A Winter's Day in Paris
I feel the need to describe a bit more about this beautiful city that I am living in. As I was wandering along the Seine yesterday on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I was struck by the real beauty of Paris. Maybe it was the time of day, maybe it was the sudden break in the clouds that let through the bright winter sunshine and lit the gold statues on Pont Alexandre III, maybe it was the bare trees along the Seine and the Eiffel Tower etched in charcoal in the dusky sky… whatever it was, I felt incredibly lucky to be living here.
I think it was also because for the first time in a while, I took a day off to be a ‘tourist’. I met up with my friends Mel and Tori in the morning and went to the Musée du Quai Branley, which opened in July of this year. It holds an amazing collection of indigenous art from all around the world, in particular West Africa, but even some Australian indigenous art works. The architecture and layout of the building was quite modern and intriguing, and although it was busy the visitors were predominantly French which made a nice change. We spent several hours there, including a leisurely (and expensive!) lunch in the café with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
I am settling into what I imagine is a ‘Parisian’ lifestyle, although there are so many different aspects to life here there can hardly be ‘one’ lifestyle. I am eating inordinate amounts of baguettes and cheese, and trying to get accustomed to red wine. I have more or less mastered the metro system. I’ve found that Parisians can actually be quite friendly and don’t deserve their reputation for being rude and aloof. It probably helps that I speak French though. I find that I am starting to think in French and to use French words in English conversation… I’ve been going to charming cafes for hot chocolates (I wish I drank coffee – so much cheaper) with friends to observe the passers-by. On Friday evening I wandered along Boulevard St Germain, admiring the lights strung in the trees and the Christmas market, and discovering hidden cobbled laneways. It’s just like in the van Gogh painting, ‘Terrasse de café la nuit, Arles’. I’ve discovered, if not a local, at least a regular bar – ‘Chez Georges’. It’s run by a couple of Israeli guys, downstairs in the ‘cellar’ is the place to be: a bit cramped, but a great atmosphere and great music (an eclectic mix of French, Israeli and American classics) – and a place where Parisians go, not just tourists… although there are a lot of international students there as well…
And being a student in Paris… I enjoy all my classes, I don’t have too much work but enough to keep me occupied, I feel like I am learning a lot. I’ve done two presentations in class and feel more confident with asking questions. I’ve discovered the study area in the library with views of a garden and the surrounding charming buildings, with the quaint and distinctly Parisian skyline of mismatched chimney pots. More conducive to daydreaming than to working…
Ok, I will stop rambling on now! I guess this post has been a bit more reflective than previous ones, but I really wanted to give an idea of my day-to-day life, rather than just the travel.