Something Special

1.26.07

During my last visit with the Suits, H said to me that there is just something special about Paris...something in the air. (Okay, I don't really rememeber word for word what he said, but it was something along those lines.) Right before I left the US, I'd bought this box filled with 50 cards. On each card is a detailed walk through an area of Paris. I figured I'd try to do one a week or so. I took the first walk by myself last week, and decided that I agree with H.

The first walk starts in the most logical place--where Paris began. The city is like a big circle, with the river Seine running through it's horizontal middle. In the river are two islands, and this was were Paris was born forever ago. Paris is considered France's heart, and the larger of these two islands is Paris' heart. It's simply called, "The Cite."

On the Cite is the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Now I must confess...I think there are other churches that are prettier than ND. The front of her is pretty common looking to the churches I saw on a regular basis in Portugal. And inside, well...I've said for year, "If you've seen one big European Catholic church, you've seen them all." So far I have not found ND to be any different. (I'm sure Victor Hugo is rolling over in his grave.)

However. And that is one big however.

I love Notre Dame. She is currently my favorite thing in the city. I love being on the island and really feeling that I am in the HEART of the city. I love standing in front of the cathedral and imagining Esmerelda (of the Hunchback of Notre Dame) dancing there. I loved being up in the towers with the gargoyles and feeling like I was friends with Quasimodo. And on the day of my walk #1, I discovered another reason I love Notre Dame.

I stumbled upon a special presentation the cathedral was giving about the nativity. Light, art, music, and Biblical readings combined together for a worship experience that brought tears to my eyes. To sit in such a grand place and hear the story of Christ being born was amazing. To listen carefully and realize that it was a gospel presentation--nothing Catholic (Mary worship) about it whatsoever just moved me to the core. I sat there and thought about how God deserves to be worshiped in such grandeur as a place like Notre Dame, and He is worthy of being at the very Heart, at the Cite, of each of us...and how if only that message being proclaimed in that place would spread out from there the way the city spread out from there. I was blessed by the experience.

I continued on my walk and found the flower market, another place I think I will frequent often during my time here. I kept meandering around the island, and found my way to it's tip, which is crossed by Paris' oldest bridge. I slowly strolled the bridge, just taking it in that I was taking a casual walk along the Seine. I turned, and there in the distance, was the Eiffel Tower, glowing in the night.

At that moment, I don't know that I can define why--I agreed with H. There's something special about Paris.