The first place I asked my mom to stop when we arrived in Hood River was a little Mexican food place. We know it's authentic because there are more Mexicans than gringos eating there. The family runs their efficient operation out of a white trailer parked in an empty lot. I browse the menu for only a few moments before I make my selection. Three carne asada tacos with both red and green salsa.

We take our order home, and I instantly inhale two tacos. I really don't think I stopped to breath during the whole experience. It was that good!

My mom knew I was missing chocolate chip cookies, so she baked up a batch of my favorite. They're made with whole wheat flour, brown sugar, milk chocolate chips and pecans. They're really quite heavenly - especially at 2 AM in the morning!

At the farmer's market in Lake Oswego, I ogled over all the fresh produce, gorgeous flowers, fresh meat and tasty treats. As soon as the whistle blew to signal the opening of the market, I bought big juicy blackberries, sweet blonde raspberries and a tiny box of fresh huckleberries. That was six hours ago, and the fruit has already been consumed. There are great markets in Paris, but there's something about the Lake O market that can't be beat.

Also on my list before I leave is a visit to Giant Burger, some of the best burgers on the planet, clarklewis, my favorite local restaurant, E&R Wine, a great wine store carrying a dizzying array of local and foreign wines, and of course some sushi. Yeah, it's all about eating this trip.

And then there are things that I thought I'd miss but I've learned to live without.

Driving. Although it's nice to get into my car, roll all the windows down, and drive down the winding road, I don't really need a car. At least not in Paris. It's a necessity here since everything is so spread out. Driving certainly does give one a sense of freedom.

A Dryer. I thought I was going to die when I realized Parisians didn't have dryers in their homes. Yeah, it's nice to have soft, just out of the dryer clothes, but do I really need it? No, not really.

Space. I used to think I needed a lot of space, especially when it comes to living. But when I really think about it, I don't really use my guest room or my office space. Do I really need it? Honestly, the answer is no. In Paris I've learned it's quite easy to live without acres of space and unnecessary rooms. It seems like a waste in some ways. 

Big Box Stores. It sure is convenient to walk into a store and buy everything I need in one place. But is it just as easy to run to the few specialty stores in Paris to get what I need? Yes. Plus the more I go to these small, specialized places, the more the owners get to know me. I'm no longer a face in a crowd. I become a real person and we begin to develop a relationship. Can't get that at a big box store. 

Pedicures. Today I got both a manicure and pedicure, it was relaxing and wonderful. But I could just as easily do it myself and save the money. But sometimes being pampered is nice!

I'm still trying to get over my culture shock though. Everything still seems big - the people, the portions, the cars, the stores, the land. The French have done an excellent job of making the most of their space and resources. I certainly think we can learn a lot from them in that respect.

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