Muse: First Weekend in Paris!

Shaking off the jet lag after 11 hours of sleep, I woke up in my Tintin-themed bedroom (the former bedroom of my host family's youngest son who is currently at boarding school) ready for my first full day in the city of romance. I clicked on the lights, illuminating the the toy airplane hanging from the lamp on my ceiling, and could not have been more excited for the day. Needless to say, it started out well. For breakfast I munched on Lion Bar cereal (a better version of Reeses Pieces) paired with some jus d'orange. But before I delve into the excursions of the day, let me tell you a little bit about my apartment. I'm living on Boulevard du Montparnasse, a street bustling with people, restaurants, bars, and small shops. Walking to class this morning just shy of ten o'clock, the cafés lining the street were already full of people enjoying their morning coffee and cigarette. My apartment is quite large and home to a family of five when their youngest son is not at boarding school. And I won't lie--I love the Tintin wallpaper. I used to lose myself in the adventures of Tintin and Milou all the time when I was little! Then there's a den, living room, kitchen, and three other bedrooms. All in all, I consider myself very lucky to be perched on such a great street close to school (and some of the hippest bars and clubs) and for having a family who believes in actually using their refrigerators. Most of the time, anyway. Pictured below is the building I live in:

Now let's get to the good stuff. For our first full day in Paris, the group and I were booked for a tour of Paris. We hit all the major monuments and some--Tour Eiffel, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the tomb of Napoleon, the river Seine, and finally both Le Grand Palais and Le Petit Palais. We also snagged a peak of the President Sarkozy's humble abode, a gated mansion overlooking the Seine and the Tour Eiffel. Below are pictures of the girls and I exploring the city for the first time.

You guys recognize this one...

Courtney and I being very cliché and loving every minute of it. Crèpes by the Tour Eiffel.

Annie and I outside the Tour Eiffel.

The group and I huddled together outside Notre Dame.

Walking around in the 7ème arrondissement.

Tara, Courtney, Hanna, and I walking around...most of the buildings in Paris look like those behind us. Beautiful limestone façades with wrought iron balconies. Absolutely stunning.

Montmartre

The next day we took a tour around Montmartre, a region in Paris heavy with the weight of history and art. Home to the famous Sacre Coeur, Montmartre also sheltered artists like Picasso and Van Gogh while the struggling painters were working on their masterpieces. Although the streets around the cathedral are buzzing with tourists and tacky souvenir shops, the majority of the district is quiet and calm. Stone buildings sit soberly on cobblestone streets, geraniums spilling out over the terraces. Small gardens sprout from every little corner, keeping Montmartre looking more like a village than a district in a big city.

They say Montmartre inhabitants tell people they are from Montmartre instead of Paris, emphasizing the significance this small area imprints on its residents. I have to say I understand why. Montmartre is a clandestine oasis within a bustling city, offering the same romance and charm as Paris, yet cushioned in a culture so obviously appreciative of their district's rich history and beauty.

L'eglise en Montmartre

Cathy sur la rue

House where Vincent Van Gogh spent his days. Since he only sold one painting during his entire life, he had to live with his brother who supported him.

A hilly street in Montmartre

The legend of the invisible man, as depicted in this sculpture.

Statue of Saint Denis. The legend goes that Saint Denis, after getting beheaded, picked up his head, washed it, then walked head in hand another five kilometers before finally falling down and dying. Saint Denis also graces the walls of the Notre Dame. He's quite distinguishable as the man holding his own head.

The bust of Dalida (no pun intended). Talented with languages and music, Dalida found the spotlight after winning the title of Miss Egypt. She continued to impress audiences worldwide not only because of her beauty, but because of her ability to sing beautifully in French, Spanish, Italian, English, and Arabic. Despite leading an undoubtedly glamorous and privileged life, Dalida's inner demons eventually led her to commit suicide at her home in Montmartre. Her legacy lives on however through this statue standing on Place de Dalida. Although it's yet to be confirmed, I have a sneaking suspicion Dalida's mamelons are a source of good luck if rubbed. I've seen the same gilded damage done to statues of college founders, whose noses have turned golden from the many students who wished for luck during finals week.

Annie, Courtney, and I on the stairs descending from the Sacre Coeur.

And here she is....

Once we made it to the bottom of the stairs, Mario approached us and asked which one of us girls was his Princess Pêche, or Princess Peach. I thought we might be able to slowly walk away mumbling that we only spoke Dutch (the quickest way to rid yourself of aggressive vendors or loonie bin escapees, like this man), until Annie decided to point at me. Mario was ecstatic, to say the least, and offered me some candy. I denied the candy (could be roofied for all I know), but couldn't help but notice the random mushroom in his bag of goodies. "Pourquoi le champignon?" I asked. "For me to go faster!" he said, an adventurous grin widening on his face. As it turns out, this is one of the ridiculous spoofs a man must do before he gets married. Mario is recently engaged and this is one of the many humiliating and hilarious levels, shall we say, he must beat before he's allowed to take the plunge. I guess that makes me a gold coin.

Le Moulin Rouge...definitely want to see a show before the end of the semester.

The wall of love! Tucked away in a small garden in Montmartre, this wall says 'I love you' in all the languages of the world. Even more adorable, some people have written little love notes to their significant others, immortalizing their feelings in ink. "Sabrina, je t'aime;" "Jeremy et Sonya;" "Je pense à toi Chloé."

Street Art

Montmartre is not just a place where great artists once lived. It continues to nurture the creative minds of its residents by offering up its virgin walls. Alleyway walls act as blank canvases to the many street artists of Montmartre. Here is just a glimpse of the modern art the area is home to.