3:25 am

When will I learn to follow a better sleep schedule? Today I gave a presentation on Feminist Body Art for my Art/Event class, which I think went pretty well. My tutor, Candace, amazes me. She looks only a couple of years older than me, and yet she literally knows everything. She has these really straight cut bangs and straight hair, and always wears the same holey worn-in (once white) converse that make her look like such a bamf, but today she had on a new pair, that were sort-of shiny and zebra print (she was also wearing animal-print socks). She has a very small mouth, and talks so fast that the international students in the class who do not speak English as a first language can barely understand her. She almost always wears skinny jeans, a t-shirt and a sweater. She is very intense and off-putting and a bit intimidating.

Class got out at 6 pm (I spent the entire morning preparing for the presentation) and I met up with Hillary and Marte, President of the UCL Young Writer's Association. Together we walked to a theater near Covent Gardens, where we saw a free show about a boy who goes to Montreal and waits for a letter from his love to arrive. It's a one man show, and almost more of a "dramatic poem" or installation piece than a typical play. He told us in discussion afterwards that the piece was created through writing out a love letter in bits and pieces (compiling sentences he liked) then sending them off to various people to translate the words into other languages, then went through a process of translating them back to English--all in all a very intricate process that amounted to a strange dream-like sequence of movement, music, and recital with a heavily-effected French accent and a guy with a bunch of letters in a tiny theater space in London.

Tonight, got home, exhausted, and started looking at internship opportunities in Chicago for the summer. Found one that looked promising at the Art Institute. Please let me know if anyone comes across anything good for me!

Lots of love, and Goodnight,

Ariel

Paris, s'il vous plait.

Feb. 12, 2011
 In the Louvre.

It's 1 am on Feb. 12, and I've just gotten into bed, ready to recount my wonderful and memorable moments wandering around Paris over the last day and a half. 


Friday, Feb. 11, 2011

Got to St. Pancras station around 8 am, had a leisurely English breakfast at the station before departing on a 9:22 am train to Paris. Slept most of the way (about 2.5 hours). Arrived in Paris around noon and took the tube to Montmartre. Forgot to mention I only packed a backpack!! (Seriously life defining moment). Walked up the hill (with my backpack) to Sacre Couer (Sacred Heart) and heard nuns singing beautifully. It was the most insanely GORGEOUS weather possible-- bright and sunny and almost 60 degrees F! So perfect. Would have liked to sit on the grass and nap or read a book on the hill (must do this on next trip to Paris!). 


Walked around the area, found a few artsy/vintage boutiques and the artist's square. Would like to get a portrait done at some point, maybe. Oh, also had lunch at a cafe/brasserie. Our waiter was hysterical, as all our waiters seem to be. Perhaps amused by Americans? They seem like clones of the same goofy glasses-clad short 50ish man.

Later that evening, showered at the hotel Kyriad Italie Gobelins (very nice for the price and good location).  

Went to dinner on Rue du Pot de Fer where all the fondue restaurants are. 3 course meal for 12 euros, with Vanessa, Trisha, Mollie, Hillary, and Jordan. Tried to go to a boat party, instead met up with Vanessa's friends from Columbia.



Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011
Woke up around 9 am and headed to the Louvre. Had breakfast near the Louvre -- tuna nicoise salade. At the Louvre, saw the Mona Lisa. Walked around with Jordan. 
REALLY enjoyed the mix of modern and classic--the modern artworks interspersed with the classic in a way that the two offset and to spoke to each other beautifully. 


Tony Cragg: Figure in; Figure out





Seems fitting of Paris. 


Speaking of which, the Graffiti is amazing. Such an incredible creative energy here-- embracing. It's no wonder so many artists have lived and worked here. Ripped signs on the subway.. immersive.

Delicious sidewalk crepe after McCafe apricot pastry and Darjeeling tea! Fanciest McDonald's.
 Macaroons at Mcdonalds


Notre Dame (Saint Michel) at night. 
 
Walking along the Seine.


Getting lost. 


Rue Saint Louis! Bought Olivier and Co. black truffle oil.

Dinner on Champs Elyseer (Italian food, learning French). Laduree macaroons for dessert (caramel, pistachio-- my favorite!).


Seeing the Arc de Triumph at night.


Watching the Eiffel Tower from the window of the metro, all lit up at night, passing by at just the right distance. Romance, purely Paris. A small apartment window, bathed in pink light. Wonder.

Feb. 15, 2011

Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011

Took the metro to Hotel Ville (Marsai?) and found a lovely little restaurant for the most delicious brunch of our stay in Paris. Jordan and I spit the 20 euro brunch, which included a ciabatta roll with an egg on top, with bacon top of that, pampelmousse juice, cafe, the, fruit, croissant, pain, butter, and jams. As we were eating, looked out the window only to see Channa Kim walking by with a cute guy! Wondered if we were imagining things or actually seeing our Chi O sister in Paris! 



