Reflections in Paris and Vietnamese Soup
Trip Start
Aug 21, 2006
1
11
70
Trip End
Dec 18, 2006
Paris,
France
Saturday, September 9, 2006
As you may have guessed, everyone seems to smoke here....on the street, of course at the cafe's and during meals. I had smokers all around me at my table. I am a rather vehement non-smoker in the states, but here, I have tried to stay low profile since I am a visitor and consider it part of the European experience. After the smokers, a rather forward young Polish guy sat down. We determined quite quickly that we shared no common language
01-Typical Street Vendor along Seine
. However, that did not deter him as he ordered the white wine for two! Luckily, I had finished my meal and headed on out (after a glass of wine, of course?). It was quite amusing...On a completely different note, a friend ask me to write about reflections on religion and spirituality during my trip since I would be visiting so many places. As you all know, I'm not known for extended philosophical reflection, but I'll do my best.
While the cathedrals have been amazing works of architecture, the vast crowds, snapping photos, flashes and loud talking have made these visits something less than spiritually uplifting. I am shocked at how disrespectful many of the foreign visitors are and at how lax the security and caretakers are who are supposed to be protecting and enforcing the rules in these places.
But then, in some of the less popular sites, I have observed a few locals sitting quietly amongst the vast empty chairs praying and silently refecting. Usually, it is an elderly couple, or often times single women, sitting in the silence, with the light bouncing off of the stained glass. While I stand among them, in silence, I begin to experience a greater spiritual connection to the place.
