Sacred Drifting through France and Belgium
May – June 2017
When you think of Paris, France or any region of Europe, for that matter, what comes to mind? Romance, culture, cuisine, art, music, quaint towns replete with sweet chapels and intimate market places, resplendent countryside vistas and nature, and architecture that takes your breath away?
In France and Belgium, this Sacred Drifter experienced all of this and MORE!!!!
Leading up to this voyage, in early 2017, I officially became a registered resident of Colorado! Yeee Hawww! A return to the Mountainous Heart-Space I was grown in!!! The Colorado tribe is thrilled and has re-embraced me with open hearts! WOW! I have just won the Cosmic Lottery!!! AND ... THAT IS NOT ALL … Jason Ruby, a talented, creative, responsive, supportive, sensitive, nurturing, intelligent and loving being in my life has ‘called/invited’ me back to Colorado to explore being in relationship. We have, in our time together, cultivated a phenomenally rich culture! I invited Jason to join me within the Sacred Drift and he said, “ABSOLUTELY…what an honor!”
What resulted was a magical, romantic and present centered romp through France and Belgium!!! WOW! I have won the Cosmic Lottery TWICE!!!
Hmmmm where to begin???? How about the French and Belgian cuisine!
Cheese Cheese Cheese and Cheese!!! French Cheese is AMAZING, especially Brie with Truffles, Camembert and Goat Brie. Jason and I both normally do not eat much cheese, and when in France, one MUST eat as the French do… savor gorgeous, scrumptious, creamy, flavorful cheese! So we indulged in French cheeses that delighted the senses and left big smiles on our faces, as well as a few inches around the waistline!
Walking around Bordeaux, in a quaint tucked away neighborhood, we encountered a handmade ice-cream parlor with several unusual floral flavored ice creams. One of the flavors that caught my interest and eye, with its beautiful lavender color, was glace de violette (violet). Now, some people coin the phrase, ‘it is important to stop and smell the roses’, and well, I have been known to stop and eat the roses, the nasturtiums and yes the violets, so I just had to try this gorgeous colored floral ice-cream. WOWWEEE! The delicate, violet-infused, incredibly creamy ice-cream was splendid! I could taste and smell the delicate floral essence as it touched the tip of my tongue and it lingered for quite awhile after swallowing! Divine! Divine! Absolutely Divine!!!
Along the lines of delicate floral flavored deliciousness, was the Rose Lassi that Jason and I reveled in at a Pakistani restaurant in Chartres, France! Both of us adore Indian cuisine and have been on the search for Rose Lassis ever since tasting this Divinity! MIAM!!! (As the French children’s books say for Yummy!)
So, I am guessing, when most people think of Belgian cuisine, Belgian Waffles come to mind. This was true for Jason and me. HA! Funny thing is, the more we looked for Belgian Waffles in Brussels, the more elusive they seemed to be! I kept asking people along the way to the Manneken Pis, and at the eateries we passed, “Where can we find authentic Belgian Waffles?” Several times, Jason and I were directed down a hilly street. After going down several hilly streets and running into the Manneken Pis, then stumbling into the cobbled square of the Grand Place, and still not seeing a single place to find Belgian Waffles, I began to think that this stereotypical cuisine was a farce. Then, as we were walking out of the Grand Place, there they were, rows of eateries dedicated to Belgian Waffles!!! Whooo HOOOO they really do exist! And they are Deeeeelish! Jason and I split a vanilla scented, crispy on the outside, ever-so-slightly chewy on the inside, Belgian Waffle with real whipped cream piled high, strawberries and dark DARK Belgian chocolate sauce! OH BABY!…AND… we savored each and every bite! HA! There was a tiny Japanese woman sitting at the table next to us devouring an entire Waffle! She had the biggest grin on her face! We indulged in a second Belgian Waffle several days later! MIAM!!!
