The Last Time I Saw Paris...

Another image from travel, this from the international holding pen at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport. Travelers arriving, departing, or just stopping by on their way elsewhere will be able to experience the fullness of French hospitality in these deluxe lounge chairs.

I thought they defined discomfort, until I found my seat on the Air France trans-Atlantic flight. Oh well - c'est la vie, as they say. That's life.

Not far from this solid steel torture rack the World Wildlife Fund had set up a display, a large hollow plastic globe playfully held aloft by a panda, symbol of the group. The contents of the ball? Currency from all around the world. A fundraiser, of course, an opportunity to get rid of that last bit of whatever sort of money in your pocket prior to going to a land where it's unrecognized.

Shortly after claiming our seats in the waiting area a group of three men approached this object and carefully spread a prayer rug out before it. One by one they took turns kneeling and bowing repeatedly.

I'll not speculate here as to their religion or what direction they were facing, and I tolerate observers of all religions. But I couldn't help but mention to my children (teenagers all) to make sure they didn't miss the worshippers paying public respects to their Panda God.

"No dad. They're worshipping the almighty money."

Yes - I'd missed the obvious.

Before you accuse me of callous disregard for the rites of others, please allow me to plead "guilty" - but note the lack of photos of this strange behavior of the members of the Panda Cult. I have to draw the line somewhere.

Actually, I enjoyed the few hours I spent at Charles de Gaulle, wandering about and encountering people from all over the world, all races, all religions, all colors, all languages, all united (judging by their similarity of expression) in their dislike of cross-time zone travel and the accommodations provided by the French.

And praise be to the powerful Panda, we had options for food: