Weekend In PARIS

I hope you have a lot of time, cuz this is going to be rather intense. 4 fast days in Paris. It is intense.

Ahem.

We begin.

LAAAAAA!!!!

How gorgeous and beautiful!?

When I first got into the city, and stepped out the Eiffel Tower I just kept laughing to myself in amazement. I was IN PARIS, staring up at this world-known monument. It was just utter amazement and disbelief.

The first day was an interesting an momentous one. I took a later train than the rest of the group, and was supposed to meet up with them at a designated place and time. I got there early and stayed an extra 2 hours, but they never showed. So I did day #1 in Paris by myself. Exhilarating, frightening, jittery, unbelievable. Yes, it was.

After getting some food I found a park, and in the park I found these men. They were playing this very French game that I have read about, and seen in movies. And here they were! These lovely French men, actually playing it! They toss these metal balls, trying to hit the previously set ones without going beyond (I think). But it was very intense. Everyone took it seriously. It was adorable.

The city of lights!

By the Eiffel Tower, where I hung out most of day 1, there are bands of young men selling scarves and miniature towers that they carry on large rings (see above). They pack up every couple hours to go over their earnings and change schedules and areas. It feels likes some huge, city-wide underground business. They come up to you, jingling their wares

I thought it interesting that the lower end dealers and beggars always used English to try and get to you. There was no shame in begging, and they are not afraid to get close. The women who do this go around in skirts and scarves asking if you speak English. If you moderately say yes they hold up a note on the back of a postcard that gives some story about their starving family and their wretched state.

They really know what strings to pull, and they've mastered that desperate sounding voice, the pleading. It's quite creepy actually. One of them I didn't respond to, but she got reeeeeal close and I continued to shake my head, but she started stroking my arm "Please please please" AH! I more or less jumped away. It's so hard in these situations. The beggars are crowding all the streets, so it's not like you can say yes to one and no to everyone else. And they all speak English so well it really makes you wonder....

But anywho..... Me at the Eiffel Tower. In such tourist hotspots you really try to stay in cognito to avoid getting pounced on by all these dealers, vendors, and beggars.

But after the failed meeting I went to see where Napoleon was buried---or entombed, rather.
Pretty building. The French are more or less obsessed with Napoleon. He's enshrined in this amazingly beautiful, gold-topped building that has no other purpose but to hold his sarcophogous. The marble and tile work was amazing. Pictures of the man are all over the place, in every single museum and beyond. We saw him framed in McDonalds, for crying out loud. At times, this as well was a little creepy.

But the end of day #1 was a little scary. Our hostel was far from the center of Paris, in a not-so desirable area. I got off the train with hand-written directions (I couldn't find it on a map, it was that far out) got lost a couple times, relied on the bus stop maps (with no buses attending them). But I FINALLY made it to Hotel Cheap Beds just as the sun slipped over the horizon, after power walking for about 2 hours or so.

Bah! The other girls had an adventure all their own that lead to their delay. But we all made it back, safe and sound.

Here's the stairwell up to the top of the Arc du Triomphe. Very tall, very tight. There were a lot of these in Paris. Feel the burn, baby.

DAY 2 we went to the Louvre.
In most public areas, a large walking area is covered in this white dirt/sand. If I had known this I would not have brought black pants. Oh well. But aren't the grounds pretty?!

This is me, excited for my life.

Guys! I saw the Winged Victory. I saw it! In person! Isn't this statue amazing?!!! And for some ancient Greek. With a hammer and chisel. And yet look at her skin, her dress. It looks so real. But it's marble. Mind---->>>>blown away.

And here's the controversial Da Vinci that was referenced to in that one book. You see Mary's hand, it used to be on Baby John's head, but the commissioners thought it too irreverent and suspicious. So he painted the Baby John sitting down. (John, John the Baptist...right?) This I also saw in person.

And hey look! The Mona Lisa! This one I've always been kind of confused about, but when you stare at the actual painting it is intriguing and drawing in some strange, inexplicable way. It's hard to look away.

I have been in love with Josephine Bonaparte since I read these books in like 7th grade. So I got to see my favorite painting of her, when she's crowned Empress by Napoleon. I just like Cinderella stories, princesses, and beautiful art (even though her story didn't necessarily turn out the best). It made me very happy.

