Living the Life of Louis XIV
Trip Start
Jul 28, 2008
1
8
17
Trip End
Aug 30, 2008
Versailles,
Île-de-France,
France
Monday, August 11, 2008
Other than little things like that that I keep stumbling upon, I am having a fantastic experience. On Friday, in celebration of being done with class for the week, I went to visit the Victor Hugo museum in the appartment where he actually worked on Les Miserables! His appartment is at the Place de Vosges, which used to be a royal palace, was razed, and this square took its place
Place de la Bastille
. I was very happy and took pictures, including a picture of his writing desk, which I found out later, was apparently not supposed to be photographed. Oh well! On my way out, I was going to head toward the Museum of Paris, but I was blocked from crossing the street by a very very loud and forceful group of men that I believe were on strike and protesting something. At first, I thought it was some sort of celebration for the commencement of the Olympics, but I think they looked a little too angry for that... unless they were protesting the Olympics. I tried to pick out what it was that they were saying, but was unsuccessful. I decided to not disturb them and try to cross the road so I walked down the street towards the seine and came across the Place de la Bastille. This is the actually spot that the French Revolution began in July 14, 1789, and would be a very disappointing visit if you were actually expecting to see the old prison. Instead, there is a pillar or obelisque in honor of the citizens who died during this historic coup d'etat. After that, I ended up getting ice cream- the BEST pistachio ice cream of my life I think. I looked around the cute little shops of Ile St-Louis and then headed back.
Once I got back here, I decided to do my laundry and it was interesting with the energy conserving french-only directioned machines. I managed and only 3. hours. later. I had clean clothes. Yay!
I started of Saturday by heading to the Paris plages
Victor Hugo's writing desk!
. Every summer, Paris rewards the inhabitants that remain in the city in August (all of the french get 5 paid vacation weeks a year and August is the traditional time to take that vacation) and the millions of tourists by shipping in sand and potted palm trees and making a beach on the Seine River! I hadn't gotten around to doing that yet, so I figured Saturday morning would be as good an opportunity as any. It was very nice, and relaxing, but I was bored so I only stayed for about an hour and a half. I looked around at a few of the clothing stores, and went back to get ready for our excursion to Versailles!!!!!!Although I had been to Versailles in high school, I never got to actually go into the hall of mirrors, as it was under construction, nor the gardens. This was a dream come true. We frst got to take a tour through the chateau with the Hall of Mirrors included. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. After that, we headed out into the gardens and I had an orange juice freshly squeezed from the oranges grown at Versailles.
NOTE: Orange juice in france is not very good. It doesn't taste very sunshiney and I don't particularly enjoy it. However, this orange juice was quite delectable and I commend Louis XIV on his selection of orange trees.
Anyhow, our chaperones took us out to a dinner that had multiple courses! We were living large and then we headed back to the chateau for the night fountains and fireworks. It was utterly astounding and way cooler than I expected
Hugo's hand drawn poster for Les Mis
. We got to roam around the full extent of his gardens, taking in the light up fountains, flame throwers, and mist flowing up from holes in the ground. Classical music was piped into the entirety of the gardens and they had food vendors everywhere. Apparently, this is the type of party that Louis XIV would throw daily at Versailles. He lived well. Too bad for the French treasure and.. ahem.. Louis XVI. At the end of the night, there were fireworks over the reflecting pool that stretches the length of the gardens. I wish that my pictures had comeout better of the fireworks, but the images will hopefully remain in my head for a very long time. We ended our night with an adventure, as the last train left Versailles at 11:50, so we had to run to catch it right after the fireworks. Then we found out that the stop right by our dormitory stopped at midnight too, so we ended up taking a tram halfway across the city. It was a lot of fun though and the fireworks at Versailles were worth it.
Sunday, instead of sleeping in like the rest of my group, I chose to get up early and go to a service at Notre Dame. It was a really cool experience and it was familiar in its own way, since most of the songs they sung during the service, I have sung in the choir at school. I was annoyed though because I know that Notre Dame is a tourist attraction, but you would think that the tourists could be respectful during mass. Instead, people were snapping pictures, talking loudly, and walking around and through the chairs
pretty view
. I guess that's why most parisians have found somewhere else to pray. However, its sad that the attraction of Notre Dame is its fame as a church, and the tourists then inhibit its function. After that, I had a crepe. A really good crepe. With nutella and walnuts and hazelnuts. I almost swooned in the street, it was that wonderful. I had grand plans of going to the opera that afternoon, but it was rainy and good shopping weather so I went around to differnt shops looking for momentos for my family and friends... and maybe a few for me :)....
As for today, not that much exciting has happened as of yet. Ihad class this morning and a test tomorrow ahhhh so part of my afternoon will be spent studying. I did have a terrifying encounter with birds. I thought I would be all Parisian and get some bread and meat and cheese and eat it in the park. Well then. A crumble of my cheese fell on the ground and not 15 seconds later, I was surrounding by a good 30 birds fighting over the crumble. I'm just glad that none of them wised up to the fact that there was even more cheese up on the bench. I fled the scene, almost stepped on a few birds, and was paranoid for the rest of the walk through the park. What if some bread crumbs fell?
That's it for now. I'm actually going back to the scene of the terrifying birds at 5 this afternoon to see an orchestra concert and after that, our program is hosting a boat tour on the seine. C'est vachement cool!
Comments
Blurry light pictures rock.
You have the greatest blurry light pictures ever. I'm going to Florida on Saturday, I'll bring yu back a pretty shell. :) I miss you!
All I can say is Alfred Hitchcock-The Birds
you know my phobia with birds. I can honestly say I'm glad i didn't share that experience!!!
The pictures are great. I can't wait to see all of them when you come home. I miss you