Busy weekend

Friday, January 16

The day started with 9am class, which is never how I like to start the day, but it was interesting nonetheless. Then lunch at Pieds de Cochon (Pig's Feet), which was amazing. JW's dad was in Paris for business, and he took a few of us out for lunch at this restaurant near Les Halles. We were all a little adventurous. We ordered foie gras, escargots, oysters, tripe (I do not recommend), duck, and -- of course -- pig's feet. Definitely a lunch to remember.

Afterwards, I met up with my language partner (an ISEP student, arranged by Stanford) to go the Miro to Warhol exhibit at the Musée du Luxembourg. It was great. You could see the evolution of art in the 20th century. One of my favorites was CH XIV by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. The attention to detail is astounding.

I had dinner with Jen at her host family's beautiful and sprawling apartment in the 7e. They were having a dinner party, so we mingled with guests a bit, and then separated to eat in the kitchen. Everyone was very kind and had lots of questions and compliments. Mme de Gatelier's cooking is superb (she was asked to do a cooking show!), so we ate like kings and then went out to meet up with the Stanford group.

Saturday, January 17

I tried to go to Les Egouts, the Paris sewer system museum, but it is randomly closed for a week, not reported on the website. Heimunn, JW and I wandered the city a bit instead, going to Les Invalides and then to my area in the 16e. Dinner was planned by the great organizer Ali at La Refuge des Fondues, but even though we had reservations and got there on time, the host wouldn't seat us. We suspect he is racist, since he bowed to McKenzie (Asian), and then did kung-fu moves to Natalia and Tammy (also Asian). He was extremely rude, and after waiting almost an hour, we left and went to a creperie next door. The food was great, and the night turned out to be a great success (photo above).

Sunday, January 18

Day of city wandering. I went to the Champs Elysees
to pick up my soccer game ticket at FNAC (only FNAC in Paris open on Sunday), and then walked through the 8e, the 1e, and into the Marais for lunch. I got some great photos in the Tuileries:

and of the Louvre, and of Saint Eustache near Les Halles.


I went to the PSG match at five with some other people from the program. The atmosphere at the game was wonderful, and we all watched in awe as flares went off, flags waved madly, and songs were sung with gusto all around us. There was a penalty kick, three yellow cards, and three goals in total. Luckily, PSG won, and the crowd left happy.



Today, Monday

I went to the Pantheon today, and walked around the 5e. I had lunch (2 euro sandwich) in a park across from Notre Dame. I had coffee and read in a cafe that played the cheesiest music and had less than inspiring decor. I need to work on finding better cafes.