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Busy Week
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I've had a very busy week trying to make the best of the Paris Pass I got, which is rather exhausting when fitting it around 4 hours of class a day. I am often tired and want to go to sleep very early...possibly lingering jet lag, or not enough protein. I often go vegetarian when travelling - cheaper and easier. I am really missing Thai food. I am going to have to go to one before I leave Paris.
For Bastille day, I went to the Champ de Mars beside the Eiffel Tower and watched the fireworks with a friend from Philadelphia. The fireworks were nice but not worth the mish afterwards....There were 60,000 people there apparently. It was so badly organised, the Police blocked off all these random areas, forcing the crowd into a bottle neck and trapping heaps of people for hours, similar to the last Mardigras in Sydney. Not only that, but they closed a lot of the metros surrounding. I couldn't find a way to get home for about 2 hours and was starting to get worried that I would have to walk like 6km home in high heels, but finally found a metro station that was open a couple of km away. I was so relieved that I found it, there were all these sketchy people harassing me, with no taxis in sight, nor English speakers, and it was the middle of the night. I was too tired to attempt much more than Vous parlez anglais? I'd left my friend at the Eiffel Tower because she was going in the opposite direction, so I was alone. I got home at like 2am. I am so glad that ordeal is over.
Next day I went to the Pompidou Centre, which was great. I was too tired to see everything, so I'm going to go back again sometime during the week. I enjoyed a lot of the art, though some were a bit of a waste of time (i.e. blank canvasses). I'm quite keen on surrealism and pop art. There were a few disturbing pieces called automutilation, with photos of mutilated genitals, wrapped in bandages soaked in blood. I liked the huge, shiny and red rhino very much. I also had a look at the Picasso museum, which was good, but I don't need to go back as it was quite small. I wasn't allowed to take photos in there, but I took a sneaky one of one of the sculptures anyway. On the métro, a guy came up to me and asked me out. He seemed like a really nice guy, not sleazy like the others. He couldn't speak much English, and my French is even worse, so I don't know how that's going to work. I took his number anyway; but I don't really plan to go out with him. I thought perhaps it would be good practise for French...but our language barrier is just too great to be seeing each other romantically. I don't think I feel comfortable going to meet him.
I also went to the Opéra house with a friend from school, Aron. It was lavishly designed, with gold and intricate patterns and sculptures squeezed into every inch of every wall. I love these sorts of buildings, which obviously had no limit on cost when they were being built. The rich and famous used to parade around it 3 times a week - it was the place to be in those days. The entrance foyer was set up like a stage in itself - the actors and actresses were the rich and famous guests. There were even spectator boxes around them. The most intricately designed room used to be forbidden for women, until the King and Queen of Spain were invited to the Palais. The Queen of Spain wanted to see this beautiful room that everyone was talking about for herself, so walked straight in there. No one really felt comfortable stopping her to remind her of the rules, as she was the Queen of Spain. All the other women followed, and from that day on, women were allowed in that room. It is called the Palais Garnier, after the architect who designed it. He was the first architect to sign his own work, and also immortalised himself and his wife in his building by adding names and sculptures into the design. The tour guide was great; I always admire people who are able to be funny in a language that is not native to them. I am a long way off being able to crack jokes in French!
I went on a cruise of the Seine on Friday. Wasn't too bad, overcast though. I found the commentary to be quite interesting, about French History and Culture. Went to Musée Grévin, a wax museum. It has a kaleidoscope/mirage show that cost 20 euros ($30), which was a complete waste of time. I didn't have to pay as I had a Paris Pass. I was rather unimpressed. Some of the wax figures were cool, but many were French actors who I didn't know. I enjoyed the section on French History, with scenes from various assassinations, Versailles, l'inqusition, French Kings, the black plague, black slavery in France, and lots of other things. I do enjoy a bit of French history.
I went to dinner at my German friend's place that night (Wiebke). She lives in a share apartment in Alésie, quite a distance from me, almost the full length of 2 métro lines. It was worth it though - her neighbours and housemates were really nice, fun people, and I had a great time. We went to a house party downstairs but didn't stay long. Apparently the term "sausage fest" is also used by German speakers. Unfortunately I miscalculated time zones and was 2.5 hours late for work the next day, and left my glasses behind at my friend's house. I am still in bed and it is nearly 6pm. Sketchy. I'm really looking forward to Ibiza (only 4 days to go). Jo made lots of friends in Spain and they have told her all the places to go - she has it all planned out - including stopping at a club near the airport in the morning before we leave for Barcelona...it's going to be a great weekend - no work, no class, no commitments, just pure fun and relaxation.
I can't say that I like Paris as much as I expected. I like it a lot, but there is something about it that I can't put my finger on, that makes me not want to stay here forever. I suppose I feel like an outsider, like I don't fit in due to the language barrier. Or the fact that I don't feel particularly safe here. Or the overbearing, sleazy men everywhere. Or the fact that it is unfamiliar. It is perhaps too big and dirty and touristy. As Albert Camus said about Paris, "C'est sale". More thumbnails ...
Where I stayed:
Belleville
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