Sunshine Exploits

Getting out and seeing the sights has a snowball-like effect, it would seem. The more you do it... the more you do it. It doesn't hurt that it has been absolutely gorgeous out for the past two weeks.

On Saturday, I went out with a few Central Folk to the Bois de Boulogne, which is essentially a gigantic park (complete with camping ground) on the westernmost edge of Paris. It was gorgeous. We picnicked and met up with some French friends of one of the Central ladies.

We also learned French dodgeball, which really threw us for a loop because it only uses one ball. It made sense eventually, and actually involves a lot more strategy, but still. It's not dodgeball. 

Sunday, I decided to take my writing out into the sunshine (or rather, the shade). Yes, in retrospect, expecting to immediately find a seat in the shade in the Tuileries on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon during Spring Break season was perhaps a little silly on my part. Be kind, I'm still learning. 

Still, I ended up first on a bench, then in a personal chair, and finally, with a fabulous spot overlooking the flowers. All in the shade. Made some excellent progress on my writing, as well!

My view from my first spot

It's finally Springtime in Paris!

The Tuileries as viewed from above

AKA my view from my third spot

A quick wander along the Seine to reach my bus, and I retreated to the land of air conditioning and water.

Notre Dame to the left, and I still haven't figured out that building to the right. Must get on that.

Sadly, no jaunting about yesterday, as I had a full day of classes, but at the very least there will be some very good jaunting this weekend- in Scotland!

Random Tidbits

Just thought I'd swing by and give you guys an update on some upcoming travels:

• Doing a whistle-stop tour of the South of France this weekend. Dad, I'll make sure to at least dip my toes in the Mediterranean for you!
• Spending my first three nights in Scotland roaming about the countryside with Clarissa. Scottish highlands!! And then almost a week of wandering around the capital of Scotland, seeing castles and listening to Scottish accents. I'm a happy girl.

And now a bunch of random pictures, because I feel like I've been neglecting you...

The alligator I made at my benevolat. Yay for Friday being arts and crafts day!

The extremely suspicious statue in the Tuileries

Little motorized sailboats in the Tuileries

If I'm getting my monuments right, I believe you can see straight down the Champs Elysee to the l'Arc de Triomphe from the Tuileries

This is one of my favorite pigeons thus far

The Louvre Palace/Museum, complete w/ Pyramid

The Seine

Louvre

I lied, the next update is not going to be what was teased. But try not to dispair, I think I still have something pretty exciting for you: the Louvre!

On Thursday afternoon, all of the Central folks went to the Louvre.

Central folks: The group of 16, including myself, 15 of whom are female, who are studying in Paris via Central College. We live in groups of two or 3 in a variety of different foyers (but none as roommates), get together for college sponsored outing (and now also ones of our own making), have the same selection of classes though we are not necessarily taking the same ones, etc. 

We received our student IDs for Catho, our French college, earlier in the week, and beyond having the ability as functional ID, it has one very special function:

It gets us into the Louvre for free.

That's right folks, I can now go to the Louvre whenever I want, at no cost. Which is good, because we were only in it for less than two hours. Our guide made sure we hit all of the highlights, though. 

Inner pyramid

Our guide, in front of some models of the Louvre palace in the middle ages

The Venus de Milo

Can you see the weird guy lying down on the floor taking pictures? It's like he was trying to get a shot up her skirt, not realizing that, being made of stone and permanently attached to her body, it was never going to go anywhere!

Everyone's seen this big picture right? It takes up an entire wall. But have you ever noticed.... 

The puppydog on the table? I think it's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They're one of my favorite breeds =)

And there she is....

The Mona Lisa

Everyone says the Mona Lisa is surprisingly tiny, so I was expecting something maybe only a foot tall. Lies. It is a standard portrait size. I guess it's just that so many other portraits of the time were significantly larger than life. 

And after we got out, the Paris night was just so beautiful that Kelsey, one of the Central folk, and I decided to take a little side-trip....

Not the L'Arc de Triomph (though I did see that later), but a gorgeous night in front of the Louvre