Another Big Week:

Yes, yes I know I’m tardy on getting this update out, what can I say, I wanted to relax as best I could the last 2 days. I have a lot, I repeat, A LOT of photos to go through, so many that after 2 days I was genuinely exhausting myself with the thought of doing one of these big blog post because of how much had happened and how many photos Id need to upload from my phone and then sort and post. I have been generally trying to keep my photo files from the trip organized too, so the task felt daunting, but now I’m ready to do this.

Also just as a heads up, ill continue the mini-post about different groups and their food in Paris this week when I do the Jewish and Greek Diasporas. Those post are easier to do, and will provide fun chances for me to hopefully experience food that would be considered “exotic” in the USA, but is as common as Mexican food here. Not that I don’t feel I get something out of these big post, but its more effort for me to personally be satisfied with them.

With that aside out of the way…I guess I should begin from where we left off.

Day 6:

It was a museum day, so we had to be up bright and early. We went to an old roman bathhouse, it was interesting to see the progression and building on top of what already exist, as the structure went from a roman bathhouse, to a medieval christian building, transitioning to gothic architecture like the ceiling shown below:

We talked about reliquaries and what was defined as showing status back in those times. Dr. Smith pointed out what has to be a comical way to censor ones own expletives made manifest. I give you the meme of “JESUS ON A DONKEY!”

I got a kick out of that. Then we reached a room with these gorgeous tapestry’s. Can you guess what they are meant to represent? All 5 are in order and were all in the dark room with each on a wall. (I couldn’t till it was pointed out.)

Each one is supposed to exemplify one of the 5 senses. These are interesting to be sure, but not something I find fascinating enough to have a lot more to say other than that it was impressive and in some ways enlightening to see this in person, to see the rich vibrant colors and the ability to portray non-biblical symbolism was still strong in medieval France.

As we prepared to leave, I got a few pictures of a model of the building:

Next we went to the Luxembourg Gardens for the first time. They are extremely beautiful and a relaxing place to go, Ill be going there often when I can to gather reference photos for my project. The weather and sky were seemingly ideal for a day walking around a park.

This is Dr.Smiths youngest daughter riding on one of the oldest carousels in the world. It didn’t have any music and the game was to use the wand like stick to gather a bunch of keys. Primitive to be sure, but she seemed to enjoy it all the same.

We saw the Medici fountain’s within the gardens:

We ended things off by visiting the shortest street in Paris, we also saw “the Pantheon” building. More on that on the day I go inside with my roommate.

These older, extremely narrow streets, are what Paris’s streets used to be like before the urban renewal undertaken during the 19th Century.

Day 7:

Thursday was a very chill day. Weather was overcast. We went to the national library and walked around. There was a giant globe there that I thought was kinda fun.

Then we just walked across a pedestrian bridge, then walked around the non-tourist parts of Paris, showing how much even in more poor neighborhoods, people value public spaces and greenery.

Day 8:
The highlight of the day was shopping at a honey store. Got myself some stuff that would be shared during a picnic on Bastille Day and some Orange Honey to take home (honey only made from the nectar of Orange flowers). We saw some notable architecture too, but honestly I had kinda burned myself out on obsession over the architecture details.)

Day 9: Versailles
Saturday was….a lot…I dont quite know where to begin. We got on the train, got to Versailles, and then I took over 140 Photos, so I will try and show just the best pictures, but expect something like 30 pictures at least. This place is utterly massive and extremely opulent.

The Gates:

The Gardens:

Inside the Palace:

Ill post the events of Day 10-18 on Tuesday or Wednesday. Not every day do I take 100+ Photos, and Day 10 is the next day with so many photos. I want more to talk about since a good chunk of that week we had no class since it was the Week of Bastille Day. Not that we didn’t do things and take photos and videos, I certainly did, but there isnt much substance to it all. Till my next post, Im gonna lie down.

Sincerly,

-me