tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86991958953530218672024-03-13T10:40:37.535-04:00Loyola U. Maryland in ParisA travel blog about Loyola University Maryland's Summer Course in Paris.Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-27136119856548538452012-06-18T10:44:00.004-04:002012-06-18T10:46:42.224-04:00A Grave Day<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Sunday, we woke up to a rare sight—the sun. It was
beautiful all day as we traipsed from the Pantheon to the Montparnasse Cemetery
to the Luxembourg Gardens and then back to the Pantheon, which had been closed
the first time due to a celebration honoring Jean Moulin, a hero of the resistance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Given the situation with the Pantheon, our first stop was
the cemetery at Montparnasse.
Cemeteries have long been on the tourist circuit in France. Twain talks about visiting Pere Lachais
in Innocents Abroad. Our primary reason for visiting is to go
to the graves of Alfred Dreyfus and Simone du Beauvoir, both of whom play
central roles in the course. It
turns out that du Beauvoir was born on one side of the cemetery and bought an
apartment on the other side. She
lived most of her life within a 10 block radius of where is she buried. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vSxA8XAm2u8CO2G4koiAA6sg9xo3KW_yDJg-LsTeUc3KI3orbYNHrfXETWi0MIUwvdhIvkPta-nBbIhSV1K3mBzNrWfOzfD747u5-1fb6K7fulBcXP06YKMUaX5vUfj4t3WikLqCZn36/s1600/Dreyfus+grave+vertical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vSxA8XAm2u8CO2G4koiAA6sg9xo3KW_yDJg-LsTeUc3KI3orbYNHrfXETWi0MIUwvdhIvkPta-nBbIhSV1K3mBzNrWfOzfD747u5-1fb6K7fulBcXP06YKMUaX5vUfj4t3WikLqCZn36/s320/Dreyfus+grave+vertical.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The idea for the course was hatched here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dreyfus’s grave is where the idea for this course was
hatched. Dr. Nell and I were at a
seminar on Ignatian pedagogy together in Paris seven years ago where we were urged
to motivate our students to “jump into the mystery.” We visited the cemetery where quite unexpected I discovered
Dreyfus’ grave. Dreyfus is related to my wife’s family and his trial played a
seminal role in the creation of Israel.
It was a very moving moment for me and at that moment, Dr. Nell and I
decided that we wanted to return with students to build an experience in which
they could connect what they read with “stuff” on the ground (or in the case of
the cemetery, folks in the ground.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfqi2ChVVoAsJVt_4KcXpROzTUJLKjM8IR2K63v54stt8Idb5YsRIFYoTA_B5bJtWgu21l6-lgLW2dGbA9xlHhprtDccCSTjUPCIoZJICnupiqM-e6Q54VkbaiCVqteH1cCyiIjVZPvzw/s1600/Pantheon+class+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfqi2ChVVoAsJVt_4KcXpROzTUJLKjM8IR2K63v54stt8Idb5YsRIFYoTA_B5bJtWgu21l6-lgLW2dGbA9xlHhprtDccCSTjUPCIoZJICnupiqM-e6Q54VkbaiCVqteH1cCyiIjVZPvzw/s320/Pantheon+class+steps.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the Pantheon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a great picnic lunch in the Luxembourg Gardens, my
favorite park in Paris, we made it back to the Pantheon and finished the day
drinking coffee at the Café Deux Magots, a favorite stomping grounds of the
Existentialists. There, the
students discussed choices that they have made in their lives and the outcomes
of those choices, in preparation for their second paper.</div>Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-57742832260500441422012-06-18T10:23:00.000-04:002012-06-18T10:46:56.640-04:00A Shocking Exhibition<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the third day of the trip, we continued to check off
visiting the “must see” sights of Paris by going to the Orsay and the Arc de eTriomph. The weather was sketchy, clouds, wind
and periodic showers punctuated by a little sunshine at the end.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Orsay is such a different museum than the Louvre. Housed in a renovated train station, it
is full of light and easy to navigate.
