L'Orangerie et Mariage Freres

One sunny afternoon, Danielle met me in the Tuileries to go see the L’Orangerie, Jeu de Paume, and the Louvre. The Tuileries and the Louvre courtyard actually houses 5 museums; Louvre, L’Orangerie, Jeu de Paume, Les Arts Decoratifs, and Musée de la Mode et du Textile. We started at L’Orangerie, which is a small building with two viewing rooms of Monets. There are four Monet paintings in each viewing room that are stretched out along the walls, making them giant panoramic paintings. They were absolutely gorgeous! Downstairs housed another exhibit of famous artists during the same movement as Monet.

We headed to Jeu de Paume, museums of photography and contemporary art, but ultimately had no interest to go in. So instead we walked over to Mariage Freres, a famous tea shop in the Marias (new site: in the carousel de Louvre!). We sat for tea and ordered a pot of peach/apricot tea and a tray of desserts. The waiters flirted with us a little as they poured our tea. We were hugely outnumbered by Parisian business people and bridge clubs, so it was probably nice to see some younger girls. The dessert tray was a few mini classically French desserts: chocolat-framboise mousse, violet macaron, Madeline, gateau pistache, and crème brule. Delicious! The Mariage Freres shop also has a store in the front, which smells absolutely amazing. Even as we walked out, I could smell the herbal and fruit teas all the way down the street.

We headed back to the Louvre for my final visit! We walked through the statue courtyards and viewed all of the Italian, French, and Greek statues. Now, I haven’t seen ALL of the Louvre, but I saw what I was interested in and can honestly can that I’m satisfied with the completion of the Louvre Challenge.

Louvre

The Challenge

Most students challenge themselves to see the entire Louvre while they are studying in Paris (I’ve been told that this takes approximately two weeks). And while the Louvre is very impressive, I just don’t like the periods of art that it has. Maybe it’s my new knowledge of Modern Art but the entire building just seems a bit stuffy. However, I work a block away from the Louvre, it’s always free with my student card, and it stays open on Wednesday and Friday nights until 10pm, so I promised myself that I would go a few times. I liked to meet up with friends there too so most of the time it was social instead of analytical art time, but ce n’est pas grave!

Things to Love in the Louvre
-The courtyards of statues: The most wonderful place to sit and relax because you feel like you are outside
-Brides: Every time that I went to the Louvre there were brides outside taking pictures in front of the pyramid. One time- we saw a bride photo shoot in the Louvre.
-People in Orange vests: They are art students and can tell you tons of stuff about the paintings. But I’ve only seen them on Friday nights and it is all in French.
-The Pyramid: It’s a French eyesore but a tourists’ fascination.
-Celloist: If you walk through Napolean’s courtyard to enter the Louvre courtyard, there is a man that plays the cello every night and the echoing music is absolutely amazing.

Things to Leave in the Louvre
-Your map: It’s useless. If you can find your way in- just accept that you’ll never find your way out.
-Random wing/exhibit/room closures: Each time it’s a different visit because so many wings close/open at will.
-Mona Lisa: She’s just not that spectacular, plus she is always surrounded by people and glass and red tape. I can understand why Marcel Duchamp made a mockery painting of her. Sorry, Mona.

Things I learned in the Louvre
-French artists love light! It’s easy to spot a French artist because his picture will have a glow to it.
-Eugene Delacroix: Sadly I had no idea who this was before the Louvre but now I can spot a Delacroix from the Tuileries.
-You don’t need a ticket if you have a student card and if you go up to the ticket booth with your student card, they will laugh at you.
-Avoid Lines: Since I already have a ticket/student card, I just waltz right in through the metro entrance. Sorry line-waiters, I’m in.

Strangely enough, my favorite part of the Louvre looking out of the windows at picturesque Paris!

Napolean

Napoleon the conqueror and Napoleon the dessert. This entry is about France’s love of both.

First we visited Napoleon’s tomb in the Musee de Armee. He has a giant stone and marble tomb built in his honor with a golden dome ceiling that can be seen from half way across Paris. Inside there are four hallways that lead to the center of the tomb. Each one has stained glass windows and a monument inside. If you head downstairs, there is his actual tomb- which to me seems a little short. I’m just kidding; the French love Napoleon because he was a great conqueror.

Apartments in the Louvre

Since the Louvre is just a few steps away from work, I have vowed to go once a week to the late openings (Friday & Wednesday nights until 10pm). On my first visit, I stopped over to see Napoleon’s apartment on the first floor. Now Napoleon and I have been bumping into each other a lot at all of these chateaux and his permanent
residence, Napoleon’s Tomb (above), but this apartment is really the most magnificent. Napoleon liked to ornately decorate his homes, major stress on the plural. The apartment in the Louvre is no exception, except that he might have used more gold than any of his other homes. Overall, it’s a neat part of the Louvre- but where is Mona Lisa? I heard that she was staying here too…

Goal: To find and try a Napoleon dessert

Photographie

I am no master behind the lens of digital cameras and I feel like pictures never capture the right ambiance of a place. However, I was determined to come home from my semester abroad with stunning photos and meaningful shots that capture more than just the post-card monument. I don’t know if it was my new digital camera, with tons of outdoor settings and a wide angle lens or the striking beauty of Europe- but I took amazing photos around every corner! BU offered a photography elective with one of the staff members. We spent one afternoon winding through Paris, watching the city through our lens. We started at the Louvre- trying to see it unlike any other Tourist and then we hit the streets, capturing the “trucs” and quirks that make Paris unique.



Since it was such a cold afternoon, we stopped at the infamous Angelina's for African Hot Chocolate. It was a delicious cup of a thick, rich, chocolate liquid topped with fresh whipped cream. They serve it to you in a small pot with a huge bowl of whipped cream. Angelina's is a small, cozy cafe and if you're fabulous and in Paris, then you want to be spotted in Angelina's!