Paris

Well, guys, I'm off to Paris for the weekend.

Bring us stuff!

Yeah, bring us stuff!

They've got lots of good stuff in Paris! Sackfuls!
We stayed with our friends Letitia and Bruno, and their miniature cat Kikou.

Then we had dinner with all sorts of cool people who make movies and write books and travel all over the world.Was there any food left???

Did you bring us any?

On Sunday we had a picnic in the park. It was a tiny bit cold still for a picnic, but it was nice.
Did you bring us any???

Then we went walking around and saw lots of great stuff.

??
That's it?

Noshing with statuary and you're done?

And of course I brought you a present.
Yea!!!
I knew he'd bring us something!
What is it?

It's a book! About primates. Letitia wrote it herself.
A book?
He brought us a book?
I don't get it.
.
*sigh* you rats never want anything but food...
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Neussargues

What's up? been looking all over for you.

We wanted to watch the France-Italy match.

Don't worry - I taped it.
I spent the day exploring Neussargues!

Noose arts?
Neussargues. It's a nice little town. We took a train and had a sandwich and went hiking.
Sounds like a lot of work.
Except for the sandwich part.
Did you save us any?

No, we ate it all. Hiking is good exercise.

We went up and down hills and across fields and all over.

If you want to walk around in the mud, just go in the back yard.
Save yourself some trouble.

But we saw a castle!
Up close?
Were there dungeons?
Was there jousting?
Were they torturing anyone?
Noooo, we only saw it from a long way away. It was kind of a ruin.

Well. Shoulda stayed in the yard.
Yeah.

You rats have no sense of adventure!

Got any more pretzels?
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Ussel

We're going to Ussel!

I don't know why. We just are.
It's a nice little town.
Very quiet, and grey.

It's got a neat-o statue.

There were no actual people dancing in the streets on this cold and windy weekend.

The people were mostly smart and stayed in.

We were not quite so smart.
We went for a long walk around,
in the occassional snow, looking for that special Ussel thing.

In the park somebody had left a collection of beer bottle caps.
That was about it.

Here's my favorite part!
Sitting in a bar having a nice hot coffee before catching our ride home.

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SuperWarren

It looks like we're having snow this winter after all.

This clearing the walk is hard work.
I wonder if my cape has Super Snow Removal powers.

At the least, it'll be warm.
Now, where did I put it?

I could have sworn I folded it neatly and put it away...

Psst!
Hey! Alien Guy!
My name is Warren, and I'm a gecko, not an alien.
Yeah whatever.
We've got this great Superhero cape for you!

A superhero cape?
Yeah! It's got all sorts of super powers, like Incredible Strength, and X-ray vision.

Try it on.

Well, it would be nice to have help getting rid of all this snow.

It can do that!
Yeah!

Instant Spring.

Hi Laars. Have you seen my Superhero cape?
Who, me? No. Never saw it.
I've just been sitting here reading The Economist.
Now, you stay here and think real hard about warm weather and chirping birds and all that spring business, and

*Presto*

Springtime!

Thanks, guys. I'll concentrate on Warm.

Hi Astrid, Hi Bjorn, have you seen my Superhero cape?
Nope. Never did. Didn't touch it.

...

Hey, what are you doing with the knitting, anyway?

We're helping!

Yeah!

You're such nice, helpful rats.

Where's Warren? Anybody seen Warren?
He's been gone all day.
Uhhhh, I think he said something about phoning home.
Oh, Okay. Let me know if you see him around.

*the next morning*

It's still out there!
Wow!
Incredible!

Brrrrrr.....

It doesn't look like this Instant Spring thing is working...

I'd go in for some coffee,
but I seem to be frozen.

Oh there you are Warren, I've been looking all over for you!
Brrrr....
I see you found my Superhero cape!
Brrrr....

Let's go in and get some hot coffee.
Good idea.
Look, Nancy swept the stairs for us,
and cleared the walk.
And she didn't even use Superpowers!
.

About those superpowers, Maurice...
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Strasbourg

Let's get in the luggage, quick. It's time to leave for Strasbourg.

Hey, isn't it the end of January already?
When are they going to put away the last of the Christmas decorations?

What is it?
It's Art.

Are you sure?

Look! A special treat! The European Parliament!
Oh. How special.

Isn't this exciting!
Is it supposed to be exciting?
Of course it is: It's Parliament!!!

I'm overwhelmed.
Can't you just feel the energy of dedicated men and women working hard for a better, more perfect union of Europe?
Is that what it is? I thought the rumbling was just this pod getting ready to go back to its home planet.

Playing on the swings - that's more like it!
Be careful Warren.

oof.

Um, perhaps we can find something fun to do that's both fun, and not so bruising.

Okay.
We'll watch the swans go by in the canals.

And then we can go find something to eat.

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