Pilgrim not tourist. It started in Paris.

It started in Paris. The whirlwind love affair with the City of Love. Half of the group of 60 pilgrims took the route through Paris. It presented a day tour opportunity that took us in a breeze through the streets of Paris. The view from the bus is better than not seeing the place at all. But the charm of the place summons one to consider a visit again. 

It was a long flight from Cebu to Paris. Long flights challenge the artistry of toss and turns and viewing of countless movies. And just when sleep set in then these gracious attendants come down the aisle to offer food and drinks. Sleep interruptions all the more blur the time zones in the mind.

We landed at Charles de Gaulle airport and hurriedly looked for our guide. The flight was a bit delayed but time was precious as we only had barely a day to breeze through the sites. Utmost in the itinerary was the Sunday mass and everything else had to adjust on the schedule. 

We trouped to our bus which took us to a whirl around the city. We did not go down the bus except at the Eiffel. The tour was basically a 'to the right' and 'to the left' volley as our heads obeyed the directions narrated by our guide. With minimal blinks, we looked out the bus windows and took on the sites as what the bus speed allowed us. Click, click, click, as fast as the fingers can muster with the blur that was the tour. 

But Paris will not be Paris without Eiffel and so with very limited time, the troupe had to do the customary shots with the tower as the backdrop. Then the little time spared were spent to do quick purchase at the nearby souvenir stall.

Then with no time left, we were ushered back to the bus to catch the mass at Miraculous Medal Church where Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Laboure. Her incorrupt body is also on glass display besides the altar. The mass was in French and it was the first of many masses in languages we barely understood. Yet the beauty of the Eucharist is that regardless of the language used, one can follow and still be spiritually attuned to the rites. 

The pilgrimage had barely started and we have a long way to go. We rushed back to the airport to await our flight that will take us to Madrid. It was a day well spent albeit our backs have not tasted a kind bed for a day. 

Le Madeleine

Louvre Palace, Paris

                     

Arc du Carrousel, Paris

                                 

Paris City Hall

                               

Ubiquitous Parisian Cafe

                         

                                      

Life musings: 

Everyday, life has surprises. It could be the beauty of an unexpected site. Life may go so fast but every minute is an opportunity to create  beautiful and lasting memories of the hustle and bustle of daily living. 

1000 Gifts - Gratefulness Journal

Attitude of gratitude - words from a friend that rang a significant tune to my ears. And the journey to 1000 gifts took on a more beautiful reason. Hundred by hundred, listing words and experiences of gratefulness. These need not be complicated words. A simple expression of beauty is enough. The whistle of the wind, the rustle of leaves, the comfort of a smile. Or a candy, coffee or cake. 

1000 gifts is inspired by the book of the same name and how gratefulness changes the heart, the mind, the life. The habit of thankfulness can set in motion a positive wave that helps in dealing with life's disappointments. Gratefulness unleashes an energy into the universe that attracts the goodness and blessings into the grateful heart. 

And the list continues. A song out of tune, a prolonged guffaw, the feel of peace amidst a storm. A restful sleep, the presence of another soul, the comfort of a pillow and a bed. The hopeful morning coming from a heavy heart. The drop of a tear and the compassion of a smile. 

It goes on and on and on. So much to be thankful for. For a life lived, For another day ushered in. For the hope that when this life ends, it was lived to the fullest, for what it is worth. That it has loved, it has been hurt but got up again, it has been scarred, bruised and whipped but it is a life lived well. 

It is a beautiful world and it is a beautiful life. 

Life's Musings

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, life. 

Sunrise And Wanderlass

It was a work trip that had me cross the sea to an island and the added blessing was the long stretch of white beach where we stayed. Work being what it is, there was no chance to dip in the water. But there were little blessings still.

At the crack of dawn, the shore beckons. It was not the time to frolic in the water as there was not enough time for that but being by my lonesome and taking in the long stretch of white sand was a soothing moment. There was a peaceful stillness to feel the rush of cold gusts as the waves gently kissed the shore. Leisurely steps created footprints in the sand. And atop the swaying palms was the moon still aglow as dawn broke. A few moments more and the sun would smile ever so proudly on the sand and sea.

In that moment of solitude, the heart was filled with gratefulness. Grateful for the peace of the moment, grateful for the beauty that surrounds, grateful for the blip of calm before work frenzy set in again. 

As if the world felt the gratefulness, the sun peaked in all its majesty. It was like an acknowledgement from the universe, 'You are most welcome'. And the day went well as it should. 

Life Musing

To take in the warm glow of the sun, to feel the wind kiss the skin, to live a moment in gratitude. Life's wealth are free and bountiful. One has to allow the senses to play and banter with nature and be lost the beauty in the here and now. 

Jump!

Oh to be kids and be carefree and fancy - priceless! There was just one instruction and that was to jump and this shot captured the essence of being children. 

Priceless too are the faces that bespoke of the lightness of being children with arms flailing and grins stretching from ear to ear. And the joy of sheer determination to leap as high as the body could go and for a split second be suspended on air. What bliss!

And the pure joy on the faces of these kids gets the viewer sucked into the energy exuded when they jumped reliving childhood memories and just for a brief moment be a child again too. 

Life Musing:

There will always be a child in all of us. The playful, carefree, innocent child within. Embrace that child and recapture the wonders of innocent years. 

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

I chanced upon the recipe of this bread in the web. It was an interesting thing to try. The result is a cross between a cake and a bread that goes well with coffee.

The best part is that this is so easy to make. No need to use the mixer.

Ingredients (from www.plainchicken.com)

2 cup flour
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tbsp cinnamon

Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, egg, vanilla and oil.
Pour half of batter into bread pan. Sprinkle with half of cinnamon sugar combination. Spread remaining batter and sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar. Cut through batter with knife to swirl.

Bake in preheated oven (350) for 45-50 minutes.

Life Musings:

Light moments over coffee and cake with chat and banter make for a relaxing unwind. Life's joys are often free. 

Spicy Chili Crabs

On a work trip to Bantayan island, it was irresistible to purchase several kilos of crabs when the chance presented itself. It was a fun challenge to concoct dishes from the stash. 

Spicy chili crabs offered a logical option. This dish was easy to  make and quite flexible on the ingredients. Musts to the dish are garlic and chili paste. Sauteed ginger added to the flavor. The end product was a crab dish with succulent crab meat and the bonus of spicy chili sauce that went well as topping to hot rice. 

Ingredients:

1 clove garlic

Ginger

Scallion

Chili paste

Oyster sauce

Sesame oil

2 tbsp canola oil

Cooking procedure:

Heat canola oil in a pan. Sautee sliced garlic and ginger. Add 2 tablespoons of chilli paste. Stir. Add oyster sauce and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. 

Stil the mixture until combined. Put in the crabs and mix until cooked. Add scallion and mix. 

Life's Musings:

Do that which makes your heart whistle. It will give the balance to offset the stresses of daily living. 

Angst of a Broken World