Paris, part II

(Note: this was written on the train from Paris to Amsterdam. From Amsterdam, I took another train to Nijmegen and then a bus (well, two buses because I screwed up the first time) from Centraal to Heyendaal, where the university's located. There was a lot of walking with the heavy heavy suitcases. In the rain. I pretty much wanted to kill myself. But now I'm here and I have to go to the city center to find linens. Awesome. Anyway...)



To recap the last couple days:

I attempted to go to the Louvre. I was really amped. I got up early (9h) and walked there, only to be greeted by a sign (and accompanying burly guard) informing me that the museum is closed on Tuesdays. So I didn't go to the Louvre. But still:



So I wandered for the rest of the day. My first stop was the Tuileries. I guess some could consider it a bit depressing when all the trees are bare, but it's really an incredible place regardless. Which brings me to another point: the concept of space in Paris is really, really strange. You have this absolutely huge places (the Tuileries, the Louvre, the giant sidewalks on the Champs-Elysees) and then you go to a restaurant or bar and you're hanging out in your neighbor's food. Interesting.

Other touristy things: the Musee Rodin (and yes, dear family, I did some exploring and found the site of the "poussez" incident), the Champs-Elysees, the Tour Eiffel, and just simply wandering. I stumbled upon a beautiful little (well, little by Parisian standards) church called l'Eglise de Ste-Clotilde. My pictures didn't come out that well because I was being hella surreptitious with my camera, but the light at that point in the afternoon was just...fantastic.


You know that Rufus Wainwright song, "Complainte de la Butte"? Well, it's kind of crazy, but I think that if Montmartre could sing, it would sound like that. If you get the chance, please go there. I was only there for a few hours and skipped the touristy stuff like the Moulin Rouge, but the view from the Sacre-Coeur and the light at dusk are like nothing I've ever seen.



For family and BC people: the people in this picture are Marina and my good friend from high school, Fish (who goes to Middlebury with Marina). They were among the members of the group that gathered at Carr's Irish Pub--no, I'm not kidding--to watch the inauguration ceremony. What a speech. In addition to the requisite American majority, there were also a good number of EU people up in there. The French seem to adore the Obamas: they were on virtually every newspaper and magazine cover and metro advertisement.

It was so moving to see a) a truly respectable politician take office, and b) see the tsunami-like wave of international positive feeling that accompanied his inauguration. I have never been so proud to be an American. I'm talking lump-in-the-throat, tears-welling-up kind of patriotism. And to conclude what is quickly becoming an epic post:


FINALLY.