With my stay in Paris quickly coming to a close, I felt I needed to get away from the Ville de Lumière one more time and see a part of France that was completely different from any French region I had seen so far. What’s more, I needed a vacation. Last week’s escapade in London was eye-opening but admittedly exhausting. So, the choice was simple: I wanted to see the glittering blue waters of the Mediterranean on the shores of Nice and Monaco!
After a short flight from Paris (about 90 minutes), I walked out of the airport and was greeted with a blast of hot, humid air. My spirits were high; I was definitely far, far away from Paris.
We took a bus to the SNCF station in Nice, where the Hotel Pastoral was only a 5 minute walk away. The friendly Algerian working at the hostel’s reception desk informed me that my friend had already arrived, and sure enough, I found Hamza, my good friend from Montreal, in my room. It’s really quite something, seeing a familiar face in a foreign country after being away from home for so long!
The weather was hot and cloudless, so we headed out to a café for lunch. Along with my chicken panini, I tried my first taste of typical Niçois cuisine: socca, tasty pieces of crepe-like cornbread. It was a tasty, cheap snack that I now wish I can eat more of! Afterward, we followed the tram tracks to the center of the city, a large square with a fountain. Walking east, we cut our way through narrow streets of Vieux Nice to get our first glimpse of the Mediterranean. While the beach doesn’t have sand (instead, the coast is covered with flat round stones), it was packed with people (some topless, I might add) lazing in the afternoon sun. The shimmering blue sea reminded me of the beautiful colour of the ocean in Australia went I snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef.
Continuing on our trek, we found steps that led up a tall hill that overlooks the city of Nice. Along the way we passed by a beautiful water cascade and were treated to a stunning view of the red clay rooftops of the city and the neighboring azure of the sea. We also found the ruins of a medieval castle scattered about the hill.
We ended our walk by taking another scenic route down the hill back into Vieux Nice, where we explored the pedestrian streets lined with bars, cafes, shops, and glaciers. I’ve never been to Italy, but the old city looks similar to some photos I’ve seen. The old buildings are brightly colored in orange, red, and yellow. Locals hang their laundry across windows and leisurely stare down at the streets below. It was a very charming place to explore.
We found one of the most famous gelato glaciers in all of France, Fenocchio. This place is incredible. They had a whopping 100 flavors, which included licorice, rose, tomatoes and basil, avocado, lavender, and even beer! I had such a hard time debating which flavors I should try, and I wish I could have stayed longer just to try them all! In the end I enjoyed rhubarb, mojito, cactus (SO GOOD!), and Baileys flavors. Definitely a highlight of the weekend!
The rest of the evening was spent at the Hotel Baccarat, where we enjoyed free champagne and wine and met other backpackers travelling through France. It was a great way to end the evening, until an “unfortunate” altercation with a bouncer in front of a bar. Not a big deal though.
The next day we somehow woke up surprisingly early (around 8:30AM!) to catch a bus to the second smallest country in the world: Monaco. The bus ride along the Cote d’Azur was a 35 minute joyride with splendid views of the seafront. We arrived at the base of the Old City and leisurely explored the sights, palace, and views of the city from up high. Monaco has been built along rising cliffs and steep hills, which is pretty impressive to see. The city itself is really nice and you can definitely feel a sense of wealth everywhere. Hamza and I stopped to relax in one of the thin alleys for an espresso.
We then trekked down to the port, where we could see ridiculously lavish and huge yachts, with massive cruise ships in the distance. From here we entered the Gare de Monaco and took a series of escalators to the top of the city, where we eventually found the famous and exclusive Monte Carlo Casino. There’s no doubt that the rich hung out here; there were Ferraris and Aston Martins everywhere! Unfortunately we couldn’t enter because we were too early, and besides, “appropriate formal attire” was required to get in. I don’t think shorts and a t-shirt would have been allowed... :P
After a lunch of pan bagnat (pretty much a big tuna sandwich) we jumped on the train to go to Villefranche-sur-mer, where we found a quaint ocean-front town and a pebbly beach where we could enjoy the warm waters of the Mediterranean for the last time. The weather was sweltering and very humid, so a dip in the sea was appreciated!
We pretty much enjoyed relaxing and baking on the beach for the rest of the afternoon, which felt amazing and was the closest I had come to a vacation for a long time. When we eventually left, we headed back to Nice to wash up and head out exploring Vieux Nice as the sun set. I tried more typical Niçois cuisine for dinner, which included pissaladière (a deep-dish pizza-like meal topped with loads of onions, anchovies, and olives and without cheese) and beignets d’aubergine (eggplant fried in a corn dough batter). We walked the narrow streets crowded with hundreds of tourists and locals alike, until we eventually found our way to the rocky beach. Scattered groups of teens and twenty-somethings sat with bonfires, wine bottles, and even Chinese lanterns along the water. We skipped stones (my high score was 6 skips!) and sat and contemplated the beauty of the dark black sea, as distant lights of boats drifted by.
