Chartres Cathedral
The one thing on my "must do" in France was to visit Chartres Cathedral to walk the labyrinth. The town of Chartres is 100km southwest of Paris. Rather than take a group tour, we travelled independently and caught a train from Montparnasse in Paris.
Outside looking inBy the way this post is in blue in defference to Chartres Blue - the unique colour in the windows. It was a secret colour commisioned by the then bishop, the recipe which died with the glaziers, and apparently to this day has never been replicated.When you first enter, it's very dark. It takes awhile for your eyes to aclimatise. Slowly you start to see vivid splashes of colour on the floor from the stained glass windows which glow like jewels. Chartres is said to have one of the most complete collections of medieval stained glass in the world. Of the original 186 stained-glass windows, 152 have survived.
Inside looking outChartres has the widest nave in France and is 36 metres high. There is an unbroken view from the western end right along to the east, 128 metres away. The transepts [transverse arms, north or south, of a cross-shaped church] hold chapel areas such as these.
But what about this labyrinth, I hear you ask. People walk a labyrinth slowly as an aid to contemplative prayer, meditation and reflection, as a spiritual exercise or pilgrimage. With my penchant for experiential right brain activities, my fascination with the labyrinth made sense when I recently read that a labyrinth is a right brain task. It involves intuition, creativity, and imagery. Unlike a maze which is a left brain task that requires logical, sequential, analytical activity to find the correct path into and out.
Kel in the centre of the Chartres Labyrinth (yes, the one wearing the purple beret)Chartres' stone floor holds the ancient labyrinth (1205). There is just one path through the labyrinth and it is 295 metres long. The circumference of the labyrinth is 40 metres, almost exactly the same size as the West Rose window. Intriguingly, the labyrinth is the same distance from the west entrance as the West Rose is from the floor — so if the west wall fell inwards, the rose would land directly on the Labyrinth. Something you would not want to be there to experience!
Wanting some music to accompany my labyrinth walk, I had Delerium's Silence on my mp3 player. Press play, walk the labyrinth, enter a parrallel universe. Right brain? Yes. Experiential? Yes. Spiritually profound? You bet.
Triumphant stories
Arc de Triomphe, photo by Kel © 2008The Arc de Triomphe is the world's largest triumphal arch. Napoleon commissioned this monument to commemorate victories of the French army.I don't know about you guys, but I find it very easy to be hard on myself. I can easily recall moments when I could have or should have done better than I did. Or times I didn't see my goals or plans come to fruition because of circumstances beyond my control.
When one is being battered about the head by others, it's important not to become part of the battering ram. This is the time one needs to remember the victories, remember the achievement, remember the times you did good!
Despite what some may try and get you to believe - you are good. Don't sell yourself short. Remember your moments of triumph. That's your "homework" for the week.
If you keep a blog, I invite you to share your triumphant stories.
Drop a comment below to link to your story.
If you keep a visual diary, I invite you to create images and symbols that speak of your triumphs.
Chin up!
You have been victorious.
You will be again.
simple small things
twin blades of grassgolden sheavesnowhere to gono-one to pleasebut simply by growingwhere they were putthe pleasure's all oursif only we look
we all strive for greatness
in both deed and word
but the simpler the story
the better it's heard
if only we'd get it
it isn't that hard
the great opportunities
lie where we are
photo and poetry by Kel, © 2008
Dancing to . . .
photo by Kel, © 2008ever felt like you dance to the beat of a different drumthen realised it wasn't even a drum to which you dancedgoing against the flowthinking outside the squareliving beyond the normsquare peg round hole~My life has always been lived in the tension between doing the standard 9-5 to pay the bills. And doing independent, entrepreneurial, creative things. Which more often than not, don't pay the bills. I'm not sure how this "do what you love and the money will come" theory is supposed to pan out. Every time I've tried panning for gold, I end up with glitter. Pretty but worthless.
This week the media has been full of doom and gloom stories on the rising costs of living. They don't need to do a special feature on A Current Affair, or a centrespread lift out in the newspaper to tell me the cost of filling the pantry each week is skyrocketing. The cost of fuel means we now take one car into town. And don't even get me started on how much our mortgage payments are - after 8 interest rate rises in the past 18 months.
Moving to the country, I now have to work full-time to make the same money I did part-time in the city. And in an environment that challenges my definition of professionalism at every turn. Let's just say that tension cable has snapped.
And right now there's an opportunity swinging past that I
have to leap out and grab. There is risk. And stress. And plenty of unknowns. And a small town everybody-knows-your-business atmosphere which makes it even more challenging.
