Cultural and Historical Learnings of France.

So, I've been in Paris for 6 months now, I love the city. I really do. I love how beautiful it is, even in the driving rain. I love its quaint eaterys, cake shops and patisseries, restaurants of any cuisine you could imagine... (can you see a pattern here...)

OKAY I love food.

I get excited when I find a new blog showcasing Paris' newest boho coffee shop and automatically GoogleMap it and see their prices for their in-house cakes! I have an addiction. I don't think it will stop. But i need to broaden my Parisian exploring. What with work (and eating cake) I've sidelined the reasons why Paris is visited by so many millions a year. I know, slap me on the wrist.

So, I've made a deal with myself. Lean things about France, Paris and culture-y things, then reward oneself with cake. I think it's a fair deal.

Last weekend (free - museum Sunday! Many museums and galleries in Paris offer free entry on the first Sunday of every month! I KNOW! It's fantastic! But beware, this isn't a secret. Prepare to queue!)
was a weekend of cultural and historical learnings.

This Sundays trip was to Hotel des Invalides to have a look French war history. (Honestly, not much was learnt, other than they really like suits of armour) But the grounds were spectacular! I mean look here, there is the beautiful Tour Eiffel poking into the beautiful blue sky.

The Dome glistening golden in the beautiful sunshine. 

Napoleon. (one of the few left resting here in the Dome..) 

The main altar in the Dome. Everything is made with ornate marble and finished with beautiful gold. The reflection of the sun shining through the windows makes the inside glisten as much as the large golden dome outside that can be seen from all areas of Paris.

A Frenchy Fleur-de-Lis. 

A French Unicorns Helmet.  

After that historical lesson, we popped over the road to Musee Rodin. Sculptor and Painter. His work is just breathtaking. The gardens are full of hidden scuptures poking out of bushes and hiding behind trees. They blend in with nature. A perfect home for his work. Weathered and old, they tell stories.

We found this guy just contemplating in the sunshine. The Thinker. Hidden behind a few topiary trees amongst the rose bushes. 

And just look at the building itself. Truly beautiful. Placed in front of the beautiful sculpture garden. This place is truly an artists utopia amongst the hustle and bustle of a capital city. 

Paris has wonderful hidden gems like this. I want to see them all. 

Home is where the heart is.

Going home means a few things.

 Spending time with family and friends.

 Eating and shopping.

And this guy!

It's such a lovely time being at home. But I try not to get too attached as I'm such a homely girl and it's always sad leaving.

Canterbury was in full bloom the week of my return! The sun was shining, the trees were green and the bluebells were blooming. The Great British Countryside is sometimes a sight to behold. Especially at this time of year when the forest and woodland floors are covered with a blanket of blue carpet.
The bluebells are famous in the Kentish Downs and really are so beautiful. The blue is striking and you can see it for miles. These photos really don't give it justice, but really they are just beautiful.

I had a fantastic time at home. But back to Paris now, back to work and back to bread cheese and wine! (why is it all about food for me?!)

Sunday afternoon tea.

Now, you can see that many of my posts are about Sundays. Sundays for me are my 'days off' as I work 6 out of the 7 days of the week, Sundays are my days where I have time to explore and either become a tourist again, or just grab a bike and cycle or laze around in bed.

(The latter is not interesting enough to be blogged about, it usually consists of me thinking 'oh i must get up! be productive....' *sleeps for another 30 mins*...oh..maybe not today!)

So, now its hit vacances de Pâques here in Paris, so that means two lovely weeks off for me to explore and do wonderful things. (Now I am heading back to the UK for a week so there will be some interesting Blighty Inspired postings too!)

But before that, lets go back in time. To last weekend. Sunday. On what was supposed to be a sunny day in Paris Town, me and the boyfriend decided to take a lovely walk around the 1er Arrondisment.

The lack of sun took us in the direction of a traditional, timeless classic. Angelina. Now whether you are a tourist or a person finding their feet here in Paris, Angelina is a tradition that you shouldn't miss out on. I've been wanting to go for so long, reading all the wonderful posts on many a Brit in Paris Blog. So that was the time.

Now, a gloomy cloudy day in Paris, where to the tourists go. Its around 2pm, not lunch time..(for tourists anyway.) Yes that's right, they all headed in the direction of Angelina. We were lucky not to queue, but inside was busy. The service staff were fantastic and working fast but lacked in that 'charm' you would want from such a charming environment. Now, the menu. Lovely main meals, sounded beautiful on paper, looked even more beautiful on the plate. But no. I was here for 2 things. Chocolat Chaud and Cake.