Nice was without a doubt my favourite weekend in France, if only to get the chance to relax, forget sight-seeing for a while, and enjoy the seaside. Fantastic.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
"Mind the Gap!" My Adventures in London
What comes to mind when you think of England, and in particular, London? Fish and chips. Football. The royal family. Shakespeare. Big Ben. Knights. Harry Potter.
With all these things floating around my head, I was incredibly excited to visit the capital of England for the first time. And seeing as the country is really one of the closest you can visit from Paris, it was a must-see for me! So with a rare three-day weekend opportunity smack in the middle of high season, there was no question that I would be headed off to London.
Thankfully the riots had stopped in the city, and the heavy police presence in many parts of the city kept things pretty safe. The English seem to be a little paranoid, though. There are CCTV cameras everywhere, watching your every move. Orwell, anyone?
The trip started off with an exhausting overnight coach ride from Paris to London. I wouldn’t particularly recommend this means of transportation; you can’t sleep for more than 90 minutes at a time, since the bus keeps stopping and forcing all the passengers to get up for customs and the ferry ride. I guess you get what you pay for! A return trip with the Eurolines coach was only €91, while the Eurostar high-speed train from London to Paris on the holiday weekend would have cost me over €230! Still, I had to get a little creative to try to be comfortable enough to sleep…
I arrived in London with two other friends at about 6:30AM Saturday morning, famished and willing to eat almost anything (which ultimately ended up being pancakes at McD’s). I then bought my Oyster pass (same as Opus or Navigo cards but with a much uglier name) and took my first tube ride to Camden, north of London. The tube is probably the best underground subway I’ve used so far: it’s clean, it smells relatively okay, there’s absolutely no graffiti, and it’s much more high tech than most other metros. I have to admit though, the constant “Mind the gap!” warnings get annoying very quickly.
I was lucky enough to stay with a German friend who I had met in Australia. I even had a whole room to myself, as one of his roommates had moved out of the flat. He lived in a quiet but more or less central part of the city, which made my exploring very easy to do.
From then on, the rest of the weekend was an intense series of tours, visits, and moments of lost confusion. We started off with an excellent tour at Hyde Park Corner called Sandeman’s New Europe London Tour, which I would recommend to anyone who visits London for the first time. It’s a free tour run by very charismatic students, leading through the main parts of the city by foot and giving some entertaining historical commentary along the way. We walked though the royal gardens, past Buckingham Palace (I apparently pronounce that wrong, you don’t really emphasize the HAM), the Changing of the Guard, past Parliament, and eventually making our way to the gorgeous Westminster Abbey and the symbolic Big Ben (named after the fat guy who built the bell).
Interesting story: you can’t take close-up photos with the Queen’s Guard anymore because 2 years ago a Colombian tourist pissed off a guard so much that the guard lost his cool and attacked the tourist. (Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDPK1kPWj1E) Now the guards are roped off so you can’t toy with them anymore. How unfortunate.
A second tour in the afternoon took me into the older parts of London, from the city of Westminster to the old City of London. We got some Harry Potter fast facts along the way, for example: Gringotts bank was actually filmed at the Australian consulate, and they look pretty much the same! We also learned about the Great Fire in London in the 17th century and the history of the Monument, the Temple (ie. Knights Templar), London Bridge, and the Tower of London.
Unfortunately my plans to see a play or musical on Saturday night fell through (my one great regret on this trip), so we ended the evening with some cheap Chinese food, a nighttime stroll along the Thames River, and of course of few drinks at the pub!
Sunday morning started off early at the Camden market, a highly popular and “hip” place to find almost anything, such as food, souvenirs, trinkets, records, clothes, art, and even a massive multi-floored cybergoth shop! I loved this place, and I wish I had more time (and money) to fully enjoy the market all day.
Yet there were many other things to see and do. The Tower of London took up most of the afternoon. It’s a massive medieval fortress with exhibits and museums scattered around the grounds, including exhibits about torture, the armory, the royal menagerie, and the Crown Jewels. I even got to see a realistic swordfight on the moat outside the fortress walls! I’ve always been enthralled by the Middle Ages, and exploring a genuine castle was quite an experience.
I ended the day with my German friend searching for the hidden “gems” of London: Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross, Abbey Road, and 221B Baker Street. As touristy as these places are, it was cool to go on a little pilgrimage and see some of the most famous spots in the city. Just a head’s up: Platform 9¾ isn’t between Platforms 9 and 10, because there isn’t anything there! JK Rowling apparently confused King’s Cross with another station.