O.K., Now for those of us who are chocolate connoisseurs, France and Belgium are the two places on the ENTIRE EARTH-MOTHER to find, relish and savor the best chocolate, and that is exactly what Jason and I did…every day! All over Paris there were specialty chocolatier shops tantalizing our senses, sending us on a spectacular voyage into the world of Haute Chocolaterie! There was a shop at the foot of Sacre Coeur that had a carved dark chocolate Eiffel Tour, Notre Dame de Paris, Statue of Venus de Milo from the Louvre and other iconic Parisian treasures! I hand picked an entire box of chocolates and we ate a good portion of them while watching the sunset from the foot of Sacre Coeur! What a decadent experience all around! La Maison du Chocolat by the Louvre has a delicious selection of chocolates and beautiful packaging to boot! They also gave me tastings of anything I was interested in. MIAM! So generous!
One day after Jason and I took in the fabulous Musee de Rodin, we thought it would be romantic to picnic in the famed Jardin du Luxembourg, where the French version of the Statue of Liberty is facing New York. And OH…how romantic it was! So, on the way to the Jardin du Luxembourg we stopped by a Boulangerie and bought delicious olive baguettes stuffed with cheese, tomato and avocado and an especially gorgeous looking dark chocolate tart. This dark chocolate tart was decadent, rich and creamy. We fed one another each bite, and I continue to savor the experience. In fact, I still dream of that tart and will most likely dream about it until the day I am no longer dancing the Earth! WOW! MIAM!!! We found a fabulous Marcolini Chocolatier in Brussels and just had to bring some back to share with family and friends!!! I think Parisian and Belgian Dark Chocolate is the perfect food!!!
Now, a bit, and only a bit about France, as there was so much wonder, beauty and transformation experienced.
Paris and Montreuil
For the first two weeks of exploring Paris, Jason and I were invited by Roshi Michel-Genko-Dubois (whom I met at the Zen Peacemaker’s Native American Bearing Witness Retreat), to stay with the Dana Sangha in Montreuil, a suburb of Paris. It was a wonderful and treasured experience staying with the Dana Sangha Zen Center. We enjoyed sitting Zazen with the Sangha on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday Mornings. Sitting Zazen, Inter-being with the Sangha and experiencing Dokusan with Genko Roshi, while exploring Paris was like staying with family! Roshi's Catherine Genno Pagès and Michel-Genko-Dubois are Gems, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to heart-connect with them.
(See memoirs for Zen and the Sacred Drift…)
world-peace-chambers/zen-and-the-sacred-drift
https://www.dana-sangha.org/english/
Jason and I arrived in Paris on May 16th and took the Metro to Montreuil, where we settled in our home-base with the fabulous Dana Sangha! I was eager to start speaking French and had the opportunity to do so as soon as we landed! There was a wonderful ‘mom and pop’ Boulangerie down the street from the Dana Sangha, that Jason and I frequented, and the friendly boulangère was complementary of my French and she happily encouraged me to practice speaking with her. J’adore le francais!!!
The next day Jason and I ‘hit the ground running’… well … plodding was more the pace, as the jet lag was having its way with us. Jason was keen to show me some of the places he had discovered years ago when he went to France with his choir. First he guided us to Saint Chapelle, a Gothic style royal chapel at the center of Paris. It was built between 1163 and 1345. The founder, King Louis IX of France, constructed it as a chapel for the royal palace and to house Passion relics, including Christ’s Crown of Thorns — one of the most important relics in medieval Christendom. My breath was taken away after Jason and I ascended a tiny winding staircase that opened into a stunning beauteous Stained Glass Wonderland!!! Incredible! Wondrous!
Next, we meandered towards the famous Gothic designed cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris, the very heart of Paris, and, one of the largest religious buildings in the world. Until then, I had only heard of Notre Dame de Paris via Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame! WOW! What incredible architecture, I had never seen anything like this Cathedral before, and I was ‘blown-away’ by the sheer size and intricate Gothic style stone carvings. Loved the gargoyles! As I was approaching this impressive structure, camera in hand, I noticed that the camera stopped working…argggggg! I am in Paris and the camera craps out on me, right in front of Notre Dame de Paris! What are the odds? Long story short, Jason and I attempted to find a camera repair place in the following few days and nothing could be done within the time frame that we were in Paris. So, Jason handed his phone over to me and I took thousands of photos from a telephone. Not great, but it did the job. I have photos to share with you all! ;o))
Now, back to Notre Dame. Jason and I entered this magnificent cathedral and I promptly crashed in one of the seats. I hit a jet-lag wall and needed a cat nap. ;o)) It was beautiful and calming to hear the echoes of voices wafting through the cavernous spaces, blending into a symphony of sound. When the decibel levels elevated to forte, “Shhhhhhh Shhhhhhhhhh Merci” was piped out into the cavernous space, giving me a fresh compassionate insight towards calming the chatter in my own head when practicing Zazen. After sometime, I felt rejuvenated enough to explore the innards of this Grand Cathedral and circumambulate the glorious outer shell with Jason. The words and photos don’t come close to explaining the effects that this Glorious Gothic structure had on us!
