Bonjour, I arrived in Paris on Monday and I have had the most amazing time so far. The city is so beautiful, rich with architecture, flooded with culture, and brimming with the chicest people I have ever encountered. I have been to the Marais several times so far, as it is fairly close to the Bastille location where I live. The Marais is home to Picasso Museum, a center of Jewish culture, and as we were happy to learn, Jimi Hendrix's favorite place for Falafels called L'as Du Falafel. The Marais is the kind of place that embodies what I imagined Paris would be like. The cobblestone streets are home to glamorous shops, eclectic boutiques, museums, parks, and hundreds of cafes which dot the street seating people enjoying a cafe au lait or a glass of wine.
Near my dorm, in the Gare de Lyon area are some of the most spectactular botanical gardens I have ever seen. For just 3 euro you can go into two separate gardens which also allow amazing views of the Natural History Museum nearby. Also near is a small zoo called Menagerie du Jardin des plantes. There were adorable little wallabies, pandas, and deer. Country gardens and tree shaded pathways surrounded this entire area which were lovely but will be truly striking come Fall when the leaves begin to change color.
One day, many of my friends had different orientations than I did, so I decided to explore on my own for the day. I thought getting "lost in Paris" sounded very romantic, but turned out a little differently when I actually became quite literally lost in Paris. I had no real direction for the day and I walked to Notre Dame which was incredibly striking. It was amazing to finally see it in person after seeing so many pictures and learning about its artichitecture and distinct flying buttresses in many of my art classes. My stroll eventually lead me to the Lourve which was when I became lost. However, I have yet to really see the stereotype of Parisians being unhelpful or unwelcoming. With the help of many good natured people and my confusing map, I was eventually able to find my way home after leisurely spending the afternoon exploring the city. The day ended perfectly when I met my new friends for a rainy dinner on the patio of restaurant called Rotonde.
We began our first day of our French language practicum on Friday morning and I'm happy to say that I have picked up a reasonable amount of French this past week. My pronunciation is improving significantly and I am very lucky to have friends who have already helped me practice as well as other Parisians in the city. It is difficult being in a city where English is not readily spoken but I truly feel immersed in the language and hope to continue my learning exponentially throughout the semester. It is truly the most beautiful language to listen to and it is a real privilege to be able to hear it every and all day.
In addition to the enjoying the city, I am also loving the program so far. I have met fantastic people from other UC's as well as locals in the city and feel like I already have a great group of friends who I've already had such a fabulous time with. We have had a wonderful time exploring the city, practicing our French, people watching, and going out together to enjoy the nightlife. Our dorms are very stark and lack a bit of warmth, but I have reminded myself that because we are in a prime real estate area that this is just city living. I haven't spent much time in my room as it is, so I think it will be fine. My roomate is very nice which has made the transition easier. Our dorms are nestled in a court yard with modern art galleries and deco furniture stores. Children play in courtyard on their bikes in the courtyard and is adorable hearing little voices speaking French. One staircase up from our dorm is the Promenade Plantee which is a garden lined walk way that streches over a large part of the city. Roses, gazebos, benches, and other plant life enclose the graveled pathway. It is truly lovely.
I am truly enamored with French culture at this moment and have spent the week mesmorized by everything, from the way people dress, the customs here that are so different from America, and the different lifestyles led here. People will spend hours at a cafe just enjoying time with friends, most stores are closed in August as it is a time most people leave for Holidays, and it seems as though they take time for themselves versus constantly working as is common and usually necessary in America.
I haven't entirely figured out how to post pictures but I have taken many so far and will show some of the beautiful places I have found myself in. Au Revoir!
Entrance of the Lourve
Fountain near the Centre Pompidou (Modern Art)
I adored this wedding shop window
The cutest sweets and biscuits shop I have ever seen
Beautiful Notre Dame
Natural History Museum
Inside the gardens
Botanical Gardens
Country gardens outside of the Natural History Museum
View from the dorms
Promenade Plantee Walkway above the dorms
Dinner with friends on the Seine
I am not entirely sure, but I believe this is a library
The Marais
Place des Vosges near the Marais
Opera House right next to the Bastille
Rue de Lappe. Fun Street full of Restaurants, Bars, and Lounges near school
Home! Right near the Bastille
My friends on the Promenade Plantee