So Paris is amazing. I mean I wish there was a word for how amazing and wonderful it is...but frankly there just isn't. I don't think I have ever been as pleased for life through travel before. Breathtaking.
The bike tour was a lovely adventure and our wonderfully adorably small group (6) was able to get acquainted with the city over 4 hours and to chat up the pretty cute guy who started the company with his best friend after quitting a marketing job. Sweet.
The train (by the way) was a fantastic mode of transportation -- lovely views, bags of food, good conversations and sun rises.
But back on point, after the tour we went to D'Orsay (so paletable, especially compared to the Louvre...) and had all that impressionistically wonderful art that makes me think of my mother and grandmother.
We had delicious (cheap! -- compared to Barca!) food. And I felt full and satisified and ahhhh! The food! The bread... Wandering around was so amazing. I feel like I have an entirely new concept of beauty now...
Also, the entire trip we couch-surfed.
The first night, we met up with Florie and she was a DOLL. I mean, a doll...she had to run to Tai Chi and we wandered, got some frites, and a bottle of wine (and finally an opener! the wonderful French man in the store helped us translate ourselves with sound effects and hand motions :) And then we sat down and out of no where I had my first view of that little ol' famous landmark they were planning to tear down right after the World Fair... and it was twinkling. I literally gasped.
The fun thing is, that couch surfing took us away from central Paris. We were able to wander and listen to french and even try our hand at a bit ourselves.
I was amazed at how wonderfully patient and helpful and kind people were after prepping myself for the infamous Parisian cruelty. Honestly: we just didn't see it. People were nicer there to us than anywhere I've ever been. At one point, a woman came over without any prompting from us (we're convinced she was an angel) came over and navigated us through a complex exchange we had to do (2 trains, a bus, a metro...all outside of the city to get to Clarisse -- our next couch) and goodness....when I mean navigate she basically held our hand. Walked us to the station we'd never have found...took us to the machine, pushed the buttons took us to the platforms and waited for us to get on. All without a word comphrensibly passed between the two of us...
When we got to the station, there was a mini-panic because Clarisse was stuck in traffic and we were outside of the city, at night, with all our valuables in a strange place. But as the theme of the trip: God provided and kept us safe and got us to Clarisse's. We stayed in with her (she is a gorgeous, kind, infinitely chill woman) and she not only picked us up, made us a bed, offered us her computer, highlighted our maps, cooked us dinner (fries and chicken with delicious juice) but she let us call our mommies, daddies and JT as well. It was heaven.
We got up bright and early the next day and went on the whirlwind tour of France. We headed over to Lillie's place around 5.30 which is good because we got so lost and wandered about on beautiful foggie Parisian streets for a good hour until we took a taxi to the street where the sign had fallen off. Lillie was a precious creature with a delicate accent and huge eyes and a smile that made you. We gave her kisses, dropped our bags and ran out to catch up with Maggie for our pre-arranged 9am meeting that we were now desperately late to.
When we got there 30 minutes late, we were distraught to see no Maggie...so we wandered around, went in the Louvre and after a lot of effort decided to art-it a bit. I saw all that stuff I'm supposed to, got the feeling of how the Louvre can make you feel sick unless you have the time to savour it (like a very rich dessert?) and we got lost.
Frustrated with our terrible sense of direction, we wandered outside and got in line again, sweeping for Maggie one more time...and we're in line, a bit frazzled and sad when we hear her voice. Out of all million people in line for the Louvre -- she is right behind us. I get chills. Thank Yeshua for hearing my prayers for her...(she had NO phone and if we didn't meet we had no backup plan)...and she runs over and sobs and tells us her amazing story of frazzledness and Parisian kindness.
Just a touch about her story, a flamboyantly wonderful man saw her start sobbing in the street, swept her away with a "Love Love don't cry" and a few hugs and comfort and walked her to the station, gave her tickets because she was out of money and even money to call us from a payphone. God at work in mysterious, and wonderful ways no?
So we are overjoyed, wander the Louvre, peace out after a bit and go to the Petit Palais. And the exhibit is stunning. After Champs Elysee. Share crepes. Peer around and go to the Rodin musee which is -- boo -- closed. But the garden isn't. And lovely human beings are kissing and running their children around and I fall in love and miss JT like my heart is breaking. And then it's off to Napoleon's HUGE tomb. To the (closed) Picasso and then in another stroke of wonderous fate decide as a ditch to go to the Modern Art Museum -- my favourite.
The Modern Art Museum is so open -- so different -- so practical. It is paletable and spacious and un-crowded. The views are fabulous. Parisians chill outside with wine and be awesome. The museum is interactive and huge and wonderful and playful and thought-provoking. The works are explained in english and I really came out delighted.
After -- as the sun is setting we head to Montmarte. WOW! Is all I can say. It was a fabulous choice...with the rows and rows of wine and cheese being sold we grabbed a cheap bottle (our second cheap bottle -- did I mention we got one earlier?) and sat down with a pipe and music and lights and view that rocks socks and the church behind us and people chattering and loving eachother in all sorts of languages. And we just talk and smoke and breathe.
After we head to the Moulin Rouge -- overpriced -- so we go to three strip clubs for free as the only girls. Have a hilarously wonderful time and I'd be lying to say that I didn't do a little something on an empty pole.
Then to the Eiffey Tower. Some food split on the way (more yummy and we're dying of joy) and then we see it. All lit and blue. And just wander. Oh my!
Yes it is large. And by the way. The Mona Lisa isn't that small it's just not gargantum...or large even. And cool story: did you know that Paris was supposed to be leveled because before retreating Hitler placed dynamite under the city and ordered his general to destroy the city because "If I can't have it no one can have Paris" and a wonderful man convinced the general not to do it!
Cool, eh?
Now. Notre Dame was a let down for me. I can see why the revolutionaries wanted to tear it down brick by brick. It's hard for me to feel God in a place that feels so contradictory. It is what worries me about the chruch in every way. What I pray to understand.
But everyone was just so kind. So heartfelt and helpful. Everyone we asked for directions gave them with a smile and indulged our pathetic attempts at French. It was lovely in a way...a way that ... oh goodness.
But it was whaat I needed.
So much so. And I thank God for holding it all together so carefully and gently where so much could've gone wrong. He was there. All the time. I'm overjoyed. And on the train to Marseille I cried and read and listened to music and watched the sun rise and felt whole and at peace.
And all is well in my world.
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