Well, I'm typing this blog entry from an internet cafe in Paris. For once my flight went smoothly and I arrived safely early this Saturday morning. The internet cafe is pleasant and they are burning incense which gives it a nice vibe.
I'm not able to check into my hotel until 2pm, and I arrived at 8am in the morning (without sleep of course) so I'm wandering around Paris aimlessly until later today. I tried to ride the subway but the attendant didn't, or wouldn't, speak English and I just decided to walk. I'm going to be here for two weeks so I might as well get the hang of the area.
This evening I would like to go to some kind of a 'show'; afterall it's Saturday night in Paris. I only have 4 non-work days for my entire trip and I want to get something out of them. I have no real agenda, but I plan to spend a very, very, very, long day at the Louvre tomorrow, looking at everything which interests me and at my own pace.
I know it is cliche and all, but the Parisan's, generally speaking, look fairly miserable. It's amazing what bounty they have. The fresh fruits, meat, fish, flowers, everything in such rich abundance. I have no idea how they get it all here every day. Their lifestyle seems ideal, going to their local shops, cafe's, stores. I just don't know what they don't have to smile about.
I wish we had any sense of community like this in the United States. Not only do you have to go to a massive supermarket (that put the local grocer out of business decades ago) now you can't even speak to a human as they try to route most of the customers through automated robotic check-out lanes.
I read an amazing book on the way out here. "Freemasonry for Dummies". I bought it because I figured I should know what it said. Well, it didn't say what I expected. I expected some cheesy expose which would show the signs and passwords and trot out triva and nonsense. Instead it is a very well written book on Freemasony (by a 32nd degree Mason) which has some amazing commentary about Freemasonry's place in our culture, how it skipped a generation, and why it is still relevant today. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the craft.
I don't know if I mentioned this on a previous post, but it appears I will be attending a Freemason lodge meeting in Paris on Monday evening. I am going to be escorted by the Assistant Grand Master of the Continental Grand Lodge of France. He is an American living in Paris and I met him through an internet message forum. The lodge he is taking me to is regular with our Grand Lodge, so it is fine for me to visit there. I will be witnessing a 2nd degree completely in French. I will also be wearing full on tux with tails and white gloves. It certainly should be an interesting evening!
Ok, well I'm off to wander the streets of Paris some more.
I'm not able to check into my hotel until 2pm, and I arrived at 8am in the morning (without sleep of course) so I'm wandering around Paris aimlessly until later today. I tried to ride the subway but the attendant didn't, or wouldn't, speak English and I just decided to walk. I'm going to be here for two weeks so I might as well get the hang of the area.
This evening I would like to go to some kind of a 'show'; afterall it's Saturday night in Paris. I only have 4 non-work days for my entire trip and I want to get something out of them. I have no real agenda, but I plan to spend a very, very, very, long day at the Louvre tomorrow, looking at everything which interests me and at my own pace.
I know it is cliche and all, but the Parisan's, generally speaking, look fairly miserable. It's amazing what bounty they have. The fresh fruits, meat, fish, flowers, everything in such rich abundance. I have no idea how they get it all here every day. Their lifestyle seems ideal, going to their local shops, cafe's, stores. I just don't know what they don't have to smile about.
I wish we had any sense of community like this in the United States. Not only do you have to go to a massive supermarket (that put the local grocer out of business decades ago) now you can't even speak to a human as they try to route most of the customers through automated robotic check-out lanes.
I read an amazing book on the way out here. "Freemasonry for Dummies". I bought it because I figured I should know what it said. Well, it didn't say what I expected. I expected some cheesy expose which would show the signs and passwords and trot out triva and nonsense. Instead it is a very well written book on Freemasony (by a 32nd degree Mason) which has some amazing commentary about Freemasonry's place in our culture, how it skipped a generation, and why it is still relevant today. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the craft.
I don't know if I mentioned this on a previous post, but it appears I will be attending a Freemason lodge meeting in Paris on Monday evening. I am going to be escorted by the Assistant Grand Master of the Continental Grand Lodge of France. He is an American living in Paris and I met him through an internet message forum. The lodge he is taking me to is regular with our Grand Lodge, so it is fine for me to visit there. I will be witnessing a 2nd degree completely in French. I will also be wearing full on tux with tails and white gloves. It certainly should be an interesting evening!
Ok, well I'm off to wander the streets of Paris some more.
Comments
I wanted to make a new weblog post today but this stupid machine only works with the stupid stupid stupid French keyboard