Black.

It’s the first thing I noticed.

…ok, not true. First I saw the “Bienvenue!” poster with giggled with delight at the immediacy of it — The Eiffel Tower! Live! In Person!

So it the was the second thing I noticed and just as inspiring.

Black. Black people. Black people hair. Black people lips. Black people skin.

We were everywhere. From high yellow — as my old Black southern relatives call it — to an almost shiny blue-black (and in a surprisingly complementary blue dress suit, I’d like to point out).

Some weeks before, when Ralf and I were visiting his parents, I noticed this was true of Nürnberg as well. Golly, for all the talk of Berlin’s multiculturalism, it doesn’t look it enough.

—

I stood under the Eiffel Tower last night. I had already had an amazing day — eating Lebanese take-out with my host/guest/housing swapper Adrienne, standing on the grounds of the Louvre, walking the Champs-Elysees, and snapping photos at the Arc de Triomphe.

But the Eiffel Tower is glorious at night, and add the most beautiful light-and-breezy summer weather and it *is* the once-in-a-lifetime chance you’ve dreamed of. (And, because life is good, I can repeat it over and over for days.)

Ok, time for my walking tour. Wie sagt man, “see you later,” auf Französich?