Wednesday 8-22

     I am in Paris sitting in a pew of the Sacre Couer.  I'm surrounded by many lit candles, a high cieling, intricate pantings (much much much more intricate than in London), and flute music.  A young girl is playing "My Heart Will Go On" on her flute for money just outside the church.  So far, I like the feeling of Paris city better than London city.  It just feels cleaner and more open.  I dn't understand the language at all, so I don't feel as much like I am in a tourist destination.  The buildings in Paris are mostly off-white or tan which only adds to the cleanliness feeling.
     Let's see....To fill you in, yesterday we went to:
          ~the opera house where the Phantom resides from Phantom of the Opera
          ~Louvre Art Museum (It was closed, so I couldn't go in)
          ~Champs de Elisee
     I've passed by a couple street musicians today.  There was an accordion player and a saxophone player ~ So sweet!!!!!
    
     As far as the language barrier goes, charades has saved me :-)

     Later today....
     The girls are headed back to the hostel to nap and change clothes.  They insisted that I go to the Louvre, since I really wanted to yesterday when it was closed.  It's true that I did really want to, but by the time they left I was so exhausted I needed a break.  Instead of heading straight to the Louvre, I walked a block to one of the gardens we passed through.  All I have wanted to do all day is stop and smell these roses. I mean that in both the figurative and literal sense.  I am currently sitting in a chair  next to an artist.  She is painting this glorious scene in front of me -yellow roses, yellow black-eyed susans, and yellow daisies.  I appreciate her.  She really knows how to stop and smell the roses.  I love this fellow artist.  I love that she appreciates the beauty around her-   it is rare to meet people like her.  She and I have not spoken a word, since she knows no English, but we have smiled.  I have pointed and gave her a thumbs up.  It was a great conversation :-)
     Man, it is truly beauiful here, and the people watching is once again phenomenal.  I've seen all types of people- angry, happy, rich, poor, artsy, conservative, fanny-packed, birkenstocked-socked, etc.  Here I have found another Heaven on Earth.  Laura, come back here.  This is one of your Heavens.