By the time we completed the circumambulation of Notre Dame, it was early evening and we stopped by a cute bistro and devoured a 3-veeeeeery-French Cheesy Pizza for early dinner! Holy Cow…MMMMiaM French Cheesy Pizza! Then we waddled back to the metro and crashed at the Dana Sanga, dreaming of flying buttresses, rose windows and gargoyles!
After our first ambitious day in Paris, Jason and I decided to acclimate to the time change, make some plans and take it easy in Montreuil for the next few days. Then on May 22nd we ventured back to Paris! First stop: La Tour Eiffel! The icon of romance in the world, where in fact, they do have designated circular ‘places to kiss’! What a fantastic panoramic view of Paris, and at night, one can observe La Tour Eiffel dazzle onlookers with a spectacular light show! Aside from being quite the romantic vantage in Paris, La Tour Eiffel was the main exhibit of the Paris Exposition of the World's Fair in 1889. It was constructed to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution and to demonstrate France's industrial prowess to the world. Some interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower: Gustave Eiffel, a French civil engineer, is usually credited with designing the tower that bears his name. However, it was actually two lesser-known men, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, who came up with the original drawings for the monument. It always takes a village, eh!
After spending hours oooo-ing and ahhhh-ing over, on and around La Tour Eiffel, Jason and I took a beautiful walk across the Seine River, enjoying the sculptured gardens and architecture towards L'Arc de Triomphe, looking back occasionally to gawk some more at the Eiffel Tower.
Ahhhh L’Arc de Triomphe!!! A magnificent triumphant work of ART! It is highly recommended to climb the stairs to the summit of L’Arc de Triomphe at sunset to enjoy the 360 degree vantage of the Champs d’Elysees, the sunset itself, the crazy traffic circumambulating around and quickly exiting onto one of the 12 avenues radiating around the Arc, and the Eiffel Tower lights! By the time Jason and I made it to the Arc my ‘skin-bag’ was completely spent and achy, and yet, there was more to experience, and so I continued up and up and up, capturing some excellent photos of the winding spiral staircase! The top was spectacular and absolutely worth the effort! Jason and I viewed an extraordinarily gorgeous sunset, and then La Tour Eiffel lit up the night sky. I felt giddy and excitable! It was incredibly ROMANTIC!!! Then our bellies began to talk to us and we walked down Le Champs d’Elysees, sat in a trendy restaurant and enjoyed a delicious dinner, exhausted and amazed!
The following day, Jason and I explored a bit of Paris that most tourists don’t see, in an attempt to find a camera repair shop. We walked around gorgeous sculptured roundabouts, sighted the Famous Paris Opera House and found the site of where the Bastille used to be. So much history in these old European Cities, eh!
May 24th, Jason and I dedicated the day to exploring the Fondation Louis Vuitton building, designed by one of Jason’s most revered architects, Frank Gehry! We took our time exploring this fantastical, whimsical, curvy and transparent structure, taking photos from most every angle, as well as completely absorbing the three floors of exhibits by impacting artists of South Africa! At the time, I thought it profound and serendipitous, as I would be Sacred Drifting through South Africa in October and November of 2017!
After our inspirational day with the Frank Gehry structure of artistic grandeur, Jason and I ventured to the Breizh Café at 109 rue Vieille du Temple, 75003, Paris, recommended by my dear dear friend, Lisa. Here we absolutely delighted in the most succulent savory crepes and deliciously delicate dessert crepes! Oui! Oui, we enjoyed two crepes each! Oh la LA!!! The neighborhood was quite delightful to explore around this fabulous creperie as well!
The following two days, Jason and I took in two of the most famous museums; Musee du Louvre and Musee Rodin!
