Carnet de Voyage: Out in Dallas!

First I want to say: "Bye! Patricia!" at last she is gone for good! From what I have read in weather.com and from TV news, she was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded in the western part (hemisphere). That hurricane was so bad she destroyed homes and many things in her way. She went down to Mexico where she lost strength but we actually experienced some of her effects here. People were praying for Mexico as they were going through this difficult time of the weather. We had so much flood damage and a lot of rain in Dallas and in other areas of Texas. It was not good at all! I stayed four days locked up in my place and looking at the bad weather from the windows. On Thursday, on my way back to my place the sky quickly turned from blue to dark grey in the afternoon around 5pm and few drops of rain started to fall but later at night it was really bad. We had some heavy rains with some lightning and thunders. Some flights were cancelled or delayed to hours later at the airport. If you want to know more about what happened in Texas or in Dallas specifically, you can click on these links that I share.

picture from latimes.com

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-floods-union-pacific-train-derails-as-rains-soak-state/
another one https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/monster-hurricane-patricia-quickly-losing-strength/2015/10/24/acee453e-79da-11e5-a5e2-40d6b2ad18dd_story.html
yes she was a real monster. This is another link that I share below http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/10/24/texas-hit-heavy-rains-heightened-flood-threat/74523670/
This is pretty much what I want to share about her. I am glad that Patricia is gone. Actually while the rain was falling as I was looking through the windows of my bedroom, I suddenly remembered an old French song of the late 80's. I don't know why but it has been a long time ago that I have listened to it and I was so little when the song was released. That song is from Stephanie de Monaco (One of the princesses of Monaco. Yes! She used to sing before.) That song was about the "hurricane" that devastated her life. Something happened in her life as she was really young. Obviously listening to the lyrics, it was not a good memory to her. The title of the song is actually "Ouragan" meaning in French hurricane but in English version I think it has another name like Irreversible or something like that. She sings in both French and English. To those who do not know who Stephanie de Monaco is, she is the daughter of the late American actress/princess Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier. Now you understand why she is fluent in both languages. Anyway...To me the song has a little bit of the bitter sweet feelings.

As the rain was falling and falling down, the song was playing in my mind over and over again. Yes, I was missing these happy childhood moments back home. For instance, I remember that I liked to play under the rain and late at night I would feel so sick. I even thought that fishes were coming from the sky and they were falling with the rain lol! Ok! That was just a short story.
So, yes I was definitely missing Mr. Sun for real so when it was back, I decided to go out and walk in the city. We had such a great weather yesterday and I am so thankful! I cannot be grateful enough and I cannot take for granted that nice weather. I could at last breathe a little bit of fresh air and feel free out of the four walls of the apartment.
So, I went to the Historic West End area of Dallas in town. There, I had Jim who actually was available to take some nice pictures for me as usual!. Jim is such a nice person and I am so glad I met him. He is a good person, a good friend I will say and he is really patient. Whenever he can, he will find a day to be available to help and take pictures for me. He always tells me that: "I want you to remember once back to your country that there are always nice people in America." Whenever I hear that, it makes me gently smile. it is so important that I keep in mind this fact no matter who I meet or what I am going through.
The day was awesome I had so much fun! I post some of the pictures to share with you. I also went to the Kennedy memorial in Dallas. JFK was assassinated the 22nd of November 1963. I like this man for what he has done as a president. As we were taking some pictures, I told Jim that I was also born the 22nd of November. I know many years later but the date is important to me as well.
It has been many years since he died but still people are so curious and interested to understand the why and the how things really happened. Should I say that many tourists come to visit these two places to remember him? Ok, what I mean by the two places is actually the memorial and where he was shot in the motorcade. On that same place there is a man who explains to tourists what could possibly has happened. I have to agree with him that only one person (Lee Oswald) could not have done it on his own... This is above my humble understanding. I have to say that people of the world like me are still wondering what really happened but as the proverb says: " Curiosity killed the cat." I think it is wise to not ask too many questions...
Then, later I went to West End station to take picture with Rosa Parks statue. These are some of the pictures but I have most of them in my other website because I have more options there then here. You can check them out later if you are interested http://patacolorcarnet.weebly.com/carnet-de-voyage However, the post is written in French because I am more comfortable writing in French than in English. Sorry about that!)

West End Historic

Shirt Forever21, top and jeans H&M Sunglasses ALDO

Shirt Forver21, necklace choker ALDO

Downtown Dallas TX.

"Here Comes the Sun" as the Beatles sang. Another one that I like too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgiQD56eWDk

I was so happy we had a great sun! I wanted to recreate the 90's look

And guess what!? On our way as we were walking down the streets, after two blocks ahead we saw Browdy Lowen a close friend of mine. He is a musician artist. He told me that he will have a show the 12th of November+ He will perform most of his songs. I think he is about to have a complete album soon.
http://www.aftonshows.com/BrowdyLowen

I told him: "Quickly let's take a picture with me before you leave". My friend is happily married and what is special is the fact that most of my friends (I don't have a lot to be honest) are artists or simply are Arts lovers like me or amateurs.

