Fed up with carrying a jacket in London, I don`t wear one the first day in Paris and immediately regret the decision. Try to spend all day in the Pompidou (pompe don`t want to be be cold!) and speed walk/run between the few destinations I do have to go so as not to freeze my American ass off (http://www.centrepompidou.fr/).
The film/slide show `Heartbeat` by Nan Goldin with the song `Prayer of the Heart` by Bjork and John Taverner is totally awesome. Paul Harrison & John Wood films are really entertaining, laughing out loud. Yves Klien exhibit on the top level...just as I was getting tired of endless blue sponges, there was his bit on Architecture of Air:
"The three classic elements, fire, air, and water will build the classic city of tomorrow, and it will, at last, be flexible, spiritual, and immaterial."
and
"Play with technique, OK, become enslaved to it, never! That`s how I came up with the idea of Air Architecture, as a possible stage on the path to the immaterialisation of architecture, which will be eden rediscovered, geographic nature air-conditioned."
Pretty brilliant, eh?
Amazingly satisfying moment laced with nicotine, freezing in the sun, on a Pompidou balcony overlooking the city.
Good conversations with Kate in a bar that reminds us both of Austin. Tattooed bartender is from Houston.
Wandering around south of the river. THE 300 METER TOWER!!! (Eiffel Tower) Climb stairs to the second level, as they don`t let you climb to the top. Did a project in school involving it, so this really got me off.
Free night at the Louvre, which is more immense than I ever thought possible (http://www.louvre.fr/). Could go everyday, all day, for a month (if you`re into that sort of thing) and still not see everything.
Law school salsa party with Kate and her French law student boyfriend. Reminded me a little of AIAS/APSC parties...
Beautiful Saturday in the sun walking around with Kate...unbelievably good Falafel Especial (eggplant and falafel pita) from the Jewish/gay area.
Spend an evening with Jessica and her flatmate (and now boyfriend) Rob who are just in Paris for the weekend. I guess when you live in Europe you do that sort of thing. For dinner we also meet up with a French couple, a Peruvian dude, an Italian girl, and Jessica and Rob`s old flatmates from Holland and Luxembourg. Am the only one that doesn`t speak 17 languages
At the nice traditional restaurant, the only French guy recommends Andouillette (AAAAA) de Chezduvalgrillee convincing five of us. It is hardly describable. As I understand, it is a sausage made of unwashed pig intestines/colon that has been pan fried and perhaps boiled. It REEKS of shit (as in fecal matter) and of this I am certain. When biting into it, curly flesh kernels explode with pockets of what I can only assume to be intestinal fluid. I am the only person at the table to finish it except the frenchie that recommended it ("eat ees SO goud!"). Even people that didn`t order it had significant trouble eating their dishes due to the pungent omnipresent odor in our corner of the restaurant. Apparently the smellier, the better. And our`s was of the best, having 5 As, as rated by a select group of old men who travel around dining on the shit sausage. It was beyond my wildest dreams for a French dining experience...consider yourself warned (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andouillette).
Beer at a jazz bar
This is getting long, I know, but I`m still waiting for the photos to finish uploading......
Lazy morning with Kate eating pastries, granola, yogurt, and caramel tea...
Since I`ve been here she has begun an obsession with the Disney movie `High School Musical` which she stole from one of her students. Collectively we have probably watched it a dozen times. Whenever she and I are both back in Austin there will be a High School Musical party to which you are all invited.
On a walk to meet up with Jessica and co. I happen upon a canal lined with city-funded tents to shelter paris` homeless. An amazingly simple concept that seems to be helping. On a similar note, l`Abbe Pierre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbe_Pierre) recently passed away and posters of him are plastered everywhere around the city, especially along this canal. Apparently he significantly helped in housing the homeless.
Sacre Coeur visit where in the movie, Amelie sets up one very elaborate scavenger hunt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacre_Coeur). Espresso, crepes, and more espresso...
Leaving for Barcelona tomorrow. It`s about time, as Kate`s roommate`s cat has shit on both of their beds, pissed off at having to share the apartment with a guy.
Lastly, a huge thank you in advance to my mom`s cousin Debby for what will surely be a terrific, odor-free dinner tonight. THANK YOU!
Say hello to Debby.