Chapter 40: Traitors and Boats

nerd blog post #45

Saturday, RtC and I went to check out a market. It was really nice, but nothing can compare to Marche Day in Rennes.. From there, we walked to Montmartre, and up the millions of stairs to the cathedral Sacree Coeur. From the hill, I saw a great view of Paris. I could see the Louvre, stretching out endlessly, and the Centre Pompidou with all of it's crazy-modern pipage. The sun was setting over the city, and it was beautiful. Musicians were playing outside the cathedral, and tourists were snapping pics like it was their j-o-b.

We went inside the church. There was a mass going on and I felt sort of strange about that, but was assured that that's how it goes. The people at church were roped separately from those viewing the church, and we walked around the edges, behind the altar and sacristy, and back around the other side. Candles were everywhere, and nuns were singing beautifully.. It was striking that the tourists far outnumbered the congregation, and I wondered how long it has been that way for.

Behind the church is a neighbourhood which was home and/or inspiration to many artists (Picasso, Jarry, van Gogh...) and feels set apart from the rest of the city because of its unique location on top of the hill. It is so far the coolest part of Paris I've seen. Unfortunately, on a Saturday night, it's packed with tourists. And I realize that I didn't help that..

Yesterday was turn-back-your-clock day, which meant an extra hour of day! Hooray. (side note: did Canada turn back, too? Briass didn't think so.. Will they be at work an hour early?) I decided to walk across Paris. From this land, which is the southern most part, I walked all the way to the other side of Montmartre. I don't know how many kms it is, but it took about four hours. I stopped along the way to look in neat stores, enjoy neighbourhoods, watch street performers, and pick RtC up from his workplace at a bakery. I also received a surprise phone call from Doctor, who was visiting a good Queen's friend, Paul, in Oxford! A highlight, for sure. I know Doctor doesn't collect points, so I will be allocating the 26 to his dear mother. Congrats!

Montmartre on Sunday afternoon was equally nice, and we walked through and behind it and ended up eating at a Chinese restaurant. All non-French food places here seem to be called "traiteurs," a word I juuuust looked up now. And so, the restaurants all announce what kind of traitor they are. Greek traitors, Chinese traitors, Indian traitors... But my dictionnaire tells me it means cateror. So I guess I won't turn them in.

This morning I made a picnic lunch that I will take on the road when I go to meet Cynthia and later, RtC. He's at clown school today. They're working on face painting. Tigers are especially hard. I'd like to go into the Notre Dame today, and there's supposed to be a cemetary that's cool, so maybe that as well. I'm looking forward to seeing Cynthia, who arrived in town yesterday.

So far, this trip to Paris has cost peanuts.. I make picnics, find free exhibits, and walk a lot. The only thing I would really like to do that costs, is take a boat trip down the Seine. I'll check out the prices today, but think that will be my little Paris treat. (As if the rest of the trip hasn't been a giant treat, but you know!)

Bronco installed skype, so I also talked to her this morning. Really great to see her face. She asked if I'd blog about it, and I said yes. She also asked if she'd be awarded points. How many would you like? ALL OF THEM. Foul, Bronco. That's impossible. You receive 34. And 36 to Liass for looking so great in a morning bath robe! Having those two but a skype call away is unbelievable.

Yesterday marked two months since leaving Canada. The passage of time is a funny thing, but I won't get into it as I know you all know what I mean by it feeling both long and short at the same time... I will say, though, that after two months without a visit to Kimberley, it seems about time I go home for a week-end before returning here. I know many of you have gone much longer, but this is now the longest I've ever been away from home... Points to the parentals for tugging on these homestrings. And yes, I'd like curry for dindins.

Enjoy your Monday.

Love to you all,
Hincks.