Michael Moody (1966)

Not my style.... the cruise thing.    Most of my fun travels have been done via couch surfing,  BnB's [ someone's actual spare bed room] or 'home stays' [Cuba].    Most of the new AirBnB options are without staying with a family which leaves out the best part of traveling,...  being with local folks instead of being just another touroid.

Still have lots of family in the UK but lost touch with my close friends in Paris.  Lost my wallet while hitch hiking and then changing address a few times broke all those old connections.

have been living in the woods in a 200 year old home for nearly 50 years now.  The plan was to be near to AThens, Ga which has kept it real for me while living without any neighbors.   Small but vibrant town with tons of foreign folks with lots of culture...the good kind.    What's not to like ?  

We're surrounded by backward thinking people who tend to be easily led astray. There are a few exceptions.  That said, living where I do  tends to make you feel isolated and being in the wilderness [  culturally ].  But not too far away from the variety of options needed to remain a 'worldl citizen'.

Michael

Franklin Wechsler (1964)

I have never been one to wonder about where I have been and more toward where I am going.  I returned to Paris once in the sixties.  I was besiged, kind of, with questions about the peace talks, of which I knew nothing.  It was a grand disappointment when compared to the thrill of Athens, Palma, Barcelone, Rome and Citeveccia, places I had not been before.  Of course the third and fourth trip to Athen or Rome got old but it is strange that Spain never did, must have been the Mateus that I drank a lot..  Flying around Europe was always a thrill; Air France was the best but their planes were the oldest too, kind of like flying in an old C-47 left over from WWII.  Turkey could be a hoot if you like mutton, which I did at the time.  I spent two deployments to the Orient and have always loved it more than Europe, I guess that comes from spending a couple of years as a tot on the economy there.  I would read Mitchner and then try to duplicate the atmosphere from the books.  Best fried rice in the world in China or Japan, always good for a mid night meal while burping up some good old Jamican Rum.

I don't travel much anymore, agent orange has done a number on my bod and I find riding a  three wheeler more than adequate now since I cannot drive a car anymore.  I need hand controls but can still feel some pressure in my feet; the legs are pretty well shot.  Moved to Louisville in 2011 for a final time; kind of an ancestral home.  Land of Blue Ticks, Redbones, and 'Coon hounds but these days I have have a Jack Russel mix and a Chihuahua to keep me company.  I like reading these posts, makes me wonder what I did miss by not keeping company.

Jim A. Smales (1958)

I graduted from Paris American High School in 1958.  One of the greatest events was when the graduating class rented the Beauteau Mouch and went down the Seine River while a band played music and people danced.  The military provided transportation to and from the event.  It couldn't have been better.  The only thing I regret is that my yearbook was lost on our way back to the states in 1958.  I've been trying to find another copy but so far haven't had much luck.

Peter Sadow (1958)

Ok, as a teen...... Nick Wildemuth and I spent some part of every weekend in the city,  I had a pccket map guide, a Michelin city guide and metro tickets.  With the stuident card most places were free or cheap.  One evening three of us visited some of the srip clubs in Pigalle.  We bargained to get cheaper admissions.  Lot of fun.  With the Morrison brodthers, I made a moped trip to the worlds fair in Brussels in 1958.  We camped there for three days, then the brothers opted to take the train back.  I rode the moped back.  Spent a couple of weeks at a boy scout camp in Germany with my Air EXplorer group sponsored by American Legfion Post 1 in Paris.  Somehow, we ended up bringing a flag from a WW1 French regiment with us instead of the post flag.  We took it to the campfire each night.  Never had comments from the local Germans that visited camp regularly.  A group of us, with Mr. Flowers, took a bike trip to the Loire Valley.  We stayed at the family chateau of Mr. Harvey's French wife.  We made it half way back to Paris, then the headwinds got the better of us and we took the train the rest of the way back.  

In 2014, I had the pleasure of taking my new family to Europe for two months.  We camped most places using a leased Renault Clio diesel wagon.  The first week, in Paris, we staiyed in an Airbnb.  Went by the school, which was closed for the summer.  Petit Beauregard is gated so we just went by after our visit to Versailles.  Camping in Europe is much more civilized than in the US.  Very nice bath facilities and usually close to the important tourist sights.  The three of us shared a small tent.  Made coffee in thee morning with local bread and sometimes cooked dinner in the evening with local goodies..  The car was a gem. Covered 10,000 km and averaged 58 mpg.  This is our camping spot in Salzburg with my daughter.

