Paris

Kev and I found out a few weeks ago that we were both on the Advisory Committee for the Emmanuel Community. How very special! So, last weekend, off to Paris we went for our first meeting.

We tried to do the right thing by travelling with Ryanair which is much cheaper. That is, until you add the high cost of getting to and from the remote airports that they fly in and out of. They are the worst airline of all time, and we hope never to use them again. But enough about that....

We arrived at the Committee meeting on Saturday morning. We were a couple of hours late, but just in time for morning tea - we are very clever! The meeting went for one and a half days. It was good to find out more about the plans of the Community and to be able to contribute our thoughts. We also got to catch up with lots of people, and to promote the ESM.

We stayed with Claire and Damian, who were the Directors of the ESM before us. It was so good to be able to see them again and to share the joys and sufferings of life at the ESM. Little Priscilla has grown so much, and we saw Raphaël for the first time. He is so so cute.

Claire and Raphaël

Damian and Priscilla

Since arriving in Europe, we have already had two extremely quick visits to Paris, but never had time to enjoy it. This time we decided to stay an extra day and actually see some sights.

On Sunday afternoon, we went for a leisurely stroll and came across the Eiffel Tower! We thought about going up to the top, but decided against it - too much money and effort.

Kev with a funny thing on his head

Kev and Hele in front of Eiffel Tower

It was a beautiful day so we lay down on the lawn and read our books in the warmth of the sun. (Someone fell asleep...he was very tired).

Then we went to Rue de Bac, where The Blessed Virgin appeared to St Catherine Laboure and asked for the Miraculous Medal to be struck. We stayed there and prayed for a long time. Then we went to a nice little park and prayed the first part of the Emmanuel Community Retreat. (As a little side note, the Vatican has approved a year of Jubilee for the Emmanuel Community to celebrate its first 40 years. All members of the Community around the world are following the same retreat that will last for one week. It consists of different prayers and meditations each day).

Nice little park

Then we went back to Claire and Damian's for another time of catching up and fine home-cooked food.

The next morning we continued in our relaxed manner to wander around the charming streets. We had crepes for lunch. We thought we should!

We stumbled across Trinity Church, which is the parish church of the Emmanuel Community in Paris.

Trinity church

Then we went to visit Sacre Coeur. I had been there before but it didn't fail to impress me again.

Basilica of Sacre Coeur

We also visited some funky parts of Montemarte.

People painting and selling their work

Hele and Kev in an artsy spot

We went to an exhibition of Salvador Dali. His art is quite strange, but I like it.

One of Dali's Melting Clocks

By this time, we realised that it was getting late so we quickly made our way to the bottom of the hill, paused to take in a few more glimpes of the basilica and surrounds, then caught some trains and a bus to get to the airport for our return flight home.

Fancy steps

Hele and Kev in front of Sacre Coeur

We arrived at Ciampino Airport (Rome) very late, so there were no buses. We approached the taxi rank and prepared ourselves for the usual negotiations. The taxi drivers hang out in a group while waiting for customers, so they all like to get in on the discussion. As usual, we had to remind them that the price to the city is supposed to be a flat-rate - they always seem to forget about that fact. We managed to agree on the price, but he wouldn't take us all the way home. He let us out at a piazza near the Vatican just before midnight. We walked around St Peter's to a bus stop, and luckily we didn't have to wait long for a bus. We got home at about 12:15am.