There were a few must-sees at the Louvre; the Mona Lisa who was surrounded by adoring fans, the Venus de Milo who looked gorgeous from every angle, and incredibly splendid statues carved by French artists from a distant time, enclosed in an impressive glass section of the Louvre! The architecture of the Louvre is quite the orgasmic eye-candy and is a work of art in its own right. It is so enormous and houses so much artwork that it would take years, if not lifetimes, to absorb all the beautiful works of art in this Musee! So, instead of attempting to see it all in one day, Jason and I decided to visit a different kind of architectural beauty right next to the Louvre, La Maison du Chocolat! Then we enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the grass in the beautiful Jardin du Tuileries with local Parisians. Chocolate was on the menu!
Auguste Rodin is a favorite sculptor of mine, a master at capturing the intense emotions and reactions of the human condition. Visiting the Musee Rodin was an absolute thrill! Rodin loved roses and all around this sculpture garden, sensational rose gardens compliment the deeply affecting sculptures! Jason and I stopped to breathe in most of them! MMMMMM heavenly!
After several hours of absorbing the sculpture at Musee Rodin, Jason and I picnicked in the famous Jardin du Luxembourg where the 1st Statue of Liberty, smaller than her American sister, raises her light of liberty! The Luxembourg gardens and sculptures are superb. Be fair warned though, there are grassy places where there is to be no walking, no picnicking, no standing on the grass and there are no signs that indicate this. So, we enjoyed our romantic picnic on a section of ‘forbidden grass’ and unwittingly encouraged other grass frolicking types onto this section of grass. We were all enjoying the day and the natural state of being until a grass guardian/patrol officer shooed us all off the grass. It wasn’t until we reached the other end of the gardens that we found grass that we could frolic on, along with multitudes of families, lovers and tourists! Parisian gardens are spectacular and romantic, replete with tree lined paths, pony rides, fountains to float your toy boats and yes, places to enjoy picnics or take a roll in the grass.
That night Jason took me on a Boat ride down the Seine! Tres Tres Tres Romantique!!! …AND…hilarious! There were loads of young people enjoying the nightlife in Paris along the Seine and I started laughing uncontrollably when I noticed that we tourists, in the boat, were being ‘mooned’ by about 50 butts along the Seine! Quelle Drole!!!
So, I love cemeteries and so does Jason! The serenity, the peace, the architecture, the nature … Cemeteries have a certain draw for me and La Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise was exceptional. Here Jason and I walked among the famous dead and incredibly beautiful architectures of death. I was deeply moved by all the war memorials. Wow! We humans have fought too many wars! We spotted several gravestones of people we have heard about or have had the privilege to experience their gift to world; Georges Bizet, Frederic Chopin, Édith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Molière, Jim Morrison, Marcel Proust, Balzac, Marcel Marceau, Eugène Delacroix, Stéphane Grappelli, and Gabriel Faure amongst many more. We just missed seeing Rossini’s tomb, as it was closing time and all were ushered out of La Cimetiere!
After the serene day at La Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise, Jason and I hopped on the metro heading for Sacre Coeur to enjoy the end of the day at this magnificent Cathedral on the hill, and the setting sun! A note for anyone visiting Paris, the Sunrise is best viewed from Sacre Coeur, and although our evening was filled with delicious chocolate, and crowds of entertainment at the foot of Sacre Coeur, one can not see much of a sunset from this resplendent Cathedral. There was a very interesting dichotomy to experience at Sacre Coeur. There was a Catholic Mass going on inside the Cathedral, and outside the Cathedral, were masses of entertainers and people hanging out, selling or drinking beer on the grounds. A mixture of the Pagan and the Sacred…veeery interesting, and not the last time to encounter this contrast in France.
Some events in this life prove to be Sacrednicities. So while we were in Paris, my beloved friend and an amazing composer, Yuko Uebayashi graciously invited Jason and me to a Concert in her Parisian home to benefit Japanese children who were orphaned after the Tsunami 6 years ago! Some of Paris’ most esteemed musicians performed, including another dear friend and première flutist, Jean Ferrandis! It was amazing to embrace Jean, Yuko and her husband, Jiro in Paris…in their beautiful home overlooking the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. I even had the honor of meeting Yuko’s parents who were visiting from Japan! I see why she is so gracious and beautiful! It was a gorgeous performance and I had, once more, the opportunity to hear one of the most touching compositions, that Yuko has composed, Au Dela du Temps (Transcending Time), for two flutes and piano.
