First Hundred Days Whirlwind

Can you keep up with this whirlwind? Berlin, Brussels, here and there in the provinces. Still jogging. Visits to hospitals, homeless shelters. All this in the first two weeks in office. And next Tuesday? Normandy. Yes, France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy will pay a visit (a public visit) to Le Havre, the port city in Normandy that was totally flattened during Allied bombing in World War II. It is one of France’s major ports. Most recently, it was the port through which Allied Arthur Pierre transported our belongings which arrived safe and sound all the way from New York State.

Le Havre is not only a major port, but it’s also a good way to get from France to England via ferry if you aren’t inclined to taking the Eurostar and the chunnel. Le Havre has recently received awards for its city planned architecture. Because the city had to be totally rebuilt after the war, the challenge was to create a pleasingly cohesive and quickly functional architecture.

How many people will show up in Le Havre? I wonder - and will we be among them? Maybe.