28.4.11
27.4.11
26.4.11
25.4.11
Continuation of cut off...
Due to technical difficulties, this is the continuation from previous post. So sorry.
Afterwards we took our picnic lunch to the plaza outside Notre Dame. We watched a group of German students attempt to take a photo in front of the church that captured all of them jumping simultaneously. There was much giggling and merriment as they attempted to time the taking of the photo with the jumping. Not only was it entertaining, but after watching them try for the perfect picture more than a dozen times, Emma and I learned how to count to three in German.
Next we headed to one of the oldest churches in all of Paris, Saint-Julien-du-Pauvre. It was built around the year 1200. We attended a magnificent concert. The program consisted mostly of Mozart and Vivaldi. The acoustics were amazing, the musicians were spectacular and I am not sure there are words that can describe how wonderful it was. There were quite a few people crying after an especially amazing rendition of Ave Maria. We were even fortunate enough to persuade them to do an encore. Pure bliss!
After the concert several people went out of their way to come and compliment Emma. They were charming and so kind! Emma and I really enjoyed trying to maintain the conversations in French.
We floated home and along the way encountered a street musician playing a mandolin, several street performers doing comedy bits and the whole walk home Emma kept saying over and over, "I love this city!"
Afterwards we took our picnic lunch to the plaza outside Notre Dame. We watched a group of German students attempt to take a photo in front of the church that captured all of them jumping simultaneously. There was much giggling and merriment as they attempted to time the taking of the photo with the jumping. Not only was it entertaining, but after watching them try for the perfect picture more than a dozen times, Emma and I learned how to count to three in German.
Next we headed to one of the oldest churches in all of Paris, Saint-Julien-du-Pauvre. It was built around the year 1200. We attended a magnificent concert. The program consisted mostly of Mozart and Vivaldi. The acoustics were amazing, the musicians were spectacular and I am not sure there are words that can describe how wonderful it was. There were quite a few people crying after an especially amazing rendition of Ave Maria. We were even fortunate enough to persuade them to do an encore. Pure bliss!
After the concert several people went out of their way to come and compliment Emma. They were charming and so kind! Emma and I really enjoyed trying to maintain the conversations in French.
We floated home and along the way encountered a street musician playing a mandolin, several street performers doing comedy bits and the whole walk home Emma kept saying over and over, "I love this city!"
Joyeuses Paques
Easter was a sunny, beautiful day here in Paris. We awoke to the melody of bells tolling at St. Eustache church, which we can see from our window. We had a lovely breakfast with tons of fresh fruit in celebration of Spring and Emma opened her very large chocolate rooster. We were unsure of what would be open today, so we tentatively went for a walk. To our delight, the open- air market was in full swing, the restaurants were crowded and even the museums were open and busy.
So after visiting our regular stalls at the market, we went to see the Concierge. The Concierge used to be part of the royal palace, and was used as a prison during the French Revolution. We saw where Marie Antoinette underwent her tribunal, and the prison cell where she spend her last days. We learned much about Robespierre and his pivotal role in the Revolution. They had an entire room filled with the names of all the people who were sent to the guillotine during the Terror, and we were shocked at how many there were. The plaques took up the entire room, and listed thousands of names.
Two things struck us as remarkable about the Concierge. First, knowing that you are standing in the same space as famous historical characters, such as Marie Antoinette, truly gives us goosebumps and sets our minds to spinning. It makes it feel so much more real when the texture of a place surrounds you. Reading about the French Revolution never conjured up images of the stone floor of Marie's cell worn smooths from thousands of pacing footsteps. Nothing compares to thick, sharp sound the heavy iron locks on the doors make. Touching the rough, cold surface of the stone table where thousands of condemned people ate their final meal connects us to those people and go from an interesting fact to a reality. We could even sense a change in the air and detect different smells it the "corner of 12," the small outdoor cell where a dozen people at a time stood while waiting for the carriage to take them to the guillotine. Seeing the hundreds of sharp metal spikes deterring people from climbing out of the courtyard, or an actual guillotine blade used during the bloodiest days all create an odd symphony for the senses and transports our imaginations like nothing else.