It doesn’t matter where I am in the World, I love to explore and Touch the Earth Mother, and so while staying at the Dana Sangha, I took three exploratory runs around Montreuil. Jason went with me the first time. There are wonderful parks to run through and we both delighted in seeing lots of canetons (ducklings)!
Plum Village – Mindful Cooking Retreat
As a part of the Sacred Drift, I wanted to spend some time at Plum Village where my first influential Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, or Thay, as we students affectionately address him, resided. For years, I have wanted to explore the possibility of becoming a Buddhist nun in his lineage. Some of that direction and desire has shifted since meeting Jason, and yet I still wanted to explore. One never knows what kind of ‘curveballs’ life is going to ‘throw at us’. So being that the Sacred Drifting in France was inclusive of my beloved partner Jason, I thought it would be fabulous to engage in a Mindful Cooking Retreat together at Plum Village. Jason, being a Zen practitioner himself, loving food and being familiar with several of Thay’s books, was completely ‘jazzed’ about attending this retreat! I was elated at his response!!!
May 31st Jason and I said our heartfelt goodbyes to the Roshis at Dana Sanga and departed for Bordeaux. We transferred trains to Sainte Foy la Grand toward New Hamlet, Plum Village! As a part of the Mindful Cooking Retreat, we participated in mindful walking through the plum orchards and happy gardens. We listened to profound Dharma talks by several of the nuns and sat Zazen with the entire Sangha every morning and evening. A few times Jason and I sat Zazen and chanted in the magnificent serene Buddha Hall, and were joined by three beautiful-hearted womyn. The five of us made music by and into the pagoda bell, which vibrated joyfully to our voices and to the flutes!
The cuisine prepared by the nuns was delicious, energizing and much enjoyed! This Macrobiotic practitioner was in heaven!!! Most of the nourishment we received was grown in the happy gardens and prepared fresh, although there were some traditional Vietnamese condiments brought from Vietnam. Many of us could be seen taking pleasure in picking and eating ripe cherries and mulberries from the abundantly fruiting trees at Plum Village. MIAM!!! In addition to enjoying the meals prepared for us, we experienced three cooking demonstrations of Vietnamese dishes. Several of the nuns demonstrating their recipes were camera shy, covered their faces and giggled a lot! Quite sweet and endearing. The last full day of the retreat, the entire Sangha adventured into a friendly cook off between all the dharma-family Sangha teams, using the recipes that were demonstrated! Jason and I were in the Dharma Pot-cleaning family and we won best Sizzling Crepe (Banh Xeo). We had a few professional chefs in the Pot-cleaning family and quite the creative and beautiful display, if I don’t say so myself! Joyful Fun!
Jason and I learned and participated most mornings in Qi Gong stick exercises offered by a calm, quiet and petite nun. Her size didn’t fool me though. She was quite the peaceful warrior!
Our Dharma family facilitator, Sister Thang, approached Jason and I and asked if we would like to participate in the Beginning Anew presentation, and we did. This exercise of the heart had special significance for me and it was healing to have the opportunity to experience this with Jason. Merci Cheri! Your present centeredness and love are extraordinary! Beginning Anew was a powerful relationship experience and we appreciated the opportunity. Jason and I received beautiful heart-centered feedback from many of those in the Sangha who bore witness to our unfolding. It seems that our expressions of how we 'cook our lives' were inspirational. HA! And just in case we needed some humility, our relationship has had the opportunity to benefit from holding council, as we have bumped up against some issues that needed 'airing' and 'transforming'. I am sooooo happy we have these tools and are willing to use them!
As with any Zen practice, work practice or Samu was a part of our daily living at Plum Village. The Pot-washers was the Dharma family name, and that was our work practice. Broken into two teams, we alternated days and washed pots after each meal. I adore the feel of warm soapy water!
