very pre-occupied cat
I know this post is long overdue, considering that I will be home in approximately two weeks I realize that I have a lot to write about. Hopefully that will also include about my daily life, sites of Saint Petersburg, the magnificent Mariinsky Theater, and maybe some other random comments. But now, onto Paris.
I arrived in Paris late on Sunday night because I had a lot of trouble finding my way around the Charles De Gaulle Airport. Thankfully, I had packed all my stuff for Moscow and Paris in my mini traveling suitcase (so small you can actually take it on the plane as a “carry-on”, however I had liquids in it, so it was checked) and traipsing around the terminal was not the most painful experience. My friend, Rachel, who I was staying with that week was living at the Cite Universitaire, and it was located just inside the borders of Paris in the South. The only problem was, I arrived Sunday night and she would not be back home from Barcelona until Monday. So there I was, standing in the corridor of her dormitory wondering how I was supposed to get in her room. My internet connection before I left had been atrocious, and I never received her last message of her friend, Gwen’s phone number, or Rachel’s room number. A receptionist tried to help me but she told me if I didn’t speak French she couldn’t help me. I couldn’t speak French. After a few failed attempts of trying to call up to Gwen and Rachel’s room I stood in the lobby, looking pathetic and eyeing the couch in the corner as a possible bed for the night. Than through the corridor came this short friendly looking girl and asked me if I was Liz, I said yes and gave her a big hug.
Rachel and Me in front of the Lourve
The Lourve at Dusk
The next morning I woke up really early because I was used to waking up at 7am in St. Petersburg and France was also two hours behind in time. I decided to go for a walk outside because it was Fall again (in Russia all the leaves were gone by this point), and it was warm and beautiful outside. I walked around the campus and around the park. Rachel got in about 11am and we went to a café for brunch where I had my first real baguettes. They were absolutely delicious.
People watching outside Cafe de Flore
It was very bizarre to hear a different language after spending three months in Russia and people only speaking Russian. It was also very bizarre to have conversations with random people once again. I never realized how many people spoke English before, and for how many people English was a second language. After being in Russia, France seemed an incredibly friendly and optimistic country. But, I do not know how this would seem after actually living in France. When entering a store, or restaurant, it’s impolite NOT to say Bonjour, as opposed to in Russia where sometimes they look at me like I’m strange when I say Dratzvoitya. I also learned that even if I completely butcher every word I attempt to say in French (I’m limited to about 7 words by the way), they still smile and tell me how well I speak (and these people aren’t always trying to sell me things either). On the other hand, when I’m in Russia I’ll say something (and to me it sounds exactly the way a Russian says it) I’ll get a very quizzical look in response. I think I’m going to go back to studying Spanish after my trip now I realize how easy a language it is.
In the Le Bois de Boulongne
Parc Andre Citroen
Le Bois de Boulogne
Rachie posing in Parc de la Villette
I did spend the week going to many parks, museums, churchs, and DEPARTMENT stores. Okay, I admit it, I was ecstatic to see a real department store once again. Russia will do this to you. I went shoe shopping at the Galleries Lafayette, and they HAD my shoe size (in both shoes I wanted to try on), it was incredible. And yes, I walked out with a pair of boots from the mall. Paris made me feel like a girl, or devushka again.
The Pompidou Center - Museum of Modern Art, designed partially by architect Renzo Piano. I have to say I enjoyed the building much more than the artwork, I don't yet have a palette for most modern works.
The Musee d'Orsay, my favorite museum, located in an old train station, it now houses a grand collection of impressionistic works
In general, women in Paris are not very tall, they don’t wear obvious makeup, they wear comfortably chic clothes, and they walk around in flats or flat boots. I don’t know if I’ve described the stereotypical Russian woman for you yet. Skinny, tall, beautiful, lots and lots of makeup (don’t forget lipstick), straightened hair, tight jeans, high heeled black shiny boots, and fur coats. A French girl in Russia would seem underdressed, and Russian girl in Paris looks like a Prostitute: hmm, very different cultures.
When asked what my favorite aspect about Paris is I always have to respond the alleyways (especially around the Marai). I love the street life, day and night. The crepes made on the streets and the scent of pastries in the air. I love the way people sit outside and eat in bubbling cafes and all the boutiques lining the alley. It was a step back into time for me, and I felt like a character in a novel like so many I have been reading lately.
Me, Ewa, and Rachel enjoying our delicious flavors of gelato
Rachel ordering a crepe
I really loved my trip to Paris, and it was wonderful to spend time with Rachel, her mom, and her friends. It’s strange that she and I are leading such different lives this semester, but at Cornell we’re together almost every single day.
Rachie's Painting Studio
One of my favorite experiences was attending her Figure Drawing class. I had never taken a figure drawing class before and it’s been a while since I’ve put my sketching tools to work, and for the first time I drew standing up, using an easel and charcoal to draw. For most of the sketches we only had 2 minutes to sketch the figure, an actor currently playing Mufasa in the Musical The Lion King. I kept hearing over and over again what my high school art teacher, Mr. Heck had taught me long ago, to draw what I see, and not what I think I see. Rachel’s teacher told me I picked the techniques up pretty fast, but I’ll never know if she was just being extra nice to me…but for myself I did pick up a few lessons that I will take with me.
The incredible Chagall painting inside The Palais Garnier Opera House
On the way back to St. Petersburg, I wasn’t upset to leave Paris, I actually was very happy to be going “home.” Home to St. Petersburg for my final month. Paris was wonderful, but I cannot judge it on the same terms as I do St. Petersburg. It was a vacation there, but here I live. I didn’t get to see the “ugliness” that I do here. As I said before, I have this love-hate relationship with this country – and I have to understand the good as well as the bad.
The Cathedral of Notre Dame
Getting frustrated in front of Notre Dame with Ewa's picture-taking skills :)
and Ewa and Rachie in front of the Seine - so cute
Versailles (during the Fall when the statues are covered and the fountains are turned off)
Rolling on the River, and then Freezing on the River Seine
Aww I love you Rachie :)