Bah! The detail and amazingness! This painting was huge. I loved it.

Is this statue not incredible? Yes, it is tragic, but the artistry is intense.

And look! The Venus de Milo! This was another mind-blowing thing to see. I was amazed at how much her skin looked like real skin. It was smooth, but still had texture. So cool!

Michaelangelo's Dying Slave. COOL.

Me resting from all this intense and studious venturing.

After that break we went to Chartres Cathedral. And guess what? It was amazing.

I loved it's painted ceiling. This place had crazy intense detailing all over the place. Gothic in the utmost sense. Every trim, border, edge was painted with intense colors and patterns.
The windows! Ah! The windows. How unique and unbelievable is that? And you know what else is cool about these French Gothic cathedrals? The stain glass was made from sand from the Seine's shores, so the color hugh and combinations you can't find anywhere else.

After the Louvre, and Chartres we went to (bah bah bummmmmmm)

Notre Dame!

The gorgeous amazing outside.

The gorgeous amazing inside.

The magic of light at the right angle.

As much as I love these cathedrals, and think them beautiful beyond compare, I don't know why they insist on putting in creepy death reminders. Like this:
Who needs that? In a cathedral? I suppose at the time it the time it was made everyone was dying from the Black Plague, so I could see how death would be a prominent thought. But still. IN every cathedral I've been in I find there to be an excess of skulls and morbid statues.

After the inside we took a tour up the towers, and it may have been my favorite part of Paris. .

The view was spectacular in a way the Arc could not compare to. The age of the building helped I think. The climb was steep and treacherous up small marble steps that have been significantly worn away over the years. Then half the very long climb the steps shrank so you had to hug the wall tightly if anyone was coming down at the same time.

Frightening? yes. Worth it? I think so. The gargoyles were so fun and wonderful.

And it was cool because we were there at the 1/2 hour so the bells peeled right behind us. It was loud, striking, but spectacular. We were all to effected that right afterwards we ran across the street the the english bookstore and bought copies of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

This is me mimicking the gargoyle behind me.

Ah! The beauty and magnificence!

And there was a beautiful park right in back of it where we were able to eat our baguettes and crepes.

DAY 3 we went to Versailles.

More and more of that annoying white sand crap that makes you look dirty all the time.

Versailles is HUGE, like, bigger than I ever thought 1 piece of property could be without it being its own country or something. The castle is beyond belief, and then the grounds.. I--it, just----big... There are not quite words.

HUGE. And the guy who made it was rather obsessed with himself (Napoleon having not yet been born, therefore unable to obsess over). And quite naturally he had multiple paintings of himself commissioned. This was my favorite:
He's being painted by gods and just the painting is held up by angles. So magnificent! So majestic! It made me laugh. And mind you this is only 1 sampling. The place was littered with him.
I just thought this was amazing because of all the different types of stone used for one bust. Quite cool. Though the coolest statue of this fashion is of a women (goddess?) and it's at Orsay. Therefore I could not take pictures of it. But here's an idea

In the queen's bed chamber some girl was off in the corner, quickly drawing the whole thing. I was impressed, so snuck a picture.

WHA???? Isn't this the same picture that we saw at the Louvre yesterday?

I was already confused because we were in Versailles, the infamous palace of King Louis the some number, and the final room ended in an homage to Napoleon. What? (But they are French, therefore obsessed. So they have to put him everywhere, even in the palace that represented the exact opposite of Napoleon's initial campaign.)

So, confused. And then there's this enormous repeat of a rather famous piece of artwork. Did they think we wouldn't notice? But what can you do? They must have their Napoleon.

Here is a very detailed pretty chair that the royals would sit on to have tea. Those kind of things were hand sewn. Inconceivable.
Voila! The gardens! And this is only the left wing. Go to the end of the horizon, turn right, and begin your journey through the rest of it. Which we practically did. We attempted to find some little cottage thing and ended up power walking the majority of the Versailles gardens. Whew.

But look how beautiful it was! If it wasn't so hot the situation might have been forgiven.

