Dear Reader,
I went to the Opera Garnier to watch a ballet-- Les Enfants du Paradis. It was simply astounding. I remember walking up the famous steps in order to enter the theater, with my nervous expectations for what everything would be like. I was escorted to my seat and the ballet began almost immediately-- from the very first, I was absorbed. The dancers told their story with grace, elegance, and simplicity and yet they were able to capture every audience member's attention. Although the ballet was three hours long, it did not feel this way-- I could have continued watching. The choreography was wonderful and original as well. Each danser played his/her character well, only enhancing the story. The ballet recounted the story of a mime who falls in love with a lady, only to lose her to other men-- it is a ballet describing the very trials of love. At the commencement of the intermission, hundreds of paper flyers were dropped from the ceiling by the dancers and an informal scene from Othello was perfomed on the famous stairway between a pair of the dancers. They were so graceful that it was hard to believe that they were human-- they could have been fairies or other-wordly creatures, simply because of the beauty and agility of their movements which seemed almost impossible and incredible to me--someone who is not a ballet dancer.
Luxembourg and the Latin Quarter
Dear Reader,
The Luxembourg gardens were beautiful, though they are not as well-known as the Tuilleries or Versailles' gardens. There were many people sunbathing, lying in the grass and amongst the flowers. There were also many people reading newspapers and novels, enjoying a relaxing hour in the garden. There was a set of tables in one corner of the garden where people gather to play chess, each absorbed intensely in their game. I visited the Orangerie of the Senat at the Luxembourg gardens. The current exhibition at the Orangerie features artists from Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyane. The works were very interesting-- the kind that makes you pause and think in an attempt to disect the artist's mind, striving to find his motivations and guiding forces. After leaving the exhibit I walked about the Latin Quarter and wandered into a few bookstores-- there were big sales and so I was able to buy a few french literature books for cheap prices. I bought Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and On ne badine pas avec l'amour by Alfred Musset.
The Luxembourg gardens were beautiful, though they are not as well-known as the Tuilleries or Versailles' gardens. There were many people sunbathing, lying in the grass and amongst the flowers. There were also many people reading newspapers and novels, enjoying a relaxing hour in the garden. There was a set of tables in one corner of the garden where people gather to play chess, each absorbed intensely in their game. I visited the Orangerie of the Senat at the Luxembourg gardens. The current exhibition at the Orangerie features artists from Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyane. The works were very interesting-- the kind that makes you pause and think in an attempt to disect the artist's mind, striving to find his motivations and guiding forces. After leaving the exhibit I walked about the Latin Quarter and wandered into a few bookstores-- there were big sales and so I was able to buy a few french literature books for cheap prices. I bought Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and On ne badine pas avec l'amour by Alfred Musset.
A Parade on the Champs Elysees
Dear Reader,
The Champs Elysees was soo crowded, the entire street filled with drummers and dancers dressed in outrageously colorful costumes-- feathers, sparkles, glitter, gowns, lingerie. The theme seemed to embrace African culture and heritage in France and so many of the costumes resembled traditional African clothing. The drum beats performed by the numerous band groups were infectious, convincing the whole crowd of spectators to flow with the rhythm, swaying and dancing and keeping to the beat. I walked along the Champs Elysees, pausing here and there to catch a glimpse of the different dance and drum groups. It was so strange to see the main highway so empty-- no cars or traffic or pedestrian crossings-- just group after group in costume, performing. The sky was blue and the sun was scorching and so it was the perfect summer day for a parade and ice cream or crepes. I met my friend at the Tuilleries after the parade and we went to the carnival that was taking place there, amidst the crowd fron the carnival and the general crowd that always seems to be about Paris. We went on a swing ride, enabling us to catch a glimpse of Paris from the rooftops, the warm, summer breeze engulfing us. It was sooo much fun. We could see the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower and all of the other confusion occuring below us. Before we knew it, night was already approaching and we decided to go to a brasserie and order a drink, later going to the Banana Cafe in the Chatalet-les Halles area as well. This would be my last week in Paris and I felt nostalgic already. I could not believe that six weeks had gone by so quickly-- my time in Paris was quickly dissapearing and I did not want it to end. I am not ready to go home yet. At around midnight we made the spontaneous decision to go back to the Champs Elysees and spend the night at Queen, a night club located just along the main road. The music was wonderful, a good mix of french techno music and popular pop songs by Rihanna and Britney Spears. We left the club at around five and had breakfast at a Pomme de Pain just a few stores away from the club-- it was still dark outside but it slowly got lighter as we ate, the sun gradually rising. I will miss these nights. I will miss ordering drinks as I wont be able to do this once I am home again.
The Champs Elysees was soo crowded, the entire street filled with drummers and dancers dressed in outrageously colorful costumes-- feathers, sparkles, glitter, gowns, lingerie. The theme seemed to embrace African culture and heritage in France and so many of the costumes resembled traditional African clothing. The drum beats performed by the numerous band groups were infectious, convincing the whole crowd of spectators to flow with the rhythm, swaying and dancing and keeping to the beat. I walked along the Champs Elysees, pausing here and there to catch a glimpse of the different dance and drum groups. It was so strange to see the main highway so empty-- no cars or traffic or pedestrian crossings-- just group after group in costume, performing. The sky was blue and the sun was scorching and so it was the perfect summer day for a parade and ice cream or crepes. I met my friend at the Tuilleries after the parade and we went to the carnival that was taking place there, amidst the crowd fron the carnival and the general crowd that always seems to be about Paris. We went on a swing ride, enabling us to catch a glimpse of Paris from the rooftops, the warm, summer breeze engulfing us. It was sooo much fun. We could see the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower and all of the other confusion occuring below us. Before we knew it, night was already approaching and we decided to go to a brasserie and order a drink, later going to the Banana Cafe in the Chatalet-les Halles area as well. This would be my last week in Paris and I felt nostalgic already. I could not believe that six weeks had gone by so quickly-- my time in Paris was quickly dissapearing and I did not want it to end. I am not ready to go home yet. At around midnight we made the spontaneous decision to go back to the Champs Elysees and spend the night at Queen, a night club located just along the main road. The music was wonderful, a good mix of french techno music and popular pop songs by Rihanna and Britney Spears. We left the club at around five and had breakfast at a Pomme de Pain just a few stores away from the club-- it was still dark outside but it slowly got lighter as we ate, the sun gradually rising. I will miss these nights. I will miss ordering drinks as I wont be able to do this once I am home again.
Louvre
Dear Reader,
I was only able to spend a day at the Louvre and so my time there was nowhere near enough to see everything. Indeed, I am sure that it could take up to a month to see the Louvre's vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and ancient artifacts. My favorite experience at the Louvre was seeing the sculptures, looking at the movement and flow of each piece and reading the story behind each of these works of art. Some of my favorite compositions depicted Greek and Roman mythological characters in graceful, dancer-like poses. It was beautiful. The architecture of the Louvre itself is astounding, along with the beautiful works of art on the ceilings of many of its rooms.
I was only able to spend a day at the Louvre and so my time there was nowhere near enough to see everything. Indeed, I am sure that it could take up to a month to see the Louvre's vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and ancient artifacts. My favorite experience at the Louvre was seeing the sculptures, looking at the movement and flow of each piece and reading the story behind each of these works of art. Some of my favorite compositions depicted Greek and Roman mythological characters in graceful, dancer-like poses. It was beautiful. The architecture of the Louvre itself is astounding, along with the beautiful works of art on the ceilings of many of its rooms.
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