So, I went for the Chocolat Chaud BLANC! Yes that's right. I have a unhealthy obsession with white chocolate, and this did not disappoint! The Chocolat Chaud, normal or white, is decadently rich (hence the little whipped cream on the side) but for those with a sweet tooth then it's totally fine! The little yellow sunshine you can see on the plate next to it with soft little clouds floating over it is a 'Tarte au Citron' With little vanilla flavoured marshmallows. Now, Tarte au Citron is my favourite dessert. This is the best I've eaten. and I've eaten a lot.

Thanks Angelina for our Sunday Afternoon Tea. It was truly glorious.

Daniel Linehan- Theatre Des Abbesses November 9th 2013

A surprise trip to Theatre des Abbesses  lead me to seeing this great piece of dance by a new up and coming choreographer Daniel Linehan. The trio of pieces each leant themselves to Linehan's unique choreographic style, a mixture of pedestrianised movement with artistic intent. 

Digested Noise (Linehan's Solo piece) was followed by, The Sun Came Out and Being Together Without Any Voice all different with their own context's and choreographic values, but had elements of linkage with each other. Such as the strong use of repetition and sudden changes in pace - which are integral to Linehan's artistic and choreographic development. 

Digested Noise began as a series of movements placed together, in a physically logical order accompanied by human sounds, humming, ticks, clicks, mumbles and breath. The movement was in correlation to the sounds that were produced and provided the essential accompaniment to the quirky movement. 

The following pieces had a strong sense of ensemble in the way that they first appeared on stage, but for me I was constantly thinking 'move together, lift! pair work!' it lacked a sense of togetherness in parts, with a vast array of intricate solos that were repeated, passed on, and choreographically enhanced each time they appeared. This does not distract from what are beautiful pieces of movement, delicately placed together with immaculate timing and ensemble collaboration.... I just fancied a cheeky lift or two!

Being Together Without Any Voice, effervesced a social atmosphere that was known by everyone in the auditorium. The giggles and titters of laughter when company members were working hard on their own solos, bumping into each other, some recognising what happened, others just focused on the task at hand, echoes SO MANY situations that are known to everyone. A bustling bar, an over crowded nightclub or even pushing to see your favourite thing in a museum.  Social situations where bodies in space is the important the only thing that communicates, situations where the voice is unheard. The intricate solos appeared once more, with the same hypnotic effect, movements of routine and expression filled the lines this time and produced a snappy pace that never became boring or predictable. Dancers partnered themselves differently each time. the spacing and orientation changed, giving the audience a different perspective every time. 

3 pieces of dance work that provoke laughter, thought and realisation. What else do you want from new dance? 

beginning.

So, as one is embarking on a 'new life', it might be best to document it. 

Starting with the escapades of tourist/wannabe Parisienne life, indulging in the 'traditional' tourist sights, but getting used to the high culture and finding the hidden-gems of La Ville de Lumière. 
Here are a few moments from the first week. 

So the week started off with a cold but sunny trip to Château de Versailles (easily reached from the Centre of Paris- about 40 mins maximum by train) One very nice thing was that it was the first Sunday of the Month meaning that entrance to the Château and Gardens were freee! This also meant a lovely queue, but in the sunshine trap courtyard, with a woolly hat and a scarf this was not a problem! 

The Château itself is a spectacle! The grand, ornate rooms filled with luxuries of French aristocracy oozed with grandeur that only one could dream of. 

Unfortunately, the gardens were not in bloom, but had that cool, autumnal feel. Leaves crisping up on the trees. Leaf lined pathways in to the labyrinth of small courtyards with understated water fountains or sculptures of Greek Goddesses. Around each corner there was a surprise of some kind. Including a vendor selling mulled wine! Just what a Brit needs in the cooler Autumn afternoons!

The week was followed with many a shopping trip with stop offs for a Chocolat Chaud. After moseying down the Champs Elysée you reach the Arc de Triomph. Many people say that the best view of Paris is either from The Eiffel Tower or the Montparnasse Tower (where your view of Paris is adorned with the Eiffel Tower itself! - As well as some unsightly phone poles and cables......) I found my favourite view was from here. As you can see from the pictures, all the sights of Paris are placed in front of you. With out technology obstructing! And it seems that all roads in Paris lead to here....