Paris was our destination for this epic #pekingtoparis endurance rally. Paris was amazing… and HOT.. which meant shorts and icecream! We had a fabulous couple of days wandering and I will return to Paris another time to delve more into the life and culture of this most fascinating city.
We climbed the Eiffel tower on the hottest day of the year so far in Paris and the ‘locals’ were melting… as was the ice-cream in the chest high fridges which were ill accustomed to such temperatures.
Rosy cheeks and dripping foreheads trundled up the metal stairs to the platform high on the Eiffel tower. Hundreds of people queued in the sun to rise to the highest point in the tower in an elevator. There was no way I was going to be crammed like a pressed sardine in a box hoisted by cables to the point in the sky… regardless of how iconic the journey was. I was content walking around at the highest elevation the stairs delivered us to. There was a lovely breeze cooling as I gained a perspective of Paris I have not experienced before.
It was an incredible experience driving through 11 countries in 36 days and I learned so much about myself on this endurance rally. I learned that there are many perspectives and viewpoints for every circumstance… just as I saw here looking down from the Eiffel tower.
I saw from this viewpoint on the Eiffel tower, both past and present. I saw modern buildings alongside buildings designed and built many hundreds of years ago. I saw traffic carrying people living their lives in the present. If I had been on the footpath below I would have a completely different perspective and viewpoint of exactly the same circumstances…and yet some of the elements I would still not be able to see.
Sometimes I can’t see things from where I stand. Other times I can see things far more clearly. I must always bear in mind that my opinion, belief or choice is often made from one perspective and that it may be wise to consider other perspectives as well; just in case I can’t see everything.
Paris had a feel which is hard to describe. I walked to a party on a balmy summers evening under a full moon. Music danced across an open square with horses carrying statesmen frozen under the late afternoon golden hue.
Colourful macarons; chocolate towers; red checked tablecloths; glasses of wine and champagne sparkled in the late afternoon glow.
Paris is a wonderful city, yet our time was short there. We popped to London for a few days and had a lovely time with friends. Liz, my friend who is an exceptional healer whose passion lies with horses; invited me to accompany her whist she did some bodywork on some horses; and she said I was being thrown in with ‘warmbloods’… and really BIG horses, and if I could deal with them I could manage any sized horse. I managed well and loved it!
This was the first time really had anything to do with horses. In no time I found myself running my confident hands over their firm coat and doing my ‘healing thing’ with my intention, and not even thinking about it. I could feel the horse soften under my hands and the energy running through my body. My hands become on fire as I felt with awareness the horse under my palms and fingers. I recognised at that moment that I am a facilitator for healing energy for not only people… but animals as well… and to see and feel an animal respond to my touch was quite humbling.
I am keen to be home soon and get back to my garden; back to running the mountain; my dance classes at the gym; and writing my book. Now to see puffins in Iceland then home in a week. Memories of deserts and snow; wonderful new friendships and new knowledge about myself are all still fresh in my mind. What a wonderful journey!
