After extensive travel and diving into the preparations  for the MoonScout period in Tilburg, Graham and I took out a couple of days and went to Paris to re-connect with life itself. Graham came over to Antwerp by train from the Light and Building Fair in Frankfurt and we drove down from there to Beauvais, where we parked the car. From there we took the train to Gare du Nord.

I know for a lot of you the erupting volcano ruined your travel plans, yet for me it was such a gift that there were no planes up in the sky during our stay! Because, as a result of that, like a cloud of dust, the usual whirl of energy settled down and it got QUIET. The background-energy in the city was so peaceful and relaxed… People just stayed where they were, had given up attempting to get to somewhere else. It felt like one of these 1970’s long lazy sunday afternoons…

At our leisure, we visited an eclectic collection of buildings, modern and ancient. Next to must-sees like the Sacre Coeur, the Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, we admired unfamiliar gems like the excavations below the Notre Dame square and the Arab World Institute.

The modern architecture of the Arab World Institute doesn’t look all that special at first sight, yet it has surprising features. It combines the latest technology and techniques with traditional Arab architecture. The southern façade is decorated with a translucent ornament of steel reminding the moucharabiehs. Here however, this geometric pattern is made of 240 diaphragms opening or closing according to the sun, thanks to a light-cell, to let in enough light without harming art pieces exhibited. On the inside a walkway allows you to watch the mechanism up close. Fascinating!

On the top floor you’ll find a roof terras that provides an spectacular view of the city, from the Notre Dame on one end all the way to the Sacre Coeur - hovering over the Centre Pompidou – on the other; especially under a clear blue sky:-) See for yourself next time you’re in Paris (1, rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, Place Mohammed V, 75236 PARIS CEDEX 05, Metro line 7 or 10, station Jussieu).

On our last evening we went to see the famous Moulin Rouge show; quite a spectacle as well. I’d expected all glamour and glitter inside, yet the theatre was very old. The show was great – I have always admired feathers and shiny stones!

Yesterday we drove down to Normandy, to start our next housesit. And today – back to work…  The MoonScout preparations are in full swing; soon to be launched: MirroroftheMoonGoddess.com and the start of the ticket sales for the show on June 21st in Tilburg.