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touchdown in gay paris! pictured here is the guy from the show "lost". he was on our plane. our plane had no first class, so he had a whole row. must be nice. i'm close to having papparazi status at this point!

of note, this morning we came upon an accident in the mountains on our way to the airport. the car had missed a turn and skidded into a barricade. the front wheels were hanging over the edge of a 200 foot sheer fall. it was like a movie scene. it appeared the people got out ok (but came within one foot of plunging to their deaths). later we had a car swing wide on us that frightened the crap out of us (or at least rod and me – trey knows not fear). i've never been so anxious in a car, just waiting for the moment we could leave the thin mountain rodes behind. who knew the airport would be twice as scary? oh well, as i type this, both seem a million miles away. bonjour paris!

pictured here are my foot and most of rod (ney). both my foot and all of him arw ready to get out of here and on to paris. our airport experience here was one misadventure after another. i think the entire system is powered by a "rube walker" device. seriously, there is a burrow that eats customer service before pooping out a complete lack of confidence that you will ever get on a plane. we were here 2.5 hours early and we finally got checked in 2 minutes before the deadline. so after three more hurdles (and $200 lighter each) we are ready to board. i have thoroughly enjoyed my time here, but i am now 1000% ready to be somewhere else. paris will do for a day, but all i want is to get home and go to he vortex. mmmmmmm sweet potato fries!!!! final reflections: ama!ng and strange place..centuries old lifestyle… amazing hospitality (outsideof airports and big cities – unless you know someone)…just unbearable heat….very pushy sales people….a welcome simplicty…and one interesting anecdote. our driver spokeystone openly with us about going to visit prostitutes but was very definitive that he wanted a "traditional" islamic woman. another guide who was married confirmed that one usually stays faithful for 4 to 6 weeks, then starts "going out for la boomba." people live with their families but rent apartments with their friends expressly for that purpose. leaves me wondering the rationale behind wanting a traditional wife? bc it's the "right" answer? bc it's best for family? bc they believe it holds religous value for the family? or just to fit in with society? i don't know.

until paris…….

here rod and trey mug for the camera atop a pretty good sized dune. they were amazing and it was a much better day than the previous one…. no lightheadedness, no problems forming sentences and no fear of dissentary. all in all a huge upgrade. we left the dunes and went to a gorgeous hotel in a giant oasis along a river. huge palm trees an amazing chef, 88 degree weather and a POOL!!! holy cow, it was nice to not be sweaty or sticky for the first time in days! we explored an amazing old caravan town, then bedded down to get some sleep before our 5 am airport departure and Paris!