Author name: Margaret Alt

It’s hard to feel sad about ending a vacation when there is still a full day of travel ahead. The stress of going to the airport, getting through security, the exhausting eight-hour flight, and making it through customs. It all makes it hard to miss a place and reflect on my experiences, but I will … Continue reading “Reflections: The Last Cappuccino “

This blog post was dreamed up after the MICEFA picnic, as I was introduced to the greatness of Bret’s chips and their bizarre flavors. My next trip to Franprix was dedicated to exploring their other flavors. I wasn’t expecting that many, but was shocked to see that roasted chicken, the first flavor I ever tried, … Continue reading “Franprix: A Definitive Ranking of Strange Chip Flavors”

When I learned we were going to visit the Museum of the Army, I was quite indifferent to the idea. I have never been one for military history, and American military museums are often one-note, focusing on the same aspects of American wars. What I had been forgetting was that French military museums would feature … Continue reading “Musée de L’Armée: Barding (not the singing kind)”

As I have accompanied Ellie on her quest to find the most historic clocks in Paris, I have visited many churches. It’s astounding the number of churches I have been to in the past few weeks, probably more than I have been to in the last five years. As a non-Catholic person, my only connection … Continue reading “Joan of Arc: The True Horse Girl”

It was a wonderful Tuesday morning when I looked up directions on how to get to our destination for the day, the Musee d’Orsay, and a beautiful message appeared. Metro line four was reopened, a first during our time in Paris. Over the previous two weeks, all signs for the four were covered in red … Continue reading “Metro 4: My Favorite Line”

The Luxembourg Gardens are one of the most comfortable places I have visited in Paris, allowing me to relax and feel at peace amongst the crowds of the city. This got me thinking about the comfort of spaces and what makes those places stand out. The gardens themselves are a fascinating study of dividing space … Continue reading “The Pantheon: Comfortability in Spaces”

The national Opera house of Paris far surpassed my already high expectations, being one of the most jaw-dropping, stunning buildings I have seen thus far. Seeing the architectural inspiration for the award-winning Phantom of the Opera was very exciting, as the Broadway musical is one of my favorite stage productions. The start of the visit … Continue reading “Palais Garnier: Ceilings! Mosaics! Lighting!”

Starting the trip strong, the first three days included some of the best museums I have ever been to. The Louvre and the Musée de Cluny both showcase the long history of Paris, with a wealth of centuries-old art and architecture. Despite being “out of the timeline,” I found the trip to be a great … Continue reading “Musée de Cluny: The Art of Inspiration”