Even more Paris??

Yes yes there is more to Paris....The tricky part in knowing where I left off...hmmm okay so we have done the louvre and Sainte Chapelle... So now its Friday and its museum day!! We only get two days on our museum pass, so we tried to see as many museums as possible those two days. We started off early and went to the Musee d'Orsay, which if you don't speak French, its all good, because this museum houses the best display of Impressionist painters of the 19th Century. Everyone who is anyone is at this museum. Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt, Surat, Pizarro. You name it they have it and I loved every minute we spent in that museum. My favorite were the Degas ballerinas (go figure right :))

After a wonderful lunch of tuna on toast, a French delicacy (LOL) It was off to the Opera house with my friend Megan. We walked down to the Louvre and took a roundabout way of getting there, but we found it at last. This is the Opera House where the Phantom of the Opera is based off of. Apparently the Opera House is built on stanchions because there is a water level problem underneath it. But as we walked into the grand opera, the first thing you see is gold...and the next thing you see is the grand staircase...the same staircase where they sing Masquerade....It was beautiful and mind blowing. We got to walk around and see where the orchestra sits and where the people enter into the box seats, very very fancy. Unfortunately we couldn't go into the auditorium because they were practicing on a ballet. But I sneaked a peak and saw dancers practicing on the stage...they were amazing!! Also in this Opera House there is a hall of mirrors. And it is totally gilded in gold. Even the curtains have gold embroidery work on them. It was very shiny, bright and elegant. I could imagine people in the 1900s climbing the beautiful stairs in their long dresses and fans, top hats and coat tails. A beautiful place to visit.

Then around dinner time it was back to the museums...now its time for contemporary art. The best place for contemporary art in Paris is the Pompidu Center. Where the building is basically a work of art. This was an interesting display. I am not really into contemporary art or installation pieces, but I did have a good time trying to figure out where the artists come from and what they are trying to say given what they have on display. There were some classics here that were a must see. I saw Kandinsky's paintings, I saw some Picasso's (nothing real famous) I saw Mondrian, Miro, Braques, and Duchamp. I saw the urinal that supposedly is a work of art...and I laughed! So I saw what I needed to see and then called it quits, my feet were tired that night. We finished off the day by treated ourselves to a good dinner. I ate raw meat on a salad...it was interesting...My main course was better, chicken with a sauce that was to die for. Then as a stroke of genius by my roommates, we decided to go into the Louvre for an hour on our way home. I wasn't so keen on this idea, but I played a good sport. And I saw more amazing art!!! (Flemish and Danish paintings before the renaissance....beautiful!!!) So all in all a packed but good day.

The next day was a little bit more relaxed. We only had one thing planned, to go to the Pietit Palais to see an exhibition on Goya prints. Goya is a fairly well known artist. He is one of the best print makers in art history, though his subject matter is a little terrifying. But he lived through a time that wasn't the best and it is understandable why his art is so disturbing. The Goya exhibit was a good choice, I got to see the progression of his art. And they had some really good in process works, which you never find with artists. They would have his sketches displayed, where his influence could have came from, the actual copper plate and then the finished print. Most of his prints are copper etchings, but there were a couple of Lithograph pieces as well (those were my favorite) After a morning of Goya, we crossed over the Bridge of Alexander III, which is a famous for being built for the Czar of Russia. It is also the Bridge at the end of the Anastasia movie, and they did a good job re creating it for the animation. It was a beautiful bridge. Then it was off to the Champ Eylsees for some shopping! Or rather looking. The most expensive street of shopping in Paris the Champ Eylsees was the funniest thing to see. They had every brand name store I could think of. I couldn't believe it!!! I went into the Disney store, because it was the only place I felt I could walk into and feel like I could afford something, even though I didn't buy anything. So it was a great walk down the Champ Eylsees and I got to look at the Triumphal Arch on the way down.

The rest of the afternoon I went shopping by myself. None of my roommates are of the shopping nature, but I had stumbled on a 3 building mall that was by the Opera House, that I just couldn't pass up! I had to go and visit. I was overwhelmed being in this mall...it was almost 8 floors!!! But I had fun looking at all the crazy fashions, makeup, stockings, and shoes!!! Oh man the shoes....if only I knew the word for narrow in French....I really do need to figure out how to say that :) But I did end up with a pair of earrings and they are really cute. I will make sure to wear them and take a picture!!

So the afternoon was my shopping expedition, and for our last night in Paris....it was off to the Eiffel Tower and to dinner. But I will give you a rest from reading, and my fingers from typing and I will post more later...including pictures!!