Printemps?

21 April 2008- Yesterday it was officially spring. We have turned off the radiator. The only downside is that now my towel will not be heated when I get out of the shower. Oh well. We did a quick trip to Luxembourg Garden yesterday for a run in the rain. We are crazy but feeling healthy. Legs are feeling it too.
We checked out Val Du Grace- a church built in honor of Anne of Austria giving birth to a baby boy Louis 14th. It was spared during the revolution, interesting since all things of royalty got ransacked. The nuns living there helped treat the injured revolutionaries and that got its start as a military hospital. It is still used as a church but also houses the military hospital museum. Wicked little apothecary cabinets, cases full of odd looking tools for amputations and whatnot and some beautiful paintings. Chad cheated and took some pictures inside the church. Only after 20 pictures were snapped, the docent came in and told him no more. Then since Chad was good at getting pictures where none should have come, we treated ourselves to a beer. We met another American expat who knows a fellow Uncle AL worker.
On our way home, We quick popped into St. Etienne du Mont of Balzac's Pere Goriot fame. I went there on my walking tour but we only had a moment since a mass was going to start. This time we got to walk and see it all. Someone with a gorgeous voice was practicing when we walked through the sacristy. You can still get right up on the 17th century stained glass, see St. Genieve's tombstone and a piece of her fingerbone in the reliquary.
Today the Chad left for China. I told him to be careful not to mention he lives in France. The Chinese are planning a boycott of the hypermarche (not just a super market, hyper market) Carrefour after the torch incident. Carrefour is the second largest store in China next to the import from Arkansas, Wal-mart. The funny thing is the Carrefour boycott is on May first, French labor day when nothing here is open. Chad is supposed to be looking for a birthday present for me. Nothing flashy, just a good knock-off wallet is all I have requested. Don't tell the French or Italians though. They would prefer you spent all your money on the wallet or bag. I prefer to buy cheap and have money in the bag, thank you. Going to need the money to buy pints for my birthday.