At 9:30 a.m., we walked out into the chilly Parisian morning and started our day’s journey with a visit to La Comédie Française, the theater where we will be seeing Les Fables de Fontaine in 
a few days. By the end of our guided tour, we all had a deeper knowledge of the history of the theater as well as the history of the prominent playwrights in French culture. The visit was followed by lunch at a Thai restaurant, a type of cuisine we had not tried thus far in our trip. After a bit of time exploring the neighborhood where the restaurant was located, including the picturesque Canal Saint-Martin with its system of locks, we were on our way to Le Cirque d’Hiver Baglione, which we were all looking forward to. Our day ended with a lively and delicious dinner at a restaurant with cuisine from the region of Alsace.
a few days. By the end of our guided tour, we all had a deeper knowledge of the history of the theater as well as the history of the prominent playwrights in French culture. The visit was followed by lunch at a Thai restaurant, a type of cuisine we had not tried thus far in our trip. After a bit of time exploring the neighborhood where the restaurant was located, including the picturesque Canal Saint-Martin with its system of locks, we were on our way to Le Cirque d’Hiver Baglione, which we were all looking forward to. Our day ended with a lively and delicious dinner at a restaurant with cuisine from the region of Alsace.The best part of our day, I thought, was the circus. Although the seating was a bit too close and cozy for my liking, we all still had a grand time, taking in all the marvels and clapping 
along to the music. The orchestra and its lively music, the little kids with huge smiles on their faces, the bright lights flashing everywhere all helped to establish the animated and fun atmosphere of the circus. Although some of the outfits were a bit more risqué than those I recall being a part of the circus in the United States, I was very impressed by how smooth everything ran and how polished the performers seemed to be. Among the acts was a juggler who could juggle more than 6 plates at one time. The circus for me was a bit different from some of the other events that we have gone to. We had been exploring much more serious things like theater, fine arts, and food - all very specific to French culture. This circus was a nice break, for it was a bit lighter and more “universal.”
along to the music. The orchestra and its lively music, the little kids with huge smiles on their faces, the bright lights flashing everywhere all helped to establish the animated and fun atmosphere of the circus. Although some of the outfits were a bit more risqué than those I recall being a part of the circus in the United States, I was very impressed by how smooth everything ran and how polished the performers seemed to be. Among the acts was a juggler who could juggle more than 6 plates at one time. The circus for me was a bit different from some of the other events that we have gone to. We had been exploring much more serious things like theater, fine arts, and food - all very specific to French culture. This circus was a nice break, for it was a bit lighter and more “universal.” Going to the circus and being able to be entertained by the animals and performers were things that the little kid in all of us can enjoy, no matter which culture we come from.
January 8, 2006
Clowns, Acrobats, Tigers, and Much More!