Afte took our picnic lunch
So after visiting our regular stalls at the market, we went to see the Concierge. The Concierge used to be part of the royal palace, and was used as a prison during the French Revolution. We saw where Marie Antoinette underwent her tribunal, and the prison cell where she spend her last days. We learned much about Robespierre and his pivotal role in the Revolution. They had an entire room filled with the names of all the people who were sent to the guillotine during the Terror, and we were shocked at how many there were. The plaques took up the entire room, and listed thousands of names.
Two things struck us as remarkable about the Concierge. First, knowing that you are standing in the same space as famous historical characters, such as Marie Antoinette, truly gives us goosebumps and sets our minds to spinning. It makes it feel so much more real when the texture of a place surrounds you. Reading about the French Revolution never conjured up images of the stone floor of Marie's cell worn smooths from thousands of pacing footsteps. Nothing compares to thick, sharp sound the heavy iron locks on the doors make. Touching the rough, cold surface of the stone table where thousands of condemned people ate their final meal connects us to those people and go from an interesting fact to a reality. We could even sense a change in the air and detect different smells it the "corner of 12," the small outdoor cell where a dozen people at a time stood while waiting for the carriage to take them to the guillotine. Seeing the hundreds of sharp metal spikes deterring people from climbing out of the courtyard, or an actual guillotine blade used during the bloodiest days all create an odd symphony for the senses and transports our imaginations like nothing else.
Afte took our picnic lunch
24.4.11
23.4.11
Cluny, Pantheon and St. Genevieve
Today we explored the Musee National du Moyen Age (called The Cluny). It houses the six exquisite tapestries called The Lady and the Unicorn. They consist of six tapestries each representing one of our senses: taste, smell, touch, sight, hearing plus one for love. The were magnificent and are considered one of the greatest works of art from the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, the room was very dark, so I have no photos to share.
We also enjoyed the Stained Glass Window Room, the Tombstone passage and Goldsmithwork Gallery. I also adored the incredible calligraphy. It took us several hours to work our way through the museum which covers The Roman Empire, The Early Middle Ages, The Romanesque Era and the Gothic Era. The only items we did not much enjoy were the numerous ivory artifacts. Clearly, thousands of elephants must have died in order to make that many church relics. Sigh.
After The Cluny we went to see The Pantheon. It was awesome. We spent most of our time there in the crypt. We saw the final resting places of so many historical figures it made our heads swirl: Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Marie Sklodowski-Curie, Braille, Dumas. It lead us to some fascinating conversations and required a great deal of Internet research. Many of the names were familiar, like Pasteur. Yet others were new to us, like Aime Cesaire. We also spent time admiring the art work and architecture within the upper portion of the Pantheon.
Right around the corner from the Pantheon is the Church of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. She was also a very strict vegetarian. We paid our respects to her final resting place and admired her lovely church.
While making our way from Rive Gauche to Rive Droite we had to stop for more Berthillon glaces, of course. Then we meandered home through an unexpected, but utterly delightful rain storm. Have we mentioned how much we desert people love water?
We also enjoyed the Stained Glass Window Room, the Tombstone passage and Goldsmithwork Gallery. I also adored the incredible calligraphy. It took us several hours to work our way through the museum which covers The Roman Empire, The Early Middle Ages, The Romanesque Era and the Gothic Era. The only items we did not much enjoy were the numerous ivory artifacts. Clearly, thousands of elephants must have died in order to make that many church relics. Sigh.
After The Cluny we went to see The Pantheon. It was awesome. We spent most of our time there in the crypt. We saw the final resting places of so many historical figures it made our heads swirl: Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Marie Sklodowski-Curie, Braille, Dumas. It lead us to some fascinating conversations and required a great deal of Internet research. Many of the names were familiar, like Pasteur. Yet others were new to us, like Aime Cesaire. We also spent time admiring the art work and architecture within the upper portion of the Pantheon.
Right around the corner from the Pantheon is the Church of St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. She was also a very strict vegetarian. We paid our respects to her final resting place and admired her lovely church.
While making our way from Rive Gauche to Rive Droite we had to stop for more Berthillon glaces, of course. Then we meandered home through an unexpected, but utterly delightful rain storm. Have we mentioned how much we desert people love water?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)