La Poste II

Dears,
There was no internet at Taize and I am so far behind
that I will have to come back to that part later.

AT Anne Alexis for tonight only and must make phone
calls for next home as Radek is in the hospital in
Brno and I can't stay with his family as expected
until at least the weekend. Am out of Czech phone
credit so will have to be creative in my arrangements.

Said goodbye to the St. Paul's group at 8*30 this
morning as they left the hostel to brave the rain for
the Metro ride with luggage during rush hour to the
bus which took them to the airport. Greg or Jim, tell
Laura that Anne Alexis and her girls were thrilled to
get the American magazines.

I sat in St. Eustache while they were tunikng the
organ this morning to get my bearings, then set out
for the Paris Opera House. The auditorium was closed
for a rehearsal but the ticket was free so I cannot
complain.
Ditto on the Paris Story which was a 45 minute film on
the history of Paris. I learned a few things and got
a few ideas for sights to see, but my favorite part
was the closing lines. I am a woman, take time to
love me.

Got disoriented finding way to Pompidou Center so
teamed up with some London schoolteachers on a day
trip for teacher education. We ended up following a
Chines man to the museum and felt a bit like a
children's book or a situation comedy where people
keep joining the party.

I adored everything about the Pompidou from the
picnickers on the pavment slanting down to it to the
primary colored architectural elements that outline
the exterior escalators in transparent plastic tubes
to the actual art itself. There was even a balcony
with leather armchairs overlooking the street fro
those weary of foot.

Saw losts of school children drawing a grotesque
papier mache bride sculpture. My favorites were a
huge blanket made of bottle caps and aluminum wrappes
from around wine corks and a raffia airplane shaped a
bit like a fish. It was studded with scissors and
knives and had fan*propellors blowing white silk
ribbon jet streams.

Went in a Dubuffedt cave of solid white with thick
back demarkations of every topographical change. Alas
the eye can only take so much of the feast of
BRancusi, Mondrian, Chagall, Kupka, DuChamp, Calder,
Miro, and Picasso before the brain fries. I am sure
there are many other treasures but I couldn't even
give the bookstore postcards a proper look!

I went to Drogerie which is my favorite bead and yarn
shop but there were too many choices so I left with no
thing but ideas.

Lovely French gentlemen carried my bag up the metro
steps and I saw an elderly couple walking like royalty
with their hands clasped behind their backs.

Lunch was gorgeous salad of greens, colored peppers,
tomatoes, lardon, and a poached egg with the first
croutons I have ever liked.

Francois and Zoe are back from their bike ride and my
laundry is through whirling so must bid you adieu and
hope hope hope for mail from you and for time to write
about Taize soon.

Lowell