Church and Culture

Well, it’s the end of another good day, and again, we’re paying out the nose for internet access.Paris is a very expensive city. With the exchange rate, you don’t realize that you are paying so much. “Six euros for some gelatto? Well, it is hot outside, and Belgian chocolate does sound really good… Six euro-bones? Sure!” In the moment, while you’re trying to understand the French without looking like a total idiot, you don’t realize that you’re paying almost ten bucks for a single serving of ice cream.

This morning we went to the Paris ward. It was truly a Sunday miracle to find the chapel, after we got off of the metro and I had no idea where we were. But the ward was great. Located inside of a small courtyard, set off from the street by large blue doors, the small low-ceiling room was packed with quite the mixture of people: tourists in their polo shirts who walk out after the sacrament, American students and ex-pats, and many African and Asian immigrants.The service was delivered in a mixture of French and English, with a Chinese convert sharing her testimony in English, which was interpreted over the pulpit into French. Coming from a linguistics conference where I presented on interpreting, I was quite interested in all of that wild and riveting linguistic action!

We really felt the Spirit in Church, and it was nice to chat in English with some friendly peers.We talked to a few Americans who were there for work, and they all said that Paris is a hard place to live, but they enjoy it.

After that, another hotel transfer to a very nice area, near the Louvre and the Vendome. The area is supposed to be very good for shopping, and it would be if you had about $50,000 to blow. Tres expensive.

The Louvre was great. Big, hot, crowded, and full of incredible art. It’s amazing that you can’t look anywhere without seeing several masterpieces from many different cultures and time periods. The volume and density of such spectacular art is overwhelming by itself. We’ve posted some pictures of our favorites.

Finally, a short story about the biggest disappointment of our trip, for me anyways. On our map that identifies cool shopping, there is a store near the Louvre called “Hunting World.” Ah!Yes. Hunting World. In my head, I pictured some fancy shop, dripping with masculine leather, exotic pelts, and fine guns, and all I wanted to do was check out some ridiculously priced double rifle and chat about Africa. When we found the shop, I was even more excited by the logo outside: a big map of the world with an elephant. Perfect.

But, when we walked in, I was shocked and dismayed to find not lion mounts and elephant tusks, but cheap perfumes and handbags! Hoping that somehow the $100,000 guns were kept in the back room, we wandered downstairs, only to be followed by some dude who was checking to make sure we weren’t stealing one of their crappy wallets. We could hardly get out of the small door on the way out because of the strong influx of BO-smelling tourists looking for a bargain on junk. When we finally made it out, we noticed a small sign that said “Now: Kimchang’s Tax-Free Boutique.” Thank you, France.

We’re really tired of restaurants and cafes and waiters who aren’t very friendly. I miss American waiters and the way they dote all over you like your long lost friend. After burning ourselves out on café food, we’ve been on a diet heavy in cheese and crackers, yogurt, and nutella. Tres bien.

In case you made it all the way to the end of this post, please leave a comment, because we’re anxious to know who is actually reading this.

We went to church in the Paris ward.

Outside of the Paris ward, very urban, right off of the streets.

Inside the courtyard of the church property, after sacrament.

A view of Paris from inside the Louvre.

Jillions of people, but it was still incredible and gorgeous.

The Wedding Feast, like the biggest painting ever...

The Chubbiest Baby Jesus ever painted. Holy Rolls.

Super-ornate incredible sculpted ceilings. Why paint your ceiling when you can have giant angels carved on it?

The Venus De Milo.

CheyAnn's favorite, Winged Victory. She has wanted to see it for many years.

The Winged-Bull-Man. Really big, and among several others.

Paris at night, overlooking the Seine.