The collection basically consists of art associated with the
Impressionists and going forward.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year, the special exhibit was nude women painted by
Degas and it was positively shocking. Degas never intended most of the images—paintings,
monotypes and other kinds of media—to be displayed. They were discovered in his
studio after his death. And I can
imagine why. Perhaps the most
graphic was a sex scene among women. While the commentary claimed the image was
ambiguous, it wasn’t. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46wJ36ULwwGwHnR9_Mgb746zSTToPIw07sxZ_KTIRBXwEkfTlqHS2vBmU0OU3N_V8kYd9dxY8lt9yw0BZ2hkbcCbhFqBlloQxjwCPWqPD4rm8ft2UcxEY0sxlrVQwTYyhbkgy3D9X_D_N/s1600/orsay+talk+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46wJ36ULwwGwHnR9_Mgb746zSTToPIw07sxZ_KTIRBXwEkfTlqHS2vBmU0OU3N_V8kYd9dxY8lt9yw0BZ2hkbcCbhFqBlloQxjwCPWqPD4rm8ft2UcxEY0sxlrVQwTYyhbkgy3D9X_D_N/s320/orsay+talk+rain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grad students lecture in the rain on a bridge over the Seine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was image after image of women in brothels including
an image of a man waiting for a women and the women waiting for clients. One picture is informally called “The
Rape,” and depicted a scene that the commentary said was probably just after an
act of sexual violence. The whole
collection was kind of like discovering that Mark Twain had written a trunk
load of pornographic novels.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The commentary noted that in this period there was a shift
and the goal of art was no longer to capture beauty but truth. And while Degas was going for the
“real”—he urged Gervex to add a woman’s robe and corset to the picture Rolla,
which shows a women sprawled on a bed with a fully clothed man standing by, to
make it more realistic--I am not sure about what “truth” is contained in these
pictures. Maybe just that men
objectify women.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheL2X4sJYNNvR4wZ26uwEYo-aV7Y09VHMWmL9daw1DwUsWdkaVkZV56l5vRDvUlKiNy55v1SnhE8Lmc1FzQZZsuxgPws2uRAuwf73Si2TA7XyOh017yClwAzThnJ0Mn6VfWqv8XEyr5Np5/s1600/orsay+talk+students.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheL2X4sJYNNvR4wZ26uwEYo-aV7Y09VHMWmL9daw1DwUsWdkaVkZV56l5vRDvUlKiNy55v1SnhE8Lmc1FzQZZsuxgPws2uRAuwf73Si2TA7XyOh017yClwAzThnJ0Mn6VfWqv8XEyr5Np5/s320/orsay+talk+students.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students politely listen in the rain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the Orsay, we came to what for me is one of the best
parts of the trip. The have graduate students, lecture about
Zola’s novel The Masterpiece. The Seine river plays an important role in the
novel and the lecture is delivered on a bridge crossing the river. As the grad students talk about the
Seine, the students can look at it themselves. Yes, Paris is our classroom. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKGC7KD3ylhFj_CigUL6jVcPH6gor-eb0zT70TvA0Y7_cT9_1dRC7l48zYfx4LAdn0hF8c3IAU64BjAXIWlje4KYnn40MfVQ0shQ3-Gn67W8zOUNFWRUgtDXHo_E2rYqiPPPJIXgKHJ81/s1600/Arc+Loyola+U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKGC7KD3ylhFj_CigUL6jVcPH6gor-eb0zT70TvA0Y7_cT9_1dRC7l48zYfx4LAdn0hF8c3IAU64BjAXIWlje4KYnn40MfVQ0shQ3-Gn67W8zOUNFWRUgtDXHo_E2rYqiPPPJIXgKHJ81/s320/Arc+Loyola+U.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our official LOYOLA U!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We finish the final part of the program by going to the Arc
de Triomphe. Paris has at least
four great “vista” sights and this is one of the them. It was also the perfect place to do
what has now become a tradition of the students spelling out Loyola in
countries they are visiting. There
was a little controversy about adding the U-- nobody wanted to do it--but I
think it came out great.</div>Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-59386885636475322932012-06-16T15:26:00.001-04:002012-06-16T15:28:53.063-04:00Louvre, Montmartre, Orsay and Arc de Triomphe The course is getting off to a great start this year--despite the rain!<br />
<br />
