Hey Ya'll. Did you know it's been 20 years since that shit came down? I saw this awesome exhibit of work done from pieces of the wall in a park area near the Louve. So far, it was the best thing I'd seen art related in Paris.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
I slept in today. I think all this moving about has me requiring a level of hydration that I'm not quite use to and that combined with all the wine; the exhaustion in general is having an affect on my engery and overall health.
This is so different than traveling with my friends, a la- bar and bathroom tours and sightseeing secondary to fun. Not complaining, I just don't have an overwhelming interest in most of the sights that everyone else is into. That came out wrong. I am so interested in all of this, I just can't shake my attraction to the 20th Century; cubism, dada, the surreal- the political atmosphere surrounding this city prior to the Spanish Civil War, WW II- Paris in the 60s...
I guess what I'm getting at is I don't want to look at another cathedral or monument. At least not today. So, my plan is then to just hope on a metro and see what happens. This time alone and with abosultely no plan.
Also, my address for the next month is:
Foyer Tolbiac
Room 425
234, rue de Tolbiac
75013 Paris
So, write me here. I'm dropping some letters and postcards in the mail today.
This is so different than traveling with my friends, a la- bar and bathroom tours and sightseeing secondary to fun. Not complaining, I just don't have an overwhelming interest in most of the sights that everyone else is into. That came out wrong. I am so interested in all of this, I just can't shake my attraction to the 20th Century; cubism, dada, the surreal- the political atmosphere surrounding this city prior to the Spanish Civil War, WW II- Paris in the 60s...
I guess what I'm getting at is I don't want to look at another cathedral or monument. At least not today. So, my plan is then to just hope on a metro and see what happens. This time alone and with abosultely no plan.
Also, my address for the next month is:
Foyer Tolbiac
Room 425
234, rue de Tolbiac
75013 Paris
So, write me here. I'm dropping some letters and postcards in the mail today.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Vaux le Vicomte
Today I took a bus out to Vaux Le Vicomte. The long and short of it is that this is a chateau of this rich dude who really got Louis the XIV's panties in a twist and so after a while of him all trying to deal with his penis envy issues and what not, he had him (Nicolas Fouquet) imprisoned for life. A lot of people believe him to be The Man in the Iron Mask, which is a legend in addition to being that movie with Leonardo DiCaprio where he had unattractively long hair. The chateau is considered to be a model for Versaille and is really, really big. The gardens are amazing and so perfect and they light up the place by candles in the evening. It was a full moon and I can't even begin to describe how beautiful it is. There was a little cafe on the grounds and so I ordered a cup of coffee and a small bottle of J&B and made an Irish coffee to keep me warm on this brisk evening.
Now I am back and my room and more than exhausted after my long day considering the evening I had prior, exploring the Parisian night life- which, incidentally, is more hoping than even New York City. I am bellying up to my desk to write a few letters before retiring for the evening.
For those of you who don't know, check out my pictures as they are uploaded by clicking the les fotos link to the right. I will try and keep them as current as possible.
<3<3<3
Now I am back and my room and more than exhausted after my long day considering the evening I had prior, exploring the Parisian night life- which, incidentally, is more hoping than even New York City. I am bellying up to my desk to write a few letters before retiring for the evening.
For those of you who don't know, check out my pictures as they are uploaded by clicking the les fotos link to the right. I will try and keep them as current as possible.
<3<3<3
Thursday, June 4, 2009
June 4th...
Last night i explored Montmare (Martyr's Mound), which used to be a Roman temple that was dedicated to Mercury and Mars. In 8C, Saint Denis, preist Rusticus and the deacon Eleutherius were tourtured there. The were brought to the top on the mount to be decapitated. Local legend claims that Saint Denis picked up his gory head and marched on to the area that is now named after him, ST-Denis. There is a statue there of a dude missing a head.
The area is full of tourists during the day. I know this because I can spot my own kind. There are lots of little cafes and what not; stores selling bags that are all covered in Eiffel Towers and other such propaganda. At night though, certain places around the area are very bohemian and full of young parisans. I plan on heading back that way when I feel like going out at night. I really wish I spoke French but I've decided to learn and so in the future, I would really like to come back to study the language.
At the top of Montmartre, there is the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, which was built after the Franco-Prussian war in 1870ish. It's big and it's white and it has an amazing view of the city. I drank in the veiw and a couple beers on the steps. You can drink outside here. It's pretty great.
Today I took the metro to Place de la Concorde. The Obelisk is right there as you come out of the metro, like a huge fallic symbol to the gods. The Obelisk came from the ruins of the temple at Luxor. It was 'given' to France in 1831 by Mohammed Ali. I honestly don't really know what the policitcal situation is/was with France and Egypt; it was never the focus of any of my academic research, but I raise an eyebrow at any thing that European countries had a hand in in the past 500 years. Especially involving Africa.
Regardless, it was 'erected' (lol) in the centre in 1836. The thing is tall, and covered in hieroglphics. Aparently the roseta stone had already been discovered at this time and the French incoporated the inscriptions into the location of the city, meaning the wording specific to the significance of art faces the Louve, politics faces their parliament building, etc. From this magnificent cross roads, you can see the Arc de Triomphe and straight down Champs-Elysees. I wandered from here down to the Louve. I didn't go in, but looked around the outisde. It's really overwhelming.
