Carousel

Did you know that the carousel at Parc Monceau has a Jules Verne theme? Check out the blue submarine!

Door in Paris

If I lived in a mansion in Paris, my door might look like this! (At the musee jacquemart andre)

Les Marais

Today I went on a tour of the 4th district of Paris, Les Marais, despite the rain. There is still some architecture from the middle ages.

There are also lots of mansions from the time of Louis 13-14.

And its also the location of the Paris City Hall!

A fun and educational way to spend a Saturday.

Stormy

Stormy weather brewing over the Grand Palais.

Culture Club

I am very lucky to have a sweet and social lab mate, C, who invites me to things.  Recently, C has gathered a group of young people from my building to go to see a museum exhibit and dinner in the evenings after work.  Yesterday, we went to the Jeu de Paume Museum near the Tuileries Garden to see the Ai Weiwei exhibit.  It was very interesting!

This is the only picture I took, because I didn't want to look like a tourist.

But I think my newfound friends are very happy that I didn't whip out the camera at dinner to capture their french style of eating hamburgers (yes, with a knife and fork!!!).

Go vote, France!

Today is election day. Well, the first election day. The field will be narrowed from 10 to 2 by this evening. Here's a news article with more information.

Politics are funny when they aren't yours

Political ad for the leading candidate here in France. Maybe they should get an English-speaker to listen to the music more carefully before picking it for a campaign ad? Although French people don't seem concerned by it.

WARNING: strong language (in English).

First round of voting is Sunday... the normally-passionate political discussions are getting heated...

A Sad Museum Day

Today, Tanya and I visited the Musee d'Orsay. When I last went to it 4 years ago, I proclaimed it one of my favorite museums on earth and I've been encouraging everyone to visit it ever since. Well, I have to say, I think it might be off my list. :-( I was extremely disappointed by the recent rehanging of the majority of the works in the museum. Usually French museums get it very right when it comes to art, but this was awful! The works by the most famous painters were crammed together into a few galleries, which were packed with people. Then other parts of the museum were almost desolate. The new dark paint scheme eliminates the light and airy feel of the station and its large glass windows. My favorite sculpture in the entire museum was moved into a small room where it only received oddly-directional lighting. Overall, it was very disappointing and I won't be going back anytime soon.

Tanya & Dawn take on the city!

Tanya came down from Cambridge, UK to hang out this weekend!

Besties in front of IM Pei's pyramids at the Louvre.

Hi Mona!

Pont Alexandre III with the Grand Palais in the background.

Le Concorde.

Photocolorimétrie by Jacques Fillacier, in the Musée Pompidou.

Required picture: Eiffel tower at night :-D

I think we managed to see most of the highlights in 1.5 days, so today we're taking it a bit more chill and going to picnic in front of the Eiffel tower for brunch and then go to a concert this afternoon.

Bon week-end !

Normal?

Is it normal for the sidewalk to be boiling when I walk to work in the morning? No.

Radio Silence

Sorry for the quiet time, I needed some time to myself. But I'm still here, still living in France, still eating amazing foods and adventuring around my city, which I really do believe is the most beautiful city on earth.

French vocab for the day:

Je n'ai pas un petit ami - I do not have a boyfriend

Je n'ai pas un copain - I am not dating anyone