On April 29th, the very next day after posting our last blog, we took the train into Paris. We had bought a book called "10 Walks to Discover Paris", and decided to take walk #1, which covered the Ile de la Cite and the Ile Saint Louis. This walk begins at the Pont Neuf, which you see in the background of the first picture, and goes the length of the two islands in the Seine River in the oldest part of the heart of Paris. In French, if you say you are as strong as the Pont Neuf, it means you are healthy and strong. The Pont Neuf is interesting for several reasons. It is the oldest original bridge still standing in Paris. It is also the first bridge built with no houses on it. It is the first bridge built with niches where people can sit and visit or where vendors can sell their wares.
On the west end of Ile de la Cite, right on the point of the island, is a little park. It was filled with local Parisians eating picnic lunches with their families. Apparently not many tourists come here.
A little farther on our walk, we found this wonderful old astronomical clock, which is claimed to be the oldest public clock in Paris. On the left and right sides of the clock are figures representing law and justice, respectively.
The next two pictures below show the Palais de Justice. Across the street from it are lawyer offices. From one of the office windows we saw this large banner calling for the release of an Iranian lawyer who had been sentenced to 33 years in prison and 148 lashes with a whip.
As we continued our walk, we discovered several streets blocked off because of the fire at the cathedral of Notre Dame. We took a detour around the back end of the cathedral, and were amazed at how much work had already started. Here are a few pictures. You can see many workman on the scaffolding and in the manlift high up in the air.
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| The crane is lowering a statue while a group in the manlift watch. |
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| You can see several workers behind the plastic curtain. |
The next Monday, May 6th, we offered to take a recently arrived senior couple, the Baird's, and an American volunteer, Brother Cook, on the same walk we had already taken. We saw many of the same sites, but also stopped at a creperie, the Louvre, and at the Pantheon.
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| Great crepes, nice lady to visit with. |
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| Back of Louvre sans fountain. |
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| Wayne as tour guide!!? |
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| The narrowest street in Paris. |
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| Under the frieze it says (in French) "To Great Men, a Thankful Country" |
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| Pantheon front view |
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| Some famous person, I forgot his name. |
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| Exhausted tourists riding the metro to the train station. |
We invited the Grasser's over for a game of Skipbo. They brought wonderful homemade ice cream and brownies. They are returning to Germany to plant their pumpkin farm. We will miss them a lot.
Janet loves to take pictures of flowers, and they are truly beautiful this cool, wet spring.
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| We posted a picture of this lonely flower two weeks ago. Look at it now! |
On May 3rd we decided to go to the Chateau of Versailles to see the newly refurbished and just reopened queen's quarters. We were again grateful for our year pass that allowed us to skip the incredible lines, but we still had to fight through the crowds to see the specific things we came to see.
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| Huge long lines in front of the chateau. |
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| Lovely gardens |
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| a king |
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| a queen with children |
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| fancy mantel clock |
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| We went online and bought tickets for the amazing night fountain and fireworks show. |
On the way home from the chateau of Versailles we stopped at an open air market, where Janet found one of her favorite treats: sugar-coated grapefruit rinds (the green things on the right). Wayne found some deliscious take-out couscous, too.
Brother Cook invited several of the senior missionaries and temple workers to play some three on three basketball. Needless to say, there were lots of sore muscles and a few bruises afterwards.
We were up too late visiting family to finish the blog on Sunday, so we are doing it Monday. We had wonderful visits via Facebook Messenger with all our kids and most of our grandkids. We are so grateful for the love of mothers everywhere, which is (usually) a wonderfully Christ-like love.
On Monday, May 13th, we were invited to visit a French couple who serve at the temple and who live in Chartres, France. After having our train cancelled, we waited an hour for the next train and had a pleasant ride from Versailles to Chartres. Brahim Zoubiri met us at the train station and took us to his lovely home in the countryside just outside of Chartres. He and his wife served us a wonderful, typical 5 course French meal and showed us around his art studio. He is a painter, and has exhibited his work in many European countries. They then took us into Chartres and showed us around the amazing, world-famous Chartres Cathedral. Needless to say, we took way more pictures than we should post, but here are a few of our favorites:
Last Tuesday, May 21st, we were asked to substitute at the Visitor's Center. While we were there, a family walked in, and we started to visit. The father, Mr. Coucourde, told us his daughter, Jahiel, was a professional cellist. I told them I played the piano, and wouldn't it be fun if we could do something together while they were here for 4 days. Well, one thing led to another, and we were invited to play several numbers at the Friday evening presentation. Jahiel sent me some music by email, and she and her parents came over to our apartment Wednesday and Thursday afternoon to practice. Wayne was worried that he wouldn't have any time to practice, especially the difficult piece, "Meditation" by Thiel. The practices were a little rough, but Wayne learned to follow her movements to stay together. The evening of the performance was packed, and Wayne was still a bit nervous. As we played together, the Holy Spirit filled the room, and the music added to the wonderful presentation by Elder Frogley, one of the visitor center missionaries. Wayne felt truly blessed to be able to accompany Jahiel and felt the Lord helped him learn the music so quickly. It was an experience he will treasure always and never forget. It was another "tender mercy" from the Lord.