Monday was the last stretch of my tour of London, which included the majestic Westminster Abbey (where the royal coronations have always taken place, where Kate and Will’s wedding was held, and where centuries-old memorials tomb of famous Englishmen are placed), the Natural History Museum, and the British Museum. None of the three disappointed, and I just wish I had more time to explore them completely. Some of the highlights of the museums included an impressive dinosaur exhibit (with animatronics of course) and an exhibit of scientific tools used during the Renaissance. As you could imagine, this was probably the most exhausting of the three days!
London was fantastic, and held up to my expectations. I had a great weekend exploring the city. Three days aren’t nearly enough to really get to know London. I’ll have to return again one day!
With all these things floating around my head, I was incredibly excited to visit the capital of England for the first time. And seeing as the country is really one of the closest you can visit from Paris, it was a must-see for me! So with a rare three-day weekend opportunity smack in the middle of high season, there was no question that I would be headed off to London.
Thankfully the riots had stopped in the city, and the heavy police presence in many parts of the city kept things pretty safe. The English seem to be a little paranoid, though. There are CCTV cameras everywhere, watching your every move. Orwell, anyone?
The trip started off with an exhausting overnight coach ride from Paris to London. I wouldn’t particularly recommend this means of transportation; you can’t sleep for more than 90 minutes at a time, since the bus keeps stopping and forcing all the passengers to get up for customs and the ferry ride. I guess you get what you pay for! A return trip with the Eurolines coach was only €91, while the Eurostar high-speed train from London to Paris on the holiday weekend would have cost me over €230! Still, I had to get a little creative to try to be comfortable enough to sleep…
I arrived in London with two other friends at about 6:30AM Saturday morning, famished and willing to eat almost anything (which ultimately ended up being pancakes at McD’s). I then bought my Oyster pass (same as Opus or Navigo cards but with a much uglier name) and took my first tube ride to Camden, north of London. The tube is probably the best underground subway I’ve used so far: it’s clean, it smells relatively okay, there’s absolutely no graffiti, and it’s much more high tech than most other metros. I have to admit though, the constant “Mind the gap!” warnings get annoying very quickly.
I was lucky enough to stay with a German friend who I had met in Australia. I even had a whole room to myself, as one of his roommates had moved out of the flat. He lived in a quiet but more or less central part of the city, which made my exploring very easy to do.
From then on, the rest of the weekend was an intense series of tours, visits, and moments of lost confusion. We started off with an excellent tour at Hyde Park Corner called Sandeman’s New Europe London Tour, which I would recommend to anyone who visits London for the first time. It’s a free tour run by very charismatic students, leading through the main parts of the city by foot and giving some entertaining historical commentary along the way. We walked though the royal gardens, past Buckingham Palace (I apparently pronounce that wrong, you don’t really emphasize the HAM), the Changing of the Guard, past Parliament, and eventually making our way to the gorgeous Westminster Abbey and the symbolic Big Ben (named after the fat guy who built the bell).
Interesting story: you can’t take close-up photos with the Queen’s Guard anymore because 2 years ago a Colombian tourist pissed off a guard so much that the guard lost his cool and attacked the tourist. (Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDPK1kPWj1E) Now the guards are roped off so you can’t toy with them anymore. How unfortunate.
A second tour in the afternoon took me into the older parts of London, from the city of Westminster to the old City of London. We got some Harry Potter fast facts along the way, for example: Gringotts bank was actually filmed at the Australian consulate, and they look pretty much the same! We also learned about the Great Fire in London in the 17th century and the history of the Monument, the Temple (ie. Knights Templar), London Bridge, and the Tower of London.
Unfortunately my plans to see a play or musical on Saturday night fell through (my one great regret on this trip), so we ended the evening with some cheap Chinese food, a nighttime stroll along the Thames River, and of course of few drinks at the pub!
Sunday morning started off early at the Camden market, a highly popular and “hip” place to find almost anything, such as food, souvenirs, trinkets, records, clothes, art, and even a massive multi-floored cybergoth shop! I loved this place, and I wish I had more time (and money) to fully enjoy the market all day.
Yet there were many other things to see and do. The Tower of London took up most of the afternoon. It’s a massive medieval fortress with exhibits and museums scattered around the grounds, including exhibits about torture, the armory, the royal menagerie, and the Crown Jewels. I even got to see a realistic swordfight on the moat outside the fortress walls! I’ve always been enthralled by the Middle Ages, and exploring a genuine castle was quite an experience.
I ended the day with my German friend searching for the hidden “gems” of London: Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross, Abbey Road, and 221B Baker Street. As touristy as these places are, it was cool to go on a little pilgrimage and see some of the most famous spots in the city. Just a head’s up: Platform 9¾ isn’t between Platforms 9 and 10, because there isn’t anything there! JK Rowling apparently confused King’s Cross with another station.
