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Published: September 9th 2006
Do you know that myth that everyone likes to spread in the United States, the one that asserts that the American people are disliked in France and pretty much everywhere else in Europe? Don't believe a word of it. I thought I had better arrive hear and spend some time before I could legitimately repudiate it, but I am pleased to say that after a week here I have yet to receive a comment about "fat, stupid, rude Americans" or anything of the like. Give the French peole credit- they can distingbetween our people and our government, and are sophisticated enough to realize that while a majority of our population elected Bush, he is not universally supported. (And besides, I don't think the majority of Republican supporters at this period in our history are choosing to spend vacation in France, anyway!) So that's my little culture lesson to start this entry; now down to some fun stuff.
After my first week here, I am starting to get to now Paris a little better, and with the help of the ubiquitous metro/bus plans on the bus-stops throughout the city, I've only gotten lost a couple times during my early morning jogs. So far I've explored the 8me arrondissement pretty thoroughly, and I am getting to know the Rive Gauche (south side of the Seine, near Sciences Po) pretty well. I've adopted the habit of walking everywhere I can, and so far I've clocked at least 20 miles, I would say. On Wednesday I walked from my school (located on le Boulevard Saint Germain) to Odéon, a well-known arts district, and from there past the ruins of an old abbey which is now the Musée du Moyen Ages down towards les Jardins de Luxembourg, where the national Senate is located. One thing I've realized about the jardins in Paris is that they are all very, well...manicured. The French love to contruct big paved walkways around, through, and across their "parks", as well as create playgrounds and tennis courts for parkgoers, so by the time they are done there is hardly any grass left! But truly, they are beautiful, and in the afternoons there are literally hoards of people in the parks with their children, enjoying the afternoon. The French value life and leisure over money, and it's hard to blame them when I see them taking advantage of their beautiful city. All the children run and scream and play soccer and climb on the junglegyms, while the parents sit on benches and chat, and lovers stroll around gazing into each others eyes. No wonder this is the called the City of Love! It's all very romantic.
Speaking of romantic, I found myself sitting in front of Notre Dame last night, watching street performers do fire-juggling and listening to a busker play the acoustic guitar. I met some friends in front of the Centre Georges Pompidou at 19h00 (or 7 pm in US lingo) and we took a stroll through the quartier of Marais, one of the oldest and best known of the Rive Droit. We ate at a little restaurant on the picturesque Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, and then strolled the neighborhood afterward, picking up a crepe chocolat (SO good!) at a sidewalk creperie and making our way to the Place des Vosges. The Place des Vosges is the center of the Marais, and it's a small square/park in front of the ancient Hotel particulier (personal mansion) of the roi Louis XIII, first constructed around 1407. Also located in the quarter are the Musée Picasso, les Archives Nationales; le Musée Carnavalet (french history) and many other museums and schools located in ancient hotels. The area used to be the domain of the aristocrats, so today the french government has bought all the expensive, beautiful old buildings and turned them into public institutions. It's really a fun quarter. Afterwards we walked to the Place de la Bastille, where we discovered to our dismay that there is no longer an actual Bastille building- just a monument. I think I should have remembered that from my history books! Oh well.
Now it's Saturday, and I am headed off to the flea market (Marché aux Puces) at la Porte Clignancourt (gate) to the north of the city, near Montmartre. It's one of the most famous antiques markets in the city. So next time I post, I'll tell you how it is! Pictures will come too, eventually, but we're still having trouble getting wireless internet to work in the apartment...no matter what language they use, computers confuse me... : (
Also, à bientot!
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Bryon
non-member comment
I sent you one and it's not up!
Robyn, I added a comment ages ago and it seems you have to accept them before they can be shown. Did you not like my comment is that why you are not accepting it? I miss you, a lot. Love Me x x x