Out of the Blue: A world view of our past and future

I recently returned from an exotic trip to three continents. I am ridiculously privileged, not only to travel but also to be able to return to a place as near-perfect as Laguna in autumn.

My good fortune is never lost on me, and it helps me appreciate how very First World our problems are. And how so many of our perspectives are shaped by bias and manipulation.

Such is the case with the Middle East. While there are aspects of the Islamic faith that could never square with me, such as the treatment of women and the lack of gay rights, others bear an uncanny resemblance to Christianity — including discrimination against women and gays.

The religion includes service to community and helping others; a morality against criminal behavior; a piousness that doesn’t condone drunks or druggies; and a tolerance of other religions. These make visiting a pleasure.

It’s a society where you can find a wallet in the street, hand it to the nearby kebab shop and be assured it will find its way back to its owner, contents intact. As my companion and I did.

But this was Turkey, one of the “secular” Arab countries. It’s a vast breadbasket and burgeoning powerhouse, and certainly a model of how Islam can co-exist with the world.

I also went to the African bush, which will take your breath away. To be in the ooze, the cradle, where it all began, and where primordial life still takes place — as if frozen in time — is stunning, humbling and rich beyond words. It changes your perspective and rocks your belief system.

We are not entitled to ravish the Earth’s resources. The planet belongs to a beautiful melange of animals, plants and trees. It is the dung beetle burrowing into excrement to lay eggs and have sustenance for its newborn. It’s elephant droppings birthing into palm trees. It’s predators, scavengers, omnivores and herbivores living in balance.

After being immersed in that, a smooth reentry into Laguna was anything but assured. Luckily my beloved and I were able to ease the assimilation with a stopover in Paris. My daughter has lived there for eight years, so the visit wasn’t just about gluttony and decadence. It was for family — and bread.

I love Paris. But not just for its rich historical architecture and abiding commitment to all things beautiful, sensual and intoxicating. I also love the way this city looks forward, continuing to innovate to relieve the ever-intensifying problem of traffic congestion.

We found a charming artist space on Airbnb, which has changed the way people travel. Pick a neighborhood, anywhere in the world, be entrusted with someone’s beautiful home and live like a local.

Across the street from our flat was one of France’s most treasured institutions, the boulangerie — our beacon from the cold, a home to moist, wonderful, buttery croissants.

After breakfast that first morning, my daughter wanted to visit the new Frank Gehry-designed Louie Vuitton Museum across town in the Bois de Boulogne. It was raining, so we walked to a nearby Autolib’, the electric-car share that has kiosks all over town.

My daughter had already reserved a car on her smartphone. We hopped in, the dashboard lit up and welcomed her with a personalized message, and music was already playing from a station she had previously selected. The car was spacious and had plenty of pep.

When we got to the museum, a space was waiting. She plugged the car back in, and was promptly texted a receipt showing the charge — easy, cheap and non-polluting.

By the way, the museum was spectacular.

When we left, my daughter pulled out her phone again, reserved the nearest car and off we went.

Paris is easily the most multimodal town I have ever experienced. Share bikes from Velib’ and share cars from Autolib’ are ubiquitous. The city also has bicycle lanes and express lanes for buses, an extensive metro system, taxis and Uber. Plus, it is very walkable.

The mayor has a goal to eliminate cars. After being in the animal kingdom, I realized that cars have had no predators, have spawned incessantly and now overrun civilizations across the globe. It’s time for a culling.

An old but progressive city like Paris knows this, that long after cars become untenable, it will still be there in all its beaux arts and amber-lit glory — and visitors will be too. Sitting at a cafe drinking Pernod, watching the electric- and human-powered buggies pass by.

After such inspiration, it was indeed a soft landing in Laguna, what with Thanksgiving and the usual mix of gluttony and great weather. It made me grateful to be here. And optimistic that Laguna’s new leadership will lead us into a multimodal, less-car-dependent and more pedestrian-safe future.

April may be for Paris. OK maybe even May and June. But Laguna, the rest of the year is all yours.

BILLY FRIED has a radio show on KX93.5 from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursdays called “Laguna Talks.” He is the chief experience officer of La Vida Laguna and member of the board of Transition Laguna. He can be reached at [email protected].