Yesterday, Friday, June 15, we went to the Louvre. Because the museum is so huge, Dr. King and I prepared an activity sheet and we sent the students off to find works of art related to the course. After a few hours at the Louvre, we went up to Montmartre to the Cimetière de Montmartre to visit the first tomb of the French writer and journalist, Emile Zola (tomorrow, we will visit his final resting place at the Panthéon!). Then, it was off to the "Martyrium" where we spent a few minutes reflecting on the origins of the Society of Jesus. Back in 1534, St. Ignatius Loyola and his friends made their first vows at the Martyrium. We also toured the Sacré Coeur Basilica and had some shopping time before dinner.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xi0fWEMGQdqZRRMwlkOggzGfafleMP-0BJp39xYdjkm2Tr1sCCmmSrT_R9l_lE_J90KXPcjzNmbTQ5P8QOnnaVYrXR394hsIYZqtmoTT4vc_8k9wB3B58wCjqCqNzWe9_gif5eiDOOck/s1600/DSCN9688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xi0fWEMGQdqZRRMwlkOggzGfafleMP-0BJp39xYdjkm2Tr1sCCmmSrT_R9l_lE_J90KXPcjzNmbTQ5P8QOnnaVYrXR394hsIYZqtmoTT4vc_8k9wB3B58wCjqCqNzWe9_gif5eiDOOck/s320/DSCN9688.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris Course students at Zola's "first" tomb</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeoQUCwGuNcssMpYoABgtKnBvrr90lf-tcS0f6lbMckQUi6qEeea_zlK1j55E4qZReulORcQVeUq4WoCJhZca7EvT-thJo-OKR8k-quKo5Dka9oAhaWgvHq3q3x0r1BXdb7sqgP7JgLvT/s1600/DSCN9694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeoQUCwGuNcssMpYoABgtKnBvrr90lf-tcS0f6lbMckQUi6qEeea_zlK1j55E4qZReulORcQVeUq4WoCJhZca7EvT-thJo-OKR8k-quKo5Dka9oAhaWgvHq3q3x0r1BXdb7sqgP7JgLvT/s320/DSCN9694.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilique Sacré Coeur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Today, we visited the Musée d'Orsay, which houses a famous collection of impressionist paintings and nineteenth-century art; after lunch, our two graduate students gave presentations on the Pont des Arts. Grad students read extra books for the course. Today's presentations were on Emile Zola's novel <i>The Masterpiece</i>. Dena Ebert spoke about the relationship between painting and writing in the novel and Doug Allers discussed the role of the river Seine in the novel. They were great! Thanks to them both for such thought provoking presentations.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEPWZkceIEq8QEokQm4UienyhyhD9HSdkiLuV0eM1Rh1RG2HmupgZQYBbmZy7n2oWGVIKO15IeRrCDkDYtCLu6T3yfn0ueHmHIR2MeyW-0uGHDEB-qCGmHuU3t6aQrfRd3RCndLRVzEpP/s1600/DSCN9710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEPWZkceIEq8QEokQm4UienyhyhD9HSdkiLuV0eM1Rh1RG2HmupgZQYBbmZy7n2oWGVIKO15IeRrCDkDYtCLu6T3yfn0ueHmHIR2MeyW-0uGHDEB-qCGmHuU3t6aQrfRd3RCndLRVzEpP/s320/DSCN9710.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug Allers gives his presentation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjUUO0gPy_V5dbQtzLhSG_rsHRXplhRE1GjBwYz5lnH3ub28xGxhHVvcfPCKafheF3foWZMiFxDXkH5vvf2VDjfGHj3nDzkHLQo4PpaeVxi4FZ7o7iZNkR2VwcY_w9FyW5HBjFMiSRhrG/s1600/DSCN9706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjUUO0gPy_V5dbQtzLhSG_rsHRXplhRE1GjBwYz5lnH3ub28xGxhHVvcfPCKafheF3foWZMiFxDXkH5vvf2VDjfGHj3nDzkHLQo4PpaeVxi4FZ7o7iZNkR2VwcY_w9FyW5HBjFMiSRhrG/s320/DSCN9706.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dena Ebert presenting on the Pont des Arts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Finally, we went to the Champs-Elysées and climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe where we had a wonderful view of Paris.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ9-axWXHoSqmjXmBfuhY98TZruMZsy_jJONAktfHT98VPg9PVVYlr8i9iAvQqJNkrJuck4pWOxYyKEJtbFPI_aC0jPK_-MGPCZZC4Fwp82lVoPhAa0PCvqQl212R_Zmg6l24DNdegLA9/s1600/DSCN9714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ9-axWXHoSqmjXmBfuhY98TZruMZsy_jJONAktfHT98VPg9PVVYlr8i9iAvQqJNkrJuck4pWOxYyKEJtbFPI_aC0jPK_-MGPCZZC4Fwp82lVoPhAa0PCvqQl212R_Zmg6l24DNdegLA9/s320/DSCN9714.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loyola Paris Course undergrads "spell" Loyola U!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Tomorrow, the Pantheon, the Montparnasse Cemetery, the Luxembourg Gardens and a philosophical discussion at Les Deux Magots, a café that dates back to the 30s and 40s and was an </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
