Day two – From right bank to left bank to right bank: Notre Dame, Shakespeare and Co. and the Louvre.
I didn’t begin today’s outdoor adventure until 5 pm. If you can believe that! After being up in the middle of the night, I then fell back to sleep, until NOON. I think the last time I slept until noon was after my high school senior ball. That was just a few years ago.
What freedom in allowing myself to organically happen. No have to’s, no guilts, no time frame to follow, just allowing my body’s needs and rhythms to be in charge. I believe this is a first. I mean isn’t there usually someone or something else to consider? Someplace to be?
Actually, the last “organic” time in my life was the cross country car trip I took was with my daughter, Hannah. Our only time line/deadline was to arrive in Portland on a particular day. The “in between” unfolded before us and we made choices based on time of day, where we were and how we felt! Such a jeweled moment in our lives otherwise filled with commitments, to do’s and other pressures, both societal and self imposed. Experiencing an interruption of the mundane, can change everything, if we let it.
So, at 5 pm, after consulting a map, and choosing a direction I headed out. I couldn’t have orchestrated a more perfect walk if I tried. The day was hot and sunny, so 5 pm was definitely more tolerable than earlier.
Many of the green book stalls (bouquinistes) along the Seine were open for browsing. I got the idea to look for my favorite children’s author and illustrator Pierre Probst. My absolute favorite all time book, given to me by my Mom. It is called Caroline and her friends. A French book that was published in English, around 1960. It’s about a little girl who travels the world and has amazing adventures with her 8 best friends: Pouf the white cat, Youpi the brown dog, Noiraud the black cat, Bobi the black and white dog, Boum the bear cub, Kid the lion cub, Pipo the black dog and Pitou the cheetah cub. I weaved in and out of a few stalls with no luck. I tried one. more and low and behold, there it was Caroline au Ranch! Nine euros and all mine! It looks like there are tons of different adventures in French. I now have one. I am most excited because I have a great niece, Caroline. Perhaps it might help her learn French someday!!!!
The green stall booksellers led me to Notre Dame and onto Shakespeare and Co. If you don’t know much about Shakespeare and Co., give it a google. Some great history, with Sylvia Beach at the helm.
The pièce de résistance: sunset at the Louvre serenaded by a saxophone player. Music and beauty melded. Strangers from a 100 lands stopped and stared. Jaws slacked, hearts opened and for a moment, the infinite was touched.
Good night world!
Welcome to Wonder 