We went to the louvre today, and quite honestly we all seemed too tired to go through it properly. 

It wasn't my favourite style of work on display. 

It wasn't until 3pm that we even really started to go look at the works (after leaving our hotel at 10am). 

Here are a few iPhone snaps capturing the day. 

Outside 

In front of the Mona Lisa for a typical photo. 

Everyone wanting to see the iconic painting. 

Steph at the window. 

Our general feelings of the day. 

(Me exhausted and sick of it, steph exhausted, Olivia sick, Elena intrigued.)

Louveciennes and Musee de l'Orangerie

 

Yesterday (Wednesday 26th) the group went 30 minutes out of Paris to a little town called Louveciennes.

It was lovely and quiet, and filled with trees and birds and art history.

We observed places where recognised paintings were based off, and had a picnic lunch in a beautiful park.

 

 

 

 

Painting by Alfred Sisley, of the same street in the winter.

 

 

A view of Paris.

 

And a photo of me taken by a new friend, Olivia, as I was taking photographs of the view.

 

 

 

Today (Thursday 27th), one week into Paris, we went on a walk of some painting scenes, saw where Cartier-Bresson took his famous 'decisive moment' photograph, and then to the Musee de l'Orangie (where Monet's huge waterlily paintings are situated).

 

The walk was really lovely.

We stopped off at an amazing patisserie on the way (where a woman couldn't understand my attempt of French), and re-enacted famous paintings (such as 'Rainy Days') and photographs (the decisive moment).

(I didn't have my camera on me, so others have these moments and I'm yet to get the photos).

 

I really enjoyed the museum. Seeing Monet's huge works (which were painted over 10 years), was breathtaking.
The other works featured in the museum were also beautiful. I wrote down several pieces that I liked.

I couldn't decide which of Monet's pieces I liked the most. Each time I looked at a piece I would find something new that I hadn't noticed earlier. I have concluded I have no favourite. As a whole, I thought the series was beautiful and breathtaking.

 

Renoir: Junes Filles au Piano (1892).

I really liked the use of textual colour and entwined brush strokes in this painting by Renoir. The background, in particular, is striking to me as his use of colour is particularly emphasised around the two girls. The subject matter is realistic in proportion, shape, and form but Renoir still uses interesting brush strokes to create texture.

 

 Paul Cezane: Nature Morte, poire et pommes vertes

What I liked about this piece was the contrast of muted colours against the other paintings in the gallery (which were a lot brighter). I also liked how the blocks and thick brush strokes of tone change are used to create form. Along with this, the painting was quite textural (which is my favourite thing in artworks, and just generally anything really).  Even though its simple subject matter, I think it has been painted in an interesting manner.

 

 Cezane: Arbres et Maisons

In contrast to the previous work of Cezane, I like the warmth that this image lets out. The blotted colours remind of an autumn day as well as create a strong pattern by the strokes of the brush.

 

 Picasso: composition paysans (1906)

This smaller image using what I perceived as ink and pastel and perhaps a sort of chalk on paper/cardboard was effective to me because it was completely textual (by materials) paired with fluid shapes and likes of the ink and skewed shapes and forms.

I'm not really sure what to interpret of the image.

At a first glance it looks like some kind of reverse man-angel-human taking a girl hiding behind a dead guy into the clouds.

I'm sure that's not at all right.

 

 Picasso: L'Etriente (1903)

I liked this mostly because of the subject matter.

 A moment of passion, or sorrow, or both I guess.

 

 

P.S: I am tired, and I have also completely forgotten how to write about artwork, so I'm not making too much of an effort, just jotting down some thoughts I guess.

Sparkling Paris

Paris - days 4 and 5

 

Day 4 in Paris was the first free day on the itinerary.

Initially, the plan was to spend the day at the Palace of Versailles, however the actual Palace is closed on Mondays.

Apparently, everything else in Paris virtually is as well. We wandered streets with many closed shops, and went into a few open ones. Steph and I just had a relaxing day.

A whole group on our tour went to Disneyland Paris.