existentialist hangout. Stay tuned! </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-19979631401162541872012-06-15T16:39:00.003-04:002012-06-18T10:46:18.648-04:00Day 2 at the Louvre<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you visit a place year after year, you experience small
changes that occur. A lot of those
changes appear to be tres arbitrary. With the
museums of Paris, it seems that every year they change the entrances through
which people (at least we) can enter and where you can or can’t take pictures.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year, the Louvre has upgraded their audio guides, which
are now 3-D video guides manufactured by Nintendo. That means as you move
through the museum you can spend half your time or more looking at a video screen
rather than the real stuff around you. To me,
this doesn’t seem like a good step forward. The guides have GPS so you can know where you are at anytime
(which is very difficult in a museum as complex as the Louvre) but
unfortunately do not help much in navigating through the museum. Without that enduring voice that tells you it is
recalculating every time you take a wrong turn, you have no idea if you are
going in the right direction. The
cherry on top is that you get to bump into a lot of people has you watch yourself
move from room to room on the screen. Every collision is collision between your
life on the screen and your physical reality. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The new audio guide lists 46 “must see” pieces, thereby
reducing the thousands or tens of thousands of items to 46 “must see” items.
One of the ironies of the world in which we live is that as more information is
available to us, the narrower our focus often gets. Of course, I am guilty of participating in that
process. For our students, we
reduced the “must see” pieces to three—the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and The
Winged Victory (to be fair, we also require the students to find five other paintings
associated with the course.)
On a larger scope, the “must see” list places for all of Paris can
arguably be a short list as well—the Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Orsay, the
Eiffel Tower, the Arc d’Triomph. We do all of them, except for the Eiffel Tower, in the first two days of the trip. I
talked with some of the students and our “must see” list for New York is
Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum, Times Square
and a view of the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4opix2zyQFztdsY7DsgzruzoZfh3XiZe8_nz-MD-WRxpZWWy-pQMM0D-ZyG_Hu7CHQ9WEobxQXlXlfpXQAXqRHXwtXmdnwu3OlPLqM4euSqLCN77HSFgGqiluULcKvDQRjpIYfuNihJw/s1600/Mona+Lisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4opix2zyQFztdsY7DsgzruzoZfh3XiZe8_nz-MD-WRxpZWWy-pQMM0D-ZyG_Hu7CHQ9WEobxQXlXlfpXQAXqRHXwtXmdnwu3OlPLqM4euSqLCN77HSFgGqiluULcKvDQRjpIYfuNihJw/s320/Mona+Lisa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't get the hype about the Mona Lisa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By pretty much common consensus, the Mona Lisa tops the
“must see” list at the Louvre.
Frankly I don’t get the Mona Lisa.
I have listened to the commentaries but I just don’t get it. The commentaries do not convince me. I see a rather small painting of a
rather plain woman. I find the
Mona Lisa like I found The Alamo in San Antonio, very underwhelming. Repeated visits haven’t changed my
mind. I certainly don’t see ideal
beauty or anything close.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6XSjX5VWdaKRxfOzE7nimuBQF5UBCiaP85cALCdAAWVd9pbRlzAw3jk6iRAGT1_IQbjv8AuiI-CaNwzQ82ZE_vPStggxN7uNJ09sUlqLM3eM-Z6yisCX4tS0R2qo2dfqi16KRiWRO0x5/s1600/Wedding+Feast+at+CAna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6XSjX5VWdaKRxfOzE7nimuBQF5UBCiaP85cALCdAAWVd9pbRlzAw3jk6iRAGT1_IQbjv8AuiI-CaNwzQ82ZE_vPStggxN7uNJ09sUlqLM3eM-Z6yisCX4tS0R2qo2dfqi16KRiWRO0x5/s320/Wedding+Feast+at+CAna.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This works for me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Across the room from the Mona Lisa hangs The Wedding at
Cana. The biggest painting in the
Louvre, it is full of people and color.
