From, To America

The first day of autumn on Saturday, in the
Luxembourg garden.

'The Statue of Liberty'

Email from Nancy Kintner. Sent via the Internet: Monday, 17. September:-

Hi, Ric

You have not heard from me in some time, but my thoughts travel to my beloved France on a regular basis. I just want to say thank you to all the people in France who have expressed their care for us in the U.S.A.

As they show the horrendous views of New York on all of the TV stations, I find great comfort in seeing the Statue of Liberty standing tall in the harbor - a special gift from France, and to know we do not have to stand alone increases my love for all of you.

My father fought in France under General Patton's Third Army in the Battle of the Bulge. I know he loved the French people. My ancestors came from France so I have strong far reaching heart-felt ties to all of you.

May God bless us all.

Most sincerely,

Nancy

Email from Dana Shaw. Sent via the Internet: Tuesday, 18. September 2001:-

Hi, Ric,

After some serious consternation about whether we were going to get off or not and a myriad of electronic body checks we managed to get to London and then on to Boston yesterday. It's always sad to leave Paris, but our arrival home last night was one of almost total relief. Both Jan and I felt the real need to back in the States.

I was impressed by your photo of 'la deuil.' I couldn't get over the kind of emotion it stirred up in me and am still in a bit of a quandary trying to figure myself out. I do know this, though, that the sometimes standoffish, not necessarily always pro-American French touched me deeply with their emotional generosity and support.

The number of notes in French at that little memorial in front of the American Embassy and the sentiments they expressed was truly impressive. Would that I could write the language well enough to have sent a letter to the editor of all the local dailies expressing my heartfelt gratitude to Paris and the Parisians for the sympathetic support offered to Jan and me specifically, but to America in general. I will never forget it!

All best to you, my friend. I hope you had as good a time at the restaurant L'Alteo as Jan and I did. When we went for dinner on our anniversary night - Saturday - somehow Pascal had learned of it and had invited all the folks we had met at his house for a big anniversary dinner complete with Champagne toasts at the end. Between the sensitivity the French had shown for us as Americans suffering through a tragedy and the warm, good spirits of our new friends, we felt like royalty. Lord, I wish I could express it better.

A bientôt,
Dana

Email from Tom Yanul. Sent via the Internet: Thursday, 20. September:-

Ric,

This is the Chicago panoramic photographer from last years' visit and the club meeting. Was supposed to be in France this week but as you know, the plans of many were dashed along with out spirits, so my wife Natalia and I will be back in the spring - I hope.

Aside from all the tragedy, I have gone back on my computer looking for something to take my mind away from all the imagery of the last week on TV. I ran across an old photo, supposed to be about the 1870s, and on the right, just a little bit of what I assume is the Corona. I put in a small bid for the photo and if I get it maybe will donate it to the Corona - If they agree to hang it up somewhere there.

Later - regards to all,

Tom & Natalia Yanul

Email from Michael Peskura. Sent via the Internet: Saturday, 21. September:-

Hello, Ric,

It was fine being able to meet you at the Club Meeting. We just got back home to Seattle last night since our flight was canceled for a week. I really think we should have stayed in Paris.

I guess i should rephrase that - I really think we should have stayed in Paris rather than return to the sad US of A. Or at least that is what the little voice in my head keeps saying.

We were staying out at Roissy for the past week, and taking the RER to town each day. Which worked out pretty nicely. I really could imagine living in Paris someday. But first we are going to take additional French lessons!

Thank you for the excellent 'Mourning in Paris' report. We were in the Samaritaine department store shopping for books when the entire store went silent for 3 minutes. One of the most moving experiences of my life.

May we all get out of this okay.

Regards,
Mp

Bonjour Readers and Club Members -

Paris:- Sunday, 23. September 2001:- The above emails from 'Metropole Paris' readers and club members were not the only emails received here during the past week.

Some of the others sent by readers were 'clips' from other sources, and I'm sure most of you would be familiar with these. My thanks for these too.

Nancy Kintner's message was received before Metropole's last edition was put online. Thus, she was aware of French concern for the tragic events in the United States before any mention appeared in this magazine other than the sketchy news featured in the previous issue's 'Au Bistro' column.

Jan and Dana Shaw had been staying in Paris for several weeks and were scheduled to fly to London last Monday, before flying on to Boston.

At the time, airline schedules were chaotic and they were not at all certain they would be going anywhere - and they were not certain they could stay in the apartment they had rented for their stay here.

They invited me to dine with them at Pascal's L'Alteo restaurant in Montmartre on Friday evening before leaving. What happened to them the following evening amounted to a Montmartre neighborhood 'surprise party.'

Susan and Michael Peskura joined the Café Metropole Club at the Thursday, 6. September meeting. Like many travellers, their return travel plans were severely disrupted.

There were many premature announcements of the re-opening of US airspace, and many travellers did not learn there would be no flights until arriving at Paris' Charles-de- Gaulle airport out at Roissy - which required those with useless flight reservations to return to Paris each day and renew a scramble for accommodations.

By the time initial flights of planes got permission to fly again there was a huge backlog of passengers in Paris. TV-news reported that the crush completely overwhelmed airport staff, and showed one US traveller who jumped up on a check-in station to conduct an ad-hoc redistribution of available seats to those who needed them most urgently.

On the other side of the Atlantic, readers and club members Natalia and Tom Yanul had to cancel their planned trip to Paris and perhaps reschedule it for next spring. I hope Tom's bid for the old photo of the Rue de l'Amiral Coligny is successful, because it does hint at the location of the club's café, La Corona.

Other readers' letters, with eye-witness accounts of events in New York on the day of the catastrophe, and subsequent after-shock reactions, have been responed to with off-magazine replies.

My thanks go to all correspondents who have permitted me to reproduce their messages here.