Monday was the last stretch of my tour of London, which included the majestic Westminster Abbey (where the royal coronations have always taken place, where Kate and Will’s wedding was held, and where centuries-old memorials tomb of famous Englishmen are placed), the Natural History Museum, and the British Museum. None of the three disappointed, and I just wish I had more time to explore them completely. Some of the highlights of the museums included an impressive dinosaur exhibit (with animatronics of course) and an exhibit of scientific tools used during the Renaissance. As you could imagine, this was probably the most exhausting of the three days!
London was fantastic, and held up to my expectations. I had a great weekend exploring the city. Three days aren’t nearly enough to really get to know London. I’ll have to return again one day!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
A Week of Culture, History, and a Lack of Sleep!
I realize it's been a while since I last took the time to write about my adventures, I'm afraid that regular blogging apparently isn't quite my cup of tea. That's not to say I haven't done anything worth writing about! Every day in Paris there's always something to see and do! This week, however, was very eventful, and I thought it would be nice to share it.
While I've already been in France for over one and a half months, most people in my program at Air Liquide (IIP) only arrived 2 weeks ago. On Tuesday and Wednesday we participated in a seminar that introduced us to the different departments of the company and gave us all a chance to really get to know each other.
The International Internship Program is made up of 23 students from around the world, including Brazil, Turkey, Russia, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea, with many others. These are some of the friendliest people I've ever met, and we've already spent quite a bit of time getting to know each other at picnics, parties, and other outings.
The seminar admittedly started off very early in the morning and somewhat slowly, with a general introduction to the company. I wasn't complaining though, not when we were given meals for free!
It's the little things that count.
The afternoon was much more interesting for me because we visited a research centre, the CRCD, where we were presented technical details of the company's research in topics such as combustion, air separation, health, and modeling. Okay, I know this doesn't interest everyone, but hey, I'm an engineer after all! I think we were all exhausted after that first day.
The second day was more interesting, with presentations given by HR and other employees. In the afternoon we worked on a team building project where we had to explore a small zone in Paris and take photos of applications of Air Liquide's products. We then had to present our findings. I think what surprised me the most was how you could find AL products virtually everywhere, which I found to be really impressive. Electronic chips, welding, medicinal gases, and packaged foods are just a few examples. Even Coca-Cola gets their carbon dioxide for carbonation from Air Liquide. I'm convinced: this is a great company that I would be proud to work for!
The evening was the highlight of the night. We enjoyed a free quality meal at at traditional French restaurant, complete with 4 courses and plenty of wine (with which they never stopped refilling my wine glass!). With good company, good food, and a pianist charming us throughout the night, it was a great way to end the day. And yet, the final surprise came at the end, when we all gave a short speech to the rest of the group in our native language and then translated it to English. It was a heartfelt moment, and there's something very special about hearing over twenty different languages, some that I had never heard before! It was a truly multicultural experience that I will never forget.
The fun didn't stop there though! Thursday was a holiday, the fête nationale de France, or Bastille day, which celebrates the beginning of the French revolution in 1789. We were lucky enough to see the military parade along the Champs-Élysées, complete with elaborate costumes, a big band, swords, bayonets, machine guns, tanks, artillery, a spectacular military air show, and of course an appearance by the French president Nicholas Sarkozy! Not many people get the chance to be in Paris on July 14, and so it really was a unique experience.
We later met up with other friends and headed out to the Champs de Mars to camp out for the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. Let me tell you, I've seen many fireworks shows in my life, but nothing quite compares to seeing them silhouetted by the Tower itself. Amazing.
And so that brings me to this weekend, which has ended the week fantastically. I'm now on a train back from Normandy, which coincidentally, is celebrating its 1100th birthday. That's hundreds of years older than anything man-made in Canada. I'll let that sink in! It's pretty cool.
I visited Mont St-Michel, an enormous fortress built on a mountain on the ocean just off the mainland. It's been used as a church, fortress, prison, and pilgrimage site over that last millennium. It also looks exactly like you'd imagine a castle to be like, with a village at the walls, a drawbridge, stone construction, gothic architecture, and a beautiful labyrinth to explore. It was a stunning visit and I'll post photos soon.
I stayed the night in Bayeux, 2 hours by train from the Mont, in, of all things, a charming 17th century hostel. I've been in many hostels during my travels in Australia, but nothing like this. I had the entire room to myself, and an all you can eat breakfast with all the staples. For only 21 euros, I'd recommend anyone to stay there! It was also by coincidence that I happened to pass by a gorgeous Notre-Dame cathedral lit up with coloured lights, and just across from it, a “light and sound” show projected on the entire length of a white building. The show celebrated Normandy and the history of Bayeux. You know, this is one of the reasons why I love travelling so much; you never know what you might come across.