Painted by Paolo Caliari in the 1560s, to me, it is a real statement
piece.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent most of my time in the large format French
paintings. My personal favorite
Liberty Leading the People, which I think is a powerful balance of the real and
the ideal as well as the propaganda pieces, like Napoleon Among the
Plague-Stricken in Jaffa by Gros and The Coronation of Napoleon which depict
“historical” scenes that have either been significantly distorted or fabricated
entirely. I rarely think of
paintings as propaganda but there you have it.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8H7WksSUFKu0-5CxdUm2txDbhSsTrCHG4_q3UmclKBzZse8G28C5kgJR6KObKYpI7id5FleGKGQoKw1Y5ze6nTqVgkb7iGuzjywyUBPoJx19su0MHgwuyn_e0LQnIcg4FWkcea6iKQaI0/s1600/Napoleon+at+Jaffa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8H7WksSUFKu0-5CxdUm2txDbhSsTrCHG4_q3UmclKBzZse8G28C5kgJR6KObKYpI7id5FleGKGQoKw1Y5ze6nTqVgkb7iGuzjywyUBPoJx19su0MHgwuyn_e0LQnIcg4FWkcea6iKQaI0/s320/Napoleon+at+Jaffa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This never happened</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the Louvre, which took up most of the morning and
early afternoon, we went to the Martyrium, where St. Ignatius and the other
original Jesuits vowed to do something together after they had all become
priests. We then went to Sacre Coeur church and Montmartre.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tomorrow we get to check off two more items on the Paris
“must see” list—the Orsay and the Arc d’Triomph.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-74428399661310140762012-06-14T16:53:00.000-04:002012-06-14T16:55:31.827-04:00The 2012 students have arrived!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwoGvM8LloPn7T1PMI5SPG8JE-dCJugscLXHeKugbrdmRva9uOTKXAXCm3xAvIWUABDZBnCKdVIKDuGRjPMXeRzjs_KAvyhkw7pYuyPwmSPQ1_JgxcM8gFYLk71AuVWqxd9AxRPIT_9WE/s1600/DSCN9634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwoGvM8LloPn7T1PMI5SPG8JE-dCJugscLXHeKugbrdmRva9uOTKXAXCm3xAvIWUABDZBnCKdVIKDuGRjPMXeRzjs_KAvyhkw7pYuyPwmSPQ1_JgxcM8gFYLk71AuVWqxd9AxRPIT_9WE/s320/DSCN9634.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Undergrads at the Hotel de Sully</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today was "airport day"--all the students in the 2012 Paris Study Course (CM385D/ML385D/LS771) have arrived!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlg23SyCeiwiXWVDnJPcnQgxCwYwyQR3e4KLksNsEMc2b1PihmS_f2dvyjOzRGwN55B8fOygcTKVf_iE09I_Uw4PeTH9cGTfxQZ1LaQNoG74dfMlyXq_-NNIdbOvKAAQaq0K51DbubL8C/s1600/DSCN9641.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlg23SyCeiwiXWVDnJPcnQgxCwYwyQR3e4KLksNsEMc2b1PihmS_f2dvyjOzRGwN55B8fOygcTKVf_iE09I_Uw4PeTH9cGTfxQZ1LaQNoG74dfMlyXq_-NNIdbOvKAAQaq0K51DbubL8C/s320/DSCN9641.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philippe-Auguste's Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CSBlH2CciqBpB5VuwRN2ASPG-2v8hvTaSk61UWqYT3MZPxhxeh-hTpQcmhjvn2gzYgjqUoxwWr31joHpfl6tDnnRCbm_8vO5oM9OWd8wktGv4me82r3U-L1ei4jmoQLHIZkJuo3e2KQh/s1600/DSCN9644.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CSBlH2CciqBpB5VuwRN2ASPG-2v8hvTaSk61UWqYT3MZPxhxeh-hTpQcmhjvn2gzYgjqUoxwWr31joHpfl6tDnnRCbm_8vO5oM9OWd8wktGv4me82r3U-L1ei4jmoQLHIZkJuo3e2KQh/s320/DSCN9644.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to the Hotel de Sens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We had a couple of anxious moments at the airport (sometimes it takes a few minutes to get through customs!), but all in all, the arrivals went very smoothly indeed and we managed to have everyone in Paris in the vicinity of the two hotels by noon. Check-ins happened by 2 p.m.; everyone was able to rest and freshen up prior to setting out on a walking tour of the Marais, another tradition of the course.</div>
