Day 165: Welcome

Dinner Menu:

• Coucou de Rennes au paprika fourrée aux pommes
• Pommes de terres et carottes au four
• Haricots verts
• Yaourt au brebis avec groseilles et myrtilles
• Eau avec bulles maison

This weekend was the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine.  Its 2 days during which buildings of historical or cultural interest which are normally not freely accessible open their doors to the public.  Last year we visited the Palais Royal which houses the Conseil Constitutionnel, the Conseil d'État and the Ministry of Culture (and happens to be the place where we had Lunch on Fianna and I's wedding day).  This year we visited the Cour des comptes which is the body that verifies all French public accounts (like the National Audit Office).  The building itself was quite interesting one of many quite grandiose state buildings we have in Paris.  But I was more impressed by the fact that the President of the institution was there himself to welcome all comers individually and the Secretary General and other Senior Civil servants were there to answer questions and give information on the work of the Court.  I was thinking it would make a big difference if people could do that with all state institutions at least once a year.