts with P and ends with ete] has been graciously and generously including me into his circle of life-long buddies he has been riding with, well, his whole life.  I have missed a couple of the rides, and especially missed going on the last one, as it sounded like a real adventure into areas uncharted by me [Tennessee valley].  So, he also sent, or forwarded another ride of another of his good friends, who lives by me.  I need to study it, but it's within 15 minutes of my house.  All these other rides are across the Golden Gate bridge, and beyond.  About an hour plus from my house.  So, that is good news, and it doesn't stop there.  The newest ride, I think is a long one.  Maybe 4 hours?  Gerbode Valley to Pelican Inn.  You may remember Pelican Inn from a previous post.  Awesome spot.

Good beer.  Super beautiful area.  Can't wait.  [another note, Matt essentially called me a sissy, until I do something called Alpine mtn, or something...more later....apparently, a long ride, 4 hours, and some hard hard sections...]

Jib Jab - PS Happy Birthday Sis!  [That's mom and Kathy].  We had my family, including Sarah's room mate and boyfriend, mom, Kathy and Mark down to Kabul's in San Carlos.  This is our local family Afgan restaurant.   We regularly get the same waiter, who we love, and who showers us with wisdom, sometimes at awkward lengths.  It's a great place.  Very good kabobs, of every meat, and always get the Kadu (is that how you say it?  - it's this amazing, delicious pumpkin with yogurt and meat sauce.  It's great with or without the meat sauce).  They have a whole veggie section of the menu too.

I guess it has been a while since I posted!!  We have been celebrating my sister's birthday.  Mom's in town.  Sarah's in town, her dear friend, Ann and Michael were in.   We went to one of my sister and Mark's favorite hang outs in San Francisco.  It's great food, super people, very cute place, newly spruced up.  It's called Ideale, at the corner of Columbus and Broadway- basically in the thick of North Beach, San Francisco.  [That's Kathy and Ann in the picture at Ideale.  Ann is Kathy's friend from Cherry Hills, going back to probably elementary school.]

What's next?  I am going to ABQ/ Santa Fe in April, next Friday.  I get to see some cliff dwellings, my sister and brother, and their families.  So, to all who have read to here, thanks!  Come back, I will post pictures.  Thanks for hanging in.  I am hoping to keep this up, even as my work schedule tightens...
That's mom and my sis.