Thanksgiving at the American Cathedral was really great.
Surprisingly good, in fact, in that they served over 60 at a level of quality
that would have made any American host proud. The turkey was perfect (I
understand that is catered – and, let’s face it, French caters had BETTER make
it right!). Sweet potatoes and stuffing and pumpkin pie (something of a
curiosity to the French) – and really superb cranberry relish, with ginger and
lemon zest. Also lots of good conversation. All the preparation overseen by the
stewardship chair – whose husband runs the Paris office of Goldman-Sachs!
On Saturday, we went to the Louvre to see the new exhibit on Alexander the Great. Mostly small
objects of the period (vases, amphoræ, masks, golden oak wreaths &c… ).
There was an interesting interior – a tomb. Apparently, the tomb of Phillip II
of Macedonia (Alex’s dad) was discovered untouched. On display was another one. Also some dandy
columns, with their architraves and frieze, from a ruin in Thessaloniki. I also
learned that there is an order called proto-Corinthian,
in which the acanthus leaves support the whole capital and there is no scroll
at all.
Church again on Sunday – the First Sunday of Advent – and Lessons
and Carols for Advent served as the Liturgy of the Word. Very well-done. Boy do
they have a good choir! And organist and organ, too. Mary Had a Baby, My Lord! was exquisite: the Americans really know
how to bend the thirds just right! This was also the first Sunday for Christmas
boxes – literally hundreds of them – which the community prepares and then
sends to children in poorer countries. And there will be more again next Sunday.
Afterwards, everybody pitched in to carry them out to the waiting truck which
will transport them to Serbia, this year (I think).
Then we went to a little hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop, just
off the Champs Élysée, which produced what may be the best shawirma I have ever had. Not only were the ingredients perfect,
but the wrap must have been a freshly-made crêpe or something, because it was
incomparable.
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