I ended looking not incredibly unlike a dodgy creeper, who found himself smoking a cigar (the 2nd of my life, and perhaps not the best decision on a windy day in Paris-similar effects to spitting against the wind) from the gazebo atop the crags of Buttes Chaumont in Paris. It'll be a long time before the 3rd happens, but hey, it looks pretty rugged.
Highlights of movember include, but are not limited to:
Traveling to Vienna and Bratislava. Sitting atop the castle where Richard the Lionheart was held captive was exhilarating. View from the top.
Being visited by Travis and Jesse in London, and having a blast exploring what has become my favorite city in the whole world. The resurrection of the three-man pole extravaganza HAPPENED in front of Big Ben, Parliament, and a double-decker bus.
Winning our 2nd football game against South Bank University and making a few tackles in it and a fumble-recovery. I was so intimidated in our first game, but I think I'm conquering some of my fears. Incidentally, I played that inspired game right after watching the Lion King the night before. I think I picked up some life lessons from Simba.
Visiting Jesse in Edinburgh. While there, I got a personalized tour of Parliament, ate a fried Mars bar, tasted Scotch (not bad!), climbed Arthur's seat, played lots and LOTS of hearts, and watched Scotland take down the springboks. Me leaping onto the unsuspecting city of Edinburgh.
This past weekend I went to Paris. What a gorgeous city. I think Paris ranks 2nd among my favorite European cities. The Louvre was absolutely fantastic-hands down the best museum that I've seen. The Eiffel tower was as fantastic as always. Shakespeare & Company was positively enchanting. Walking through the Jardins de Tuileries with snow falling made my heart want to sing and dance at the same time. Buying nutella crepes at 1 AM by the Moulin Rouge with Jesse was unforgettable. Freezing outside the Pantheon with Brandon and Alex for over an hour unified three men even if only in our bitterness towards certain late people who caused our great pain and suffering. Praying in the Sacré Coeur and seeing Jesus honored was phenomenal. Seeing Pat over chocolat viennois and pain au chocolat and getting to talk over life healed my heart to a great extent and opened my eyes.
My favorite statue in the Louvre, Antonio Canova's Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss. Made all the more alive to me by C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces.
No caption needed for this one, eh?
Captured above one of the doorways in Shakespeare & Company, reputedly Paris's oldest bookshop, this slogan of Biblical origin sums up a lesson I learned this month-God means for us to love every single person we come across. I went to Paris with a motley crew, and oftentimes group travel tires me out, but at the end of the four days with those kids, I mentally remarked to myself that I loved spending time with each and every one of them.
To steal a Kushism: stay intense!
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