I am excited to announce that I have found Nirvana, and it sure wasn’t where you might expect. Cruising the canals of France has been spectacular. They are a magnet for the natural flora and fauna. You would think that traveling down sybaritic waterways lined with wild mustard and lavender, full of trout and perch with the constant cacophony of birds in the background would be as close to heaven as one could find
“Wild Lavender where ever we look.”
Or a horizon covered in green corn fields, tan wheat fields or acres of sunflowers with their plate sized blossoms tracking the westbound sun?
“A checkerboard countryside.”
Then there is the occasional cow pasture with curious white cows inspecting our big baby as we pass
“Our curious friends.”
For most this would qualify as being as good as it gets. But in this beautiful country there is even more, with its crystal clear cerulean sky speckled with cotton ball clouds reflected in the mirrored waters of our liquid highway along side the reflection of magnificent trees that we continually float past
“Our beautiful liquid highway.”
How could paradise be any better? Well I now know. I have finally found the secret to a long and happy life, and yet it was so simple. My paradise lies within the confines of a fresh baguette. Yes, a sandwich that is like no other, and of course the French had to invent it.
This sandwich is so incredible, so spectacular that words do not do it justice. Only pictures can come close to describing the real thing. To create this luxury of all luxuries you start with a fresh baguette. You know the kind? You slice it open and there’s just a hint of yeast in the air, freshness you can’t find anywhere but in the finest of baked goods. Then you take copious amounts of mayo and heap it on. I’m not talking about a few measly tablespoons I mean a real mound of mayonnaise, enough to make any self-respecting cardiologist go into cardiac arrest
“For my trip to heaven I need loads of mayo.”
And now for the big finale, or as the French say, the piece-de-resistance. You take palm frites, yes French fries, and pile them on. But you can’t use just any fries they have to have grease, and lots of it. I’m talking about the kind of fries where you can really see the shinny, gooey, gelatinous, vessel clogging fat. None of those sissy fries where you don’t know what you’re eating, no these are real man fries. Finally you have to add salt, and like everything else that makes up this ultimate of all sandwiches you have to add a lot. Now if that’s not the definitive vegetarian all out healthy meal then I don’t know what is. All I can say is enjoy because I sure did.
“Welcome to Nirvana.”
“Lisa and some friends.”
“A view from the kitchen window.”
-Tom Miller
Author of “The Wave” – a Chuck Palmer Adventure novel
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About the Author:
Tom Miller graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. He is a consummate adventurer with over 1,000 dives as a recreational scuba diver, and an avid sailor who has traveled 65,000 miles throughout the Pacific including the Hawaiian Islands. Miller has also cruised the canals of Europe on his canal barge and given numerous lectures on cruising the canals of Europe, as well as sailing in the South Pacific. Piloting is also an interest of Miller's, and He has completed over 1,000 hours flying everything from small Cessnas to Lear jets.