Rome #5: Bonjour, Paris!

Bonjour de France! We have spent the last three days in Paris and are now relaxing at a nice, old bed and breakfast in the French countryside before heading to Luxembourg tomorrow afternoon. 

The last three days were quite interesting, especially since Paris proved to be everything I expected it would be and, yet, completely different at the same time. Paris was beautiful but still remains a very mysterious place. The history of the place is inescapable and everywhere you go there is reminder or relic of this famous person doing this, or something historic happened over there, or this person you've never heard of but changed the western world was born just across there. It was nuts to think that most of the streets I'm walking and buildings I'm standing in are at least the same age or maybe older than the country I was born in! 

Paris is also a very young city. There are children and young adults everywhere! Young families with little kids are in every park, church, cafe, everywhere. This was awesome to see because it is evident that the French put a large emphasis on the importance of family and spending time together. 

Over the last three days, I got to see three major sites that have been on my bucket list: Basilique Sacré Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart), the Eiffel Tower, and The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. 

One of my favorite things about Catholicism is the spirit of devotion we have to saints or different causes. I have a huge devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and his mercy for all of us. It is a heart that burns with love for myself and all mankind and yearns to receive us in love. This basilica in France is on the top of Montmarte and is one of the highest place in Paris. It's is incredible! 

The Eiffel Tower pretty much speaks for itself. I mean, who doesn't want to see the Eiffel Tower? 

Notre Dame is amazing. The Cathedral is celebrating its 850th anniversary. 850 years!!! That's like...almost 6 times the age of the USA! The place is beautiful inside. My favorite part was definitely the organ and the stained glass windows. It was also cool to see the faith and devotion of all the pilgrims who had come there to see the place, sure, but also to stay awhile and pray. We attended Mass with the archbishop of Paris, Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, which was also awesome because he's been one of my favorite bishops for a long time. It was really something special. To top off the night, we ended up sitting next to a guy who grew up in Geneva, IL! Talk about a small world! 

Anyway, that's all for now. May God bless you! 
Next stop, Luxembourg then on to London. We return to Rome Sept 22. 

PAX,
RA