Here was a fountain on the right wing (on our way back to the entrance, which is only 2 3/4 light years away). The statues are all dragons and really scary fish. Then this crow popped down there and started cawing ominously.

DAY 4

We went to Orsay (hence no pictures) But that museum was my favorite. It had a lot of my favorite artists plus others that I didn't know but really liked. I have such a love for sculpture that I didn't have before. It's probably because now I've seen actual sculpture, not just pictures of it. So. Cool.

Vincent Van Gogh's Self Portrait was fantastic. I love Van Gogh. LOVE. I found a Renoir piece that I liked a lot more in person than in picture. Monet I have a fuller appreciation for. Look at me. So cultured.

After we went to the Orange (?) and saw Monet's Water Lilies.

I wasn't expected to be as moved as I was. There is definitely something about being literally surrounded by great art.

Afterwards we attempted to go to the opera house. It was the wrong opera house (no phantom). I thought it pleasantly ironic that the opera's front steps were covered with goths.

What's up with that? Please pay special attention to the wig on the girl behind, on the left.

After much searching we found the actual opera house we were aiming for. It was large and impressive, per usual. We, however, made it too late to take a tour. So we just stared at the miniature model then sat on the steps and people watched until we left for our London-bound train.

It was a crazy, intense, fast-paced four days. I enjoyed it and learned many things:

• The French are obsessed with Napoleon
• They have something for the ancient Greeks and their classical style. It's mimicked everywhere.
• The city intensely reveres the past and doesn't pay much attention to the present.
• Carry hand-sanitizer at all times
• Stand clear of suspicious liquid
• Stay close to the center of town and be in before 10 pm.
• Bring good shoes (the best) when walking 10+ hours a day
• A crowded train can always fit more people
• Eat crepes and try new things
• Pack light, but be prepared
• The Eiffel Tower is AMAZING when it sparkles

the V & A

I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum today, and since art is pretty, and important to the survival of your soul, (and I'm avoiding homework) I will show you all the amazing things we saw.

This is a brass fruit bowl, shaped like a leaf. Amazing, right?

This is the kind of punch bowl used at parties given by kings or rock stars. But don't be fooled. They still fill it more than half full of ice.

That's right. Gunpowder tea. I was confused and asked Jana. She said it was because "It has a real kick." Pah.

This was the view staring up. A hanging art piece of steam-rolled brass instruments. I liked it.

The gauntlet attacked. Instead of saving me Jana took a picture. Now I type only using my left hand. The right keeps trying to be chivalrous.

A man's jerkin. The old kind, made by hand. Let's get a close up.

That's right folks. And all for a white undershirt.

Here's another close up. And of what?

Oh, this hamburger dress. 6 ft wide, 1 ft deep. Dude.

I took a picture of this statue because she and I share a body shape.

Don't ya think?

Oh, that's me showing off my poorly tied cravat.

This would be a comb carved out of ivory. I feel like it would just have to touch your head and your hair would suddenly wind and fold itself into some intense oriental up-do.

An intricate ladle.

A spoon. A wooden spoon for soup. Look at that thing! It looks like one of those delicate cookies that crumble the moment you touch it.

This is the kind of knife/dagger that Aladdin came from. The sheath and handle were absolutely covered in ornate shiny gemstones. Yes I'm going to kill you, but in style.

This was a pretty piece simply over the information desk. Like a giant lightbulb to all their understanding.

Historic Places

Since it is Sunday I will venture on a matter more spiritual than I am wont. This week I went to Stonehenge, Bath, and Westminster Abbey. And at each place I had a profound and connected experience. I thought I'd share, in case anyone cares (which if not, you can drop off and stop reading--I permit)

To begin, Stonehenge. This place is full of mystery and wonder. People have been coming here for thousands of years, wondering what the hell it's all about (pardon my language--and on a Sunday too!) England has been populated for hundreds of thousands of years, and yet no one seems to have any recollection of a vast group of people moving 18 ft, 45 ton stones hundreds of miles (without the aid of the wheel), and worshipping around them.

