Churches, Lunch, and Manifestations in Albi

I went on a field trip to the town of Albi with John and my mom today. John drove and it is clear to see that he is getting the hang of driving a standard vehicle. :) Well done, John!

Upon reaching Albi, our first stop was at Le Boeuf Saumon for lunch. I ordered the salmon lasagna plate. It included bread, salmon lasagna (of course), a salad, cheese, and fruit. I'm not going to mince words and simply come out with it, the lasagna was pretty awful. It tasted way too fishy... yes, I know salmon is a fish, but this was ridiculous! The lasagna was amazingly fishier than any fish I've ever encountered. No worries, though, the rest of the plate was good and filling on its own. I could recommend visiting the restaurant as Mom and John's meals were reportedly very good. Just don't order the salmon lasagna.

After lunch, Mom and I ventured over to St. Cecilia's Church. Had I not already seen so many European churches already, this one might not have been so infuriating. The hand carved detailing and frescos throughout the building were beautiful and quite a sight to behold. Still, the feeling that it was somehow wrong began to nag.

Of all the elaborate and immense churches I've encountered in Europe, this one simply struck a nerve. I've come to the conclusion that my fury does not rest in St. Cecilia's alone. It rests in the observation of how garishly the Catholic Church flaunts its wealth.

Granted, occassionally there is an individual or small group within the church that provides an exception to this observation. However, the church as an institution does little more than strike fury within me. How many people could have been helped throughout the years had the institution focused on them rather than flaunting its wealth through magnificent artistry and the size of its buidlings?

After leaving the church, I had the opportunity to witness my first French protest. When we arrived in Albi, the plaza was all but empty. A handful of people were wandering around, visiting shops and restaurants. After little more than an hour, it had filled with people carrying signs and flags.

The French government is raising or has raised the retirement age from 60 to 62. The people are not happy about it and are not afraid to show their disapproval. Would you be?