Wrapping Up Paris
Alright people, this is gunna be the down and dirty version of the cool stuff I saw and did in Paris after New Years Eve.
New Years Day
Today we went to the Centre Pompidu, which is the biggest modern art museum in Paris. It is a super groovy building with all the guts on the outside; walkways, elevators, and all the heating ducts. The stuff that we saw was very cool. The main exhibit was Yves Klein, the man that copywrited his own blue, who wanted to levitate, and studied Judo. There was also a moving picture exhibit being held as well as an Eastern Germany photo wing. Very cool stuff, I can't wait to go back. The building was awesome as well, very cool "being" spaces.
After that we got some really tasty food on the street. It was a split open baguette with hot plate grilled meat, onions, cheese and peppers. Slathered with a special red sauce and with thin pommes, it was the damn closest thing I've had to a Philly since I've been here.
As it was getting darker we headed up to Sacre Cur and checked it out. Watched the sun set over Paris. Beautiful view. All the tiny buildings and windows and trees and the river, lit up like on fire.
The next thing that we did was walk around the hip community on the top of the hill up there, had a crepe or two to munch on, the marched our way in the rain down to the strip. Got the always important picture with Moulin Rouge, and headed back to the Hotel.
Having concluded our sleeping actions we walked on over to Museum d'Orsay (spelled wrong) which is inside the old Parisian main train station. Since the train station is now on the wrong side of the river for any major train dealings, they had to build a new one. It was really cooly renovated into a multi-themed house of art specially designed for public art, statues, and large viewing areas. Very clean, very well put together. Your shoes squeak the whole time on the flooring, it drove me crazy lol. The huge statues and the Van Gogh's were my favorites there.
For dinner that night we went to the student quarter of Paris. We decided to go to a typical French cafe and have some Parisian comfort food. It was excellent. To start, I had a onion, cheese, and bread soup which was heavenly. Super stringy cheese and crisp and mushy at the same time bread. Mmmm. Then we all shared a plate of Schnecken (SNAILS), with a green paste which was primarily garlic and slathered with butter. After that I had a leg of lamb that practically melted in your mouth, and you're supposed to suck the marrow out of the bone that was left in. Soooo good. Finished it off with cappuccino and chocolate sorbet.
Final Day in Paris!!
This was the Louvre Day. We got there at about 8:30 (hoping to be there before the famous lines) but alas the line was about a kilometer long, stretching around the square above the museum. What the stereotypes don't tell you is the speed in which it moves. All this huge line was for, was to security check people. We were inside in a matter of minutes (20 ish).
The entire layout of the museum, the structure, the architecture, the melding of past and present, the pieces, the people. It's indescribable. It is definitely a place to go to at LEAST one time in your life. It is a real pilgrimage, it has that energy emanating from it.
Psyche & Cupid (statue), Winged Victory, the Egyptian stuff, and the French large format paintings were all my favorites. I also saw the Mona Lisa and her knowing smile.
It was a very moving experience, and I am looking forward to returning someday.
Paris is a lovely city, filled with beautiful people and places, great food, sights to see, and uncountable experiences to be had. I recommend it.
Now I officially have nothing else to say about Paris!!!!