Musee d'Orsay et Musee L'Orangerie

Today we went to the Musee d’Orsay and the Musee L’Orangerie. I highly recommend going to see both museums on the same day. L’Orangerie is a fairly small building and can easily be seen in about an hour. The main room to go see are the Monet Water Lilies rooms. These pieces are some of Monet’s most famous.

After you leave the L’Orangerie, you should head towards the Musee d’Orsay. The d’Orsay is considerably larger than the L’Orangerie. In the d’Orsay I suggest that you go see the Impressionist hall, the Toulouse lauTrec section, and finally the Palais Garnier model. It is also inside of a famous old train station, which is pretty neat!

The Impressionist hall is full of beautiful paintings including many pointillist painting. Pointillism is my favorite style of the impressionists. This hall has something to offer everyone!

The Toulouse lauTrec section is amazing because it gives you a  look into life in Paris during 

the Belle Epoque. His work is some of my favorite because it so beautifully displays his time.

The Palais Garnier model was by far my favorite part in the d’Orsay. It is SO cool! When we went to see the actual Palais Garnier I had a hard time imagining the Phantom of the Opera actually being able to haunt like the myth says. But when I saw the model it all made sense. We only saw a small, very small, portion of the actual building. It is MASSIVE! The basement is huge and above the ceiling there is a massive attic where the chandelier pulley is!

Just seeing these few things makes visiting these two museums VERY worthwhile.

La Butte Montmartre

Espace Dali

Being a huge Salvador Dali fan, I couldn't let the opportunity to see a Dali museum just past me by! And when I found out it was in Montmartre, one of my favorite places to go in Paris, I was ecstatic. Espace Dali is a must see because it houses Dali originals, across his career.

Also in the museum is a chapel where he and other artists worshipped and the chapel itself is a fantastic example of trompe l’oiel, “trick of the eye.” This museum is one of the many reasons why I love Montmartre, it eloquently and deeply captures the sense of artistic freedom and liveliness that you get when you climb the steps up to Montmartre.

Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur is the Catholic basilica that is up on the top of Montmartre. At first glance, you'd think it was built several centuries ago. However, to my surprise and probably yours as well, its only around a hundred years old. Crazy, I know! But regardless, it is a gorgeous building. Not only is the outside of this building astounding, but the inside is equally impressive. The inside of the dome is absolutely breathtaking.Go to a service while there, because the organ is gorgeous. It is awe-inspiring because of the care and consideration that was taken when building it and in taking care of it throughout the years. But remember, pictures are NOT allowed inside!

Youri (and other street performers)

I highly recommend making your excursion to Montmartre on a warm Saturday afternoon. Not only will the weather be fantastic and the view overlooking Paris gorgeous but you will also get to hear my favorite street performer play, Youri. Every saturday he plays on the steps of Sacre Coeur, of course he had to get a petition to be able to do so! He mainly performs covers of popular songs but he also performs his own original works as well. This is a concert you do NOT want to miss!

And if Youri isn’t your “cup of tea” ,well have no fear there are many other performers in Montmarte, all of whom are very talented. There are musicians, mimes, human statues, and many different types of performers all around this little village!

Parisians, their Love Locks, and their Public Display of Affection

Parisians, their Love Locks, and their Public Display of Affection

Blogged by Marcus Bellamy

In the states, PDA is typically frowned upon, wherever you are; keep it private because no one wants to see that!  A common enough phrase is “Get a room!” which is said to any couple who is display their affection in public too much.

But in Paris?

That’s not the case at all!  Couples from young…

 …to old…

…show absolutely no shame in displaying their love for one another in Paris.

This brings me to the Love Locks Bridges.  Regardless of its origin – some claim that it began in Paris while still others say that it began in Italy – the Love Locks Bridges in Paris have been a symbol of everlasting love since the early 2000s.

Couples come to these bridges with a lock and key.  Once there, they inscribe their names or initials upon the lock, a significant date in their relationship, and lock the lock on the bridge.  After this, the couple throws the key into the River Seine, symbolizing that the key to unlocking their affection for each is now lost beneath the waves of the Seine.  Nowadays, some bring a combination lock instead, which loses the meaning, in my opinion; the method of opening the lock is a number, which you (can) memorize, and then return to unlock another time if the relationship goes sour.  That’s just MY take on it.