Linda Ristan (Schmidt) (1965)

Greetings all,

My brother, Chuck (PAHS '67) and wife are travelling to Paris next week and are looking for the address for Petit Beauregard...any info?  Thanks, Linda Ristan Schmiddt

David Dunn (1967)

Domaine du Petit Beauregard, 78170 La Celle St. Cloud, France. At intersection of routes D307 and D321, west side. French police HQ on D321 is former location of Bel Manoir commissary complex. 

Theodore Sheppard (1967)

Hi Linda please say  hi to chuck. We spent many hours together at his apt and wandering Paris

Ted sheppard 

Rod Bishop (1964)

Domaine du Petit Beauregard address: 78470 La Celle-Saint-Cloud.

I stopped by there last October. As mentioned earlier it is gated, however, I parked my rental car outside the Domaine and walked in with no problems. It is quite different, and still the same.

I stopped by after visiting the Versaille Palace. It is only a few miles from the Palace to Petit Beauregard.

Carl Yorke

I'm trying to remember what Bel Manior looked like, specifically the teen club. There was a teen club, wasn't there? Do you remember if Bel Manior was close enough to Petit Beauregard to walk there? Thanks. 

Paul Hughes (1968)

Yes Carl...there was the AYA teen club across the street from Bel Manoir and If you google map the area you can clearly see that all of the Bel Manoir and Petit buildings are still there today and it is still an easy walk between all thee.

Frank "Dixon" McElwee Jr (1964)

Here’s a shoutout to Mr Dick Myers (PAHS ’64) as he celebrates his birthday in Minneapolis.

Dick was a one hit wonder (1961-62) during our sophomore year and was MR Big Guy on our Junior Varsity basketball team.  Truthfully, he should have been playing for the Varsity…he was that good.  My instructions as the point guard for that team: “ McElwee, you, Cheevers, Daniels and Frantz are all pretty good but I want you to understand that your job is to get the ball to our 6’5” center, nothing else.  So we did and Dick delivered 20 points a game, sometimes in one half.  If we ever lost, I don’t remember it, and that’s a credit to Dick.  I just wish he could have stayed for another two years before he went off to Stanford. (What a “Smarty”😊And Dick being from Minneapolis, was also a Hockey buff, as we found out when we went skating downtown Paris.. 

Besides basketball, Dick was part of a gang of folks that hung together: Dick, myself, Kathy D, Bruce M and several others.  Dick was also very close with Chad Wyatt,  a Varsity Star(“PAHS 1963)Those were all our Wonder Years and I look back fondly on   those years.

And for all PAHS alums at that time: ABBA “Our Last Summer” hits many of our fondest memories of those years…find it, you won’t be disappointed.

Dixon McElwee (PAHS 1964)

Jeff Allen (1964)

Thanks for the memories Dixon.  If you don't remember, I barely made the team and didn't play much, and was out a good part of the season with the mumps.  (I was too old to have the mumps, but suffered through.)  Thanks again, good memories.

Chad Wyatt (1963)

Dixon, what a nice remembrance of Dick Myers’ time at PAHS.  His prowess on the ice was breath-taking:  I remember the Molitor rink as congested chaos, but here was this lanky ghost zipping in and out, skating backwards, cutting radically left then right.  Really, though, Dick was a super friend to everyone, I was not surprised to learn that his college was Stanford.  My mother tried valiantly to get him another year in Paris, but his time was up after that one scholastic year.  Special guy to have alongside, brief as his tenure was.

Frank "Dixon" McElwee Jr (1964)

Chad and Jeff, thanks for weighing in on a Paris Chat, it is a terrific venue for cross-class conversations about our memories.  I'm sure Dick would like to hear from you.  Byway, Jeff, weren't you a southpaw?

