The Crazy Canucks riding the open air tour bus in Paris in late December

Paris in less than two days - Episode Ten

Following our short but amazing tour of the Louvre, we undertook another short tour, on the tour bus. While trying to make earphones work in the frigid air, we huddled together on the top level of the open air bus. We shivered with glee as we crossed Paris' oldest bridge, across the River Seine and arrived at a courtyard in front of the Cathedral de Notre Dame.

We had pre-paid for the tour bus, but until we arrived in Paris, we didn't know that it kind of went in the wrong direction for what we wanted to accomplish each day. We relied, instead, on the Metro system to get quickly to Eiffel, the Arc de Triomphe and the museums. But, now we finally had an opportunity to use our non-refundable tour bus passes. It was dark, it was incredibly cold, but we used them and had a lot of fun doing so.

Loving the Louvre

Paris in less than two days - Episode Nine

Less than two days to do Paris? No problem. How about less than two hours to do the Louvre? Well... let's do it anyway.

As the unofficial tour guide for our group's visit to the Louvre (big mistake - I had never been there myself), I was pushing for us to find the underground entrance with the ticket machines and shorter lines. Well, it was a good idea, but I had no idea that entering through the Glass Pyramid actually took us to the ticket machines and the short lines. Anyway, we got in okay.

It was a marvelous experience for everyone in the group. I was particularly enamoured with seeing the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. The other displays were also wonderful and just being in the building with its ornate architecture was thrilling. It was not enough time to do it justice, but I am so glad that we made the effort to go there. It was definitely worth it.

A Nigerien Reunion

On June 21 I was blessed to attend an evening gathering with everyone from our Niger team to see Mike, LaRae, Mitchell and Ariana Schmidt, who are on a short break in North America. It was so good to see team members, to renew our friendships forged in the African desert. It was so good also to interact again with the Schmidt family.

Our friends in Niger look tired, but well. It was great we could discuss football, education, politics, the Nigerien mail system and anything else interesting that came to mind. Our team asked about people we had met in Madaoua and how they were doing. The news wasn't always what we had hoped and prayed for, but it was still good to know.

It was especially good to hear Mike remark that his family was blessed to be able to have a contact group back home, like our Niger team, that can relate closely to them and their life in Niger when they return home. In addition, Mike stated that our team's family members were also now part of the larger group that can relate to the Schmidts when they come to North America and share their story of their ministry in West Africa.

So, along with the active hands on ministry in which our team was involved in Niger, our other purpose of blessing and relating to Mike and LaRae, and to Mitchell and Ariana was also important. As they had hoped, they now have more close friends in North American who understand their situation in Madaoua, and who can laugh and cry with them about their experiences there. Please pray for the Schmidts whenever they come to mind.

Icing on the Tower

Paris in less than two days - Episode Eight

"It is so cold!" That was the typical refrain for a "hardy" bunch of Canadian prairie people waiting in line for the next elevator to the upper level of the Eiffel Tower. But, up we all went, braving the ice and cold breezes at the highest level for tourists on the tower. It was a great feeling being up so high, but the view just wasn't there, due to heavy fog. The middle level was much better.

We circumnavigated the centre level for that perfect snapshot of the Seine, the ships, the spires and the impressive Parliament. The view here was just awesome. The Fleuve du Seine just shimmered under the overcast sky. The bridges were beautiful and the classic edifices scattered about the area were simply majestic.

One particular fan of Billy Joel took the opportunity to coerce another team member into videotaping him "singing" the old hit song Second Wind, which the original artist recorded at the Eiffel Tower. It must have been the extreme cold that prevented the current singer from remembering most of the lyrics and basically getting the tune wrong. The videographer was most gracious in reassuring the singer that the performance was "all right."

Another prairie born couple took the opportunity for a few romantic moments on the tower, as this day was their anniversary. As they say, "when in Paris do as the Parisians do."

Coming down from the great heights, our team was satisfied and still in great awe at having experienced the sensation of seeing the world from the Eiffel Tower.

More to read, later...

Awesome l'Arc de Triomphe

Paris in less than two days - Episode Seven

Only a short metro ride north of the Eiffel Tower is the Arc de Triomphe. I remember seeing a slide of it when I was a kid. My school principal had been there and taken a picture of the edifice from the street when there was a break in traffic. Crazy fool. But more about that later.