Here is a video of one couple, walking down the Love Locks Bridge near Notre Dame.  They don’t throw their key in the Seine, though…

If you have time, I suggest you read this article about a sudden midnight disappearance off every love lock in Paris:

Apparently, though, there is a difference between the two bridges upon which these locks are locked.  The “Pont des Arts is for your committed love, while Pont de l'Archevêché is for your lover.”  The whole article can be found here:

The Love Locks Bridges are a cute sight for tourists, but they hold deeper significance in the hearts of passionate lovers.

Palais Garnier

Palais Garnier

Blogged by Marcus Bellamy

I’m not going to lie – I was pretty excited about seeing this place, and while I was disappointed (in regards to my excitement in going), I was intrigued and amazed nonetheless, which turned the outing to the Palais Garnier a fantastic jaunt for that evening.

The Palais Garnier was built because of a competition put in place by Napoleon III.  Architects submitted designs for the new opera house, and the design, drawn by Charles Garnier, won the competition almost unanimously.  Unfortunately, Napoleon III did not live to see the completion of this structure which was made in part as a monument to him.  Let’s step inside and take a look at this magnificent building.

Here you can see, in the low ceiling of the rotunda, something that was unheard of in Garnier’s time: the architect’s signature.  Garnier was the first architect to include his signature on a building of this magnitude.  You can almost make out the dates “1861” and “1875,” the dates of the beginning and ending of the Opera House’s construction.

Garnier wanted his Opera House to be dedicated to the arts, and who better to dedicate it to than to Apollo, the Greek god of music.  Above the grand staircase is a mural of the gods, and on one side is this one of Apollo in his chariot:

However, Garnier could not decorate the whole of his creation with images of Apollo, so he designed the building with motifs of Apollo, such as his lyre, which can be seen in many places throughout the opera house.

Today, the Palais Garnier mainly produces ballets, which are no small event.  Here are three such ballets that have performed on the stage of Palais Garnier in recent years:

Défilé du Ballet

Djémil Variation Act 1

Gipsy dance in Don Quixote

Now, you may have heard whispers of the legend of the Phantom of the Opera, which originated from this esteemed establishment…

Much to my dismay, they are untrue.  There never was an Opera Ghost, as was told in the story written by Gaston Leroux, nor was there ever a lake or river beneath the foundations of the opera house.  In reality, there was an abundance of groundwater on the build site, which Garnier used advantageously: he designed a double foundation to protect the superstructure from moisture, which incorporated an enormous concrete cistern – this would relieve pressure of the external groundwater on the basement walls AND serve as a reservoir in case of fire.  In fact, there now exist within this cistern several carp and eels.

If you are ever in Paris, neglecting the chance to take in the splendor of such a theatre would be a mistake on your part.  Be sure to stop by the Palais Garnier, if even just for a moment, if you ever find the chance.

HIP Hits the Big Screen

By now, you probably could tell that HIP students are pretty cool...

but did you know they are also movie makers?

Check out HIPster Emily Owen has created a collection
of magical moments from our semester.

From frolicking in Marseilles....

to a mad dash around Paris...

to castle hunting in the Loire Valley...

to the first day on the ski slops....

It's all here!

Parisian Boulangeries & Patisseries

So this is quite an exciting subject for this blog, i mean who doesn't get excited when talking about food?? I know i do, especially when it's about French food! Now we have been in France for about 8 weeks now, more than enough time to understand the layout of the beautiful city of Paris. We now know how to get around the city and even more importantly we know where to EAT! Now of course there are bigger restaurants that cater  a larger meal but that is not what i will be talking about. I'm talking about the nice, small intimate shops located on almost every corner of every street in Paris. 

I'll start with Boulangeries aka the BREAD place.

Now we all love bread right?? well you think you love it and then you come to Paris and realize that yes, you really do love bread, and you begin to appreciate it more and more as you see that there are people in the world who specialize in bread making...in the making of the perfect bread. It's amazing really...Bakers have been around for centuries, making bread for the people of their villages or for family. It is an art form that has never gone out of style..thank goodness!! Now in Paris you will literally find a bakery or boulangerie on every corner...they take there bread seriously here, as they should. Here are a few types of bread you can find in a boulangerie. Croissant, miche, Baguette....oh baguettes they have stolen my heart...along with others. 

Now onto Patisseries...Now there is a fine line between boulangeries and patisseries, they are closely related to each other because both can sell bread and pastries. BUT when i think of patisseries i think of....fruity tarts like this one...

