Sipping Tea with the taste of the Thames.

A weekend in London is only enough to graze the tip of what that city has to offer. It was actually strange to be in an English-speaking nation, though. I was actually shy to speak with people because I'm so used to having difficulty with communication. Oh geez.

20 of us boarded the same flight to London and some even continued on the same bus. Linda, Clint and I were the only ones in our hostel, so we boarded the underground at Baker Street (elementary, my dear Watson) and soon arrived at our hostel. Let me tell you--this place was the epitome of places where a poor college student would stay. It was loud and gross and the shower was placed awkwardly in the same room as the beds. I thought it was pretty funny, personally. Linda had a sleep sheet and Clint slept in like 5 layers of clothing, including his hoodie. I just had my PJs and I was pretty content. We didn't have any roommates the first night, but I still only got 2 hours of sleep. We had a share session, (hey...let's abuse eachother and then tell each other why we are friends). I learned that I should go back to my natural hair color, I listen to angry music too loudly in my headphones, and I need to be more confindant because I'm a cool person. Yay, world.

Linda and I were on our own for the entire weekend. I don't want to be mean or negative, but she and I are not very compatable travel buddies. I wanted to see and do everything I could...and not shop, and she wanted to shop and she hates museums and gets tired easily. But I don't want to dwell on that, and I don't want to think about regrets. We saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Linda did the majority of her Christmas shopping in a little shop nearby before the guards changed. After that, we went on the Westminster Walk, starting at Big Ben and Westminster Abby and heading toward the National Gallery. It was a nice walk, in my opinion. As we coninued, I realized that we were really close to Leicester Square and Covent Garden and the the Noel Coward Theater, where Avenue Q would be playing later that night. We just kept walking, although we did stop for lunch at a Subway sometime in there...haha.

It is difficult to name and comment on everything we saw that day. I felt as though I was being pushy and we were both really tired, so we strolled around the theater and looked at all these odd little shops where they sell everything from foreign currency and stamps to old, out of print novels. We visited a nice market in Covent Garden and browsed an honest to god tea store. I really enjoyed the low stress and chillness about it, but I could not wait until 5:30, when Avenue Q would finally begin!!!

Avenue Q is a theater experience unlike any other. Puppets portray all the trials and tribulations of real life. I knew the music, but not the story. It's about a recent college grad (with a BA in English) who is looking for his purpose. The backup characters are also going through personal struggles of their own. It was presented really well and I couldn't stop laughing...and I could relate with so much throughout the production! As a plus, the actor who played/operated Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Blue Bad Idea Bear was absolutely gorgeous! Ha.

We ate dinner at Pizza Hut (just taking full advantage of the Americanness...ugh) and headed back to the hostel.

The next day, we got a late start and ended up at Tower Hill, near the London Tower and Tower Bridge. Been there, done that...but I was looking forward to a nice walk along the Thames. We did walk along the Thames and it was very nice, though windy. We visited the Clink Museum on our way to St. Paul's and the Tate Modern Museum (I was totally dictating this whole ordeal). I had wanted to attend Evensong at St. Paul's but it did not appear to be free and there was a carnival all around, and I wanted to play with the games.

I was much more excited to visit the Tate Modern Art Museum, though! It was my first famous modern art experience, and it was astounding! I saw Jackson Pollock, Picasso and Monet (Mo' Money, Mo' Lillies) and I even spotted a Klimt piece from about a mile away (see what Austria's done to me???). There were also galleries dedicated to film and photography. Of course, there was a lot of abstract and surreal art. I could have stayed there for hours, but I could tell that Linda hated every minute of it (and she said so later...grrr).

The day had seemed disappointing and it ended so, as well. It's a long story, but in short, Linda's wallet was stolen. The moral of the story is that I need to return to London and go with a bigger group of people with more options and more in common with me.

I sound overly displeased, but I'm not. I am trying not to have any regrets...but the one I do have is not saying the second day--"Hey, Clint...could I join you guys today?"

Du hasst mich...

3 November 2007
The drive home was long and tedious. We had a few stops, including Rheims, France. I attended another French Catholic mass because the cathedral choir sang so beautifully. Then, I ate a Snickers Bar and the cheese and croissants that I’d stolen from the hotel. We went to the Champagne caves and I learned about the delicate process that every little bottle undergoes, and the expensiveness all made sense to me. We were each allowed a glass, and it was quite tastey!
There was a lot of driving through mountains and fields, but I slept a great deal.
Today, however, we visited Neuschwanstein Castle—and it did indeed look like something out of a fairytale. I hiked up the mountain beyond the castle and it was gorgeous! I decided that I will go hiking in these here Alps, sooner or later! It was my only experience of Germany, but it is funny to note that Rammstein was playing in the ibis, where I ate lunch. Now, I am safely and happily in Salzburg and it is my mom’s birthday. I will now call her before fixing myself some dinner!

