Thursday

Early spring sunshine: it pours out from all corners, brightens every storefront, stimulates every bud into further development. It also makes me feel like I need to be outside. I don't associate this time of year here with brilliance and I am just a tiny bit miffed that this one dawned on us today - the day I am to leave. I do not have time for a walk.

Breakfast -- as always, sweetly prepared for me to my liking by my sister...





And then, after another review of what's what, and what will be, and how should one proceed, I'm off to the airport.


In Paris, I had booked my usual hotel and I am so glad, because it is a comfort to return to the same place when the world spins in disturbing directions all around you. Besides, I like its quiet view onto nothing in particular -- just a street with a few shops that do not pull me inside and a restaurant that even on the most tired days I will ignore and walk elsewhere.






It's evening. I've departed a little from my usual neighborhood dinners and booked meals outside of my arrondissement. How this turned out -- I'll make it tomorrow's story.

I'll leave you with a photo of the old girl -- in heartfelt solidarity with Belgium.