I thought I'd post pictures of the daily trek to school. Scott goes with her in the morning, and I do afternoon pick-up. It's about a twenty minute walk.
I pass our bus stop, local grocery store, and our pharmacy. Sometimes I wonder if the pharmacists keep mental track of our medical needs. Like, do they look at me when I come in and think, "Boy she sure has bought a lot of lice shampoo over the years." Hopefully not.
Next to the pharmacy is the real estate agency that we used to buy our apartment almost five years ago.
A few years ago, Justin always brought a foam ball to play soccer at recess. I think this was partly politics; if it was his ball, he could always play. When it would get kicked up onto a roof, he would beg for three euros, and go down to this gas station to replace it.
For our first year and a half in Nice, we lived in the apartment above this restaurant. The bathroom was really nice and big.
This is a side street on the way. The onion domes are the top of the very lovely
Russian orthodox church.
I go under the train tracks leading to the central train station. It doesn't smell great.
And out again into the light...
past a store with a small dog in the window. He wouldn't look my way.
There are several cafés and restaurants with tables and chairs outside...
and stores with produce on the sidewalk.
The way back is different. Anna is chattering about her day, waving at me to catch up so we can cross the street on a green light, visiting animals and friends on the way, and occasionally getting ice cream. I will post about all this another day.
But the pictures here show my walk down to school. A friend posted recently on her
blog about a walk that she has found where she can reflect and pray When most people think of walks for reflection and prayer time, I suppose we think of lovely, lonely places far away from people and pollution and clamor.
I like these too, and there are these places, even in Nice. There are olive groves, historic neighborhoods, rose gardens, and hills.
But the reality of my life now is that my walk is this busy European city street. It's a walk that is part of the pattern of my life. I don't have to plan it into my schedule or go out of my way to make time for it. It is my schedule.
