Monday, November 19, 2007

London

Smooth jazz tunes floating above me, into my ears. Christmas tunes. "Santa Claus is comin' to town." Drizzle outside, penetrating. Red double decker buses stacked up like playing cards along the opposite side of the street. Car headlights slicing through darkness, bouncing off of puddles in the road. Red and green stoplights. Black taxicab. Umbrellas of all different colours. Horn honking, siren swooning. All observed from behind the safety of the coffee shop window. This is Trafalgar Square, London, at 6:47 pm, Monday, November 19, 2007.

My hair is sassy and cute, curly and sweet. Went to Toni & Guy (a school for hair dressers) today to have it cut. My hairdresser was from Greece, but she spoke Spanish. There was a translator. The whole room was full of people like me, having their hair cut by hair dressing students. There was one teacher for about every 5-6 students. It was quite an experience. I felt very Vogue...
They said I'd look good with some color - We'll see. I don't know if I feel that bold.

I gotta go, cause this shop is closing!
Cheers
G'night

Notre Dame, Paris

"There is not any physical way possible for Man to be out of God." -Me

Paris, ooh it was good. Full of magic and mystery and intrigue. Snobbery, high fashion, leather boots and tight-ankle jeans. The Eiffel Tower, Centre di Pompidou, Louvre, Notre Dame. Here's a nice story about my visit to Notre Dame:

I entered. Felt the usual uplift of breath as my attention floated upward into the gentle curvature of arches. The stained glass windows were briliant mosaics of rich contrasting hues, the light from outside illuminating each segment. They reminded me of jolly rancher candies. There weren't windows like this in Italy, where instead the walls of the churches were plastered (literally) with frescoes and paintings.

Usually in every gorgeous church there is a sacred area reserved specifically for prayer (No tourists allowed). I like to visit these spaces because they FEEL so sacred, holy, cherished. In Notre Dame I almost passed this space by, but changed my mind and doubled back to slide quietly into one of the wooden pews. I had been in a bit of a grumbly mood - it was cold out, I was a little sick. I was here in church in Europe for the millionth time, closing my eyes and feigning prayer when all I was really doing was dipping into sweet silence. Usually in this situation actual words of prayer feel contrived and silly, but this time I was searching for something.

I was wondering about angels. I certainly believe in them, and I knew from the feeling in this church that they were here. I asked myself, I subtley posed a question internally, "God, send me a sign that there are angels. I want to see an angel. If they exist, then show me one."

I opened my eyes to see a radiant black woman standing near the front pews, looking at me with glowing eyes and beckoning me to come closer. In my quiet prayer-state, I thought, "Wow, an answer! She's an angel!" But of course my rational thinking mind said, "No, of course not, she doesn't have anything to do with me - she's must be motioning to someone else." But no. She motioned again. I questioned her with my eyes, and after her third beckoning gesture, I finally gave in and moved up closer to the altar to sit next to her. As I did, she began singing (in French) in the most radiant resounding voice I have ever heard...as if summoning all the gods and the angels to assemble and celebrate. She switched on the lights on either side of the altar, illuminating the sacred space. Then she began a rosary service, in French.

At this point I had to do some realizing and subsequent smiling. If this woman was an answer to my request, "Show me an angel," which it sure seemed like she was, then all humans must be angels. I am saying that humans are angels. I know I am repeating myself, but in all their human-ness, they ARE the highest expression of creation (at least that I know of...who knows, maybe in other realms there are more glorious beings, but I have not been there, or if I have I do not remember).

Humans have the ability to experience ANYTHING, do ANYTHING, create ANYTHING. Isn't that what "God" and "The Angels" do? God and his angels...they aren't separate entities floating around in space. They're in us, they are us - our very heart strings play their song every day. How could they not? How could Man not sing the song of God? There is no physical way possible for man to be out of God. The idea is absurd. As is the idea that Man could ever upset God, or deserve punishment from him. Man is God, all-powerful, and as such He is responsible for His own actions and their repercussions. It is so. Man creates anything. Anything.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Paris

My GOD it's a beautiful city, and the people are all dressed way too nicely for american comfort. (have they heard of sneakers here? apparently not...) But probably one of my Favorite european cities so far, even though it all started out with not being able to get into my friend's apt who i am supposed to stay with. And she doesn't get off work till 9 or 9:30. Oh and did I metion that there is a strike on the metro for 2 to 3 days that starts tonite at 8? That means I will be biking around Paris with a borrowed bike. (or risking it on one of the few metro runs... no one knows how often they will come, it could be like sardines) And it's a BIG city. Oh well. That's travel.

I also spent an hour in a café, writing postcards, letting the flutey french voices surround me, observing snooty Parisans and basking in the warm red glow. It was so.... I can't find the word for it. If you can, pls let me know.

Then I took the metro to Champs Elysée. Got some gorgeous shots of the Eiffel Tower. This is the pretty part of Paris I like. Did not have time to go up in the Eiffel Tower though. I will try for another day.

And I hate French keyboards. Everything is in a different place. I feel like a 1st grader again when it comes to typing. If I were to type normally, as if I were on an American computer, the phrase "It's raining cats and dogs" would look like this: "Itms rqining cqts qnd dogs" Oh well.
But it is true... it's POURING outside right now.

Gotta go...my half hour of internet is almost out!
Ciao

Monday, November 12, 2007

Germany

Guten Tag!
Just wanted to write and let everyone know I am doing well.
I have been in Germany the past 3 days, staying with my friend Lea Spahn and he family. It has been great to stay in a home, after being in hostels, etc. Rome was fun, but dirty and noisy, a big city. I am really enjoying the contrast between Germany and Italy. germany is clean, orderly, planned out. Italy is random, unorganized, spontaneous.
I am staying in a 500 year old house. Prettyamazing. Yesterday Lea took me to explore the town of Marburg, very cute architecture, we had küchen (cake) and kaffe (coffee) at a cafe afterwards to get warm.
Tomorrow I go to Paris!
Au Revior!