Or chocolate desserts like this one..

Starting to drool yet???? i do apologize :)

But really this is the type of thing you would see at a patisserie, and so far everything i have ever tried from one has been just amazing! Here is a list of top 10 Patisseries to visit in Paris if you ever get a chance to come out here. The best thing about this is you don't have to just go to one, you can go to them all...I can't tell you how many times we have been to Laduree which is a delicious little place on the Champs Elysees that specializes in their Macarons, but they also have tons of other treats, like tarts and little chocolate concoctions.

But really, if you are in Paris GO HERE...you will not regret it....at all...in fact you will probably want to come find me and give me a hug for making your life better one macaron at a time :) 

So once you understand where to go to get bread and where to go to get sweets, your golden! 

Sometimes if your lucky, there will be a boulangerie and patisserie in the same building...so you can get anything and everything you need....or want...probably want!! :)

I have a close connection to all things bakery inspired because i would like to one day start up my own little bakery/patisserie/boulangerie in Texas...Paris is a big inspiration for me with all of these bakeries, hopefully it will inspire you to either travel over here to see it for yourself or find something like this in your neighborhood. And if there isn't one in your neighborhood i suggest you open one, because America needs more of these....i want to see people walking to work snacking on a baguette ;) Tis just a dream for now but i hope to bring some french culture back with me to Texas when i finally open up my bakery!! :)

Hope you enjoyed my ramblings about some french cuisine!

Au Revoir

-Emily O.

Les Invalides

     Wow. Where do I even start? Napoleon's final resting place. A hall dedicated to swords. One of Napoleon's horses that he had preserved. Les Invalides is a highly interesting little place. 
     Originally started by King Louis XIV as a hospital and short-term living place for aging and injured soldiers, construction on Les Invalides was started in 1670 by the architect Liberal Bruant and it was inaugurated in 1679. It holds on of the "greatest triumphs of French Baroque architecture" in its famous golden dome, which was inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy. Many historical events have taken place here; muskets and cannons were taken by French Revolutionists one morning to use against the Bastille later that day, in 1840, Napoleon was entombed here, and in 1894 the degradation of Alfred Dreyfus was held in the main building. Needless to say, this place is not just a hospital anymore; it is a museum dedicated to the military history of France. 

      The above picture is of Napoleon Bonaparte's sarcophagus, one of the most famous military leaders of all time who changed the face of Europe forever by his military campaigns. I have to say that I wasn't really prepared to see this. You can think that you are ready to see something of this magnitude, but it's kind of hard to comprehend right in the moment. It's so strange to think that someone who had such an impact on the modern world is buried right out in the open, and I was only 20 feet away from him. All around the dome is the burial place of many military leaders of France, including some members of Napoleon's family and many officers that served with him. There is an awesome alter at the front of the chapel that shows the spirit of Louis XIV and his love for gold. Ex:

     Since the whole museum is a huge place, I decided to focus on two main parts: World War I & II and the Napoleon sections. There are SO many well preserved uniforms from all the different countries involved in the conflicts in Les Invalides. It was pretty awesome to see what someone from Austria was wearing in World War I, and they even had an entire section dedicated to American military uniforms from World War I. They make it really interactive by showing visual, moving maps of different battles and campaigns and also having many television sets showing short, informational movies about the wars. They also have quite the collection of artillery, and it was cool to see the progression that technology went through just from World War I to World War II. In WWI, they were using bayonets and small rifles, but in WWII, they were using big guns and tanks. Funny what a difference 30 years make in weapons technology. Speaking of technology, the audio guides here were pretty great; they were iPod touches that you just keyed numbers in to listen to different segments. It was very user friendly and didn't weigh a ton like some of the other ones we've used. 

A high ranking soldier's uniform from World War I

     After we had spent quite a while in the World Wars section, we headed over to the French Revolution and Napoleon section. Least favorite part? It took us a good fifteen minutes to find because they were doing construction on the building, so it made finding the entrance a nightmare. Once we finally found where we were going, it was definitely worth it. Looking at all these rooms dedicated to Napoleon, his successors, and those that helped him achieve his goals was highly enjoyable. It seems to me that Napoleon rivaled Louis XIV in his estimation of himself, and this is not an easy feat. Haha. There are paintings, sculptures, and exhibitions dedicated to the famous little man. Even one of the horses he rode has been stuffed and is on exhibition.. Talk about vain. But it makes for a good museum visit, so I'm okay with it. 