Best,  Dixon

Ernie Jenkinson (1962)

Dear Paris Pirates,

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the various stories and adventures from so many about Petit Beauregard, Camp des Loges, Camp Voluseau, Bel Manior, Px, etc... However, I would add a story located on the other side of town, a place called SHAPE Village.  An international village of 14 nations until finally the French could no longer keep the Germans from joining and entering the village which then made for 15 nations.  Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe was an organization that IKE E. was responsible for creating, sort of the beginnings of NATO. I lived with all sorts of European teens for eight years.  My dad was a reserve Lt. Col. so didn't have to rotate out like so many others after only three years. He was a Dept. of Army civilian.  Caught the school bus each school day from our version of the "creepy mansion" that you so enjoyed and road from St. Germain en Laye to our school at Garches. There were many teen parties that occured at our mansion (chateau) that were attended not only by our people, but also yours.  And yes, there were tunnels underneath the chateau that were crawled in by many of us and we found emptied German food cans, still there after all those years.  Pretty exciting stuff for a teen.  Wonderful times.  Motorbike heaven for a lot of us.  Currently reading "My War in the Jungle" by our Miles Davis (63).         

James Woods (Jr. ) (1962)

Cannot believe that it has been 60 years since we all left for college from Paris. Hope you and your family are healthy. I still am a gynecologist and probably will be that until the day I walk into a room and as I sit with a patient I ask if she is the doctor. Jim Woods 

James Atkins (1962)

Trying to connect with kids I went to Junior High School with in Fontainebleau in 1957 - 1959 (before PAHS).

Does anyone remember Jill Hardwick, Barbara Brooks, Wayne Friday, Jim Bird, Pat Webb, John Hart, David Roland, Bob & Steve Gardner, Ray Fritz, Jim Schooley, Sus Justice or MaryLee Berg?

A "shot-in-the-dark" but thought someone out there may have known some of them. 

Best regards to all,

Jim Atkins '62

David Dunn (1967)

Not far from Marseilles, the fishing village of Cassis, with plentiful, fascinating marine rock formations called 'calanques.' Some of the inlets can be visited on foot, and there are organized small boat tours for a more extensive view of these "mini-fjords.". Have a glass of the local white wine, also called cassis.

Eric Dean (1969)

Ah, the south of France. Ca c'est magnific. Carolyn and I moved from La Plata, Maryland last month to Elizabeth City, North Carolina, just off the Albemarle Sound after we both Retired from Government Service.

We still have our Lindal Cedar home on the Chesapeake Bay, near Heathsville, Virginia and will bouncing back and forth shuttleing  grand children. Yesterday's Fourth of July fireworks at the Coadt Guard Station were superb. After 32 years in the Navy as an Aircraft Maintennce Duty Officer, on four aircraft Carriers (NIMITZ, MIDWAY, ROOSEVELT, CARL VINSON, three aircraft Squadrons, posting to the Pentagon, London, Atsugi, Japan and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Virginia I have done my bit for God and Country.

Respectfully, 

Eric Dean CAPT, USN, Ret. Ctrl/Cmd+V

Robert Dingeman (1964)

Just completed another Mediterrean cruise. The first on Princess. Both NCL and HAL in past - [their specialty food might be better, but not a criticism.] All excursions pricier  in 2022 ... Had a real laundromat on each passenger deck, so no over-priced ship's laundry  or struggling with sink or shower in  cabin. Rec:  On Youtube - Tips For Travelers, Life Well Cruised, & Cruzely.com for hints and tips. Would caution that Med and EU are hotter now than the '60's. Hope to do a UK/Ireland circle next year. Absolutely essential to use BC or FC trans-Atlantic seats at our ages, BTW. 

Peter Sadow (1958)

You sound like a very experienced traveler.  My wife and I took HAL on a med cruise in Oct 2019 from Rome.  It was 12 nights.  We added a few days in Rome prior and a few in Barcelona after.  That is the first time we really had good port experiences and saw what was interesting in Greece, Turkey and the Greek islands.  We travelled with carryone only for the entire trip, so lots of polyester and a bit of laundry in the cabin most every night.  Our flights would have charged $75 each way for each check bag.

Our next trip is a 15 night HAL cruise covering New Zealand and part of Australia.  I initially wanted to use buses, but the hassle is getting to be too much at my age.

