Before going to bed last night, I saw that an old friend (Brian Matherne) had posted that he was in Paris on Facebook! Immediately, I sent him a message with my Parisian number. How random! Sure enough, he called this morning, and we met up for mass at Notre Dame. He, his fiancee, and three of his classmates are in Paris for a few days on the way to Seville, Spain for a toxicology conference.
We attended the "international mass", a mass that incorporated different languages at different times of the mass. The only English part was during the blessing of the eucharist.. the part where the priest talks about offering the gifts to God.. "We offer them for your holy catholic Church, watch over it, guide it..." But at least the readings were handed out in English. I am really not going to know how to act when mass is said in a language I can understand, when my small English mutters are joined with other English-speaking believers. Hah.
stained glass window above organ on western side of church.
stained glass window on the northern side of the church.
another stained glass window.
After mass, we met up with Brian's friends for lunch - Indian food. Interesting to eat Indian in Paris, but I followed the Americans. It was quite weird to be around Americans for a while today. I know it is strange, especially as I am American and my friends and family are American, but it felt foreign to be with them. I cannot explain it. I'm not sure if it was their English, the fact that we ate Indian, or that they were a nice group of friends, but it made me feel a bit off. I'm sure Mom will help me ease back into a US mind-frame, and England will prepare me to use more sophisticated English. :)
I could have sworn I took more pictures today, but that's all the camera has to offer. Following lunch the group wanted to go to the Catacombs, but the idea of more walking did not seem appealing at all. Instead I met Thibaut, and we headed for the book store. How in the world have I read so many books?! The new one I will start tonight is called Vernon God Little, a recommendation from my Irish friend John. When I asked the bookkeeper if it was in stock, she looked at me a bit funny. It better be good, John, or else you'll never hear the end of it.
Little recap: since I left home, I have read...
Death in Venice, by Thomas Mann
three Milan Kundera books - The Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Joke and Slowness;
The Beekeeper's Apprentice, by Laurie R. KingHunting and Gathering, by Anna Gavalda
... six books. It seems like I may be missing one; nonetheless, six books in four weeks isn't bad.
Thibaut and I sat along Rue de Rivoli and enjoyed people watching. We walked a bit (much less than usual for the two of us together) and found a nice place for crepes and more people watching. I had a crepe with potatoes, cheese, ham, lettuce, tomatoes, and a fried egg on top. It was delicious. I also had yogurt (which is amazing here!!!!!!) with honey, almonds and bananas. And, of course, a coffee to finish the meal. Now it is one in the morn, time to snuggle up with my book and rest my feet!
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