This year, we started by walking down the Rue de Turenne to the Place des Vosges. Originally named "Place Royale" when commissioned by king Henri IV in the early seventeenth century, it is a beautiful example of late renaissance architecture. After that, we visited the garden of the nearby Hotel de Sully, originally the private residence of one of Louis XIII's ministers. Wandering southward, we saw a portion of Philippe Auguste's wall, which dates back to the Middle Ages. Traveling west, we passed the Hotel de Sens and its gardens--this beautiful house (now a municipal library) was once home to Marguerite de Valois, also known as "la reine Margot."<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwp5C03eSIAxkQTTKI8XQUQRg6xglx-SKnw3yx3y7-upaACRMx5OT0o4UARGIPrbJDD-AmRYwOTU97WdITxgPX_s4w8RSvBfyLZNKb3HhEkpi6J-gGMp5ez4NAdnZtoMk_kHNN0xxSX9q0/s1600/DSCN9647.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwp5C03eSIAxkQTTKI8XQUQRg6xglx-SKnw3yx3y7-upaACRMx5OT0o4UARGIPrbJDD-AmRYwOTU97WdITxgPX_s4w8RSvBfyLZNKb3HhEkpi6J-gGMp5ez4NAdnZtoMk_kHNN0xxSX9q0/s320/DSCN9647.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Maison du Faucher </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The "Maison du Faucher" on the Rue François Miron, is another vestige of medieval Paris--it dates from the 14th century. Finally, we passed the church St. Gervais-St. Protais and the Hôtel de Ville (town hall) on the way to Notre Dame.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aomFoyC3Yr4nue2EXVDweJGsCokqNZ3Y7ffwuKxjyYAlthSTz0xvKkbBUX4UxcnjfB0wRJm0saIpD0jYWs1zkFdcqqSiCzIH6CigAkqkLeW-faKMC1CCGQDSPd9Uugf1_HSXU2XIpQcM/s1600/DSCN9658.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aomFoyC3Yr4nue2EXVDweJGsCokqNZ3Y7ffwuKxjyYAlthSTz0xvKkbBUX4UxcnjfB0wRJm0saIpD0jYWs1zkFdcqqSiCzIH6CigAkqkLeW-faKMC1CCGQDSPd9Uugf1_HSXU2XIpQcM/s320/DSCN9658.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vespers at Notre Dame</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6ghJf1NaQU4aqEAVr5zR9BIbLcCTLUKVamXD5GkY5a94p04Yg993o1cXQLv9v3wOM965iOICBBzRUlVSR-EBFnyCbRGrg-2yqltdJxvVL05jTYqNu-wTfBtPMY8ctrd8cx2VVxK6-T87/s1600/DSCN9655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6ghJf1NaQU4aqEAVr5zR9BIbLcCTLUKVamXD5GkY5a94p04Yg993o1cXQLv9v3wOM965iOICBBzRUlVSR-EBFnyCbRGrg-2yqltdJxvVL05jTYqNu-wTfBtPMY8ctrd8cx2VVxK6-T87/s320/DSCN9655.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2012 Paris Study Course group with Dr. Elliot King</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We spent some time in Notre Dame--vespers were in progress!--and then had a wonderful crêpe dinner on the Ile-St.-Louis!<br />
<br />
Tomorrow: the Louvre and Montmartre!Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-4595384907951997232012-06-12T19:01:00.002-04:002012-06-12T19:01:34.248-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-oU-0CI9MDoIssYCFhaB-Eqwsu7teeZlLvqmpAPW6xXu1XVoZ3sNp7GGhQG47a_1FObHUfoj6Q2p1FNy9srQbGildi19BfVfxejrLn2gEjyUJ36eV6A9K5g6QgkXg1j6FDbD5eDFFX4A/s1600/France+442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-oU-0CI9MDoIssYCFhaB-Eqwsu7teeZlLvqmpAPW6xXu1XVoZ3sNp7GGhQG47a_1FObHUfoj6Q2p1FNy9srQbGildi19BfVfxejrLn2gEjyUJ36eV6A9K5g6QgkXg1j6FDbD5eDFFX4A/s320/France+442.