Along with everything that was experienced at this retreat, it was a joy to have made new friends from around the Earth Mother, speak some French and enjoy walks, reveling in the gorgeous French countryside with Jason, … AND… stopping often and returning back to ourselves, our breath, when the ‘Bell of Mindfulness’ was rung! At the end of the retreat, Jason and I chose to accept the transmission of the 5 Mindfulness Trainings (precepts) and received Dharma Names, Unfolding Lotus of the Heart and Luminous Dana of the Heart. This ceremony touched me deeply.
The Plum Village Mindful Cooking retreat was Heartening and Beautiful!!! It was truly a "how to cook your life" retreat! Dogen would have reveled in the joy of the nuns and participants. HA!!! …and I had been slowly absorbing Dogen’s "How to Cook Your Life"-New edition. I met some new ‘Spirit’ Sisters from around the world, at the retreat too!
Some introduced aspects of this retreat that I am going to incorporate into my life are of course, healthy mindful eating, Beginning Anew and lazy days. Once a week the nuns take a ‘lazy day’ in which they do whatever they want to do and enjoy doing! I LOVED THIS! There is not a whole lot of support in the Western model of living for ‘lazy days’ and I think human Be-ings need this modality to become a balanced healthy human BE-ing. I loved exploring the magnificent and pastoral countryside in my free time and on the ‘lazy day’! Plum Village is set in a lovely part of France!
I also made an intimate and beautiful heart-connection to Sister Peace, an African-American nun practicing at Plum Village. We had much to discuss, and she offered validation and support for how I am giving of myself in the World, and she answered many of the questions I had about becoming a Buddhist nun, in Thay’s lineage. Something to put on hold for now, so no worries, Dragon! ;o)))
Upon returning to Colorado I found this rendition of the GREAT BELL CHANT (THE END OF SUFFERING) with Thay voicing wise Dharma! It alters my molecular structure!
The nuns began the retreat with this chant and bell!
French Dunes Cathedrals and Countryside…Oh My!
After our enriching experiences at Plum Village, Jason rented a car in Bordeaux and we headed off into another chapter of the French adventure. First we spontaneously spent a few hours checking out the Saint Andrew’s Cathedral in Bordeaux! The Architecture was magnificent and the organ pipes were stellar! I have never seen such a impressive set of organ pipes! We heard the organ being tuned and simply soaked up the beauty of the space! …and I mustn’t forget the glace de violette! Miam!
Jason is a lover of sand dunes, and to watch him joyfully bound and jump off the Dune du Pilat with the agility of a wildcat, invoked a sense of happiness and awe within my heart! Le Dune du Pilat, also known as the Grande Dune du Pilat is the tallest sand dune in Europe and the largest dune in France. It is located in La Teste-de-Buch in the Arcachon Bay area of France, only 60 km from Bordeaux. So naturally, Jason wanted to explore this dune and play. I enjoyed playing too. We arrived at Le Dune du Pilat in the evening, climbed the Dune to find a rapturous invoking view of the sun setting over the ocean in the Northwest, and a lush forested valley below the dune in the Southeast! It was a gorgeous Earth-space to ‘touch’ with all the senses! After watching the sunset we decided to head back to the motel, and I spontaneously felt the urge to roll down the dune! I looked at Jason and said, “I’m gonna roll down this dune!” He looked at me with delight and said, “Oh Yeah!” … and down I went, squealing and giggling so hard, I felt like I was going to bust a gut! In the end, I did not bust a gut, and only captured sand in every cell of my being! I’d do it again in a minute! Ecstatic Fun! The next day we both decided to take solitary walks at the Dunes; Jason exploring the highest point of the dune and I walking along the ocean’s edge, collecting shells and breathing with the floating and soaring sea birds.
After fully absorbing the natural beauty of the Dune du Pilat, Jason and I spent the next week traveling around the bucolic countryside of France experiencing the majestic splendor and ultimate craftsmanship of some of France’s Architectural Wonders; Mont Saint Michel, Chartres Cathedral and the Cathedral Porterie Notre-Dame du Haut!
