A rainy day in Paris...

Yes, I know its been a few days; but I really haven't had much time to sit down and write since I got back from Spain! I've had regular school and then we had Bastille Day! No classes! That was very exciting. The 13th, I had dinner with Liz and Jenn at their apartment; FINALLY got to eat the delicious rotisserie chicken and potatoes that you can buy just about anywhere in Paris; they are truly a magical food! Dinner was wonderful, its something everyone has to try!

Bastille Day was the RAINIEST day in Paris I have ever seen! Until about 4:30 in the afternoon, the sky was throwing buckets down at us, while a pigeon sat on the window sill for about that long too, Liz, Jenn and I named him and kept checking to see if he was still there. He was there until the rain stopped and we left. At 5 or so (?) we left the apartment and headed for the Tuilleries gardens where there is a huge festival set up with a giant ferris wheel! Jenn and I were brave enough to ride, but Liz wasn't... so sad; but it was one of the most amazing views of Paris I have ever had, as we went around we could see every monument perfectly. The clouds had cleared and it was a gorgeous afternoon. It was one of the best decisions, I wanted to wait until night to ride it, but the afternoon was better! You could see everything!

Later that night we met up again for the fireworks. They happen at the Eiffel Tower, but there is such a huge crowd there that we watched from afar. They were pretty spectacular, especially when the tower started glowing as well.

Back to regular classes today. This afternoon I helped Jenna get ready for the picnic that the group is going on tonight. It was a relaxing afternoon. Then Jenna said she was going to church and that I was more than welcome to join; I didn't really have anything else to do, so I decided to go. She had warned me that it would be unlike any other mass I have ever attended and she was right! This church is in the retirement home for old priests and nuns; with many of them in attendance, it was basically a geriatric ward. The mass was said in French, which carried an especially beautiful ring to it, and with there being so many priests there, it had a sort of chant as they all said the mass together, most from their wheel chairs, some barely coughing out the words. It was a really beautiful experience. Jenna said that when she first went she thought it would be sad, but I didn't see that at all. They were all very content to be exactly where they were. After mass, there was a short prayer; the hymn that was sung (in french) was the same tune as one of Mom's favorite hymns! It was especially cool because when I looked at it, I thought it would sound really good to that tune and then it was! Thought that was kind of neat.

We're about to head out for our picnic :) Its really beautiful outside... even though its getting kind of warm as it gets later, but I'm sure it'll cool off again.

Bisous,
Amy

PS: I will try to post some pictures soon!