I'll meet you at the Cemetary Gates

31 October 2007
Chartres is a charming little town near Paris with a world famous pilgrimage cathedral. There, we had a really interesting tour and informed lecture on reading stained glass windows. I was not there long, only long enough to get some lunch, and we returned to Paris for a free afternoon and evening.
I went to the Cimetiere du Père Lachaise. It seemed fitting on Halloween—but I really like cemeteries and there are famous people in this one! With a little help from Rick Steves, we saw the graves of Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Jim Morrison, Frédéric Chopin, Baron Haussmann, and Rossini. It was a perfect autumn day for a stroll through a very old cemetery. Wilde’s grave definitely had the most personality. The Egyptian symbol of homosexuality is proudly carved into the stone that emits a strong odor of lipstick. For clarification, I did not sniff the monument—you could just smell it! Many people have applied lipstick and kissed the monument over the years, despite a sign that says that it should not be defaced in any way…oh well!
We are but human, and we had to eat. We took the metro to the Student Quarter for some dinner and Crème Brule, in honor of my dad! After supper, we came across a huge concert near the Pantheon. A gospel choir caught our attention and we stayed for an hour, rocking out to P.U.S.H—a French Christian and. It was a lot of fun, even though we didn’t understand the language. We caught “Hosanna” and “Amen” and I vaguely understood a phrase here and there. Later, I wrote a little poem about the experience:

We stumbled on a celebration,
Versaille fresh in our minds.
A strange culture, new nation
But the music made it all fine.

Unsure, lonesome and a bit homesick
I walked toward the light
The dancing and loud music
The magic in the crowd that night.

Avec lui, pour lui.
Everyone knew. Everyone understood.
Avec lui, pour lui.
I didn’t understand.

Cares melt away,
Lifted by a feeling.
I’m carried to a new day,
A new life, a new me.

We decided to return to the Louvre and admire the glass pyramid at night. There, we were interviewed by some students who work for NBC World. Maybe we’ll be seeing that online—
“They aren’t representing. They aren’t even dressed up!”—Americans, Peter Pan and Elvis on the Paris Metro.

Just Like Marie Antoinette

30 October 2007
The Chateau de Versailles is a symbol of the extravagant lifestyles of the French monarchy, as their little people starved in the dirty streets of Paris.
But I digress. The history was interesting, the palace, beautiful. However, the gardens were what I had come for. The trees were dressed in autumn splendor and the canal waters were smooth and calm. I set off by myself—cheap therapy. I wandered toward Marie Antoinette’s little “peasant” estate. I met up with Mary, Maria, Clint, and Catie (fun to say). I felt a bit out of place, and didn’t want to deal with people, so I left them behind after exploring Marie Antoinette’s residence a bit.
When I wrote in my journal that night, I noted that I was homesick and had kind of been hurt. I suppose that my entry was a little negative, since the feelings I had been fighting began pouring forth into my travel journal. Oops. For the sake of honesty, I recorded a bit of that pessimistic attitude here…sorry.
Anyway—If I ever return to Versailles, I would paint a picture and ride a horse through the garden.
The Musée D’Orsay was fabulous! We toured with Dr. Loos and she explained Manet, Monet, Degas, and Renoir—among many others. It was crowded, but still an amazing experience. I stood in front of van Gogh’s self portrait and my heart skipped a beat as I looked into his eyes. That sounds so weird, now—but it was like being in the presence of greatness.
Another painting that completely grabbed my attention was by Eduard Detaille, called La Réve. It depicted a battlefield of slaughtered soldiers from several nations. However, you could see them in the distance, on a cloud, marching to heaven. It depicted the miseries of war, but also presented the hope of maintaining faith. I searched for a postcard of it, but couldn’t find one. I photographed it, the best I could.
The Opera, Tosca was cancelled because of a strike. No trip to Paris is complete without a strike of one type or another. I’m going to drink some wine with my gal pals! Tee hee.
“Um…I don’t know how to tell you this, but he’s not exactly a hunk.”—Emily.

Fridays I go painting in the Louvre

29 October 2007
We boarded the bus, bright and early, and set off for the Louvre Museum. We look at it, where the old fortress had been. The tour then led us through Greek and Roman sculpture, followed by a stroll through galleries of French and Italian paintings. I feel that I appreciate the tour of the Louvre so much more, now that I’ve studied a bit of art history. Immediately, I recognized Venus de Milo, Nike of Samothrace and the frieze of the Parthenaic Procession. Even the Etruscan stele was familiar from Dr. Loos’ lectures and the book. It is nice to be informed.
Again, the Mona Lisa was crowded with tourists, fighting for a photo of the small painting. Sadly, this caused a deep cynical feeling I have for her. What’s the big deal? It is a beautiful painting, but there are thousands of other beautiful paintings to photograph (although photographing a painting seems irreverent to me…although I am very much guilty of the crime).
Denise and I were wandering independently, and she pointed out a statue of Athena, looking all authoritative. Her posture was one of a chick with attitude. “Now, listen here, fellas…”I could have probably spent another…um…year there, but we had to meet the bus and take a bus tour of the city. In short, there is so much to do there, and I was almost stressed by all my options.
The evening ended with a “romantic” boat ride down the Seine River. The beauty of Notre Dame from river was impossible to photograph, unfortunately. The students of the Salzburg program spent more time photographing each other than the scenery, but it was fun while it lasted.
We have another really early morning tomorrow, and another long, long day and I am Le Tired. "I just want to see someone beaten with a baguette. I don’t really want to…like…steal someone’s purse.”—Isaac (with a stupid, outrageous French accent, adding to the hilarity.)