My last stop was Omaha Beach, where American infantry and their allies landed in 1944 to fight Nazi Germany and free France from it's tyrants. My walk through the cemetery's field of crosses and along the beach left me feeling emotional and in awe at the sacrifice of the soldiers of the time. I've come to really appreciate what they did, as it was due to their courage and deeds that the free world exists today.
Life in France is anything but boring, and this week shows just how exciting this internship and country can be. I’m having a great time here and am looking forward to the second half of my stay here, with new adventures to be had!
Cheers,
Sean
While I've already been in France for over one and a half months, most people in my program at Air Liquide (IIP) only arrived 2 weeks ago. On Tuesday and Wednesday we participated in a seminar that introduced us to the different departments of the company and gave us all a chance to really get to know each other.
The International Internship Program is made up of 23 students from around the world, including Brazil, Turkey, Russia, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea, with many others. These are some of the friendliest people I've ever met, and we've already spent quite a bit of time getting to know each other at picnics, parties, and other outings.
The seminar admittedly started off very early in the morning and somewhat slowly, with a general introduction to the company. I wasn't complaining though, not when we were given meals for free!
It's the little things that count.
The afternoon was much more interesting for me because we visited a research centre, the CRCD, where we were presented technical details of the company's research in topics such as combustion, air separation, health, and modeling. Okay, I know this doesn't interest everyone, but hey, I'm an engineer after all! I think we were all exhausted after that first day.
The second day was more interesting, with presentations given by HR and other employees. In the afternoon we worked on a team building project where we had to explore a small zone in Paris and take photos of applications of Air Liquide's products. We then had to present our findings. I think what surprised me the most was how you could find AL products virtually everywhere, which I found to be really impressive. Electronic chips, welding, medicinal gases, and packaged foods are just a few examples. Even Coca-Cola gets their carbon dioxide for carbonation from Air Liquide. I'm convinced: this is a great company that I would be proud to work for!
The evening was the highlight of the night. We enjoyed a free quality meal at at traditional French restaurant, complete with 4 courses and plenty of wine (with which they never stopped refilling my wine glass!). With good company, good food, and a pianist charming us throughout the night, it was a great way to end the day. And yet, the final surprise came at the end, when we all gave a short speech to the rest of the group in our native language and then translated it to English. It was a heartfelt moment, and there's something very special about hearing over twenty different languages, some that I had never heard before! It was a truly multicultural experience that I will never forget.
The fun didn't stop there though! Thursday was a holiday, the fête nationale de France, or Bastille day, which celebrates the beginning of the French revolution in 1789. We were lucky enough to see the military parade along the Champs-Élysées, complete with elaborate costumes, a big band, swords, bayonets, machine guns, tanks, artillery, a spectacular military air show, and of course an appearance by the French president Nicholas Sarkozy! Not many people get the chance to be in Paris on July 14, and so it really was a unique experience.
We later met up with other friends and headed out to the Champs de Mars to camp out for the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. Let me tell you, I've seen many fireworks shows in my life, but nothing quite compares to seeing them silhouetted by the Tower itself. Amazing.
And so that brings me to this weekend, which has ended the week fantastically. I'm now on a train back from Normandy, which coincidentally, is celebrating its 1100th birthday. That's hundreds of years older than anything man-made in Canada. I'll let that sink in! It's pretty cool.
I visited Mont St-Michel, an enormous fortress built on a mountain on the ocean just off the mainland. It's been used as a church, fortress, prison, and pilgrimage site over that last millennium. It also looks exactly like you'd imagine a castle to be like, with a village at the walls, a drawbridge, stone construction, gothic architecture, and a beautiful labyrinth to explore. It was a stunning visit and I'll post photos soon.
I stayed the night in Bayeux, 2 hours by train from the Mont, in, of all things, a charming 17th century hostel. I've been in many hostels during my travels in Australia, but nothing like this. I had the entire room to myself, and an all you can eat breakfast with all the staples. For only 21 euros, I'd recommend anyone to stay there! It was also by coincidence that I happened to pass by a gorgeous Notre-Dame cathedral lit up with coloured lights, and just across from it, a “light and sound” show projected on the entire length of a white building. The show celebrated Normandy and the history of Bayeux. You know, this is one of the reasons why I love travelling so much; you never know what you might come across.
My last stop was Omaha Beach, where American infantry and their allies landed in 1944 to fight Nazi Germany and free France from it's tyrants. My walk through the cemetery's field of crosses and along the beach left me feeling emotional and in awe at the sacrifice of the soldiers of the time. I've come to really appreciate what they did, as it was due to their courage and deeds that the free world exists today.
Life in France is anything but boring, and this week shows just how exciting this internship and country can be. I’m having a great time here and am looking forward to the second half of my stay here, with new adventures to be had!