 

Day 5 was a walk day.

We walked around the areas of where Ernest Hemingway lived, and saw many sights and scenes from the film 'Midnight in Paris' - it is Alex's favourite film.

Its great having Alex tour us around, as he is so passionate.

 

Streets of Paris.

 

Garden in Paris.

 

 

 

We saw the steps where the main character of the film waits, and goes back to the 20s.

 

We walked up to the Shakespeariean Bookshop,

 

Past the Notre Dam,

 

Along many of the bridges, including the famous bridge Pont Neuf, and the lock bridge.

Me with the Pont Neuf in the background.

 

A building where a painter (forgot who) painted many paintings of the bridge and river from his window.

 

I assume this place is famous for something, but I don't actually know what it is.

 

Above: A small bridge, not the big official lock bridge.

Below: the actual lock bridge.

 

 

 

We also ended up at an art store where many of the impressionists bought their art supplies, and then walked to a nearby macaroon shop (nice macaroons, but they were a little rich, and a little pricey and pretentious for my liking).

 

 

 

 Lucas bought me a wonderful French Croissant!

He also later bought himself this beautiful dessert:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Musee D'Orsay

 

we went to an impressionist museum in Paris, which was absolutely huge.

Steph and I walked around together, and we were there for at least 5 hours (after the queue).

 

I didn't really take any photos, as photos were not allowed, however I did write down some of my favourite pieces (much better in reality rather than internet sourced).

 

Achille Lauge

 

 

 Henri Edmond

 

 

 Paul Cezanne

 

 

 

 Paul Signac

 

 

 

 Theodore Rousseau

 

 

 

Odilon Redin

Paris, France

The Footsteps of the Impressionists tour beginning.

 

 

Our first night was spent eating beautiful Brie and Blue cheese with fresh bread and drinking wine (which I didn't drink).

The next day, the first day of our study tour, we did a walk around the Montmartre area, where we are staying. Its quite lovely. We saw views across all of Paris

 

 

 

Walking around Paris is so beautiful. Like Florence, the architecture is so nice and sweet.

There are lots of lovely green vines over everything, and cobblestone paths, and music on the street and in the trains, and people selling crepes and artwork.

 

 

This is my first crepe in Paris! well, for my whole trip (I have been waiting for Paris).

I chose to have nutella on mine (yum).

 

 

Giant Meringues. This amazing bakery has won several awards for the best baguette apparently.

 

Lucas and I with our baguettes. Probably going to be a daily purchase.

 

Another bakery, with the best tarts (apparently)

 

 

This cheese shop is also another treasure of Montmartre, and also in walking distance of our apartment.

 

After the walk, we went back to our apartments (Lucas, Steph and I all shared an entrée of cheese and bread), before all heading over to have a group nachos session.

That night, on the 21st of June, all of Paris celebrated the first day of summer.

Its a big festival celebration that happens yearly.

The only year where they can drink on the streets.

there was music, and dancing and crowds and lights. Such a great and unique atmosphere.

Felt sorry for the car that was trampled by dancers (apparently it was all smashed in, which I never saw myself). Good way to kick-start our tour.

 

 

 

 

Day 2 of the Tour.

 

I began my day with a hearty healthy(ish) breakfast. Muesli cereal with yoghurt, honey, and banana served with bread and orange juice. I love the view of the street we have too.

 

 

 

Rodin Museum -

we went to a museum of sculpture works by a talented artist. I didn't take too many photos. Here are a few of the gardens and some works:

 

 

 

Napoleons Tomb:

 

We went across the road to Napoleons Tomb. Steph and I didn't go in, it wasn't something we were particularly interested in seeing, and we were both very tired. So we just walked around the outside for a bit and took a few photos.

 

 

 

After the little exploration, we went back to our area and bought a fresh baguette and some really beautiful yummy cheese to go on it, as well as an apple cinnamon cake for dessert.

Steph and I had a very cute little afternoon date together in our room, looking out our window onto a Paris street.

Great way to end our second day.

Im exhausted to say the least.