I kept going and came across this huge old cathedral, which had these super tall ceilings. I couldn't read most of the infromation on it, since I don't speak French. It was definatly gothic type architechture.
I found a Metro and took the 7 all the wall to Tolbiac and walked the 15 minutes to my dorm. I picked up a basket of cherries from a market and a tomato. Apparently you are supposed to get a little sticker for your produce if it isn't packaged, which I didn't know but the lady at the counter showed me and so I will remember next time. Back at my room, I made a cheese and tomato sandwich from the leftover baggette and hunk of swiss I had. Then I took my sandwhich, cherries and books and headed to the park close to Cite University, where I am now. I've been napping and eating and soaking in the sun, which is gentler than Florida, for hours. There is a nice breeze and I've already forgotten what day it is.
I had no idea how dead inside I had become, or how alive I could feel until today.
The area is full of tourists during the day. I know this because I can spot my own kind. There are lots of little cafes and what not; stores selling bags that are all covered in Eiffel Towers and other such propaganda. At night though, certain places around the area are very bohemian and full of young parisans. I plan on heading back that way when I feel like going out at night. I really wish I spoke French but I've decided to learn and so in the future, I would really like to come back to study the language.
At the top of Montmartre, there is the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, which was built after the Franco-Prussian war in 1870ish. It's big and it's white and it has an amazing view of the city. I drank in the veiw and a couple beers on the steps. You can drink outside here. It's pretty great.
Today I took the metro to Place de la Concorde. The Obelisk is right there as you come out of the metro, like a huge fallic symbol to the gods. The Obelisk came from the ruins of the temple at Luxor. It was 'given' to France in 1831 by Mohammed Ali. I honestly don't really know what the policitcal situation is/was with France and Egypt; it was never the focus of any of my academic research, but I raise an eyebrow at any thing that European countries had a hand in in the past 500 years. Especially involving Africa.
Regardless, it was 'erected' (lol) in the centre in 1836. The thing is tall, and covered in hieroglphics. Aparently the roseta stone had already been discovered at this time and the French incoporated the inscriptions into the location of the city, meaning the wording specific to the significance of art faces the Louve, politics faces their parliament building, etc. From this magnificent cross roads, you can see the Arc de Triomphe and straight down Champs-Elysees. I wandered from here down to the Louve. I didn't go in, but looked around the outisde. It's really overwhelming.
I kept going and came across this huge old cathedral, which had these super tall ceilings. I couldn't read most of the infromation on it, since I don't speak French. It was definatly gothic type architechture.
I found a Metro and took the 7 all the wall to Tolbiac and walked the 15 minutes to my dorm. I picked up a basket of cherries from a market and a tomato. Apparently you are supposed to get a little sticker for your produce if it isn't packaged, which I didn't know but the lady at the counter showed me and so I will remember next time. Back at my room, I made a cheese and tomato sandwich from the leftover baggette and hunk of swiss I had. Then I took my sandwhich, cherries and books and headed to the park close to Cite University, where I am now. I've been napping and eating and soaking in the sun, which is gentler than Florida, for hours. There is a nice breeze and I've already forgotten what day it is.
I had no idea how dead inside I had become, or how alive I could feel until today.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Today I Got Lost in Paris
I've met this girl, Rachel. And she's pretty awesome so today we decided to get lost on the metro. We ended up in the 18th Arrondissement and discovered gardens that were built on top of the old aqurifer. I have never seen roses so big! And the honey suckle smelled so sweet. It was amazing. I am really feeling at home here. Comfortable, even.
I have a new plan. I am going to live a new place every year. I figure I probably have at least 30 years, so that's thirty places. I either need to be able to work completely remotely. Or else, I need to be able to have a career that is useful to many countries...however, whatever, I'll make it work. Cause I am having SO MUCH FUN. It's only been 3 days and I already don't want to leave.
<3<3<3
ps- Comment with your address and I'll send you a postcard.
I have a new plan. I am going to live a new place every year. I figure I probably have at least 30 years, so that's thirty places. I either need to be able to work completely remotely. Or else, I need to be able to have a career that is useful to many countries...however, whatever, I'll make it work. Cause I am having SO MUCH FUN. It's only been 3 days and I already don't want to leave.
<3<3<3
ps- Comment with your address and I'll send you a postcard.
Monday, June 1, 2009
New Digs!
Here I am at my dorm and I'm getting all settled in. I love it. A room of my own!The only frustration being that the wifi is a bit shotty, but oh well. I just returned from a trip to the local market where I purchased un baggette, some water, an apple, a hunk of cheese and a very cheap bottle of white wine. Now that I'm all unpacked, I plan on making myself a little sandwich and reading a bit before a group of us from the program all go out to eat at a local pizzaria. There are six others from the class staying in my building and that all seem sweet, but young. Pretty much as I expected, but- well, they are young.
Paris is so much more beautiful than I remembered. And the men are much cuter, too. Not to mention fufilling all appropriate stereotypes but no complaints here. I spent last night wandering around with a guy who spoke even less english than I do, and we would just point to things and say them in our respective languages. I'm beginning to think that being in the country, really is the best way to learn. I feel like a little sponge, soaking everything up so thirstyly.
I am so unbelievably happy.
<3
au revoir!
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