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here we are once again in Paris, ready to teach the on-site component of our Paris course! As we have done almost every year, Elliot King and I have arrived prior to the arrival of the students. We spent the afternoon and evening preparing for their arrival, however. Our first priority is making reservations at restaurants for the various dinners, the most important of which is the banquet--our last meal together. We have four reservations so far and we are both pleased with the results. We also spent some time working on the walking tour that we will do with students on Thursday afternoon, just after the students arrive. This year, our first walking tour will feature the history of Parisian architecture--I think the students will find it exciting!Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-30490952440634104632011-06-27T07:04:00.004-04:002011-06-27T07:15:33.823-04:00Last picnic and goodbyes...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRnSEWJxabRSnVdxUtO8As2tEmDmRZsyyE5qunrfp5SE7fqkT-0q-VvAdto6SKVeqfhcPEahvS4syfNTVL5zcASMG5VB0bewKuNEq2lv75lDu-HHM4BvG8tSKT1RFuwcbEJxbtsGPS2Mr/s1600/France+625.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRnSEWJxabRSnVdxUtO8As2tEmDmRZsyyE5qunrfp5SE7fqkT-0q-VvAdto6SKVeqfhcPEahvS4syfNTVL5zcASMG5VB0bewKuNEq2lv75lDu-HHM4BvG8tSKT1RFuwcbEJxbtsGPS2Mr/s320/France+625.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622856197965572514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The students left for home yesterday!<br /><br />Our time together passed so fast. Both Dr. King and I are so grateful these exceptional Loyola students chose to spend part of their summe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44X6y2DNG41VeYaYlflyDvh2hjPGtg6QqH6vbqko6fEUrO3CD-2hh1TvxAFtFS1Ol8uEDuU4vSNHpbHj76QWf9MxT609q7QhiDdaCnZ7hl9wu6Lm1WqjqDAhpI2Udk-oMWGWAKSIi1cL7/s1600/France+631.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44X6y2DNG41VeYaYlflyDvh2hjPGtg6QqH6vbqko6fEUrO3CD-2hh1TvxAFtFS1Ol8uEDuU4vSNHpbHj76QWf9MxT609q7QhiDdaCnZ7hl9wu6Lm1WqjqDAhpI2Udk-oMWGWAKSIi1cL7/s320/France+631.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622856203894115282" border="0" /></a>r with us.<br /><br />Here are photos from our last picnic (on Saturday, June 25) at the Eif<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_i4n6B6M-1Qeu3rKpeOWgV_wh8QO5nHlkh0Pe5Phte562Qnkz9SCTFst5TnsLlzmRnnPzmfpZHYKexwC2A1GokdkAipiawphyFjAdN1FRW5cid18L7MYjQZ72LWMT6G52JlvR4F-X0GZ/s1600/France+627.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_i4n6B6M-1Qeu3rKpeOWgV_wh8QO5nHlkh0Pe5Phte562Qnkz9SCTFst5TnsLlzmRnnPzmfpZHYKexwC2A1GokdkAipiawphyFjAdN1FRW5cid18L7MYjQZ72LWMT6G52JlvR4F-X0GZ/s320/France+627.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622856200228574306" border="0" /></a>fel Tower.Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-27954000652594912952011-06-23T16:58:00.006-04:002011-06-23T17:26:09.871-04:00Gardens, Art and Luncheon on the Grass in Giverny<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83gYgZG9CXQo4Za9co6xU9rIvtCz2yASm-9zRsbWG7q8doKE-pzUfilDw4fhgtoIiGkwHuf6xK0z5yOSBHDr0oTq2_JWGrc2O3VHRTENUzydAaXoZgGxnNaY6zyMKEzKIKMuCHrnySgY8/s1600/France+420.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83gYgZG9CXQo4Za9co6xU9rIvtCz2yASm-9zRsbWG7q8doKE-pzUfilDw4fhgtoIiGkwHuf6xK0z5yOSBHDr0oTq2_JWGrc2O3VHRTENUzydAaXoZgGxnNaY6zyMKEzKIKMuCHrnySgY8/s320/France+420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621525673675300194" border="0" /></a>More showers today, but most of the time, just cool and breezy!