Chris at a meeting in SALAMANCA, Spain

I was invited to participate in this meeting of the European Society for Neurochemistry, held her in Salamanca last week. It is a pretty amazing place – reminds me of Venice without the canals. And it is also like walking into a Renaissance painting! Here is a description I read; “Salamanca is known as "La Dorada", or "Golden City", because of the golden glow of its sandstone buildings. This charming town is untouched in its architectural purity. It is one of the five Spanish cities declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Salamanca boasts a student population of almost 35,000 (approximately 6,000 of whom are foreigners) which provides a lively atmosphere and nightlife. “ I stayed in one of the old colleges, which you can see on the left. The Roman Bridge used to be the main entrance into Salamanca. It was an essential part of the Roman Silver Route (la Ruta de la Plata), which ran from the silver mines in the North, in Astorga, to Mérida. The University of Salamanca dates back to 1218, which makes it the oldest in Spain and the third oldest university in Europe, and the fourth oldest in the world.

Salamanca's Plaza Mayor (bottom picture), in addition to being one of the main monuments of Spanish Baroque, is the heart of the city. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful Spanish squares. The square has 88 arches, its spandrels decorated with blazons of distinguished characters of Spain's history: Spanish kings, saints, discoverers, conquerors and wise men. Oh yes, and they also have a picture of Franco as part of their history. It was a great place to have a glass of wine with some tapas.

Jane's wallet

Quite a long time ago I purchased a wallet at the market. After a week I decided I wanted to have a larger one, so we went back and were pleased that the merchant would exhange it. About 10 days later, when my Master Card did not work, I went to take cash out and realized I did not have my TDCT bankcard. After searching everywhere there was only one place it could be. Finding him was not easy.. and there it was - the original small wallet. Jammed into one of the compartments was my card ... no one had bought the wallet! We had prayed we would found it, and Chris was so glad he bought himself a wallet as well. So, it took another 3 weeks for him to return to our market, and today I was glad to meet him again and capture him with the camera. He is holding my bankcard in his hand...

Chris's Gene Gun Gaffaw

One of my objectives during my time in Paris was to work out the use of our Gene Gun, a device designed to deliver genes to cells. Seemed like a good project on which I could “focus” with the “aim” of “targeted” research. So I had it “fired” over to Paris. It arrived here in Paris about a month ago – and it is still at customs. They don’t seem to know how to process this “item”, so there have been many negotiations by phone, still ongoing, and hopefully soon it will be delivered.

Maybe there is something wrong with my phone?

Parc de Bagatelle

1200 species of roses, 320 iris, 155 peonies +++ what a place! This was the week of the RBG Chelsea Flower show.. this saved us the ticket over to the UK.
WELL worth the walk!

Looking for a girfriend...
Look at all those peonies!Who is that in the wysteria?

edited by Greg - Dad conqueors the giant

Guests and more...

Two very interesting titles in our local bookshop.
Gregs friend Rob attacking his french breakfast.

Ian Jane and Connor McCarthy came to visit from Vancouver (via Britain). Here we are having an evening conversation.
One of Jane McCarthys favorites.
Having a bad hair day.
Marketing at the Louvre.
The Musee Carnavalet - the history of Paris.. and of course, it has a garden.


You just gotta love that designer French mens wear.

Jane hanging out at the Lux gardens..thats the Sorbonne in the background.
Any gendarime around?
Hey, little buddies!

Chris is working

Just got this photo before a celebration lunch for someone finishing their project and leaving the lab.
The lunch lasted until about 3 pm , 3 different types of quiche, 2 types of sausage, some beef dish, several salads, great cheeses (Julian's selections are no match), fruit, and ..... of course.... the great desserts.
And then the champagne and wines - red, white, sweet, bold .... ah, quest qeu je dit????
I brought some Belgian beer, but I was the only one to drink any! I guess I am just a backwoods boy from Holland/Belgium ..... what can I say?
(to quote an old dutchman, "working hard, or hardly working?"

Inside Pompidou

Finally got a day in the Pomidou Centre for Modern Art. I like color! (thanks, Johanne and Sigal!) .. but this first exhibit certainly takes the cake!



This would make a lovely quilt. A lovely rainy day to be inside a museum.. these two are quite soaked.
an outdoorsy bunch of green greens...

This museum is free all the time for anyone under 18. Scads of school trips interacting with the displays.
A series called a complete tours of the subways under the capital.
These days in Paris are a gift... a blank canvas to decide what to do next in my years ahead.
Not helpful if my mind feels like this.
From a distance this looked like a Klimt japanese quilt.. but it is made up of packaging.

what can I say .. color!

love to walk on Saturdays

Christian and Christian working hard at the cafe.
Our time here is almost half up! Auggghhh!
Just keep enjoying those roses!

When Picasso and his wife died the French government took 50 million dollars worth of this art as inheritance taxes... so they filled a museum with it all.
The happy dancing couple.
The crucifixion.
Not quite Rodin or Klimt.. but still - The Kiss... no tongues!

Exploring the adventures of French cuisine for Opa and Kate.
Yes indeed, a French elephant doing his calisthenics.
.. at the Pompidou Centre.
Cool way to market chocolate.. almost a pity to eat it.
More beans, please!
"L'Ecoute" sculpture by Henri de Miller at St. Eustache church/Les Halles garden.. great place for lunch.


Please, take me home.. my legs are aching!