"We are all Americans" wrote Jean-Marie Colombani in LeMonde on Sept. 13, 2001, after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. on Sept. 11. In 2002, a tree was planted at the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris to honor the victims. It's our favorite park in Paris and over the years since then we've stopped by to make a simple picture or two. This is the inscription on the plaque next to the tree: "This American oak is dedicated to the memory of the victims of September 11, 2001 in the United States of America. Gift of the American…

Correspondence from Line 1 to Line 8 at Concorde.

Joseph Nicéphore Niépce made the first photograph in 1826. While “View from the Window at Le Gras” might not be the most spectacular photograph ever made, it was the beginning. The street named for him in the 14th Arrondissement is only a block long. The inventor of photography deserved more.

We were on our way to a brocante at the Square des Batignolles in the 17th Arrondissement when we sought refuge from the rain at the Italian restaurant La Gioconda. Lasagna and Pizza Diavola were the orders of the day. The excellent restaurant is located at 1, rue Brochant and it’s open everyday.

There are a thousand things that I love about Paris, but when I walk down the street and turn the corner and see a window in a store, like today at Printemps on Boulevard Haussman, it blows me away. The style and design creativity you see here is staggering, at least to me.

A Magnolia stellata and other trees frame a statue in the Jardin du Palais Royal in the 1st Arrondissement.

There was a brass band and a movie production going on today in Belleville.

It was a mixed sunny and rainy Sunday in Paris. We spent time at a brocante along Avenue Willson in the 8th Arrondissment. Afterward we strolled down the street and found a nice cup of hot chocolate and very friendly waiters at the La Belle Ferronniere, 53 rue Pierre Charron.

Palm Sunday Mass at Notre Dame was spectacular.

On this particular day they topped off the Cote-du-Rhone cask with a hose that ran from a tank in the cellar. A 2009 bottle of wine with deposit cost about 5.50 Euros. Le Baron Rouge is located in the 12th Arrondissement, near the Ledru Rollin Métro stop on Line 8 and about a half block from the market at Place d’Aligre.

A scene from the Vanves flea market in Paris, which is held on Saturdays and Sundays near the Porte de Vanves on Avenue Marck Sangnier and Avenue Lafenestre in the 14th Arrondissement.

It’s preferred that you not seat yourself at the restaurant in the Palais de Tokyo.

Phil Erhart’s based in London, but was in town and gave us a tour around Apple France. While we didn’t see any iPads or secret stuff, we did get to take in what has to be one of the best views in Paris. Once the weather gets nice he says they bring tables out on the terrace, certainly giving the term “iWork” a new meaning.

At one of their familiar perches in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.

A paper shirt in a shop on rue des Franc Bourgeouis in Paris.

The first refreshments of the trip at Café du Marché along rue du Champs de Mars in Paris.

The most inexpensive way to get to central Paris from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the Roissybus. In 2010 the fare for a one way ticket was 9.10 Euros and it takes about 45-60 minutes to get from the airport to Opéra, where it’s a short walk to the Métro. Look for the Roissybus signs in terminals 1, 2 or 3. Tickets can be purchased on the bus. Other ways of getting to and from the airport include taxi, the Air France bus, RER B suburban train or prearranged airport shuttles. More information can be found at the Paris airports…

Birthday balloons along rue du Cherche Midi.

Vespas in Paris, January 2007.

Striking gold at Louis Vuitton on Avenue des Champs Elyséss.

The Toyota concept car “Fine-N,” on display in a fancy showroom on Avenue des Champs Elyséss.

A scene from the Jardin des Plantes. The “Lythraceae” tree, is commonly found in China and Korea.

It’s cold near the entrance to the Jardin du Luxembourg and even the dogs bundle up to stay warm.

A gown is adorned with macaroons in the window of a patissierie along the Boulevard de Grenelle.

Two school girls try to throw a friend into the pond at the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Sébastien Amadieu plays the clavencin — or harpsichord — during an impromptu recital at the Viaduc des Arts along avenue Daumesnil, near Place de la Bastille. The performance was part of a program featuring 27 “Maîtres d’art de Paris,” that continues through Feb. 3. Other arts exhibits included embroidery and fashion design.

Upon changing Métro lines at Bastille we came across a group of musicians playing this tune. I didn’t have an opportunity to make a photograph, but the song was delightful.

The spiral staircase under the pyramid entrance to the Musée du Louvre.

American statesman Benjamin Franklin shown in a 1778 portrait by Joseph-Siffred Suplessis, at the Petit Palais.

A worker installs a new poster in the Paris Métro on Line 8 at St. Sé;bastian Froissart.

Vespa’s are everywhere in Paris. This rusting one was along avenue Daumesnil, near Gare de Lyon, in the 12th Arrondissement. There are many more scooters to come…

Room 45 at the Hôtel du Champ de Mars has a reflective view of the Tour Eiffel.

A Monday afternoon visit to the Musée de l’Orangerie turned into a media event when U.S. first lady Laura Bush showed up in front of Claude Monet’s painting, Les Nympheas. Mrs. Bush was on a three day visit to Paris. One of the events included a roundtable discussion at UNESCO where she participated with officials from Madagascar, Afghanistan, Egypt and Burkina Faso — and former University of Oregon professor Ed Kame’enui. Ed is commissioner for the National Center for Special Education Research, see next item. He’ll return to the UO in June. Mrs. Bush was surrounded by U.S. and French security…

Where we stay When visiting Paris we always try to stay at the Hôtel du Champ de Mars. Near the Tour Eiffel, in the Seventh Arrondisement, the hotel offers an excellent combination of convenience and economy. It’s our favorite. The accomodations are comfortable and the staff is friendly and helpful. It’s around the corner from the busy rue Cler market neighborhood which has places to eat and drink, bakeries, grocery stores and specialty shops featuring the tastes of France and many of the comforts of home. Transportation options of the Metro at École Militaire and the bus line are close at…