Paris in November

Weather in Paris is rather windy: the clouds blow across the sky's face at an incredible speed. I can see blue sky, sun, rain and clouds at once because nature cannot make up her mind.

All the trees are decked out in yellow leaves, the late fall fashion, tres chic! I wish I had a gold necklace to wrap around my neck or a dress made of sunshine! The brilliance beams in the sunlight here! I thought that winter was always drab brown before, cold and unfriendly. But Paris, you keep proving me wrong with your colorful crispness.

Tired from the beauty, the best tired to be!

This past week was like any other in my European life: BRIMMING FULL!!

I could write such a long blog every day, but I'm sorry that I don't! I'm usually asleep from all the exhaustion and forget to update you all.

We had another family dinner, this time in the Latin Quarter (after a short rest inside Notre Dame, listening to the priest and organ). We ate at a greek restaurant. It was my first experience with greek food and dance! What a long night. I ate stuffed grape leaves, chicken, potatoes and baklava for dessert. I also tried my feet at the circle dance (left, right, under- OPA!)

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We saw a new part of the city (well, actually just outside of Paris) called La Defence! It was incredibly modern, full of sky-scrapers and malls. It reminded me of any U.S. capitol, and I felt a little bit at home among the glass and steel. Completely different from parisian boulevards!

The most notable structure was the Grand Arche! It was made to mimic the Arc de Triomphe (which it faces). This enormous arch was created as a monument to humanity and was finished on the bicentennial of the French revolution.

Size of the Grande Arche compared to the Eiffel Tower:

View looking up:

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As a class we visited the Rodin Museum! I wasn't really interested in Auguste Rodin as an artist before, but NOW I am highly impressed by his sculptures! They are so emotive and deep! I wish I could create figures like them. The movement is incredible, even though they stand still. Too bad I don't have days to spare on gazing at them....Here are a few images:

The Gates of Hell (cast bronze doors):

The Thinker (bronze):

The Kiss (made of marble!):

Additionally:

This week there were other museums, photo shoots, readings, walks, and metro rides! So much goes on here, I wish you were all present to experience this grand existence! It is incredible.

This is just a tiny touch of what I have felt and seen.

Parisian Ballet!

What a wonderful evening I had in Paris two nights ago! A dream that was envisioned and burst into life.....Not more than two weeks ago I was walking past the old Opera house with my friends, giggling and wishing I had the money to attend a show......

And then, it happened! I dressed up in a nice dress, heels, the works! The two Megs, Aubs, and I headed out on the town: excitement bubbling our blood! It was unknown whether or not the four of us would get in, as we were waiting to buy the cheap, last minute tickets for over an hour. Obviously we made it in, paying only 7 Euros each!

Our seats were high up in the individuals boxes on the side of the grand theater, full of rich red velvet and gold. Megan and I had to stand to see the stage, but we were so excited to be there, watching the Parisian ballet that it didn't matter. I felt so refined. The orchestra played classical music from the pit and our eyes followed every graceful pirouette. The ballet was performed in three parts with the theme of Joyaux or Jewels. There were emeralds, rubies and diamonds set to different periods and music! We saw romantic, jazzy and classical dance set to Fauré, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky. It was a magical evening. The lights of the city glowed in our eyes as we descended the marble steps once the curtain dropped. After all, it is not every night that a girl attends a ballet....and in Paris!!

Photograph Credit to M:

Email to my parents

I'm letting you in on an email to mes parents since I am too tired to write a blog:

Bonsoir (Bohn swah = good evening)

I'm sorry that I haven't written you lately. As I said a few days ago, I have been feeling really down: the rain, the junk food, the long naps, skipping class, not going out, etc.

But, I went out exploring finally again!

Friday, a group of us girls went to the Marmottan Museum to do some art homework and see Monet's paintings! What breath-taking art! Seeing it in person is the only true way to experience it! Pictures just don't do art justice! Even flat canvases somehow become three-dimensional before your eyes. The colors are more vibrant and alive. I wish you could see it! Of course, I will show you photos, but it is just NOT the same. After that, we spent the afternoon exploring the woods right outside of Paris (Bois de Bologne), duck watching and picture taking. The leaves are changing and falling here...mostly yellow.

Saturday we couldn't sleep in that late if we wanted to eat our free breakfast which ends at 9 am every day except Sunday. So, we got up, ate our usual chocolate filled croissants with hot chocolate before going to the nearby Parc Montsouris (Mouse Mountain Park?) to take more pictures of the scenery and birds. We saw ravens, pigeons, geese, ducks, parakeets, seagulls and a heron! Also, a stray cat. :) We wandered aimlessly until rain drove us scurrying back to the Hotel, spirits a little dampened as well. Our list of things to do while in Paris still seems so long! How will we conquer it in just twenty one days? We decided to watch Pride and Prejudice to cheer us up! It worked. :) Always.

Sunday we took it a little bit easy again...Church after lunch (1:30) followed by a trip to a different museum- the Orsay, with lots more Impressionism to delight us! We spent three hours filling out analyzing sheets before calling it a day. Spent the evening watching a movie again, instead of homework, since we'd already done some.

Today we had our seventh drawing class with Kathy Burke. Our model was a dancer this time- nude as usual- and she only kept poses for less than a minute so most of the drawing was just gestures of her continual movement. And Kathy tried something new: making us draw for one hour straight with no breaks what-so-ever. This was to teach us the lesson of perseverance! "Not only in art, but in life, just keep going!"

Megan and I left drawing with many plans in mind. We headed to the Pere Lachaise cemetery to see the graves. At first it was exciting and spooky in moss and cobwebs, but quickly lost its appeal and romance for me. I was just sad thinking of all those dead, forgotten people! And someday that will be my family! But Megan encouraged me with the thought that our death is only the beginning of life with God.

We traded the roads of tombs for another trip to the Park. This time we headed to Buttes Chaumont where Helene had taken me. Lots of climbing stairs/hiking but totally worth the effort this time. Megan and I saw two waterfalls, a half cave with stalactites, and Paris from a temple on the hilltop. What fun! The sun came out as we were leaving and I started singing "Here comes the Sun" by the the Beatles to Megan. I often embarrass her in public, but I think she still likes me anyhow.

Our last stop before heading home was Saint Michel in the middle of the city. We got off to buy some fresh crepes- cooked to order right in front of you! Meg got one with eggs, cheese and ham. Of course, mine was Nutella.

And to end this list of escapades, we are off to hopefully see the Ballet at the Opera House, if we can get some "last" minute cheap tickets (they only sell them right before the performance starts for 7 euros). I'll tell you if we make it in! Meg Gilbert went last night with her parents and had the best time.

Love you both,

Caits