Pictures of cemetaries in Paris

the modern is now

Last Sunday, the 3rd, some friends and I wandered on over to the Centre Georges Pompidou to visit their modern art museum. This rather unusual building is not only home to one of the most famous museums in the world but also has a cinema, a children's museum, a performance space, one of the the most sought-after cafes in Paris (the view is phenomenal), and a rather popular library (there was a line to get in). But we only went for the museum. Outside the museum, people hang out, sell art, do street performances, walk around, eat at cafes and food-stands and other general merriment.

Here are some pictures from my adventure at this particularly fun (and colorful) paris museum:

A Visit to a Fairy Tale

Last Friday Sweet Briar took a trip to Versailles. I've been to the chateau a couple times before so that wasn't too exciting, although we did get a personal tour from our art history professor, but I was very excited that I finally got to go to Marie Antoinette's village.

Marie Antoinette was like 15 when she became queen so she was pretty bored with royal life, so she had the royal architect construct a life-sized play village for her where she could go with her courisans to dress up as a peasant, dye sheep to match her outfits, play gambling games, and have affairs with various men.

Here are some pictures from my visit...enjoy!

I see famous people sometimes

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, so sometimes I see famous people. Last week was Paris Fashion week and we went to try to spot some designers and models. We stood outside the Giorgio Armani show "Privé" for awhile and guess who we saw? Giorgio himself. Don't believe me? Here's a picture:

I ate Bambi's father

After many year's of studying French culture, I thought I had a good perception of the kind of cuisine that French people eat. After coming to live with a host family and eating most meals with them, however, I've come to realize I can expect almost anything to pop up on my plate.

My first day here my host mother asked me politely if there were any foods I didn't eat. Thinking I wouldn't have to be too specific, I replied with my normal response: No fish, I don't eat fish, pas du poisson s.v.p.! My host family has generously respected this even though they themselves eat a lot of fish.

After a formal lunch with the family and some of their visiting relatives last weekend, I realized I was in for a rough ride in the food department. Francois' (the dad) brother and his wife were in town for the weekend because they had tickets to a play. They are from Provence and I quickly learned that the brother is a hunter. Pas trop grave so far.

When I sat down I saw a brick of pate sitting on the table. I had had pate before. The brother's son aka the cousin Nico, asked me if I wanted some. I asked what it was and when he explained to me in French I wasn't familiar with the term. Everyone tried explaining the meat to me for awhile before Nico said, exasperated, in English "Did you see the movie Bambi?" and I said "yes."

"We are eating Bambi's father." he said with a stone face, expecting a horrified reaction from me.

and a horrified reaction he received. We were eating venison. And Francois' brother had killed it himself. I didn't want to be rude so I took the plunge and ate a small portion of the mashed up deer meat. But it didn't stop there. The next course in the meal was another meat I've avoided all my life: lamb.

And it didn't stop there, and probably will not stop. I've grit my teeth and beared through a wide variety of foods I'd intended to always avoid: snails, venison, lamb, kidney and some other foods I'd never come across but enjoyed: a selection of cheeses and lychees.

They told me before I leave I have to try pig testicles and frog legs.

I'll let you know if I survive.

Bonjour de Paris...finalement!

Hello faithful blog readers! (all 5 of you) I'm writing you from my highly anticipated destination of Paris, France in my cute little room in a cute little apartment of a cute little parisian family in the cute 11eme arrondisement of Paris! I like my neighborhood very much, I can walk down a couple streets and five mins later, BOOM, there's the Bastille, formerly a jail and dripping with history of the french revolution.

So far I adore everything, but speaking in french to french people is a lot harder than speaking in french in french class to other american students, so I'm struggling to say the least.

My camera doesn't work right now because I don't have an adapter from irish to french energy but I'm working on finding a store to suit my needs so I can get my batteries working and soon I can take and post pictures. Youpie!

My Cousin Got Married

and some AWESOME wedding pictures were the result.

Maureen and Brian's Wedding. These were taken by the wedding photographer, who was a childhood friend of Maureen's.