The Magnificence of Mont Saint Michel, situated at the top of a medieval town, built on a large rock in the ocean, was something ethereal to behold! Jason and I approached this romantically situated Gothic Cathedral via the two-mile walk along the canal, stopping every so often to breathe in the extraordinary scene before us and kiss. As we reached the entrance of the town, the tide was out and the path clear to leisurely explore the town below Mont Saint Michel, take in some nutriments and then soak up the various vantage points of this Gothic-architectural-wonder and surrounding Earth-scapes! Before we knew it, we were at the entrance of the Cathedral. The views were spectacular from the top of Mont Saint Michel and we explored every available nook and cranny of this Cathedral. There was a small chapel off the monks’ dining room, and Jason and I sat in the first pew of this intimate space, silently absorbing the vibrations and acoustics. There was a sense of something ancient coming alive in this space, and something amazing stirred the depths of our beings. Jason then opened his mouth and the most beautiful sounds emanated from his being, and then, something started ‘singing me’ too. I don’t know how long we were ‘being sung’, but this mystical beauty pouring forth, from the profundity of our beings, left us somehow transformed…transfigured. It was a cathartic experience! I can still feel the altering affects, the impressions of this experience, throughout my entire being! We lingered in this magnificent Gothic Cathedral until closing time, having a sense that we were now a part of the very fiber of its existence, or that perhaps the Cathedral was now a fiber of our very existence! “Not two, Not one.”
Eventually we meandered down to the bay where we shed our shoes and walked barefoot on the bay selecting seashell treasures to take home and walking with the tide coming in. Still in a dreamy mind-space, I thought of Basia, a Dharma Sister at the Dana Sangha, and her descriptive expression after Jason and I offered vibration to the Dana Sangha..."A rainbow between two mountains"! A rainbow of vibration.... Upon returning to our charming romantic B&B, La Bergerie, Jason and I were inspired to make love all night, perhaps possessed by the Romantic Spirit of where our hearts had taken us inside the embrace of Mont Saint Michel!
Chartres Cathedral was the next destination after Mont Saint Michel! When we arrived, the spectacular sounds of the Organ were wafting around this exquisitely designed orgasmic Gothic Cathedral! There was also a Mass in French taking place complete with cantor, choir and various instruments! Truly an Angelic Realm! My heart almost burst, with all my senses on delicious overload! This Cathedral clearly had pagan roots! I curiously noticed among the interior, beautifully sculpted biblical stories and stained glass Zodiac signs. Behind the altar rests a stunning sculpture of a wild and free looking womyn with many animals and womyn at her feet. Hmmmm Artemis perhaps? After looking into the gift shop, I noticed a refrigerator magnet with a huge labyrinth on it and I inquired to myself and then to Jason, ‘there is a labyrinth in this breathtaking Cathedral? Where is it?” The gift shop cashier said it was clearly on the floor under all the chairs. Oh WOW! So Jason and I promptly walked out of the gift shop and noticed the spectacular 11-point Labyrinth, underneath legions of chairs! There is so much incredible beauty looking up and around this enormous Cathedral that we almost missed the mystical labyrinth! I won’t disregard what is underneath a chair ever again! As Above, So Below! Sousveillance! Clearly, there is value in looking in all directions!
Designed by Franco-Swiss Architect, Le Corbusier and built in 1954, the Chapel Porterie Notre-Dame du Haut was our final destination planned in France. After driving through more beautiful bucolic French countryside and quaint towns centered around sweet little churches with impressive steeples, Jason and I arrived in Ronchamp, the home of this 20th century chapel. Upon first glance, and after experiencing the previous detailed Gothic style Cathedrals of Notre Dame de Paris, and Mont Saint Michel, Chapel Porterie Notre-Dame du Haut appeared sleek, sculptural, unimpressive and simple. I viewed it from all sides and enjoyed the beauty of the curvature of the roof meeting the sky! Then, upon entering the structure, I experienced a profound silence and peace. What was this energy? I slowly explored the darkened corners and spaces of this simple, yet strangely powerful Chapel, soaking up the serenity of each moment. As I had done in all the churches and cathedrals so far, I lit candles for myself, my Mum, and for the Earth and all her Sentient Beings. I then sat in the front pew to breathe. Jason came over to me and whispered, “your flute would sound amazing in here!” I said, “It is in the car. Do you want to go get it?” Next thing I know, Jason ran down the hill to retrieve the flutes, and as soon as the Buffalo Flute touched my lips, mystical and powerful vibrations filled the space, deeply touching all who were present! Several people approached me later that day to tell me (in French) how deeply they were moved when they heard this flute in the Chapel! Jason commented, “I was deeply moved by hearing the flute and how it greatly enhanced my experience of the space.” It was most definitely transformational! “Music can change our molecular structure.” –Santana … AND IT DID!!!