Cheers,
Sean
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Une semaine d’après...
I’ve already been in Paris for a week, and so much has happened! I started my stage at Air Liquide on Monday, but I haven’t let that stop me from taking as much time as I can to explore the city in ways that no tourist could.
Take for example how I spent last Saturday. I was lucky enough to make friends with many Colombians who had been living in the city for over a year, and who knew a thing or two about the Parisian lifestyle and how to go beyond the typical tourist traps. Rather than visit the ordinary Paris hot spots (which I have three months to discover anyway), we decided to wake up early and meet in the centre of town at Geppetto’s, where we rented our own bicycles for the day! The vélos themselves took some getting used to though; they’ve got an odd shape that makes them look better suited for old ladies on a lazy Sunday joyride. Still, with gears, making our way through the small slopes in the city wasn’t too difficult, and it was quite thrilling to ride in traffic as the Parisians do!
I really couldn’t say where we went though, all I know is we biked across the entire city, criss-crossing through a maze of narrow streets and massive turnabouts, amidst cafés, brasseries, bistros, shops, parks, and bustling crowds. It was a gorgeous ride, and it was hard to keep concentrated on the road with so much eye candy. We eventually biked out of Paris and travelled over 20km to the Chateau Versailles, where we stopped for a Turkish lunch, Frisbee, and a quick peek at the overly lavish palace. After relaxing with some beer and Paris’ famous “macarons” (delicious, colourful, and like no baked good I’ve ever seen before), we biked a different route back to the rental store.
Of course, we couldn’t just end the day there. We headed to the Franprix grocery store to buy baguettes, white wine, blue cheese and brie, and walked to the banks of La Seine, the river that cuts through Paris. We lounged by the water with our delicious picnic, a past time cherished by many Parisians, while not so well known to tourists. We ate as we stared at the tour boats floating by and took in the sight of the stunning Notre Dame de Paris cathedral across the river as the sun slowly set. This was without a doubt my favourite day so far.
The next day was no less busy. Unfortunately my new friends had previous plans, so I headed out on my own to discover some of the most well known museums of Paris. However, visiting the Louvre an hour after opening when it has free admission (on the first Sunday of each month) was definitely not a good plan. While I finally got to see the Louvre’s royal exterior and inspiring glass pyramid in its centre, I also witnessed the longest queue I had ever seen in my life. It ran from the pyramid around the interior courtyard, out to a second courtyard, and out into the street. It would have taken hours to get in, let alone to wait even longer to see the famous art works, such as the famed Mona Lisa.
So instead I walked across La Seine to the Musée d’Orsay, where I only waited an hour to get inside. This museum houses some of the world’s most well known works from the 1800’s and early 1900’s, including romantic, impressionist, post-impressionist, realism, and contemporary artworks. While I’m not at all an art fanatic, I still had a very enriching experience gazing at the works of Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, and countless others. Now that was what I call a culture shock!
With some hours of sunlight left, I headed to the Tuileries gardens and the l’Orangerie, which literally used to be an orangery until it was converted into a museum housing more famous art including massive oil paintings with Monet’s water lilies and some of Picasso’s work. Again, very impressive and I really enjoyed it. Afterward I spent the rest of the evening strolling through the gardens and the streets north of La Seine, eventually finding my way to the Église Saint Eustache, Les Halles mall, and finally to my final museum of the day, the Pompidou modern art museum. Really bizarre stuff in that one, I’ll admit. Creepy videos, psychedelic displays, art with political messages, and a beautiful rooftop view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower at sunset were only some of the things to be seen at this popular institution. Quite an ugly building though.
Today after work I went walking on the Champs-Élysées for the first time, and it did not disappoint! I’ll post more about it later, as well as about my job and life on campus at the Cité.
Until then, à bientôt!
Sean
Take for example how I spent last Saturday. I was lucky enough to make friends with many Colombians who had been living in the city for over a year, and who knew a thing or two about the Parisian lifestyle and how to go beyond the typical tourist traps. Rather than visit the ordinary Paris hot spots (which I have three months to discover anyway), we decided to wake up early and meet in the centre of town at Geppetto’s, where we rented our own bicycles for the day! The vélos themselves took some getting used to though; they’ve got an odd shape that makes them look better suited for old ladies on a lazy Sunday joyride. Still, with gears, making our way through the small slopes in the city wasn’t too difficult, and it was quite thrilling to ride in traffic as the Parisians do!
I really couldn’t say where we went though, all I know is we biked across the entire city, criss-crossing through a maze of narrow streets and massive turnabouts, amidst cafés, brasseries, bistros, shops, parks, and bustling crowds. It was a gorgeous ride, and it was hard to keep concentrated on the road with so much eye candy. We eventually biked out of Paris and travelled over 20km to the Chateau Versailles, where we stopped for a Turkish lunch, Frisbee, and a quick peek at the overly lavish palace. After relaxing with some beer and Paris’ famous “macarons” (delicious, colourful, and like no baked good I’ve ever seen before), we biked a different route back to the rental store.
