Finding one’s way in Paris can be a challenge. While a guided tour is usually available, the decision to walk along one’s own path can be more fulfilling. Observe the museum stone wall in St. Germain and you will relish what medieval treasures lie within. Move toward a line of fallen leaves as you saunter along the Seine and you enter the world of Monet’s Impressionism. A distant cliff focuses your mind to the white sacredness of Sacre Coeur. There lies a perfect place to overlook all of Paris, The church bells of this proud basilica begin to ring in the distance. As night falls in Paris, an azure moon appears above. Your journey in Paris will now continue with an awareness that it is wonderful to be alive in this city of your dreams.

 Have you taken the time to really enjoy your food lately? Amidst the constant talk that we are what we eat, French cuisine in Paris invites one to enjoy life to the maximum. Taking one’s time to choose the right food to eat there fosters a more life – fulfilling experience. A crisp baguette or croissant begins each morning uncluttered by worries about caloric count overkill. As the day progresses, you realize that the need to find food goes beyond hunger. A sensory collage of color, shape, and smell commands your attention in your attempt to select a simple lunchtime sandwich. Each meal proceeds creatively as an artist ponders the complex brushwork of his latest painting. The excitement continues at dinner as you discover novel ways that your food will be presented. Pour your melted cheese onto a boiled potato with a French style, Raclette meal , savor your green salad appetizer served heated for extra flavor, or delight in a mountain of mussels piled high in your seafood medley. The evening now ends in an explosion of sugary delight when your attention falls on the pastry of your dreams. That secret taste which lies inside of a flaky crust is a sure way to know that you have lived a moment of quiet ecstasy in the mere presence of food.            

If you want to learn about the culture of Portugal, listen to the music from the streets and cafes at night. The concert begins before most of the audience arrives late to take their seats. All eyes focus on the musical leader as he/she gives a detailed description of each selection, As a respectful silence settles over the crowd, the songs unfold with little rush to finish. Frequently, a musician will challenge them self to perform an elaborate improvisation of the main theme, ending with a raucous show of applause from the audience. Such solidarity of emotion clearly demonstrates that the music itself matters most here and is a uniting force in this country. One leaves with a feeling that they have been part of a special life moment.

Lisbon has a proud past that transcends time passage. Everywhere you look, there are symbols of Portuguese life long ago.  Walking the narrow alleys in Alfama, symbols of medievalism overshadow surrounding urban decay. A proud warrior directs me to have courage about the future. Flowers are hung to provide inspiration for love. The intricacies of sculpture suggest perfection of craft. The timeless presence of such icons is something to be remembered as a meditative mantra in the present moment.

The castle stands proudly over the steep hill. Its call to come closer commands my attention now. I curiously view these medieval remnants as an ideal spot for finding peace. Find the olden path and my thirst for contentment will soon come clear. As cobblestone turns to dust, my ascent begins smoothly. With each passing step, the town below grows smaller. Ancient vines part up ahead to signal the way forward. Footsteps above! A passing knight perhaps or the King’s procession alive. A crumbling wall in the distance dares me to cross into the mysteries that I seek. No home could ever be more inviting. It soon becomes clear that my castle resides within me and its kingdom lies waiting to finding a restful existence.

Streetcars are not the most efficient means to travel in Lisbon but they assuredly are the most fun. Grab hold immediately of the nearest rail inside the cabin and you speed off to a destination that you soon forget. Pay close attention to the location of your wallet as you become Sherlock Holmes and guess who might be the most likely one to lift it silently from your pocket. How do you say pickpocket in Portuguese? Having taken great pride in finding the proper place to stand amidst the dense maze of people surrounding you, what fun it might be to guess how to exit the tram successfully. A sudden jolt of brakes is felt at each stop as many spring confidently toward the rear exit. You gradually move closer to the rear at each stop as you test your balance to stand nearer to an exit position. At some point, you begin to realize that this journey has reawakened your senses to “living in the present.” I feel more alive now and laugh inside at this carnival of human madness.

What do Vasco Da Gama and myself have in common? We both sought the curiosities of the unknown by traveling great distances to do so. Although I never became memorialized with a statue as this great explorer was, I feel the same sense of daring accomplishment in walking the cobblestone lanes of old Lisbon today. Vasco’s spirit of the “Great Age of Portuguese Discovery” is a timeless example to follow in my search for life’s ultimate meaning. Continue reading “Vasco Da Gama And Me” →