Monday, January 26, 2015

A Day for Monet

Well, I didn't have any courses today, which meant that, when I woke up at 7h30, I had plenty of time to finish my book. It is called Le Club des Incorrigibles Optimistes by Jean-Michel Guenassia and I highly recommend it (if you didn't notice yesterday, I was quite absorbed). There is an English version. If anyone wants to obtain it for me so I can read and compare, I will be eternally grateful.

Only once this important business was completed could I continue with my customary morning routine. I was actually lucky enough to have camembert to accompany my meal. Then, I left for the most exciting of activities. I arrived at ISEP around 9h45 and spent the rest of the morning either doing my homework or trying to do my homework but, instead, having interesting conversations with the other students.

I went to Coeur de Blé for lunch, while the others went to the Wok place across the street (I admit, I snuck in and joined them in the corner. Considering that there were four of them, I think it's forgivable, if not good. As one may say in french, it is not accepté, maid toleré). No food photos; I think you've seen plenty of panini.

After some more "studying", we decided to visit the Orangerie, and, surely under my excellent influence, we decided to walk. En route, we found a taxidermy store. Yes, a taxidermy store. The labyrinthine rooms were crammed with antique furniture, somewhat-disturbing knives, and dead animals. No photos were allowed, unfortunately, so I can't properly display the grandeur, but this may be for the better, as I would have to consider it PG-13 or R with that type of image.

Taxidermy window display. Unknown critter.

This does not look like a bad. Pterodactyl?

I still don't know what this is, but I hope I don't meet it in a dark alley.

Okay, I stole one photo. I couldn't help it. Look at this guy!

We continued, crossing the Seine towards the Tuileries. If you are wondering why I have so few pictures today, it is partially because I spent the entire morning in the study room, and partially because it was rainy. The light was diffuse, definitely not suitable for good photos. There wasn't even a nice, mystical fog to chirp things up. Just clouds, and diffuse light, and raindrops. That said, it was quite warm!

Today's light: not conducive to worthy photography. Not that my photos are exactly "worthy", but...

We approached the Orangerie, which is a beautiful building that, at one point, lived up to its name and contained oranges. However, today the only oranges are the splashes of paint on canvas (and my hair, I suppose!).

Despite the light, I figured I'd give you a photo.

Of course, Monet's water lilies, housed specially in two round rooms in this museum, were fantastiques. Having seen them before detracted not one bit from their intensity and grandeur. The impressionists below, of course, are fantastic as well. I really have fallen for Renoir since the Musée du Luxembourg exhibit.

After the museum, the light was even worse.

When we left, we set off towards a boba place someone had found. In case you aren't up to date with the trendiest nourishment in the Bay Area, Boba tea is a Thai concoction, often containing tapioca balls, made out of tea, milk?, and other mysterious substances. While I am far from an expert (this is only the second time I have ever purchased the beverage), I think it is better in California, but worth sampling in Paris. I got a simple Thé Noir, without the "zenzoo" (or tapioca bubbles in english) because a) they cost extra and b) I really am not fond of them. They remind me of mushrooms in their consistency.

Boba #2 in the life of Lauren

So, overall, it was a fairly uneventful day. I did buy a hat. I stopped at Monoprix on my way home, where massive soldes made everything a bargain. I bought a handful of notebooks (well, two hands full, which was a problem), some pens (including another fountain pen!), and, finally, a hat. All this for under €25 which is not easy in Paris.

Dinner, unfortunately, does not come with photos tonight but it was worthy of them. After a pâté and cornichons (with baguette of course!), we had some sort of meat, tender and quite tasty, and potatoes with onions, followed by a fromage and some clementines and another gâteau. Nobody could say, with a straight face, that I don't eat well here.

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