Biking & Freedom in Paris


The 2007 vintage of the Tour de France will be one that marks a turning point! Sport has become such big business that pushing the limits beyond nature is the goal.
But Paris' latest event is an invitation to a healthy Tour de Paris, or "Velib" ... (
www.velib.paris.fr) which stands for Velo and Liberte ... (biking and freedom). Thousands of bicycles have been parked in stations all around Paris, stations being not more than 350 yards apart. It's a great idea ... and a true success in spite of the gray weather we are having. It's also cheap, as the first 1/2 hour is free. You can rent one and bike to the nearest station to the place where you go!
Of course I have Ulysses, my daughter's old Raleigh, which came out of the cellar beginning of July, and in spite of the three Velib stations near my house, I have not tried it yet.
Biking requires a light stomach and our menu for lunch will be indeed a light one. I am using the last Cevennes onion I bought last Friday at the market for the Tuna Tart (see recipe at
www.aworldinapan.com) and a ripe avocado to make an Avocado salad I created in Nairobi, Kenya, where we had four avocado trees.
It's simple and delicious: romaine salad, a sliced onion, chopped coriander, and a ripe sliced avocado. In Asia, where avocados where also widely available, I added sesame seeds and a new seasoning: oil (salad oil, but not olive oil), soy sauce, lime juice (it prevents the avocado from darkening), freshly ground black pepper, and a drop of sesame oil.After the salad we're having a (fantastic) platter of goat cheese we bought at Selles sur Cher, in Sologne, last week. It's the local specialty and I got about five-six different types. We also bought Valancay white wine that we're having with this light meal.
Have a good Sunday!

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