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There are days when the universe decides to behave. Birds sing, traffic flows, and your GPS doesn’t throw a tantrum. Today was one of those rare gems.

At precisely 8am (yes, Klaus and I can be punctual when caffeinated), we hit the road for an 875km jaunt from Hannover to the sun-drenched western suburbs of Paris. The destination? My friends Valérie and Christian’s charming abode. The mission? Make it there in one piece, on time, without being swallowed by the Autobahn or the Ring of Perpetual Misery around Paris.

And against all odds—no wrong turns, no mysterious roadworks, no rogue sheep—we did it. Germany, Belgium, France: check, check, and merci beaucoup.

Sure, the Paris ring roads were doing their usual impression of a traffic-themed Cirque du Soleil, but hey, we moved. The real surprise? A sizzling 32°C that made us feel like we’d accidentally driven into the Riviera.

No sooner had we parked than Christian suggested a walk. Fair enough—he’s on strict doctor’s orders post-heart-attack (the serious kind, with stoppage and all), and after eight hours of car yoga, our legs were begging for mercy. So we strolled, admired the sun-drenched charm of suburbia, and earned our next reward.

Which came, of course, in the form of an aperitif. Then dinner. Not just any dinner, mind you—rabbit stew. Yes, a rabbit gave its life for our dining pleasure, and frankly, it was worth it. Delicious, tender, and enjoyed alfresco, which is always a culinary bonus.

Now, the day winds down. The sun has dipped, the wine glasses are empty, and I’m about to switch off the lights with a smug little smile. Sometimes, the best adventures are the ones where everything just… works.

Tomorrow? Who knows. But today was a gold