After a traditional breakfast of croissants and café au lait at the hotel, we were off to start our third day in Paris. We first visited a museum called le Musée Marmottan and saw an excellent exhibition of works of Monet as well as of Camille Claudel. I had never heard of Claudel, but I found it very interesting that she recreated the exact piece in several different mediums. My favorite work by Claudel was “La Valse,” The Waltz. 
It was not only a sculpture that could be viewed from all angles, but it depicted a very intense moment of a man and a woman dancing by displaying incredible curves and body language. The Monet exhibition was calm and peaceful, especially the room that was full of beautiful blues and greens.
It was not only a sculpture that could be viewed from all angles, but it depicted a very intense moment of a man and a woman dancing by displaying incredible curves and body language. The Monet exhibition was calm and peaceful, especially the room that was full of beautiful blues and greens. After the museum we had free time to do any activity we chose. We split into groups and some of us chose to have lunch at a restaurant on the Champs Elysées, the most famous street in Paris. On our way there on the metro we had a surprising incident. Just before arriving at our stop all the lights went out and the train stopped. After four of five seconds the lights came back on and after ten or fifteen more, we were moving again. We were all confused and nervous, but the lady next to me explained that there was just a small problem with the electricity and not to worry.
We ate at a place that served Belgian food, mainly mussels. Afterward we
stopped for patisseries at Ladurée. I ate a tartelette aux framboises, a raspberry tart which may now be my favorite pastry.
stopped for patisseries at Ladurée. I ate a tartelette aux framboises, a raspberry tart which may now be my favorite pastry. After lunch some of us continued on the Champs Elysées, but Laurie and I decided to go shopping. Even though the annual winter sales in Paris start on the 11th, we couldn’t wait. We went to Les Halles to look around and see the current French styles in clothes and accessories. Most of the stores had very chic and stylish clothing that I don’t have the occasion to wear at MIT.
In the evening we saw the operetta by Franz Léhar, “The Merry Widow,” which was fantastic. It was lively, funny, and definitely risqué as only the French can be at a “decent” show.
Afterward we saw one of the actors in the restaurant that we dined at. Louise was brave enough to approach him and ask for an autograph. When she asked him if he was the character Figg in the play he looked at her and said “no.” Confused and embarrassed, she nearly left before he said he was joking and spoke with her for a minute. We all considered Louise brave for having approached him. On the way back to the hotel after dinner I grabbed a crêpe with nutella to finish up the night. If only the food was so good at home!
Afterward we saw one of the actors in the restaurant that we dined at. Louise was brave enough to approach him and ask for an autograph. When she asked him if he was the character Figg in the play he looked at her and said “no.” Confused and embarrassed, she nearly left before he said he was joking and spoke with her for a minute. We all considered Louise brave for having approached him. On the way back to the hotel after dinner I grabbed a crêpe with nutella to finish up the night. If only the food was so good at home! Actually if only everything I did today were as good as at home!
January 6, 2006
Haute Culture: Art, Food, and Culture, Just a day in the life of. . .
