My first trip to FRANCE (other than a layover at CDG)

Truth be told: Astonishingly enough in all my travels throughout the world. I have never been to France. Figured when I was old and tired I would go to France instead of trying to take on all of the third world countries (before they become second and first world leaders) Watching how an emerging market and nation socially, economically and environmentally develops....watching history unfold and being a part of it has always been more interesting to me than experiencing something that hasn't changed for centuries....Until I was accepted at www.insead.edu for an executive program in France. This forced me to go to France much earlier than I had intended. I have an amazing new respect for things that haven't changed and have stayed the same. There is something to be said pour le'change de resistance'!

I have traveled all over Europe but always for business or to visit people I love: England, Germany, Switzerland (ok that was for skiing), Belgium, Luxumbourg, Italy, etc. But never, France, Spain or Portugal. I figured I would leave that for when I was finished trying to make the world a safer and better place.

I will tell you, if you stay in Paris (of which I have not been too yet other than the airport again), My belief (perhaps soon to be proven wrong is:)Paris is a city, just like most others. Everyone is cranky doesn't have patience and is trying to make there way in the world. The leaders of the nation reside there so politics is always on the top of the stack. Kind of like university towns. The young and idealistic are the majority and proceed to protest everything from calling McDonalds , Le McDonalds to the importance of a call against France in a game ruled by FIFA.

However, my initial indoctrination to France is in the country. In the middle of the forest! But, upon my arrival, I must say the first thing when I walked off the plane that I noticed was that all the baggage trucks were electrically powered and recharged! Unlike the US which still utilizes small stinky petro fueled carts. Rock On! Kudo's to the green movement.

I arrived in the country and went to a small village named Samois sur seine. On the river. I stopped at the bakery picked up a baguette (whole grain with flax) a bottle of sparkling water, a chunk of fresh raw milk brie and proceeded to walk down to the river through the village of 2100 people (most likely during the summer)admiring the gardens, the amazing smells, the dogs, the swans, the sun, the trees....the chimes of the clock tower. I was quite sure I was in heaven. I ate on a bench and watched the wild life and people and giggled like a school girl. It was amazing.........