Ian and Garret

Headed to the Kimbel to see an exhibition based on Casanova’s travels and proclivities only to be delayed and defaulted to Tadao Ando’s magnificent modern art museum. The man himself was here for dinner last night. Wonderful eclectic collection despite assigning Scully and Bacon to the Anglo Americans ( they do the same with Irish athletes, maybe scientists). A few samples included. Loved the stairway for Booker T Washington from Puryear, the haunting Warhol and the outdoor Stella and Miro. Thence to the Kimbel and a spectacular collection of Canalettos, Fragonards, Hogarths and Tiepelos but no cameras allowed – although I did sneak in the ever reminiscent Voltaire. Along the way met the well travelled lady commander of the art club bar ( we had water) whose first Basque antecedent hit Mexico in the 1530s and the restaurant gate keeper who primed us for the Jesus staircase in the Loreto in Santa Fe. We recommended John Prine – Jesus, the missing years.

Onwards to Oklahoma City!

A room full of paintings by a famous Irish artist , Sean Scully (claimed by the Americans), all called Catherine

Always with us

Alain from Burundi shared East African tales with Blair whose boss there was Idi Amin. As these East Africans bonded we discussed tough times in Kigali , Goma and Burundi and the complicity in the first of the French. Burundians in DFW drew him here where he pursues rewardingly multiple professional interests . We need the creativity and drive of migrants, like Alain – and us!,

Then we crashed Marsha’s birthday party. Bedecked in lapis lazuli de Santa Fe she and Walt graciously allowed us intrude and chat. We heard how they met rafting and how rugby is played in FW. Indeed Alan toured England and Wales (and adjacent hostelries). An Uber ride home with the interesting Darrell – ex NFL football playing graduate with a champion sprinter for a daughter, this charming guy got a knee injury that removed him from football with the Titans, his brain very much intact. Not as so many of his colleagues. Is this game sustainable? The average longevity of an NFL player is 56.

So the degrees of separation continue to tighten at the excellent St Estephe ( as is the eponymous owner) in FW; from East Africa to Nashville , from rugby to Santa Fe

Long day but here we are … stockyards, Casanova and St Emillion: all will be revealed. Meantime Blair has assumed an unfamiliar pose.

Maybe soon- the eternal optimist (guess who!

Driving across Louisiana was further that driving the length of England but we finally made it. Only 200 Miles to Fort Worth and the joy of Saint Emillion awaiting us.

Grace from New Orleans taught us this pose – we have learnt so much on this trip!

We promise to be careful

$7:23

Interesting chat with Hugh Stiel owner of the Royal Frenchman. Apparently, the place has only been open for a month – an impressive accomplishment. Hugh even agreed with some of our solutions for the US problems. So sad to see a homeless young person on every corner. Thank you for a wonderful stay Hugh, Michelle, Greer, and Grace.

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Royal Frenchman Hotel and Bar

Farewell Greer

Garret with Michelle and Hugh in the wonderful Royal Frenchman Hotel and Bar

Eleven by Jason Himes – memorial to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

The last picture show from the first LA – Erin from Love Circle and Zeke from the Irish Channel, Grace the actor, producer and singer also from Chelmsford but this time in MA, the servant of Blair and the Maid of Orleans.

Excellent dinner at Autumn in Nola. Setting is a brownstone/mahogany somewhat formality. Although I wasn’t the only person in jeans, I was a bit more alone than last night. The fare was so good that Ian is now unconscious so only some pics that I took of him with the wonderful Zeke who commands the ship and the charming Grace who plays a similar role in our hotel. Missing is Erin the august Autumnal SOM and of course me with the two leading ladies ( and Zeke).

Lest you think we merely indulged ourselves, I granted Ian full powers and asked what he would do

• Universal single payer health insurance
• Portuguese approach to drugs
• Abolish the death penalty
• Invest in science
• Invest in education – technical schools, apprenticeships , retraining
• Restrain legally the impact of AI in jobs (akin to banning Walmart in central Rome)
• Invest in major infrastructural projects including high speed trains
• Render it all budget neutral by cutting the military budget in half and raising top rate of income tax to 40%

we concurred : who can argue?