The Museum du LOUVRE Experience!!!

All of the grandeur and opulence of this experience is amazing. I have chosen not to talk about the ceilings and frescoes until a later date. (Yes I did walk around this place with a crick in my neck...the ceilings are works of art unto themselves!!)

To think that this amazing museum was once a palace in which someone lived...SERIOUSLY??? Takes your breath away. From the moment you cross the Seine on this quaint bridge( with another story to share at a later time), enter its East Gate into a plaza and begin your trek south into the main courtyard, you can feel the immenseness of it all. How can one person truly live in something like this??

The glass pyramid is awesome!!! And then to experience the inverted glass pyramid in their information area...nothing like it!!! Nearly 35,000 objects, ranging from the more detail marble sculptures to the most gloriously detailed paintings that look almost like photographs, from prehistory to the 19th century are displayed over an area of 652,600 square feet!!! You would need DAYS to experience it all.

The Mona Lisa, the painting that everyone and their dog goes to see, is really cool. It is hung on a wall by itself and is protected by a protected glass and barricades. I think it is a bit overrated in comparison to the other paintings in the area. It is push and shove and cameras in the air to try and get close enough to a canvas of a smiling woman not more than the size of a 11X14 canvas?? If you stand facing the MOna Lisa and turn around and face the back wall of the gallery, the ENTIRE wall is filled with one painting that has to be like 700 billion feet wide and 500 billion feet tall...maybe I exagerate?? LOL!!!

One awesome experience I had while attending the Louvre...was actually not the viewing of the Mona Lisa. We had just walked into the viewing rooms of 17th century paintings and I am with one of my students. I have had him in class for the entire last year. I am a few steps in front of him and I begin to hear lots of exhales and heavy breaths. I turn around and the tears are streaming down his cheeks and he says, "Mr. H, I just cannot believe that I am here. I am finally here! I am sorry for crying!" As I am digging for the Kleenex from my backpack, I told him, "Can you believe it? We are finally here and its okay. This is an emotional experience for all of us!"

That is the culmination of my entire Louvre experience! That made the trip entirely worth it. To experience the beauty, the grandeur, the overwhelming glory of this beautiful site...to experience that with him and have that moment...One I will not ever forget!!!

Eiffel Tower Adventure

Our visit to the Eiffel Tower was numbing and exciting. The thing you have to remember about Paris, when you visit, is that the city is filled with pick-pockets. Nowhere was it more prevalent than at the site of the Eiffel Tower. Little children trying to beg for money. People asking for you to take their photograph. Young girls asking you to view their petition for a signature. You have to be SO careful. These types of things make me tense.

The Eiffel Tower is visible from all around the city. Upon our first sighting, I felt so exhilarated and in that moment, Paris became real for me. I had a floating feeling, a emotion of "Am I really here? Is this truly real?". The minute I saw the Tower in all its grandeur, I sighed a breath of relief and knew for a fact that I was indeed in the Paris I had dreamed of.

The tower itself is immense. Built as an entrance arch to the World's Fair of 1889, the Eiffel Tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel and is the tallest structure in the Parisian Skyline. The tower stands 1,063 feet tall, 81 stories, and is the tallest man-made structure in the world. There are three levels that guests can climb too, the third being the only level that has to be reached through elevator. When we arrived, we were on a bit of a time crunch. The discussion was on whether or not we should take the elevator/escalator or would it be quicker to take the stairs. It was agreed upon that that stairs would be quicker. WRONG!!! 700 stairs to the second level!!! HOLY CRAPBALLS!!!! My knees ached. my legs screamed, my heart raced from the sheer terror inside my rushing bloodstream.

Now I did not think that I was afraid of heights. However, with an open air style staircase and the ground going farther and farther away from your feet, my heart raced and raced even more. i can proudly say that I made it to the second level of the tower and decided against going any higher. I bought myself a lime green Eiffel Tower in the gift shop and took in the majesty of the city from that level and began the descent to Earth. What an awe inspiring experience!

Paris is the WORD!

As I had previously mentioned, I am struggling through Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Eat, Pray, Love. I had seen then movie starring Julia Roberts a while ago and after viewing, agreed that it appeared to be a picture postcard of the three countries mentioned and not much else. However, I did also realize that I wanted to give her words a chance and see where it takes me. I bought the book and have not been let down.

This book is one of those that I have found that I put down and pick up at leisure and can only handle in small doses. I am also realizing that this is the perfect pace for understanding that I can only handle small doses of and my life seems to be moving in parallel to its words and findings.

The topic for today: The word of the city.

