Tours, tours, tours!

2 Octobre 2011
23h39


Today was quite busy--we began our day by meeting our coordinator at 9h30 to begin our first trip to the University of Chicago's campus in Paris. The trip itself didn't take too long, maybe only 40 minutes by the métro.

Me, on my first full day in Paris:

 When we got there, we were privy to a little tour of the Center and its neighborhood.

The campus. We use our finger prints to get it--how high tech!

 I definitely saw a few restaurants and cafés that I'm going to have to try out!

The center is on the left bank of the Seine--so gorgeous. It's a fairly new neighborhood that they're basically redoing. It used to be very industrial--full of factories and such. Now, there's l'Université Diderot and many office spaces. It's coming together quite nicely, I'm told :) However, there are still some remnants of the old industrial days. There's one building that is basically used by squatters--artists, musicians, homeless people, and such. It's an old refrigerated wharehouse--they call it Le Frigo :P

We even saw some sort of band looking like they were about to play there. The building is basically just left standing until Paris decides to tear it down and continue building up the neighborhood.

We then had a little "Welcome to Paris" drink, which wasn't horrible--though I will certainly be getting used to the weird feeling that accompanies being the only one in a room of nearly seventy people without a drink in my hand :/ Ah, Paris.




This sign is in the computer lab at the center. There are many more like it. What more need you for convincing??

 A walk through the garden that the University owns. Definitely the worst-kept-up I've seen so far in Paris, but these building were very cool!!!

We passed some art students, doing a photoshoot with fake blood and stage makeup and whatnot. It was so cool! I wish I would have remembered to take a picture, but I was too intrigued. I think that was the pattern for the day. I've to remember to take out my camera more frequently!!

Afterwards, we were treated to a wonderful lunch. We were served some sort of raw tuna for an appetizer, scallops and risotto as an entrée, and some sort of fruit and meringue for dessert, followed by espresso. I can't say I enjoyed any of it, but I'm assured it was delicious, and I suppose my taste-buds simply must adjust :P I can proudly say I ate everything :) The restaurant was much too nice to take out my camera and photograph the food, though :/

We then went with our program and Professor Tuttle to the Carnavalet Museum, which is the Museum of the History of Paris. It's in Le Marais, which is a very nice neighborhood in Paris, and is situated in the mansion of some of France's royalty. Professor Tuttle had the first métro incident: he almost was chopped up by the doors. We learned that they close automatically after a three second beep, regardless of what body parts are in the way! Well, I suppose better he learn it than I :P Luckily, he was able to meet back up with us in time for our personal guided tour of the museum.

The courtyard. It's interesting because actual mansion was built in the 1500s, but you can tell by the architecture that some of it is newer. That's how you can tell what was added on, and when.

A statue of King Louis XIV. He's dressed in Roman Soldier dressing because he wanted to be viewed as a strong soldier. However, it's a little paradoxical because he still kept his 1700s-esque wig :P

Le jardin au musée Carnavalet:

Pieces of the statue of King Louis that was taken down during the revolution.

Now we'd moved on to eighteenth century France. All of the wall panels are original, donated by their heirs and transplanted into this mansion. Very beautiful. Generally, they were very intricate and brightly colored:

However, the clergy, being men of the church, liked to be more sober. They left theirs carved beautifully in bare oak (how modest! :P)

A ballroom of one of the owners. It's painted in white gold! Can you say ostentatious (ostentatoire)?!

A jewelery store decorated in Art Nouveau style. Apparently this style only lasted for about twenty years because it was so intricate. In contrast, Art Decco followed, much more simple.

Now on to the revolution. This is a replica of Bastille, carved from the actual stones.

Locks of hair from Marie Antoinette and her two children alive at the time of the revolution. Her daughter escaped to Austria to live with the uncle before the revolution. However, her poor little boy was taken and treated so horribly that he died in prison. Too sad.

Some shop signs from modern Paris:

After a long day, we were all exhausted (and my feet hurt! I think it's walking on all this cobblestone...) so we looked at the shops for a bit, then headed back home. I picked up a bowl and a glass, along with some milk (NOT refrigerated...I'm going to need to get used to that), and powdered chicken noodle soup. For dinner I had my favorite ham and butter sandwich on a delicious baguette, and was very satisfied.

Overall, an eventful day. I'm happy for all I learned today about the city of Paris--it's really quite interesting! I'm a bit nervous tomorrow for the first day of classes, but alas, only time will tell! I've finished all my homework, so that's a good start, at least.

Cio!