Went searching for the 3 vintage clothing stores we'd found online--found the first one, 3 P Star, a short distance from the restaurant, just down the street. Incredibly crowded and grody--also opened at 14:00 on Sundays, so we had to wait a little while before we could get in. Next, we made our way into the Jewish Quarter! Popping in and out of adorable French stores as we walked. Amazed to see all of the Jewish things-- menorahs, Hebrew signs, Jewish deli, falafel restaurants, Orthodox men/boys.
 Incredibly exciting and unique part of of Paris--very cool find.. That we more or less stumbled upon with the intention of vintage shopping! Found Coiffure next to the King's Falafel Shop, this vintage store was even more ridiculously crowded, though the prices were more reasonable. Stopped for falafel on the street around 5 pm. In pita with hummus, red cabbage, cooked aubergine (eggplant), and a generous serving of falafel, topped with crunchy fried onions! Headed toward our final destination down Rue de Archives, and stumbled across a very disconcerting block of town..

Finally found the shop, with a bit of difficulty, called 3 P. Definitely my favorite by far. The basement was fantastic (down a tiny winding staircase). Surrounded on all sides by hundreds of dresses to try on, a great mirror in the middle of the room, and only 1-3 other people there at a time besides Jordan and myself. So much fun trying on dresses and no fighting crowds! I found a long black 1 shoulder gown and purchased it for 10 euros!

Took the train back to the hotel and rested for a bit. I decided to wear my new dress out to meet Jaime for dinner by the Opera stop where her hotel is. Went in to a Pharmacist on the way to ask directions and found Avene (my skincare line)!! Bought some moisturizer. Found Jaime's hotel, which was lovely. 

Trekked around the Champs-Elysees area and found a restaurant called "Rival" near Henry V with amazing comfortable-looking white chairs with brown piping down the sides. Had a cocktail made with fresh fraises (strawberries), and the penne with tomate and basil. Talked about people who died young. Metroed to the Louvre Musee stop (metro closed--it was after midnight) and walked till we found the night bus-- N22! to Les Gobelins. Talked about money and happiness on the busride home. All in all, a slightly extravagant, yet oddly existential evening. 
Obama on the metro.
Monday, Feb. 14, 2011

Valentine's Day! Walked down the street for breakfast at a Brasserie-- breakfast, my favorite time of day! Had something called oeff millet/milleu? style, which was bassically 2 poached eggs in onion soup with bacon/ham, bread, onions, and mushrooms. It was delicious. And funny, because I'd considered ordering poached eggs and onion soup on the side! 

After breakfast, took the metro to --- Halle to go to the Pompidou museum. Once again got the student discount of 0 euros! 

 

Did buy an audioguide for 4 euros though. Exhibition on female artists. Rachel Whiteread piece at the entrance. Very graphic, naked, bodily, sex-oriented exhibition. Especially liked a video of a girl in a red dress climbing around her room. 

Went upstairs to find an amazing, massive gallery space with some really incredible modern works. Very much enjoyed taking photographs here, particularly of people interacting with the art objects. 

Dejuner (1970's) --After meal with friends, the artist glued everything down to the table.  

After the Pompidou, headed to Chatalet (which is so much fun to say-- ShAHt-ah-lay) metro stop. 

Walked along the Seine a bit and searched for a shop we'd spotted the night before. Berksha--a Spanish store, as it turned out, was among the H&M type stores, but I'd been drawn in mostly by a tee-shirt in the window display with a jaguar. I managed to find the shirt, and purchased it (I'm wearing it now). Headed home an had my evening biscuit while getting ready for a V-day night out on Pot de Fer for fondue. Again wore my long dress, this time underneath my "Love Exists" cut-up tee shirt (ironically?), and belted with my mom's old black and silver thick 80's style belt. 

Headed out around 8 pm. Got a bit lost as we tried to locate the Latin Quarter, but managed to find our way there by Jordan and my intuition (and asking a cinema guy for directions once). Arrived early for dinner and followed the English way by making our way into an Irish pub.. While we waited for the rest of the group, enjoyed a happy hour movie night at the pub, where "My Bloody Valentine" was playing, dubbed in French. We walked in on what I'm pretty sure was the most amazing 15-20 min. sequence of the movie with enough hilarious and gruesome gore and bloodshed and nudity that we were laughing hysterically, and basically having the best time. I declared that it had been my best Valentine's Day to date.

Met up with the others at a fondue place just off the pot de Fer. They already had a table by the door. I ordered a pomme/nut salad and escargot, and I also enjoyed a nice portion of Jordan's delicious cheese fondue. For dessert, chocolate fondue with fruits..






TO BE CONTINUED.