But this pan has gold in it. For doing something I'm passionate about.
~
excuse me while i go polish up my flute playing skillsafter all, i was never cut out to be a drummer
Dive !
If you ever check out my regular reads list on the sidebar, you'll see right at the top
Abbey of the Arts. Among many other creative and spiritual things she offers there, Christine hosts a regular poetry party.
This week's invitation caught my attention.
"When I was in Maine I was struck by all of the weathervanes on top of buildings, something you don’t see as much in other parts of the country. I loved the image of finding the direction the Spirit is blowing within you. What would an interior weathervane or compass look like?"
And here's my RSVP:
to find north
one must know where south is
to find south
one must be willing to dive
~
sinking
to
the
watery
depths
where
monsters
of
the
mind
thrive
~
to navigate
not by sight
but by sound
to discern
not by fact
but by mystery
~
dive ~ dive deep
for therein lies the way
of the spirit
Web of Intrigue
La Pyramide Inversee, Louvre, Paris, photo by Kel, copyright 2008I had never read Dan Brown's famous novel, The Davinici Code. Since I was going to Paris, I thought it would be a good read for the trip over on the plane. I didn't get very far into the book, and was still reading while in Paris. When I first visited the Louvre, I was taken by the upside down pyramid in the Carroussel, a large subterranean arcade under the Louvre. The play of light coming down through this structure was fascinating. And then I looked up and saw a hilarious sight. Red webbed feet squelching across the top glass panes. The light shining through them from above. 
Web of Intrigue, photo by Kel, copyright 2008At the time mum [who had read the book and seen the movie] was laughing at me because I was so taken by the inverse pyramid. I was getting very annoyed because so many people were standing right up next to it to have their photo taken. I had to wait for ages to get a shot with no people in it.
Of course now that I've finished reading the novel, I understand why it was one of the most photographed spots in Paris. I'll leave it at that for those of you who have yet to read the book [if indeed there is anyone left on the planet who hasn't]. The book was brilliant. Best thing I've read in a long time. And I'm so glad I didn't read it when it first came out. Being in Paris and reading the book was a good way to do it.
Breakfast in Paris
First morning in Paris, we hunt for a great cafe. Being Easter Monday, we found things a little slow in opening. Mum tried to convince me we should go to Starbucks, as it was the only thing open. I said I'd rather starve than have my first breakfast in Paris in a Starbucks!
My determination was rewarded when just 50 metres down the cobbled lane we found a delightful rustic cafe serving organic breads and pastries, granolas and yoghurts.
And bowls of coffee. Okay - I love Paris!
Breakfast on Rue Montorgueil, photo by kel 2008
Dubai
Dubai exceeded my expectations. A place of such contrast.
I find it interesting that the first question people ask me about Dubai is, "How safe was it?" We walked throughout creek side Dubai in daylight and evening hours. Along main streets and down little alleyways. Although mum and I were females travelling alone, we felt quite safe there. Which is strange, considering I've never felt quite so "watched" by men. The truth is, we felt more threatened by drug and alcohol affected people in London!
Memorable moment: We hired an Abra [water taxi] for a personal tour of the Dubai Creek. As we walked down to the wharf, I saw the Abra driver push his full load of men
off the boat, so he could take us two ladies on the tour. I was mortified. Firstly, because the poor men had to find another boat to take them across the river, and second, because I knew if the driver could get rid of 14 people and make enough money with the two of us, we were probably paying way too much! But we had a lovely cruise up the river. Next time around we did the local thing and paid 1 dirham (30 cents) for a ride across to the other side.
Abra's on Dubai Creek, photo by KelSouk Madinat Jumeriah was full of interesting trinkets, arts and crafts. The architecture was an attraction in itself. And with views to the infamous Burj, a busy tourist hub.
Inside Souk Madinat Jumeirah, photo by Kel
Lesson Learned - We took a small group tour and I asked a fellow tourist to take a photo of mum and I from this spot [below]. Looking across to the Burj Al-Arab hotel, from Madinat Jumeirah. I didn't realise till after the event that she did exactly what I had asked. Took a photo of mum and I. No burj in the background. With only a few palm fronds in the background and a terracotta wall behind us, we could have been standing in mum's backyard in Queensland! Aaaaghh.
Outside Madinat Jumeriah looking at the Burj, photo by Kel.
We drove up to the gates of Sheikh Mohammed's palace. There were peacock's strutting around on both sides of the four lane entry and exit road. This one did a dance right on cue for the camera.