I took his hat to play the artist for a picture!

He invited me to be there and if you are interested you can get your ticket online. I heard some of his songs I think he sings well and many people like his music so discover! His two youtube.com channels are Bob Dell Lowen and the other one is Browdy Lowen.
I put his link on reverb nation website: https://www.reverbnation.com/browdylowen2

Look! My friend is in style! The Gingham shirt! Too serious sometimes so I was trying to make him laugh a little bit

Browdy Lowen started playing piano in his early age. One day he played to me "Rigoletto." However, Browdy Lowen is more into Rn'B style.
This is one of his songs that I prefer the most. Discover and enjoy!

How did you like it? You can like the songs.
Anyway! Back to my day out in Dallas, Jim and I stopped at a Dallas pioneers' cabin to read a little bit of History of the city.

Then I met Koko!! A sweet little dog. I missed holding a dog so I was happy to meet one that I could have time playing a little bit with. His owner was really nice she told me that I could hold him in my arms as much as I wanted to and take pictures with Koko. He was such a good boy!

So I have such a nice day until fun time was over and it was time to be silence and serious at the memorial...

Kennedy memorial

The building where Lee Oswald was that day (according to what they told me)

According to what they said, he shot from the 6th floor of this building

As the motorcade was going down this street

They showed us the exact spot that they marked in white on the road

This is a part of the speech that the president was supposed to give the day of his visit in Dallas.

I wanted to read it too. I really like what was written it is inspiring.

Down the hill you can see the tourists. Recently a crew of actors, producers were here in Dallas at Dealey Plaza for filming a movie about that tragic event. I read that the movie will be released soon (I will have to check this info again). The actors were exactly playing as if they were the real characters.
If you want to know more about the movie from the local news, you can click on that link http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/dallas-county/2015/11/01/jfk-movie-again-disrupt-dealey-plaza-monday/75006646/
You will see some pictures of the actors as well.

My happy feet needed a break! So I sat on a pool in that nice peaceful place with blue water after a long walk

Blue water. Still waters. Sunglasses ALDO and back to the stripes fever!

Smile! And life will smile back at you!

I tried to climb on the wall to have a good view of the Dealy Plaza

Another museum behind

Then I went to West End station to take a picture with Rosa Parks statue. I admire that woman so much because of what she has done. She stood up for Civil Rights because of her, a person of color like me can sit anywhere in the train and in the buses. Thank you Ms. Parks for what you have done! I do not take it for granted! I remember many years ago back in my country, the first time that I read her story I was so touched by her personality and what she has achieved. As a woman it means a lot to me! "Little" women are in fact giants who have changed their world! A friend once asked me if I was a feminist and I told him: " I don't know but there is nothing wrong to be one." To me, women can definitely be great leaders and I strongly believe it. Back home we used to say :'What woman wants, God wants." I try to translate it from French but I don't know if it makes sense in English. People just wanted to show here the power that women have...

Rosa Parks statue (The iconic picture where she was seating in a bus)

Few years ago, when I was in Maryland, it moved me to see her name written in a bus. As I was sitting in the front seat I thought in my mind: "Thank you Ms. Parks!" A simple woman who has changed a part of History of her country by just resisting to a system. It takes a lot of courage to do what she did.

It also reminds me of the story of Harriet Beecher Stowe who wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" when she went to meet Abraham Lincoln. He said to her: "So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war?" I have never ever forgotten these words when the teacher once read them in class. It was years ago but because at that time I was so conscious of the fact that I was little and not tall at all. I have always thought that being little was like being vulnerable. What he said have completely changed my understanding of this word. Later, after reading stories about some women who have changed their world, I found out that they were "little" women as well. Maybe "little" by words and through people's eyes but real giant in term of spirit and mind. David was little with a great and a giant mind but Goliath was a giant with a little spirit. How about that!? Or another one: ants are really small insects but they do great things and they even scare big animals.
So after my quick break, I went close to a wall with some water falling from somewhere above. You know how I like water! Water means to me peace, purity, honesty and truth. And the quote on the wall says all! I stood up in front of that wall to read Dr. King's quote. It is always inspiring to read what he said. I am so grateful for what these people have done. If I am here in this country it is definitely because of what they have done. We can never forget the people who fought for freedom, truth, Civil Rights... We can never forget History.

Well, I guess you have a little idea of Dallas today! I hope you like this post. Thank you for reading!
If you are in Dallas area or about to be in Dallas and you want to get Browdy Lowen's ticket for November show this is the link: http://www.aftonshows.com/BrowdyLowen
If you also want to visit my other site to see some more pictures of yesterday afternoon, here is the link: http://patacolorcarnet.weebly.com/carnet-de-voyage
I also want to thank Sandrine for writing an article about my humble blog in her association's website of Grenoble/France. You can also discover what her association does : http://asseg38.123siteweb.fr/412932437/3064174/posting/jeunes-talents-d-ici-et-d-ailleurs