I am Le Tired

28 October 2007
Thank God for Daylight Savings. I got an extra hour of sleep that was very useful for a long Parisian adventure. Since it is Sunday and we are a Catholic school, we had an optional mass…at Notre Dame! I did not understand much...ok…anything, but I read the readings in my program, then I closed my eyes and prayed in a way I hadn’t in a very long time. They say that you really feel a special, spirituality in Notre Dame. I may have felt it. After mass, I did not need touristy photos of the Cathedral. I felt like I took something else away with me.
After meeting back up with the group, we went to Saint-Chapelle, where Jesus’ crown of thorns was kept, apparently (insert cynical smirk here). It was beautifully painted with exquisite stained glass windows. It was a fun place to practice radical photography.
I enjoyed a French Onion Soup at a small café nearby, before catching the Metro to the Rodin Museum. The gardens had gorgeous statues, like The Thinker and a crazy sculpture of Balzac (who I have actually heard of now, thanks to Allison). The inner museum is full of bronze and marble statures, regarding everything, from the fall of man to the detail of the human face, to sex. Some of my favorites were the sculptures of hands. I could really appreciate the intimacy and delicate nature of hands. They can be tender, gentle and protective; or harsh, threatening and harmful.
I boarded the Metro with some friends and hit up the Montmartre district, near Sacre Coeur. Despite some mild drama, I had an amazing evening! We just strolled the streets and people-watched. There was a performer who was spinning and juggling a soccer ball for about a half hour or so. I was with a fairly new group of people, Sarah B, Allison, and Emily, but it was good company and I felt relaxed—and I was allowed to vent a little.
I had a glass of wine with Emily and we talked for a while. Now, I am watching BBC World and knowing that I will sleep like a rock tonight.

J'ai Tour Eiffel...pantalon?

27 October 2007
Paris, France
We arrived in Paris around noon today. Once we were all checked into our hotel (which took about an hour…) we immediately hopped on the bus to the Musée Marmottan, where a huge Claude Monet gallery is located. Dr. Loos told us about each painting in some detail and adored each of them, especially the ones in which a lot of green was used. Part of me wanted to stay in the gallery for hours. Another part of me wanted to pint, draw, or write something beautiful. I visited the gift shop and experimented with the Paris subway system on the way back to the hotel. I had “The Dogs of BA” by Mirah stubbornly wedged in my head, so I listened to it for or five times. I was invited to the Eiffel Tour at that time, but I politely refused. Then, the group that actually did go to the Eiffel Tour saw Ben Affleck there (allegedly).
I heard all about that as I took a dinner break at the hotel. However, my friends and I opted to visit the tour that night. I boarded the Metro with Sarah C and B, Allison, Ashley, Denise, and Emily. We barely made it before the elevator closed for the night, but I am so relieved that we did. The view from the top was astounding as the city lights sparkled from below. It was more spectacular than I remembered.
Then, I ran down the stairs as the tour sparkled (every hour, on the hour) and I prayed that I wouldn’t fall down the stairs.

On the Road...

26 October 2007
Metz, France
We are on our way to Paris. We stopped in Ulm, Germany and looked at the Ulm Cathedral, which is now a Protestant church. It was huge and quite interesting. I wanted to climb the steeple, but I didn’t think I was allowed to.
We drove for a very long time before arriving in Metz. I read Still Alive: A Holocaust Girlhood Remembered by Ruth Kluger on the bus. It is assigned reading for my Political Science class, but it is anything but dull. I really enjoy her writing style and her overall perspective on what happened in the concentration camps and after the war ended. I also began thinking of all the awful things that happened in our world. Europe has really rebounded since the World Wars. Looking out at the German countryside, I couldn’t help but wonder about the turmoil that was occurring, only 75 years ago.
Metz is a very nice town. I went on a “Cathedral Tour” tonight. The town seems very clean and the churches are all gorgeous, like something out of a fairytale.
Now, I shall relay some awesome quotes of the day. I’ll try to do this for every entry, just to keep things somewhat funny.
“Kevin is not travel size” –Joe
“Don’t call me a poseur just because I wear earmuffs and carry a unicorn purse”—Jessica