Day 0.5 (not a full day): 4/2/10: Getting there
I ended up sitting next to a very nice French girl a few rows up from my travel companions, Harmony and Kellyann. I had brought a book to read, but ended up sleeping quite a bit. It's really not that interesting, but once we got to Paris, we had directions to the hostel, and we were ready to be not on a train. After walking up and down stairs FOREVER, paying to use a public toilet, and buying tiny metro tickets, we were ready. We got to the hostel with very little trouble, but we were STARVING. Unfortunately the restaurant was no longer serving food, so we went in search of sustenance. We were told there was a kebab place somewhere near by, but we didn't find it. Harmony, however, was asked if she was Lady Gaga, and a not sober man ran towards us and really freaked us out....In the end, we bought chèvre (goat cheese), crackers, and chocolate muffins (the food of champions) and ate that in a small booth in the hostel. And, then we went to bed.
I ended up sitting next to a very nice French girl a few rows up from my travel companions, Harmony and Kellyann. I had brought a book to read, but ended up sleeping quite a bit. It's really not that interesting, but once we got to Paris, we had directions to the hostel, and we were ready to be not on a train. After walking up and down stairs FOREVER, paying to use a public toilet, and buying tiny metro tickets, we were ready. We got to the hostel with very little trouble, but we were STARVING. Unfortunately the restaurant was no longer serving food, so we went in search of sustenance. We were told there was a kebab place somewhere near by, but we didn't find it. Harmony, however, was asked if she was Lady Gaga, and a not sober man ran towards us and really freaked us out....In the end, we bought chèvre (goat cheese), crackers, and chocolate muffins (the food of champions) and ate that in a small booth in the hostel. And, then we went to bed.
Day 1 (first full day): 5/2/10: WALKING
After the free breakfast provided at the hostel (baguette, jam, butter, nutella, coffee, tea, oj, cereal) we decided to go walking through Paris and hit up the touristy things. Also, the weather gods provided us with the prettiest clouds and most temperate weather, it was incredibly enjoyable. We got off the metro at l'Arc de Triomphe, walked down the Champs-Elysées, went towards la Tour Eiffel, (eating lunch between the walking), and then to Les Invalides and Le Tombeau de Napoléon, and then to the Musée d'Orsay (AMAZING), and then to le Jardin des Tuileries, where we took really pretty night time photos, and then home. We walked A LOT. We ended with a nice meal in the hostel and made some friends with our fellow hostel dwellers.
Also, about the Musée d'Orsay, it houses an AMAZING collection. It's art of the XIXème siècle which includes the artistic periods of Neo-classicism, Impressionism, post-Impressionism, Realism and Romanticism. MY FAVORITES. I went a little crazy. I was running around from one room to the next, because everywhere I looked, there was a really famous painting that I absolutely adore. I was able to get right up close and look at the brushstrokes. My heart beats a little faster just thinking about it. I was near tears and all trembly at several moments because it was all so beautiful and famous. DEFINITELY GOING BACK
L'Arc de Triomphe
from across the street
look, parents, I'm really in Paris!
the sky!
yes, I was this close to masterpieces.
the Musee d'Orsay, favorite place
A view of Les Invalides and Notre Dame in the dusk
a view of the Louvre by night
Day 2: 6/2/10: Montmartre, the Louvre Exterior, Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter.
Though the weather was not as splendid as the day before, we decided to walk around Montmartre, visit the Sacre Coeur basilica, and try and find the houses of several famous painters of the Impressionist and post-Impressionist eras. We were only successful in finding the house of Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec's house seemed not to be labeled. Though we could not find his house, we did find an amazing restaurant, with a 12.80€ formule (entrée+plat ou plat+dessert) and it was SO TASTY. Next time I'm in Paris, I would gladly return. Also, it was filled with the cutest French children. After lunch we went to the Moulin Rouge, and then back to the hostel for a little break. After that, we went decided to look at the exterior of the Louvre in the day time, and then walk to Notre Dame, and the Latin Quarter. After taking copious photos, we found ourselves in the Latin Quarter where we had an expensive meal, and then some inexpensive drinks at an awesome piano bar. The pianist was a young charming and attractive Frenchman with an amazing voice and a penchant for American tunes. After hearing "Sweet Home Alabama", many of Elton John's hits, some Coldplay, U2 and Sting, we were hooked. He was really good, and he greatly enjoyed that we were singing along. When we got up to leave (happy hour having finished long ago), he stopped mid-song and gave us puppy-dog eyes. It was rather flattering. We got crêpes at one of the many stands, and then went to a jazz club where we listened to live jazz in an old cave that used to be a prison. After that, we went back to the hostel, all in all, a good day.
Sacre Coeur
the Louvre exterior by day
Notre Dame
Day 3: 7/2/10: Le Musée de l'Orangerie, Latin Quarter by day, and dinner with an old friend
On the third day, we got a later start than usual, but still managed to walk A LOT and see some pretty amazing things. We went to the Musée de l'Orangerie where Monet's collossal paintings of Les Nymphéas (water lilies) are housed. They are breathtaking. After looking at the rest of the museum, we went to a tasty lunch near the Louvre, were the we were mistaken for French (SO COOL) and then we walked towards the Latin Quarter. We just walked around the boutiques, eating crêpes and chatting, it was very enjoyable. In the evening, I met up with my friend Lia, from Miramonte High School, and we had a really nice dinner with our travel buddies. It was like old times, and I loved every second.
Look, parents! More art
So beautiful, and a sneak photo of my travel companions (Harmony=blonde, KellyAnn=black hair)
The Fountain of St. Michael in the Latin Quarter
Day 4: 8/2/10: Le Louvre, and a train ride
The last day we went to the Louvre and walked far more than we intended. It was not very crowded, which was nice, and we got in for free because we're students, which was better. I would like to go back to the Louvre again, and really spend time looking at everything. The train home was uneventful, and I greatly enjoyed my small nap.
Overall the trip was tiring but incredibly enjoyable. And I learned a lot about my ability to speak French. Also, I perfected the face needed to ignore/repel people. There were so many people trying to sell us useless, cheap crap. Some even tried flattery, but, saying "You 'ave a naice booty" will get you nowhere with me, thank you very much. All in all, it was amazing, and I can't wait to go back in the spring, when the gardens are in bloom!
Venus de Milo
Winged Victory
The Raft of the Medusa (Gericault)
Death of Sardanapalus (Delacroix)
My favorite painting EVER. One of the reasons I decided to study art history.
a look at the Louvre from under a pyramid
Overall the trip was tiring but incredibly enjoyable. And I learned a lot about my ability to speak French. Also, I perfected the face needed to ignore/repel people. There were so many people trying to sell us useless, cheap crap. Some even tried flattery, but, saying "You 'ave a naice booty" will get you nowhere with me, thank you very much. All in all, it was amazing, and I can't wait to go back in the spring, when the gardens are in bloom!
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