Guérande, a rainy day, and randomness

 

On Sunday, we went to Guérande, a beautiful fortified Medieval city.

 

This is what the main road looked like, with touristy shops lining either side.  Most of the buildings were just as old as the city.  It was just so different from America, where something from a hundred years ago is considered old.

 

In one of the shops; there were all these clay piggy banks that stared out the window at the passers-by.  It struck me as funny.

 

 

Here's another view of the main street.  I also love how this picture captures the European biking spirit.

 

Here is the cathedral.  (And yes, those are my two brothers horsing around in the corner. :P )

 

 Although magnificant and incredibly impressive, as I walked through the cathedral, my heart was saddenned.

 

 

The beauty that everyone admired there was the beauty of what man can create, not the beauty of a God who mercifully saves sinners.

 

With its musky smell and cool, damp atmosphere, the ambiance seemed to reflect most Europeans' view of church: something cold, old, and outdated with no practical use.

 

While somewhat beautiful, the beauty was stiffling and I couldn't wait to get out.

 

If that building is what "church" means here, I can see why most people wouldn't want to go, because, quite frankly, I wouldn't want to either.

 

Visiting the cathedral gave me a different perspective on what images the word "church" can evoke.

 

It also gave me a desire to pray more for the church in Europe, that it would be rejuvenated and that "church" would no longer mean an old, stuffy building, but a body of people, ready to love like Christ.

 

As we walked back to the car, we found this cute little ally.

 

I found this door incredibly adoorable.  (Can you tell that I miss puns?  It's so much harder to make them in a foreign language.)

 

I also permitted my brother to take a picture of me, just to prove that I didn't take this photos off the internet, but I actually went to Guérande.

 

 

 

 

And now we get to something that I love about this place: the rain.

 

It finally started raining, and I love it.

 

 

 I love gazing at the sea covered with a thin mist that veils the horizon.

 

I love seeing the view from my window smattered and blurred with rain.

 

I love watching the rain drops drip from my window.

 

 

And now we come to random Renee-ness.  :)

 

I think I was brilliant to bring along my squishable eraser.  Here's one of the many creations I've made.  Let's just say I never get bored.

 

Here are two of my host sister's friends, but they're now my friends too.  On Saturday, we spent a lovely day together full of lots and lots of laughter.  And I get to tutor at least one of them.  These English lessons are going to be awesome.

 

And if you look closely in the lower left corner of this photo, you can see the most awesome car ever: a multi-colored punch-buggy.  Unfortunately, I was in the car, so I couldn't take a better picture.

 

And that's all, folks!