More from Paris
I wrote the following about a week ago but was never able to post. So it's a bit outdated.
If I had to write a book How to Live in Paris for Two Weeks With Less than €100 I think it would simply start, "You cannot achieve this without the kindness of others." This statement would then be iterated in some way or another throughout the book. CouchSurfing is both a blessing and a curse. Expect the phrase, " You win some you lose some," to become a major reality. Why only €100? It's a cocktail of necessity, pride, and a personal challenge; along with my 20 litre backpack with very minimal belongings. I cannot necessarily bring a "thank you" gift to each home that opens its doors to me, but I do still attempt to cook or clean or any other little chore. Whether this is appropriate or not I don't know. But maybe in the future I can offer the same hospitality as has been given to me.
I have visited the grounds of many museums, but have not ventured inside them. I don't know which is more nerdy: paying to visit the Museum of Natural History, or just going to walk around the gardens and peek in the windows with a dire wish. BUT!! Each third weekend of September France has a Heritage Day where over 14,000 buildings open their doors for free entrance. Many of these buildings are usually private. The Observatory will also be opened, which is exciting because I am walking the Paris Meridian soon. There were once over 130 medallions placed along what could have been the Prime Meridian, and divides Paris into West and East. Some of these medallions are inside the Observatory.
In my last post I commented on the lack of bedazzlement I felt toward the Eiffel Tower. This, I now realise, foreshadowed my eventual sighting of the hourly twinkling show E.T. has every night.
I have visited many gardens, seen many statues, walked several kilometers between hosts and sights. I've seen:
Moulin Rouge Montmarte (twice) Eiffel Tower (three times) Notre Dame (twice) Shakespeare and Company bookstore Museum of Natural History gardens Saint Mitchel statue/fountain The Arch The greatest Pulp classics and Star Wars collection ever (the terrarium Forest Moon of Endor/Dagobah idea is back on!) Gardens, gardens, and gardens Vitry Sur Seine street art Louvre premises Orsay Museum Parc de la Villete Classic Paris Prostitutes The King's vegetable garden in Versailles and the grounds of Marie Antoinette's home The Home of Victor Hugo (quickly, from the train to Versailles) -and lots of beautiful cathedrals, fountains, classic buildings, and secret walkways
The overload of people everywhere is beginning to weigh down on me. But I've compensated by helping other tourists who are lost. And by "lost" I mean "were standing in front of Notre Dame looking for Notre Dame." And that's why there's always room in the budget for Nutella and wine.
[[UPDATE:: I did visit Museum of Orsay during the Heritage Weekend. It is a magnificent museum. Of all the statues, famous impressionist originals, and beautiful craftsmanship from the past my most favorite were the paintings by Odilon Redon. He has done a series of "yellow trees" , butterflies and flowers which mesmerized me. Gazing at these large paintings led me into a depth of contemplation I rarely experience. Is this not a nature of art? Afterward I continued searching for the medallions from Seine River southward to the Observatory, where I had left off previously. I think the Observatory was open to the public but the line was WHOA! In my last few days I stayed with a friend of a friend who worked on an organic farm in Igny. We picked and pruned tomatoes, and my supervisor asked me to stay. While there I met some cool dudes that were friends of my host. They let me join them to a Viet Vo Dao martial arts class, which was a cardio day. Lots of punching and kicking. Other people were there for a private class and they got to use wooden swords. I could get into that. Afterwards we hung out in the park where I spotted a hedgehog scurrying around. I gently picked up the spiky little ball, and eventually he unfolded and chillaxed in my hands. Cuteness to the max. After a few days I received my VISA decision and returned to Paris for my passport.]]
If I had to write a book How to Live in Paris for Two Weeks With Less than €100 I think it would simply start, "You cannot achieve this without the kindness of others." This statement would then be iterated in some way or another throughout the book. CouchSurfing is both a blessing and a curse. Expect the phrase, " You win some you lose some," to become a major reality. Why only €100? It's a cocktail of necessity, pride, and a personal challenge; along with my 20 litre backpack with very minimal belongings. I cannot necessarily bring a "thank you" gift to each home that opens its doors to me, but I do still attempt to cook or clean or any other little chore. Whether this is appropriate or not I don't know. But maybe in the future I can offer the same hospitality as has been given to me.
I have visited the grounds of many museums, but have not ventured inside them. I don't know which is more nerdy: paying to visit the Museum of Natural History, or just going to walk around the gardens and peek in the windows with a dire wish. BUT!! Each third weekend of September France has a Heritage Day where over 14,000 buildings open their doors for free entrance. Many of these buildings are usually private. The Observatory will also be opened, which is exciting because I am walking the Paris Meridian soon. There were once over 130 medallions placed along what could have been the Prime Meridian, and divides Paris into West and East. Some of these medallions are inside the Observatory.
In my last post I commented on the lack of bedazzlement I felt toward the Eiffel Tower. This, I now realise, foreshadowed my eventual sighting of the hourly twinkling show E.T. has every night.
I have visited many gardens, seen many statues, walked several kilometers between hosts and sights. I've seen:
Moulin Rouge Montmarte (twice) Eiffel Tower (three times) Notre Dame (twice) Shakespeare and Company bookstore Museum of Natural History gardens Saint Mitchel statue/fountain The Arch The greatest Pulp classics and Star Wars collection ever (the terrarium Forest Moon of Endor/Dagobah idea is back on!) Gardens, gardens, and gardens Vitry Sur Seine street art Louvre premises Orsay Museum Parc de la Villete Classic Paris Prostitutes The King's vegetable garden in Versailles and the grounds of Marie Antoinette's home The Home of Victor Hugo (quickly, from the train to Versailles) -and lots of beautiful cathedrals, fountains, classic buildings, and secret walkways
The overload of people everywhere is beginning to weigh down on me. But I've compensated by helping other tourists who are lost. And by "lost" I mean "were standing in front of Notre Dame looking for Notre Dame." And that's why there's always room in the budget for Nutella and wine.
[[UPDATE:: I did visit Museum of Orsay during the Heritage Weekend. It is a magnificent museum. Of all the statues, famous impressionist originals, and beautiful craftsmanship from the past my most favorite were the paintings by Odilon Redon. He has done a series of "yellow trees" , butterflies and flowers which mesmerized me. Gazing at these large paintings led me into a depth of contemplation I rarely experience. Is this not a nature of art? Afterward I continued searching for the medallions from Seine River southward to the Observatory, where I had left off previously. I think the Observatory was open to the public but the line was WHOA! In my last few days I stayed with a friend of a friend who worked on an organic farm in Igny. We picked and pruned tomatoes, and my supervisor asked me to stay. While there I met some cool dudes that were friends of my host. They let me join them to a Viet Vo Dao martial arts class, which was a cardio day. Lots of punching and kicking. Other people were there for a private class and they got to use wooden swords. I could get into that. Afterwards we hung out in the park where I spotted a hedgehog scurrying around. I gently picked up the spiky little ball, and eventually he unfolded and chillaxed in my hands. Cuteness to the max. After a few days I received my VISA decision and returned to Paris for my passport.]]
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