I was just thrilled to see this awesome archway. It was after dark and the floodlights gave it a mysterious appearance. The Eiffel Tower's searchlight penetrated the dark sky from a distance, but was greatly dwarfed by this colossus, at the head of le Champs d'Elysees. From the metro exit, we then found our way under the street through a tunnel to the foot of the arch.

Along the tunnel pedway artists hawked their masterpieces and found willing purchasers in our group. I didn't blame them for buying; the sketches and paintings were just beautiful. I resisted the temptation to buy as I couldn't figure out a good way to transport the works home, via Africa. The tunnel itself was nifty with its dimly lit hallway and eclectic pedestrians.

Exiting the tunnel, we walked up to the edifice and could venture inside to gaze upward at the equisite architecture. It was solid and steadfast, but charming and lovely. Standing outside the arch, and nearest to the Champs d'Elysees, you could stand over a lightsource beaming up from below the pavement. The effect was surreal and funny, seeing the dark shadows over our rosy cheeks.

But, back to the busy street. From across the north east intersection, as I stared in wonder at the gorgeous arch, our team leader remarked to me about the fascinating traffic around the Arc de Triomphe. As I watched I could not believe what I was seeing. From five intersections surrounding the arch, five or so lanes circumnavigated the archway. The traffic was simply crazy.

A car would enter from our left and would aim itself towards the arch waiting for an opening on the outer lane. It inched forward as a couple of lanes suddenly moved to its outside. Finally it would accelerate into an inner lane in the same direction as the rest of the vehicles. There seemed to be no order to the circular traffic. You just drove into the maze of automobiles and navigated your way through the bedlam.

To a mesmerized western Canadian boy this appeared to be utter chaos. However, there was no horn honking and everyone seemed to function with the madness of entering, negotiating lane changes, and somehow exiting. Despite all appearances, everything was in complete control. Seems like a good lesson for a travelling cross-cultural team.

More on day two later...

Le diner

Paris in less than two days - Episode Six

After wandering about in our new neighborhood, our team happened upon a nifty petite Parisien restaurant. A group of 12 mostly unilingual English persons sitting at a long table right in the middle of the main room was surely most conspicuous. But the enjoyment was all ours.

You start with the bread (le pain) and enjoy that while your mind debates over duck (canard) versus foie gras (goose liver). Well, not a tough choice there. However, if you are the adventurous male roommates, you try the escargots for an appetizer.

Again, kudos to Barb for her tireless assistance in placing orders (did she ever receive a tip?). Eventually, all were happy with their choices taken off the wall menus. The bread kept coming and the water (l'eau) kept flowing.

At the end, we had to sample the authentic french custard desserts. Scrumptious. Then, after fighting over the bill (to make sure the other team member didn't pay too much) we were off to see more of the Paris nightlife.

The night is still young yet...

Iron Eyesore?

Paris in less than two days - Episode Five

The tour guide books mention the negative attitude of some (many?) Parisiens to all the hype about its most recognizable feature. I have long thought of the Eiffel Tower as just one of a number of great emblems of beautiful Paris. I did not realize the local attitude that this creation of a somewhat recent World's Fair cannot compare with the sheer elegance of older attractions.

Nonetheless, the tower is striking and was a big hit with our group. After all, we made three separate trips to the tower to gaze in awe. Despite the lack of appreciation by some locals, the iron structure is impressive. Even if one thinks it lacks artistry, one must still marvel at this majestic architectural triumph on the south bank of the Seine.

More on the "Iron Eyesore" later...

The local bistro

Paris in less than two days - Episode Four

Managing to please the eclectic culinary tastes of a group of twelve who range in age from 14 to 77, with a little of everything in between, and varying backgrounds, is an amazing feat. Yet, our leader(s) happily herded us into a lovely little bistro just down the street from our hotel.

The atmosphere was unmistakable. We heard chit chat en francais from other tables. The menus in your hand and on the wall challenged the uniligual English reader. Our friendly bilingual waiter took our orders with his beautiful French accent.

After finding the right place to eat, the individual challenge was what to order. I won't bore you by repeating my account of ordering the foie gras, which you can re-read in an earlier blog. The best money was on the french onion soup and the hot chocolate. Sorry, Lucille, that they kind of forgot to cook your omelette all the way through.

There was still an excited buzz among the exhausted group, that we were actually dining in Paris! And that our fascinating European experience would continue.

More later... (Okay, okay, last entry I promised "More tomorrow", and it has been three days. My apologies)