Of course, we couldn’t just end the day there. We headed to the Franprix grocery store to buy baguettes, white wine, blue cheese and brie, and walked to the banks of La Seine, the river that cuts through Paris. We lounged by the water with our delicious picnic, a past time cherished by many Parisians, while not so well known to tourists. We ate as we stared at the tour boats floating by and took in the sight of the stunning Notre Dame de Paris cathedral across the river as the sun slowly set. This was without a doubt my favourite day so far.
The next day was no less busy. Unfortunately my new friends had previous plans, so I headed out on my own to discover some of the most well known museums of Paris. However, visiting the Louvre an hour after opening when it has free admission (on the first Sunday of each month) was definitely not a good plan. While I finally got to see the Louvre’s royal exterior and inspiring glass pyramid in its centre, I also witnessed the longest queue I had ever seen in my life. It ran from the pyramid around the interior courtyard, out to a second courtyard, and out into the street. It would have taken hours to get in, let alone to wait even longer to see the famous art works, such as the famed Mona Lisa.
So instead I walked across La Seine to the Musée d’Orsay, where I only waited an hour to get inside. This museum houses some of the world’s most well known works from the 1800’s and early 1900’s, including romantic, impressionist, post-impressionist, realism, and contemporary artworks. While I’m not at all an art fanatic, I still had a very enriching experience gazing at the works of Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, and countless others. Now that was what I call a culture shock!
With some hours of sunlight left, I headed to the Tuileries gardens and the l’Orangerie, which literally used to be an orangery until it was converted into a museum housing more famous art including massive oil paintings with Monet’s water lilies and some of Picasso’s work. Again, very impressive and I really enjoyed it. Afterward I spent the rest of the evening strolling through the gardens and the streets north of La Seine, eventually finding my way to the Église Saint Eustache, Les Halles mall, and finally to my final museum of the day, the Pompidou modern art museum. Really bizarre stuff in that one, I’ll admit. Creepy videos, psychedelic displays, art with political messages, and a beautiful rooftop view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower at sunset were only some of the things to be seen at this popular institution. Quite an ugly building though.
Today after work I went walking on the Champs-Élysées for the first time, and it did not disappoint! I’ll post more about it later, as well as about my job and life on campus at the Cité.
Until then, à bientôt!
Sean
Sunday, June 5, 2011
There's something about Paris...
There’s something about Paris that always mystifies you, wherever you go. It could be the stunning and vastly diverse architecture that never fails to leave you in awe and reminds you that you are very far from home. Or perhaps the landscape and the world renown symbols throughout Paris that all visitors flock to see. Or maybe it’s the food and the Parisian joie de vivre. Or maybe it’s just the really cheap but excellent wine.
At any rate, after only 3 days here in Paris, I know that I love it.
The plane ride, while certainly shorter than my massively draining trek to and from Australia, was decent. Air Canada actually surprised me by serving me edible food. Unfortunately, I couldn’t sleep at all on the plane, which left me feeling some jetlag up until yesterday.
Arrival was smooth at first; a guy in a suit with an Air Liquide sign escorted me to his taxi and brought me to my residence, Cité Universitaire Internationale de Paris. After that, I was pretty much on my own to find my key and then my house, the Maison du Portugal (funny coincidence!). It was apparently a holiday that day, which for some reason is called “Ascension”, apparently for the same religious reason as Easter Monday, even though they celebrate both. I don’t get it. Anyhow, turned out that no staff was available, everything was closed, and only a few security personnel were around to ask for help. Tough luck, and it was a little frustrating.
The residence itself is gorgeous. There’s about 40 different houses scattered on campus, each representing a different country with its own unique architecture. Some are really stunning, and I hope to post some photos soon. There’s also many parks, sports fields, and green spaces everywhere on campus. Jogging seems to be a major part of French culture, there are people working up a sweat EVERYWHERE. I guess that’s how they work off the calories from all the food!
After finally settling in, with no information, no metro pass, and no internet, I was at a loss for what to do. So I decided to explore the campus, and was fortunate to make friends with an awesome girl from Colombia who had come to visit her sister on campus. We ended up spending the day walking the streets of the 14e arrondissement and buying some groceries and necessities. We even watched a large group perform capoeira, an amazing Brazilian dance and martial art. Oh, and we played Frisbee, too! It was one hell of an action-packed day!