But somehow, it was done. And it still stands as a marker of their lives. All of us visitors come prancing around, to gawk and awe, and yet as I came up to these giant stones a kind of reverence comes over and people slowly stopped talking. I just stood. I mean, it is amazing. It is also very possible that the makers' descendants are part of this gawking crowd, and yet we're missing the connecting dots, from Stonehenge to this person right next to me. But the simple fact that this person exists shows that there is connection, even if we can't see it.

And second, the Roman Baths, of Bath.

They've found all sorts of pieces of the Roman ruins, and this piece in particular struck me. It was commissioned by the Roman leaders, but it was the Celtic natives that created it. The Romans, who we assume brought civilization to a majority of the words, relied on a much narrower branch of culture to build up their city. No one is quite sure what this man represents. Some say he's supposed to be a gorgon (which is muddled by the fact that it is a man) and others say he's another kind of god, or king, or who knows what else.

I was simply fascinated that this culture that left little in terms of their history and religion, left their mark by means of the Romans. We don't know what it is or what it means, but it was right in front of me, close enough to touch.

This was another bit made by the Celts. This is their highest ranking deity (from what I gather). It is a group of three goddesses. And it just amazed me because of my belief in a three-person godhead. There is evidence of truth all over, in so many different shapes and sizes, from all different types of people, and yet it is all the same truth. We are all connected in ways that we have yet to fully comprehend.
This is just a pretty shot as we were leaving Bath. Just at the edge of the horizon are some "mountains" (according to our guide) beyond which lies Wales, where the beacons of Stonehenge were quarried. Just think! This is the same land they crossed. This is the same view they saw! We know the land hasn't changed much because the barrows are still there, from the eons before Christ. Though, in actuality, there probably were a great deal more trees.

And last but not least, Westminster Abbey

The abbey was gorgeous. And I was so excited going in because I knew my ancestors have been there, were married there. So it was quite a thrill to be in that space, to be stepping on those stones that have carried so many influential people, including the people who played a significant role in bringing about my existence.

If you're quiet, and you listen, you can real feel the history of the place filling the air around you. People who have changed the world seem to all come together in Westminster Abbey. There they all share a common ground. There's Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth, Chaucer, and they all now reside on the same tile, in the same space. It really is quite something.

Well, there you have it. I am sorry if it bored you, or if we failed to share a common thought. It struck me so I thought I'd share on this charming Sunday afternoon.

Museum of Natural History

So my roommate, Jana, and I went to London's Museum of Natural History. It is a rather old museum, being around since the mid 1800's. The building was specially made for it, and it was gorgeous! The mosaics and tile work was amazing. See here:

We learned many interesting things and saw many interesting/bizarre/concerning things as well.

Here is a monkey skeleton swinging around and having a grand old time. Did anyone else think of Pirates of the Caribbean? Cuz I did.

And look! I made a friend. Sort of.

This was a better friend. Meet the really really old giant armadillo. Awesome, right? Just don't make him too happy. His tail could take out a flight of stairs.

I just thought this was funny. Here, we'll put this on display, but just ignore this bit.

Another picture of the building. GORGEOUS. I plan on living there someday, either as an official resident or a piece of the exhibit. They may in fact be the same thing under different titles. The man you see is actually posing for someone else, but I was tired of waiting so he made it into my memories. Congratulations good sir!

More creepy monkeys that resided in every nook and cranny of the place. Did anyone else think of Bartok and the demon/slug things in Anastasia? Cuz I did.

An artist carefully prepared this tree slice. It's a real tree that's been pasted on to the ceiling. In respect for the tree the artist planted 200 of the tree's seeds. Tarzan, anyone?

This is Jana overlooking what appear to be the remains of the museum's first director. This marble box was just sitting in the corner of some small exhibit that had nothing to do with him. It's a little creepy. We aren't actually sure if the box does indeed hold the director's remains, or if it's just a box commemorating him in some suspiciously vague way.

This pic is actually from the museum next door (museum of science). Yes, it is in fact a chandelier made of cheap ball point pens.

We saw a lot of other things as well, like:

• eggs shaped like cork screws (what?)
• really creepy malevolent fish you wouldn't want to meet even in the best of circumstances
• An alligator with a snout as thin as a pencil
• Fish with free-floating jaws (yeah, still confused)
• Giant salamanders, worms, and etc.

And yeah. Just a cool awesome place!