Gilbert states: "The secret to understanding a city and it's people is to learn the word on the street. If you could read people's thoughts as they were passing you on the streets at any given place, you would discover that most of them are thinking the same thought. Whatever the majority thought may be- that is the word of the city. If you find that your personal word does not match the word of the city, then you really don't belong there." I found this thought process to be intriguing on many levels and explains a great deal to my psyche.

In reflection time on the plane ride back from my adventure, I found that what Paris seems to be, in considering what it's describing words would be, I feel, as follows: fast-paced, pretentious attitude, frustration and historical revolutions. One would think that it would be centered around romance and adoration, of which there was plenty of PDA and romance on the streets of this lovely city, of which I will write more soon, however these themes served as secondary thought processes it seems. Paris is a city of motion and if you are idly standing by, prepare to get pushed to the side and Frenchly put in your place.

As many of you know, none of these words fit into my own personality and so of course, I did not fit into Paris's groove. The city is beautiful and filled with history and is a lovely place to visit...but that was pretty much it. Once you have experienced everything within its streets, the pretense is still apparent and does not jive with me on a deeper level and so will never want to live there on a longer basis... not that I am looking, mind you. :)

I believe this section of Eat, Pray, Love to be profanely truthful on a great deal of levels. I did not feel like I could jive with what my initial beliefs were of what I had heard about the city and what I was observing. It kinda saddened me by the time we were on the night train to Barcelona, ending our stay in a city that I had such high hopes for. Perhaps it was the idea of "Romanticism" I had spoke of earlier in a blog post? I had built up this city to impossible standards and how can any city live to those standards with all it has going on with its own undercurrents?

What is the word of your city? Does it "jive" with what your own word is? I would be intrigued to find out this from each of you...

Parisian Adventure hits NOTRE DAME

Proof that I WAS THERE!!! :)

An Observation from the side of the church

Look at the AMAZING detail of the front of this landmark!

Filled with glorious stained glass throughout.

This is one of the many side alcoves set up as shrines and places for meditation and worship.

The Notre Dame church is one of Paris' landmark stops. As was the tone of our entire visit, it was a quick stop on our first day, so some of this sacred visit seems like a blur. We only had maybe a 45 minute stay here at this site and felt completely rushed through.

The church's cornerstone was laid in the year 1163, during the reign of Louis VII, and construction was finally completed in 1345. During the French revolution, many of the beautiful statues were plundered and beheaded and a great deal of the treasures were also plundered and sold into the angry streets. It was also feared, during WWII, that the German armies would try to bomb the site, as is a theme I found prevalent throughout the tour, and lose all of the gorgeous stained glass. They also feared that the bells would be removed and melted for warfare. On September 11, 1939, the stained glass windows were all removed and stored until everything was deemed safe and they were all replaced back to their original set-up. By looking at the pictures...CAN YOU IMAGINE????

All this AND a Hunchback??? Seriously?

The Paris Adventure Begins Here...

I have had the most amazing dream and it can be found in Europe~ A land of beauty, opulence, romance, decadence, rich history, grandeur, nature, adoration, disgust, tightness, pretense, cobblestone, marble, the swish of oil paint on canvas, the colors of deep berries and vibrance, side streets of adventure, sadness, smells so vibrant they cannot help but be remembered, and a feeling of being too confined to a small space sucking the life breath out of you at times. The journey was well worth the wait, but maybe a little too played up in my mind? I had built this journey up to the highest of expectations, and for the most part it stood up to those expectations immensely...but not in ways that I had ever imagined. I found it to be an eye-opening, breath-taking, adventurously emotional experience as I had hoped and one that I will NEVER forget.

SO let me preface this all by saying, Paris is AMAZING!

However, I have also come to the realization that it is also highly overrated and completely over-romanticized. Whether it was the fact that Justin was not with me, or the rainy days we experienced, or the fact that we were staying in the outskirts of the city and not truly immersed in the culture and city as promised, I came away with a feeling that the city itself is quite pretentious and too fast-paced. I have found no other place on Earth has this pace other than in New York City. I never once found that small cafe where I could have my Carrie Bradshaw moment, feeding petit fours to feed my sugar rush and to my companion, a Saint Bernard sitting next to me. I never once had that...can you know see my problem? Over-romanticized much? LOL!!

I did notice that most Parisians are dressed to the nines, even in the middle of the night. The men ride the Metro systems in their suits and highly shined dress shoes, chatting on their cellphones, and the women are in stilettos and their pencil skirts sipping their Starbucks coffee while speaking the most elegant language I can imagine. I truly loved that. The French language is so beautiful and to hear it come from a well-dressed man, I can see why most women, or gay man for that matter, would fall head over heals in love. To hear it come out the mouths of babes? ADORABLE!

