Jude Law, "Sherlock Holmes II" Paris premiere
Close to famous! ;)
ILP (the intensive language program - week one of the semester) finally ended Friday and on Saturday we went on a day trip to the small town of Metz in northeastern France, part of an area whose ownership has historically been disputed between France and Germany. Le Centre Pompidou, the large modern art museum in Paris, opened a new, smaller branch (primarily on architecture) in Metz two years ago. We took an 8a.m. RER (French high-speed train) to Metz, visited the museum, had lunch at a local restaurant, and then went on a walking tour around the town.
Word to the wise: what we refer to as an "entrée" in the United States is not an entrée in France. When we go out to eat with the program, the meal is pre-ordered. We were trying to identify what was being served to us when we spotted the menu for our group on the wall. "Entrée," we read. "Quiche Lorraine." It was a really large piece and came with a salad and everything, so we devoured it and then were surprised to find a plate of beef and potatoes put in front of us soon after we finished. Oops. It now makes sense that the appetizer is called an entrée because it is how you "enter" the meal. We also found out from another student who was here last semester that even at a restaurant it is impolite not to finish your entire meal and you most certainly do not carry your leftovers out of the restaurant. That is cheap. I have also heard that you should always try to speak French at a restaurant (we always do anyway) otherwise they sometimes charge Americans (or maybe any foreigner) more for the meal. Thankfully, we have not run into that problem. I think it is saved for the more timid, unaware tourist.
Metz itself was very nice. It is much different than Paris, less modern and edgy, and you could definitely sense the German influence. There was a small rally going on in one square we passed through where the people were advocating for the legalization of marijuana, and it was really funny because the two people who were signing the poster as we walked by were two elderly individuals; they did not fit the image of who I would normally expect to be there. As in Paris, there were a ferris wheel and a merry-go-round in different parts in the town. I love that the French seem to love to place them randomly. A merry-go-round in an alley? Why not?
Saint Étienne de Metz - It hosts the largest collection of stained glass in the entire world.
Many of the banks are closed in Metz because of the recent economic upheaval.
Saint Étienne de Metz
Sunday morning, Devan and I went to 11:30a.m. mass at Notre Dame. This is our second time going to mass at a large French cathedral, and both times receiving communion has been one of the most aggressive, animalistic experiences of my life. Last week, I got separated from Devan and her host family, who were right behind me, because everyone cut in front of them. I got lost and could not find where we were sitting in the large crowd, and I had to awkwardly walk up the center aisle again when I saw them. Communion at Notre Dame was like a weekly feeding in a shark tank. Everyone leapt up at once and bulldozed towards the alter. I thought I was going to lose a limb, but I only ended up losing Devan. I do not know if I liked mass at Notre Dame. It was really interesting to experience it in such an infamous, large, beautiful cathedral, but due to its fame, it also felt like a show because you have tourists flowing in and out of the church at the same time, directed up the sides and around the back of the alter while they take pictures. One of the ushers also came up to us and told us to take our bags off of our seats, and to take them up with us to get communion, which I am presuming is because they have probably had problems with pickpockets and thieves and they do not want to be held accountable.
After mass we stopped to get banana and Nutella crêpes, now a staple, and then went to the famous flea market, "un marché aux puces," in the 18th arrondissement. It was not as spectacular as we were expecting, but still amazing to see. 200,000 people pass by every weekend. I expected it to be held on a large field possibly (I guess my only basis for reference is the Londonderry, NH flea market - what a difference!), but instead vendors line the small side streets of the area.
We walked the Champs-Élysees, where I went into the Louis Vuitton store and touched items worth more than my life. I knew it was expensive but I did not know it was that expensive. They were not exactly hosting those January French sales.
We had our first day of real classes today. My schedule worked out really well; I have four classes on Monday but none on Tuesday or Friday. Devan and Maria are both in four of my five classes, and I share a few of the same classes with other students, too. I have to take two classes, a grammar class and a conversation class, and three other content courses which can be in either English or French. I opted to take an education course (French) where for part of the course we will be teaching French students English, a history course on post-war France (English) which so far is surprisingly interesting even despite my usual aversion to history, and my last class is a sort of art history/ architecture course (English) on Paris sites, where we get to actually go out and visit the monuments and places that we learn about.
Tomorrow I am off to see the catacombs and explore the Left Bank. I am sure will have lots to show from there.
Bissous!
No comments:
Post a Comment