Here’s the video clip making the rounds today on television and the internet. Yesterday, during a ceremony somewhere for something, President Macron plunged into a crowd of teenagers to shake hands and say hello. One teenager greeted him with “ça va, Manu?” In other words, “How’s it going, Manu?” Manu is short for Emmanuel.

President Macron felt that a lesson in discipline and respect was in order.

Here’s the exchange –

This sort of reminds me of a more serious incident when a French politician called François Bayrou slapped a child in 2012. He was visiting a “problematic” neighborhood in Strasbourg. Ironically, the theme was violence. While speaking to a group of men in what’s called a “quartier sensible” (a rough neighborhood), he found himself surrounded by a group of children who began blatantly pickpocketing him. That’s when he wheeled around and slapped one of the kids on the cheek. No-one found this out of line and a TV announcer simply said that he reacted “en bon père de famille” (as a good father should).

The loathing I feel for this character (I cannot bring myself to type the word ‘man’) is so deep, it’s indescribable. I’m talking about the despicable Donald Dreck Trump.

He’s a sociopath, a person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience. Sociopaths have little regard for the feelings of others and manipulate others in order to get what they desire.

After verbally attacking Justin Trudeau and provoking a possible trade war with Canada … yet he befriends and praises Kim Jong-un … Trump has now attacked China and started a trade war with them. China’s official news agency made a pointed reference to Trump in an editorial: “The wise man builds bridges, the fool builds walls.”

As for the separation of families and putting children in cages, here’s the view from the United Kingdom:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/18/us-immigration-border-families-separated-children-kirstjen-nielsen

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jun/19/image-sobbing-toddler-us-border-it-was-hard-for-me-to-photograph-john-moore

Portugal is a shopper’s paradise. Why? Low prices, fine quality, and original items that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Textiles, bed linens, hand-embroidered cottons, soaps, hand-painted tiles, carpets … the list is long. Towards the end of my trip I had to buy a second suitcase in which to put my purchases. I bought gifts for friends, office colleagues, my concierge, the kids … and for myself, of course 🙂

Located at number 274 Rua da Prata, this shop is filled with gorgeous handcrafted woollen goods. It’s called Chi Coracao. Blankets, shawls, capes, women’s and men’s wear, rugs, scarves … all handmade from wool in beautiful colors.

I purchased two throw rugs. This one in blue and another in light gray.

You can find wine shops selling this delicious porto everywhere. Not just a dessert wine, it’s also a pleasant sipping wine, perfect for an apéritif served with olives, nuts, etc.

Colorful tins of sardines are also sold everywhere, Portugal being the sardine capital of Europe, if not the world.

These beautifully-wrapped fragrant soaps make great gifts. I bought a lot.

Handmade and handpainted ceramics and dishware. Love these colors. Part of a collection of mugs, plates, bowls, etc., I purchased this single small platter.

Before we move on to the Algarve, here are some last random photos of Lisbon. During the three days I was there the weather was gorgeous: warm with a constant cool wind blowing in off the Tagus River.

I flew with Joon, Air France’s new low-cost airline, from Paris to Lisbon for 135 euros one-way. The flight is around two hours, ten minutes. I returned with Easyjet from Faro to Paris, paying 114 euros for a one-way ticket. I really like Easyjet and will become a member. The plane I took was a brand-new Airbus with lots of leg room.

Next post – onwards to the Algarve!

Today I was in Faro, way down on the southern Algarve coast. Now I’m back in Paris. I’ll definitely go back. I loved Portugal.

Here’s the first part of my journey. I was in three different locations, starting with LISBON.

my hotel, link at bottom

grilled sardines served on thin toasted cornbread and washed down with wine from the Douro region

Followed by delicious slices of cheese served with a fruit chutney-marmalade and a generous glass of porto. Typically a sweetish red wine and often served with cheese and desserts, porto also comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties.

roasted cod on chick pea purée

custard tarts called pasteis de nata. Irresistible.

imagine an entire city tiled with mosaic sidewalks

Lots more to come! I highly recommend the hotel I stayed at in Lisbon.

http://the-8-down-town-suites-lisbon.hotel-ds.com/en/