Day 7
I can't believe it's only been one week today since I came to France. I've done so much already it feels like I've lived here for much longer than seven days! But there is still so much to do and only four weeks left in Paris to do it! Quel defi!
Today during class Professor Erickson took us to the Petit Palais near the Champs-Elysees after the lesson. We went in briefly but it was just so he could show us where to find it, so I'll have to go back and really take a look at everything. After that I went with Andrea, Meredith, Joy, Jessie and Katherine to the Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter) to do another walk. It was really interesting. The whole quarter is very condensed and old. I liked the close atmosphere and intimate vibe that it gave off. It was an area of a lot of interconnected streets and pathways that dated back hundreds of years. We started at the Fontaine Saint-Michel, an Italian-inspired fountain that features a large bronze statue of Saint Michel slaying a dragon. The fountain was added during Haussmann's transformations of the Parisian cityscape as a focal point to mask an uneven intersection. When we passed it on our way out of the Latin Quarter some demonstrators had set up in front of it protesting nuclear arms. It seems the Parisians are very opinionated and into their protests.
At the beginning of the walk we saw the Theatre de la Huchette, a small experimental theatre that grew up after WWII that had modest success until in 1957 it staged La Cantatrice Chauve (The Bald Soprano) which became one of the biggest hits in Paris ever, even bigger than Cats! or Les Miserables, and it is still running more than fifty years later (15,500 shows and counting). Then, just down the street from the theatre we passed La rue du Chat-qui-Peche (Fishing Cat) which is the narrowest street in Paris dating back to 1540! Also along the walk we passed the oldest cafe in Paris, the Le Procope, founded in 1686. It was a favorite after-theatre hangout for actors and theatre-goers and then in the 18th century it became an important salon for the sharing of revolutionary thought. Philosophes such as Diderot, Rousseau, and Voltaire discussed their ideas at the Le Procope. It is also said that in that same area Dr. Guillotin had tested his machine (the guillotine) on live sheep.
We also passed by a street of art galleries, tons of souvenir shops and cafes (we ate yummy sandwiches at Cosi, the Institut des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts School that's been there for hundreds of years, it was really pretty), and a beautiful church, L'eglise Saint Severin that had neat geometric stained glass windows. What struck me most about the Latin Quarter is the contrast between the old and new. All the streets and buildings are hundreds of years old but there are dozens upon dozens of modern cafes and shops along the narrow streets. Its an interesting juxtaposition that I found quite diverting. I definitely want to return to the Latin Quarter for some more exploration and to really take my time taking it all in. I wish I could go into the Sorbonne. Too bad its closed to tourists--my roommate got to go in the other day because her French friend attends there. So lucky. Its been there for hundreds of years. I can't imagine going to a school so old and full of history!
As a side note, when Andrea, Meredith and I were walking back through the quarter we passed by a restaurant window and saw one of the workers in there and he was wearing a masquerade mask (I have no idea why). So I pointed it out and he saw us looking at him and smiled and waved. I waved back. Meredith commented, "I like his mask." To which I replied, "I like that boy." Perhaps you'd have to be there, but it was funny...because I'm really funny, in case you were unaware. And he was cute...as far as I could tell--I mean, he had a mask on, but you can tell these things. And he was French, which means he has an accent, which means he's automatically cuter. Just saying.
Today after the walk we did happen to go to an area of Paris that was sketchy. We got off the metro to go to a discount department store that our teacher had told us about and came out on this corner that was full of aggressive freelance street vendors and dirty sketchy ghetto people. That is my best description. And inside the store reflected what was outside the store. So we left pretty quickly. One vendor started talking to Meredith while we waited on the corner to cross the street. He asked her where she was from etc. etc. I think it kind of scared her but he was pretty harmless I think. You just have to be careful around them because they try to louer you in and sell you stuff...hold on to your purses ladies!
After our walk I got some more money from the ATM we passed because its the first one I've seen in a while (there aren't that many around) and I've basically run down to my last twenty euros, gasp! Then we got back on the metro to go home.
Well, I think I'll add a few things and comments tomorrow because its late now and I have another full day ahead of me.
A demain!
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