Day Five Paris

With the time zone differences from MST, I spent a reflective early morning reading the highlights from conference. I will enjoy reading and listening to the whole of it when I am home. The sun rewarded the Paris Marathoners for showing up. With 50,000 runners running through the streets we thought it would be mayhem but surprisingly it wasn't. Peter Some from Kenya - of course - won the race in less than two hours and a quarter. As we walked towards Notre Dame, we saw legions of runners on the right bank. I remember those days when running was such freedom. At Notre Dame visitors can file through around the periphery of the cathedral even during mass. The stained glass is breathtaking and its quite impressive to hear the organ fill that enormous space. From the cathedral, we worked our way through the Latin Quarter and then along Ste. Germaine towards the Luxembourg Gardens where the Medici family had a palace. The Chaugal exhibit was our objective at the Luxembourg museum;however, the weather was so much warmer and the line was so much longer here that we abandoned that plan and enjoyed walking the circumference of the gardens. This garden is a playground for all of Paris it seemed. People playing bolles, children playing soccer, young men playing pick up basketball, small children swinging, older ones riding carts. Thou there were a few people running, most everyone was leisurely enjoying the spring day outdoors. People strolling, many sunning themselves, a few reading. What was so apparent was their absolute pleasure in being outside. On our long and often indirect way home we stopped by St. Souplice of Da Vinci Code fame though I no longer knew nor cared how it factored in the story. Catholic Churches in Paris are open to the public and I saw many seeking to connect with the God of their understanding. Paris streets are neither wide nor straight lines but JS is a good navigator and we made it home six hours later. My knees are swollen and very uncomfortable. A little tiger balm rub and a rest fanned the burning ache. I had a doubt this afternoon as I hobbled along that perhaps I should have declined the invitation for this trip until after my knee surgery. I hate being gimpy. Which brings me to an observation today as we sat having our lunch outside. In all this humanity and bustle, I have only seen one person in a wheelchair. The narrow sidewalks and cobblestones make it nearly impossible for them to be outside. This perspective helped me feel grateful I could get around and I stopped feeling sorry for myself. We ate our dinner tonight at a restaurant just two doors from our apartment. We had consulted reviews and went with no expectations. Good job we didn't. I've eaten a French meal every day. They are grossly overpriced and leave very little to remember. Except for the salt caramel macaroons, salt caramel ice cream and lemon tarts, and the bread, the food has been quite ordinary. Is it because we are all better cooks? Or that we enjoy a wide variety of fresh produce? Spices don't seem to be part of the recipe. I have purposely not added the names where we ate because they are not places I would return. Tomorrow we are headed to Fountainbleu and the Vaux le Vicomte which was the inspiration for Versailles. It's about an hour out of the city. It's going to be an adventure. Google these to see how magnificent they are. One last thing I want to add here: French men wear the best shoes. Suede, leather, coloured, beautiful design. They look fabulous.