Belgium
Belgium is so close to France that it made sense to drive from Ronchamp, France to Bruxelles (Brussels). Once we arrived in Bruxelles, Jason and I had a ‘lazy day’ or a ‘down-day’ to breathe, rest, do laundry, shop for groceries and search for an electric adapter, just like the one I had left stuck to the wall in the hotel in Ronchamp, unbeknownst to me. We then cozied up in our ‘love-nest’, the Airbnb that Jason reserved, to plan our week in Belgium!
Everything we see hides another thing, we always want to see what is hidden by what we see. -MAGRITTE
If the dream is a translation of waking life, waking life is also a translation of the dream. -MAGRITTE
Experiencing the Musee de Rene Magritte along with La Grande Place and Authentic Belgian Waffles was absolutely thrilling for Jason and me!
Rene Magritte is one of my favorite Painters and Philosophers, mostly because his Zen-like-philosophy is embedded and one with his Art. Not one, not two! It was thrilling to spend an entire day absorbing the profundity of this man’s inspirational work and learn more about his personal life. I highly recommend this museum, a must see when in Brussels!
After spending most of the day absorbing the profundity of Magritte's Art and Philosophy, Jason and I shared our first authentic Belgian Waffle with fresh whip-cream, strawberries and warmed dark Belgian Chocolate! MMMMMMM MIAM!!! We marveled and were fabulously overwhelmed with the architecture and scale of La Grande Place! WOWZA! Unimaginable!!! AMAZING!!!
HA! We also enjoyed searching and basically running into the weeee Manneken Pis...'pun intended'! This famous statue is much smaller than I imagined. The tourist shops are full of Manneken Pis cork screws and statues just in case one did not get enough of their baby boys peeing and wanted to relive some nostalgia...HA!!!
On the 16th of June, a lovely cool and sunny day, Jason and I took a day trip to La Plage Naturiste at Bredene Beach outside of Bruges, Belgium, and we so enjoyed being naturally nude together with the sand, a few other two-leggeds, sea shells, birds and ocean! Then we took a few hours to explore the La Place de Bruges. “An unspoilt medieval town, Bruges’ winding streets pass by picturesque canals lined with fine buildings." The center of Bruges is amazingly well preserved. The town’s trade was badly affected when the River Zwin silted up at the end of the 15th century. It was never heavily industrialized and has retained most of its medieval buildings. As a further bonus Bruges also escaped major damage in both world wars. There are no billboards or high rises.” La Place de Bruges, smaller than Bruxelles, mostly medieval architecture and more intimate, enchanted Jason and me. We finished off this fine day by enjoying dinner at a quaint and family run Egyptian restaurant.
Wrapping up this amazing Belgian adventure filled with eye, ear, nose and tongue candy, Jason and I took a tour of the Horta Museum, a private house with a Dr. Seuss-ian appearance. We also spent some time in the Musee des Instruments de Musique, where we mostly explored instruments of antiquity. The architecture of this once-upon-a-time department store, known as Old England and designed by Architect Paul Saintenoy, is a striking showpiece of Art Nouveau architecture located by the Place Royale. The facade is made entirely of glass and elaborate wrought iron. It is really quite stunning!
Jason and I spent some quiet time walking or jogging through the beautiful park, Bois de la Cambre, close to our lovely little birdie-nest flat, and in the Parc du Cinquantenaire. Europeans seem to value their parks and the benefits to having beautiful trees, ponds, ducks and swans to enjoy and revel in! Even in the large populated cities! Fabulous!
To be close to the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, which, by the way, has a crazy layout, Jason drove us from Bruxelles to Chantilly, France, the day before our return flight to Colorado. We spent our last few hours taking photos of a regal Castle over a moat and searching for a place to eat in this town that seemed to hunker down around 9pm. He started singing this fabulous song to me, called Chantilly Lace sung by the Big Bopper, and made me smile! Now he sings it to me every so often and upon request…“Our Song”!