The photos will probably be ones you have seen in history or photo books of your time, but to experience them in real time, in 3-D, up close and personal is quite overwhelming and gasping. I pinched myself many times and had to remind myself to close my mouth. I was in awe. I am so grateful to Liz Pippins for offering up this adventure as a possibility to me and my folks. What an amazing experience...

I have returned!

I have returned from one of the most amazing adventures of my life and I have so much inspiration and stories and exciting photos to share. I am exhausted and am working on six hours of sleep today and am learning that jet-lag is a horrific beast.

We left Madrid at 7am (Spain time) and did not get back to Little Rock until midnight. So basically was awake for 26 hours. I slept maybe 3 hours and found that I could not truly sleep on the plane. Dad was the same it seems. I would look over to he and Pam's chairs and he was wide awake. Felt totally crammed into the seats and was not comfortable. I did have alot of time to think, to read, to connect to various lines of thought processes.

I am working my way through the book "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert and found that it spoke to me on many levels during my stay in Europe. (more later)

My trip was overwhelming and cathartic and glorious and challenging and physical and emotional and spiritual and I am so excited to share this with you for the next few weeks. I plan on many blog posts to come and have many photos to share with you...This blog will probably become my photo book, perse, and a story board of adventures ahead. Stick with me. The adventures begin soon!!!

Summer Road-Trip Adventure

I have finally made it to summer...

I have made it through the school year, virtually unscathed, none worse for wear, and actually able to sit up and take nourishment. I am glad the year is over and that summer is here...a time to recoup my senses, regain some sleep hours I have lost, as is evident as this time thingy rushed across my temples, turning my hair a lovely shade of white. Justin thinks I should keep going with a salt and pepper look...don't dye it. I think he is right.

I have begun what is going to be known as my "Summer Road-trip Adventure".

I left on Thursday and stayed in Omaha until Sunday and got back in my car and trekked farther north to Fargo to spend the week with my folks up here.

Friends always think, "Dang, nine hour drive= BORING". However, driving for me is extremely cathartic. I think through issues of the day, of the week, of the year. I am able to calm myself and reflect on what my mind has raced through in the past. I was able to reflect on things that I have seen, accomplished, missed, experienced. It is truly a quiet moment when I can hear myself speak, listen to my Ipod, and enjoy the silence. It is something I desperately need at times. I need to remind myself that I must find more silent times in the years ahead...when life gets too hectic...SILENCE for a moment...to be able to hear what your spiritual guide is telling you...

I struggle with this...I try so hard to be everywhere for everyone. Be Everything. And yet...maybe not so genuine? I am aware of myself, not being fully present, or feeling that I have missed something or missed a true connection. Be honest...It is HARD to not get caught up in this rat race called life, to not pay attention to who was speaking, to feel the edges getting blurry and tunnel vision circling in for a lengthy visit.

While in Omaha, I was able to reconnect with dear dear friends and family and to spend some much needed time with folks I have missed dearly. It is always rushed and the schedule gets crammed when I come to Omaha... SO many people to see in a crazy amount of time. One-on- one time is sometimes to a minimum sadly. On my trip up, I was reminded of one of the things Oprah preached in her final shows was to "Be PRESENT in all events and to relax and enjoy all that God was showing you". I must remind myself to make the most of whatever time we have together, be PRESENT, and enjoy BEING TOGETHER and RECONNECT.

It has been difficult for me to do this. As much as I encourage BREATHING and SLOWING DOWN, it is difficult to do so in this rat race we call life. With kid's schedules, bosses schedules, dinner plans, rehearsals, and all of the above, I can see why it is easy for all of us to forget these very simple rules.

SO on the way up to Omaha, I Breathed...I slowed down...I caught myself...and retuned into my own station...and upon arrival to Omaha, had the BEST time reconnecting with my friends and family on deeper levels.

On my way to Fargo, I wondered, "How many times have I not been present in the past, giving those around me a feeling of , 'Seriously? Is he really that way all the time? Kind of fake and not real and focused on what I was saying to him'?" While in Omaha, I really felt that I was able to calm myself, just connect to my friends, to what they were saying, to hear their stories, to reconnect on a deeper level, to hear what was going on around me and felt real for the first time in a long time... I was able to be there, in that moment, and spend as much time reconnecting as I had available, and to make the most of it.

Something I have forgotten...