The next day everyone was back at work, so luckily I was able to get all the info I needed, including my new free metro pass that I could use to travel anywhere in Paris. Jetlag got the best of me though. I unintentionally slept through the entire afternoon, when I had planned to go exploring the city. Not a big deal though, when I woke up I headed straight for the nearby RER station (train) and made my way to Quai d’Orsay and La Seine. I then trekked through the streets, searching for the first Paris icon I absolutely had to see: the Eiffel Tower.
It really is spectacular, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s way bigger than I thought it would be in real life, and it looks structurally complex. I guess my only complaint is the number of tourists and souvenir salesmen all over the place. They take away some of the charm, but I guess that’s true for most of the tourist hotspots in Paris. It is the world’s most touristed city after all!
Well, this is to be continued, since I’ve got to go to bed. My short vacation has come to an end, as of tomorrow, I’ll be starting my first day as an Engineering Intern at Air Liquide!
Some quick things I’ve noticed about France:
- The French know immediately when they’re speaking to someone foreign. You can’t fool them. Don’t bother trying.
- The Parisians aren’t all that rude or snobby at all, despite the stereotype. Well, that’s mostly true.
- Yes, they do carry baguettes around. I see it everywhere.
- I’d heard that Paris smells, and not in the good way. I guess it depends where you are. It smells fabulous near any boulangerie, patisserie, or restaurant. But you often get a whiff of something that isn’t particularly pleasant, especially in some metro stations. It’s like a mix of urine, sewage, and fish. But it really isn’t all that bad.
- There are way too many tourists in the busy areas, and it’s a little annoying.
I’ll post again soon!
Cheers,
Sean
At any rate, after only 3 days here in Paris, I know that I love it.
The plane ride, while certainly shorter than my massively draining trek to and from Australia, was decent. Air Canada actually surprised me by serving me edible food. Unfortunately, I couldn’t sleep at all on the plane, which left me feeling some jetlag up until yesterday.
Arrival was smooth at first; a guy in a suit with an Air Liquide sign escorted me to his taxi and brought me to my residence, Cité Universitaire Internationale de Paris. After that, I was pretty much on my own to find my key and then my house, the Maison du Portugal (funny coincidence!). It was apparently a holiday that day, which for some reason is called “Ascension”, apparently for the same religious reason as Easter Monday, even though they celebrate both. I don’t get it. Anyhow, turned out that no staff was available, everything was closed, and only a few security personnel were around to ask for help. Tough luck, and it was a little frustrating.
The residence itself is gorgeous. There’s about 40 different houses scattered on campus, each representing a different country with its own unique architecture. Some are really stunning, and I hope to post some photos soon. There’s also many parks, sports fields, and green spaces everywhere on campus. Jogging seems to be a major part of French culture, there are people working up a sweat EVERYWHERE. I guess that’s how they work off the calories from all the food!
After finally settling in, with no information, no metro pass, and no internet, I was at a loss for what to do. So I decided to explore the campus, and was fortunate to make friends with an awesome girl from Colombia who had come to visit her sister on campus. We ended up spending the day walking the streets of the 14e arrondissement and buying some groceries and necessities. We even watched a large group perform capoeira, an amazing Brazilian dance and martial art. Oh, and we played Frisbee, too! It was one hell of an action-packed day!
The next day everyone was back at work, so luckily I was able to get all the info I needed, including my new free metro pass that I could use to travel anywhere in Paris. Jetlag got the best of me though. I unintentionally slept through the entire afternoon, when I had planned to go exploring the city. Not a big deal though, when I woke up I headed straight for the nearby RER station (train) and made my way to Quai d’Orsay and La Seine. I then trekked through the streets, searching for the first Paris icon I absolutely had to see: the Eiffel Tower.
It really is spectacular, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s way bigger than I thought it would be in real life, and it looks structurally complex. I guess my only complaint is the number of tourists and souvenir salesmen all over the place. They take away some of the charm, but I guess that’s true for most of the tourist hotspots in Paris. It is the world’s most touristed city after all!
Well, this is to be continued, since I’ve got to go to bed. My short vacation has come to an end, as of tomorrow, I’ll be starting my first day as an Engineering Intern at Air Liquide!
Some quick things I’ve noticed about France:
- The French know immediately when they’re speaking to someone foreign. You can’t fool them. Don’t bother trying.
- The Parisians aren’t all that rude or snobby at all, despite the stereotype. Well, that’s mostly true.
- Yes, they do carry baguettes around. I see it everywhere.
- I’d heard that Paris smells, and not in the good way. I guess it depends where you are. It smells fabulous near any boulangerie, patisserie, or restaurant. But you often get a whiff of something that isn’t particularly pleasant, especially in some metro stations. It’s like a mix of urine, sewage, and fish. But it really isn’t all that bad.
- There are way too many tourists in the busy areas, and it’s a little annoying.
I’ll post again soon!
Cheers,
Sean
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