I have had a second familty since 2010,  In 2014, we took a two month camping trip to Europe.  I leased a little Clio break.  We brought a tent and small air mattresses and had a great time.  Hotels for 3 then would have been prohibitive as would rail transportation.  Camping in Europe is much more civilized than in the US, so we had comfortable stays very close to the sights.  I got to drive by the old school and Petit Beauregard.

We used economy flights and just put up with the discomfort for the few hours giving us more to spend on things we are interested in.  In early 2021, we spent 12 days in Egypt and 6 days in Turkey.  No camping, but nice hotels and tour guides.

Robert Dingeman (1964)

Very happy you are up to all that. Days of climbing pyramids & acropolises, tent camping, & air economy seats are long gone.

Gloria Jean Laurin (Laurin) (1961)

I enjoy reading about the travels of everyone who posts here.  My travel for fun is on "pause" for a whiie.  My husband died in June and in short order and by choice I moved from CA to Austin, Texas.   A few hic-ups trying to sell funiture and house and car from 3,000 miles away - but doable.  I figure if my life wass going to be different the I should be the one to make the decisions.  So far my life as a brat has been one of the biggest helps - moving everything you own!    

Phil Davidson (1960)

If I don't croak prior, I turn 81 this coming September. My health is quite good for my advanced age- I just take it one day at a time. My younger brother, John, class of 1963, passed away this past Febeuary from a stroke. He had been in declining health for a few years. I have been retired from the military for some 33 years and upon retirement I was finally able to do what I really wanted to do & that was open up a plant nursery and landscape business. We've had more success than I thought possible; and to me its not work but lots of fun and quite profitable. 

We spend about eight months here in Washington state and the remaining four in our winter home in Mesa, Arizona. Love the winters there - not too hot and not humid. If up to me I would spend the remainder of my life in Arizona, but wife says no way. 

I don't hear hardly a word from the class of 1960. I did see Dick Williams several years ago but have not heard from another great friend, Mike Foxworth. John Davenport passed in 2012 & I do miss the good times we had in Paris all those years ago. 

The sun is setting for all of us - its been a great trip. The Paris days were some of the best days of my life.

VA has me rated at 100% disability from Agent Orange, etc.  Such is life. 

Phil Davidson, class of 1960 

Barry McCloskey (1960)

Chiming in:

Me, I’m probably way past my ‘Use By’ date, but that hasn’t stopped me so far.

It’s always interesting to read about the good fortune and trials and tribulations of my fellow PAHS alumni. And it’s always saddening to read of the passing of any of those alumni, but some things are just inevitable, I guess.

My wife (of 46+ years) and I love to travel. That activity was nipped in the bud by the Covid pandemic, but we are hopeful we will get in at least one more trip before the final bell rings. And maybe dinner out at some swell restaurant or another. Fingers are crossed.

We’ve been back to Paris on several occasions, and each trip has been memorable in its own way. But, our most favorite trip, thus far, was our trip to Kenya, where we went on several safaris. Lions and Elephants. Chimps and Cheetahs. And all manner of exotic birds. We even visited the Nairobi home of Baroness Karen Christenze von Blixen-Finecke (Karen Blixen --- ‘Out of Africa' author). We also visited and saw firsthand some of Jane Goodall’s chimps.

We had signed up for a ‘small group’ tour --- no more than sixteen persons, they said. But when we landed in Nairobi it turned out that we had the tour all to ourselves. Just us and our various tour guides. We were treated like royalty even though it wasn’t beneficial to our tour guides. They were expecting to receive tips from sixteen travelers. We did tip generously, but nowhere equivalent to what they would have received had the tour been filled to capacity.

First impressions are the most lasting, some say, and for us it happened at the first safari camp where our puddle-jumper plane (six-seater) landed on a grass/dirt field to be greeted by a smartly dressed young woman with a towel over one arm and a tray of mimosas balanced on her other hand. Little did we know we would be treated as if we had signed up for a tour-for-two.

My other best first impression occurred when I first stepped off the school bus at PAHS.

For me, Paris will always be home. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to live and play there. Which, by the way, lead to my “invention” of a Black Powder substitute rocket fuel that my brother and I accidentally used to ‘add character’ to the walls and ceiling of the cellar in our home in La Garenne-Colombes.

Salut mes potes. May all your adventures be memorable.