Intuitive Eye in Paris

Have you ever stopped and felt a place? Yes, I said felt, not look with your eyes, but instead look with your heart? This is an intuition eye that a person's mind has but many do not stop and feel long enough to even know it is there.

We arrived this morning to Paris after a flight with no incidences and even very little turbulence 35 minutes earlier than expected. Greeted with a 2-hour customs wait and a suspicious package held up at customs for inspection far in front of us. It was all okay. Not a true scare, just routine. After customs as I was distracted trying to keep up with Justin down the long airport shuttle walker, I startled, soldiers in camo armed with machine guns walking down the aisle next to us! That is not something one sees in America! Not normally anyhow. They were ominous service men with a comforting presence. Paris thus far is an interesting place. People are friendly enough but curt. They will speak English if they can but seem wary of us. They are beautiful people with thin delicate features, sharp noses, and both dark and light skin and hair. There were even classic french sweethearts kissing and cuddling on the subway. Ahh Paris! Can you hear my intonation?

Paris feels jumpy. It does not feel peaceful, but it does not feel dangerous. It is Christmas today. I expected more peaceful stillness. I see people looking around, a lot. A nicely dressed middle aged lady paused for many seconds in front of us down a lonely staircase and stood alert watching. Across the busy street was a group of men, yelling or making noises. She seemed jumpy. A beautiful bright eyed 7 month pregnant young refugee came asking for money on the subway. The second refugee of the day with the same story in very different city locations. Young women walk alone. Women with very young children ride the street cars, in the dark by themselves. The subs and trams have far less crazy people and more average people here then say Portland. I have not been down yet to a busy city center. There I will feel more, I am sure.



SeaTac Airport with a very giddy adolescent. Four movies in a row! She was sad to leave the airplane. "I am going to have reactive attachment if you take me away" she said to me as she patted her plane seat upon arrival.

Reading a map on the subway in Paris




City street and cafe where we ate French Ravioli, glorified macaroni. Miriam thought she was in heaven.