A royal display, peacock's at the palace, photo by KelDubai is a shopping mecca. Mall of the Emirates (MOE's to locals) is enormous and even has a ski slope inside. We had a brief look at both. Snow skiing in the desert in Dubai is an interesting concept, but it looked a bit 'fishbowl' for my liking. The mall itself was just a larger version of any other shopping mall around the world. It was the more unique shopping experiences I was after. Souks [markets].
Khan Murjan at Wafi City is a reincarnation of a 14th century souk. Although it was not yet fully operational, we saw enough to realise this was a unique place.
The main hall of Souk Khan Murjan, photo by Kel
I was too immersed in the experience of wandering through the souks to think about getting the camera out. Let me attempt to paint a picture with words. Rows of hessian bags overflowing with brilliant coloured and scented spices, seeds and herbs. I could have shopped up a storm in the Spice Souk, but seeds, herbs, spices and potpourri are on the "high quarantine risk" list. So anything I bought there would probably have been confiscated on my arrival back in Australia.
The Gold Souk was a busy, bustling spot. Shop after shop full of gold jewellery. What caught our attention was the abundance of 24ct gold items. With that yellow appearance. they look "cheap" to our western eye. But in the east they are highly prized pieces.
Dubai is not known for a handbag souk. But judging by the number of men that sidled up to us with, "You want cheap handbag?", perhaps they should open a handbag market!?!
Old Dubai fortress walls, photo by Kel
Mostly clad in Kandura's, the long white cloak and Guthra's (the headscarf), there were men everywhere. We couldn't help wonder where all the women were hiding. We did stumble into a shopping mall right near our hotel. It had a whole floor of boutiques selling the local fashions. That is where we saw many women wearing Abaya's - the long flowing black gown and the light head covering, Shela's. Some women wore very plain gowns, others wore gowns embellished with intricate jewel designs. We caught glimpses of highly fashionable clothing and shoes under their gowns. So despite appearances, these women obviously shop in the
whole mall, and love their designer wear as much as anyone.
As a vegetarian, I loved Dubai. There was plenty of choice for me in any restaurant. Middle Eastern dishes including dolmades, hummous, falafel, and so on ensured I didn't go hungry. Our last night in Dubai we caught an Abra across Dubai Creek to Shindagha - for a meal at Kanzaman in the Heritage Village.
This is what we heard while dining creekside, the sound of Dubai.
Travellers Tip - making the most of your mp3
Would you be interested in the services of a private tour guide, who is at your beck and call whenever you arrive at tour sites around the world? And would you believe me if I told you it was all free?
Just google a bit and you'll probably find what you're after. Simply enter the destination of your choice, download the podtour and there you have it. A free tour ready when you are.
Here's one I used in Paris.
Rick Steves has informative and humourous podtours of Europe, including France. We used his tour of The Louvre and the Historic Paris Walk. They even come with maps to help you navigate. Xfacta rating = Excellent!
London
Let's Go offers podtours around the world.
I used this one in London.Random others:
Canada
A half-hour podcast on Quebec City offering insider tips, commentary and anecdotes.Australia
Melbourne, Vic, Australia. If you'd like to see where Houdini defied death by jumping into the Yarra chained and padlocked, the lanes that served as purgatory for Nicholas Cage in
Ghost Rider, or where Kung Fu master Jackie Chan threw a baddie through a Swanston St shop window, then you'll love the "Showbiz, Sexy Spectacles and Sideshows" tour.
If you're a gourmet foodie then the "Eat, Drink Melbourne" tour may be more your thing.
To keep your carry on baggage light, you can even
download audio books. You don't have to have an i-pod. I have an i-River, which I think is better. Larger screen for viewing videos, and the ability to record sound [which i forgot while on my trip!?! It would have been a great way to insert soundbytes to my moviemaker slideshows.]
So now you know, your mp3 player is useful for much more than portable music playlists.
What the . . . ?
Okay, here's the next instalment in the "What the . . . ?" game series.
First person to correctly identify what this is, wins an Xfacta prize. The more detailed your description of what it is and where it might be seen, the better.
Due to the time difference this "first to guess game" is probably a little unfair to my northern hemisphere readers. Perhaps I should post this at 3am my time - I've been wide awake then anyhow - but apparently, exposing your eyes to bright light at night stuffs your melatonin levels and I need all the melatonin I can get, so no lights after 9pm - that includes computer screen glare! Surely that last sentence tells you how jetlag-addled my brain is :-)
Mr & Mrs X travelling incognito
