When I started to tell people I was going to go to Paris, I remember two conversations I had with Jenny and Melissa. Jenny told me that when she first came to Paris, she remembered seeing the Eiffel Tower and how it was then that she knew she was in Paris and how magical and wonderful the city was. The second conversation was with Melissa and her visit to Paris when she was studying abroad in London. She said that while she did not remember alot, she remembered the Picasso Museum and how cool it was to see the different ways people can view the world.
Well, when I first arrived in Paris, I did not see the Eiffel Tower (it is not as tall as you think it is) and it wasn't until I saw glimpse of it that I realized that I was actually in Paris. And while I was really excited to go visit the Picasso Museum, when I finished walking around and navigating through La Marais (the Jewish and Gay neighborhood in Paris), I was disappointed to read that the museum was closed until 2012! However, last Sunday, even though I was disheartened, I continued my journey and went to the Georges Pompidou center. Pompidou is an interesting construction. It is an attraction because the outside of the building is actually supposed to be inside. Since they told me I had to pay full price because I was American and not realy a student, I decided to get a coffee and read for a class in the cafe. I then went to the Las Halles shopping district (YAY!). Twice a year France has SOLDES or SALLES aka SALES!!!! It is the only time that they are able to have sales and they are really good 30, 50, and 70 percent off. And one thing that I love about Europe is that they take the American dollar price and put the euro in front of it. So even though it is on sale, it is probably the price you will pay in America so it's essentially a way to fool Americans into thinking that these shoes that are now 30euro ($45) are really on sale when they were probably 30 dollars in the U.S. anyway.
What was really cool about last Sunday aside from spending I should use to feed myself was attending mass at Notre Dame. It was in Latin and French. They had a full choir, about 15 altar boys, and 20 priests. It always amazes me how religion can bring people together despite its reputation to push them apart. But the entire cathedral was full during mass and people from all over the world were there worshipping. It was a great feeling. I imagined Kaitlin there telling me to not sing the Gregorian chants since I can barely sing the songs in my own language. I miss Kaitlin!
Monday I went to class. Why do we have class when we are in Paris? I'm confused too!
Tuesday we had class at Dauphine followed by a celebration of the three kings cake. I won two crowns... I am just that cool!!!!
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I would have encouraged you to sing. I love singing and the more people that join in, the better. Hahaha.
ReplyDeleteI loved mass at Notre Dame and I really liked worshipping with people from all over.
It is strange that you had to pay full price at the Pompidou. Melissa and I got student prices when we went to visit. Did you say it in French?