     This is definitely a place I would recommend if you were visiting Paris, and I think that probably almost an entire day would need to be taken to see all of the many war exhibits. And finally, to really give you the true spirit of what Napoleon was, I will leave you with this fine quote: "France has more need of me than I have need of France" -Napoleon Bonaparte.

-Samantha Tosh 

Seeing Paris on Two Wheels

-Jessica Boyd

Because Paris is one of the largest cities in the world there is no way that you can efficently move around the city by walking. Sometimes the weather is so nice, you don't want to spend your afternoon riding around a hot and sticky metro either.

Enter the Velib bike system.

Paris was late to join the green initiative and start a municipal bike sharing program. Their program began in 2007 and was an instant hit. Within 2 months, the self service bikes clocked about 3.7 million rides and are changing the way people move around Paris. Everyone from tourists to businessmen seem to be enjoying seeing the city from a new perspective.

The concept of the bike system is that you check one out, ride around for up to one day or week perhaps and then return the bike to one of the many stands around the city. When planning the system, they scattered the stands about 300 m from each other so you are never far from renting a bike.

I have not rented a bike yet, but I see people riding them all the time now that it is spring. It is an ingenious system since the majority of residents do not own cars.

Paris has even expanded the system into renting self service cars as well. There not as many of these kiosks around, but I laugh every time I see one because they are such a foreign concept back in America.

Musee de Carnavalet: Histoire de Paris

-Jessica Boyd


Up until the end of February, we learned all about the history of France as a country but we hadn't discovered the history of the city we are living in. The museum is located about 5 or 6 blocks away from the Bastille and the Opera house across the Seine. 

With nearly 600,000 works in over 100 rooms, Carnavalet houses the largest  collections of the city of Paris:  which  combines archaeological remains, the views of Paris yesteryear, models of ancient monuments, signs, decorative ensembles from buildings missing, anecdotal or historical scenes, portraits of famous Parisians, memories or stories of famous men of everyday life and a unique set of the revolutionary period. 

One of the more interesting exhibits is a series of salons decorated in the style of Louis XIV. These would have been even more impressive if I had seen them before we went to Versailles where I saw the true Louis XIV style. Somehow, a replica in a museum does not compare to his humble abode. 

Another one of my favorite exhibits was the La Belle Epoque hall. It houses many paintings depicting Parisian life in the early 1900s. It was such a glamorous time: days strolling the tree-lined boulevards and eating at street cafes followed by nights filled with the opera and a late dinner.

Under the Second Empire, at the time the work of Haussmann upset the old Paris, the Paris administration conceived the idea of a museum dedicated to the history of the city. Thus was born the Carnavalet Museum . Inaugurated in 1880, is the oldest municipal museum in the capital. Until then, sculptures, paintings and murals were displayed in City Hall and the various municipal buildings, including churches.

Paris is one of those cities that was apart of a wide range of history, from Roman times up until the present. It has always been a center of culture and the Musee de Carnavalet is the perfect place to display everything Paris has to offer.

Marvelous Macarons

3/8/12

Macaroons are amazing!!!!! These tasty treats are available all over France at Boulangeries, coming in many flavors. They range from a zesty lemon to rich chocolate, all of which are delicious. They are truly a great, and enjoyable, part of the culture found in France. Plus, with a Boulangerie found nearly on every other corner, they are never too far out of reach.

The actual origin of the macaroon is debated, some say it came from Italian pastry chiefs and others say it came from a convent in France. However, the macaroons we know today, the ones you’ll find in the quaint little Boulangeries shops scattered throughout Paris, were crafted in the early 20^th century by Pierre Desfontaines. If you don’t recognize him, you may recognize his famous patisserie, Lauduree. It was here that he made these almond meringue discs with rich filling bites of joy, also known as the Paris Macaroon.

Did I mention that lemon macaroons are my favorite?

 These great treats are definitely one of my favorite parts of Paris, and something I will miss when I go home…back to Oreos. Oreos just don’t cut it anymore, macaroons have ruined me. If you are ever in Paris, be sure to stock up and enjoy. 


~ Andrew Hervey


External Links


Laduree Home Page
Macaroon History
Macaroon Recipes