Al Mettel was a popular American artist who made his living and financed his travels from his art. Among his specialties were churches, including many of the most significant of France. One of those he painted as the Cathedral of Amiens in a view from a river bridge. As far back as I can remember that picture hung in my room, usually over my bed. I still have it some 60 years later. It's one of my most cherished possessions, although it's of no great monetary value.

Art became life in 1989 when I was traveling in Europe in the early winter. It was cold and foggy on the train from Bruxelles to Paris and we stopped briefly in Amiens. I looked out the window and immediately recognized the Cathedral from the picture in my room. I hurriedly got off the train and slowly made my way through the damp fog to the church which looked almost surreal in the golden light from the street lamps along my way. By the time I got to the Cathedral it was closed and deserted. I walked around it twice, took a few pictures, and made my way back to the train station to wait for the next train to Paris.