Part II Paris

We used to say "How can they stay on the farm now that they have seen Gay Paris?" That was in the days when gay meant something other than sexual orientation. But the saying still has merit. The city seems to vibrate - you can hear laughter everywhere and it is not uncommon to see two lovers kissing passionately in the middle of the day. There is a whole lot of love going on in Paris.

Taking the Eurostar from London to Paris was effortless. Quick. No airport security hassel. No lineups. And once you arrive at Gare du Nord you just hop on the metro - Paris has one of the best underground transportation systems in the world. Safe. Clean. Navigable.
We rented a two storey apartment in the Latin Quarter right across the street from Notre Dame. From here we could walk just about anywhere we wanted to go or take a metro. So accessible. And the apartment was comfortable, clean and a nice change from a hotel room. If you want the address for future travel, I would be happy to share.

Each time I heard the church bells peel, I thought of Quasimodo. These pictures do not even begin to show the gothic style nor the gargoyles nor the saints who stand sentinel along one wall. Apparently during the revolution, the people incorrectly thought they were kings and so they chopped off their heads in defiance to the throne.

Though you could spend days in the Louvre, after three hours we were just overwhelmed and tired. The size, scale, scope of art exceeds all expectation. When we went to see the Mona Lisa, I confess that what I observed was a huge turn off. A protective glare glass now prevents eager photographers from coming up close and so we saw a crowd about 50 deep with raised arms shooting their pictures. This was a huge turnoff for me. I judged that their taking a picture of the Mona Lisa was for bragging rights and nothing more. Certainly there are better produced and more readily available copies.

Sunday after church we enjoyed visiting the musee d'orsay. A former train station it houses "modern" art from 1848-1914. The art here is recognizable; familiar like old friends. The museum is not overwhelming and the whole atmosphere was upbeat.

We followed the Seine River to the Eiffel Tour one day. It's pretty impressive to consider that Gustav has two of the most highly recognizable icons in the world: the Stature of Liberty in New York and the Eiffel Tour. We didn't want to wait in the long line up to go up top to catch a magnificient view BUT standing exactly underneath the tower was quite a remarkable experience in feeling insignificant. A day later when we took a boat ride along the Seine after dark we enjoyed seeing the Tower all lit up. Impressive. I kept telling myself that I wasn't looking at a post card. I was in the post card!

The Tuileries Gardens which once belonged to the King, are now public gardens where people picnic, rest, stroll. As we were walking along I saw a woman pick up something just in front of me. She had found a gold ring and tried it on. It didn't fit. She thought is was mine. I said no. She asked if I wanted it. I said no. She insisted. And then she asked for money. She was totally trying to scam me.

What you really notice about the nights in Paris are all the people outside. They eat outside. They drink outside. They visit with their friends. The streets are like our living rooms. And so the atmosphere always seems friendly and festive.

Taking this boat ride was a very romantic fun loving experience. Seeing all the attractions lit up satisfied that wandering spirit within me. Revellers sat on the steps of this bridge singing and laughing. The whole experience was joyful. We discovered our last night in Paris St. Julienne Church where they hold concerts. B agreed to come with me to hear a tribute to Pavoratti. While B nearly came unglued, I enjoyed the evening and the atmosphere of that medieval church made it even more satisfying.

Imagine our surprise when we went to Sacrament Meeting in Paris where we met some old friends who we have not seen in at least 17 years. They were touring Europe as well and we enjoyed having dinner and spending some time with them the following day. I am always touched with the sociality the gospel of Jesus Christ brings to my life.

Though I saw many street people, smelled urine and saw feces frequently, I still love Paris. They know how to relax and enjoy themselves. They know how to cook a delicious meal. They know how to design clothing. There is so much yet to see and do. I want to go to Versailles. I want to see Normandie. I want to go back to Montmarte. I want to ride my bike along the Seine River. I promise that I will go back. You'll read about the Italian portion of our trip tomorrow.