<br /><br />Like last year, instead of booking a "canned" tour, we went to Giverny like a lot of French people do--we took a regional train from the St. Lazare station to the little town of Vernon (across the Seine river from Giverny) and then transferred to a bus for a short ride to the vi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZ6VEQEVP8d4t5Ahdo8yTAcfiK5aV48cyr2gDBxlfpqx3JIf_HhxMyjjSGYO06XSmDZGv93FIg-jrPOyhPArhVZuYxOvmeuLPwR6xwhOA0xkX-BF2205ozdu8L-x1M0um4oZeNIlxDObh/s1600/France+448.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZ6VEQEVP8d4t5Ahdo8yTAcfiK5aV48cyr2gDBxlfpqx3JIf_HhxMyjjSGYO06XSmDZGv93FIg-jrPOyhPArhVZuYxOvmeuLPwR6xwhOA0xkX-BF2205ozdu8L-x1M0um4oZeNIlxDObh/s320/France+448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621529205222551042" border="0" /></a>llage of Giverny.<br /><br />We had a fantastic picnic today in Giverny--fresh French bread, cheese, sliced turkey and chicken, with all the fixings! The students had requested hummus, chips, apples and chocolate, too. We brought lots of food with us and had enough leftovers for a substantial snack on the train back to Paris this afternoon.<br /><br />Our group reservation at Monet's house was at 1 p.m. The students explored the two gardens (both the "clos normand" and the Japanese water garden) and the house on their own and had free time until we met up again at the bus stop a bit after 4. After the train ride home, the students had a free evening; all day to<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYU7wcaJnt7uUzvyd1L3xlULCFwsj-eCqxcaY2qN64lYlZVEMX8mS-9u7a3dk2gauthBozW8zbCR7Chdn_j_h0o4woqSjWQFYrk8ijcPX54Ooy9YFf96b_atykDCEVwDU5kIUgmjauXb6i/s1600/France+478.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYU7wcaJnt7uUzvyd1L3xlULCFwsj-eCqxcaY2qN64lYlZVEMX8mS-9u7a3dk2gauthBozW8zbCR7Chdn_j_h0o4woqSjWQFYrk8ijcPX54Ooy9YFf96b_atykDCEVwDU5kIUgmjauXb6i/s320/France+478.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621526500829573442" border="0" /></a>morrow is free as well!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d6V5aZLZJItoFxmEY9YxxGeR6b8fr_Ls4JUpGLl8QPV1QuervPtorzpREQjiyHImwYNfjxTuzA2QJ08b6nfqGlOw38CsinE4dUoku-KfOFp9G-dgDSUNQCCaeceGv9cVUxlZRQpBP89a/s1600/France+471.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d6V5aZLZJItoFxmEY9YxxGeR6b8fr_Ls4JUpGLl8QPV1QuervPtorzpREQjiyHImwYNfjxTuzA2QJ08b6nfqGlOw38CsinE4dUoku-KfOFp9G-dgDSUNQCCaeceGv9cVUxlZRQpBP89a/s320/France+471.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621527683187801042" border="0" /></a><br />I wonder what they'll do with their free day--can't wait to find out on Saturday....our last day in Paris before the students return home!Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-85718297294480077192011-06-22T16:16:00.008-04:002011-06-22T16:49:22.772-04:00Philosophical conversations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaQavCu5zBt0s5DwUFpBOx3-45GYBfxPUXPEELSGFElkxsza7I76tORIxLU6YAT2WDVbHGuT7opOdx_6J_rpsUKc7AbEPjj3yPD8dI7cpAACS9Ez4hSC23puHhNVPzRC60mm_gs8LuIhS/s1600/France+358.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaQavCu5zBt0s5DwUFpBOx3-45GYBfxPUXPEELSGFElkxsza7I76tORIxLU6YAT2WDVbHGuT7opOdx_6J_rpsUKc7AbEPjj3yPD8dI7cpAACS9Ez4hSC23puHhNVPzRC60mm_gs8LuIhS/s320/France+358.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621142524270626850" border="0" /></a>A very inauspicious start to our day--it was raining cats and dogs this morning! Because last night was the annual Fête de la Musique (Music Festival), we let the students sleep in a bit this morning, so by the time we got to the Montparnasse Cemetery, the sky was actually blue!<br /><br />Highlights of today's activities include:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7UTl4uf-7KmPCFDTpFbJBCzOJEj-N3VRMcDQxWCNeYrZsaRNR0njE8NI8pUFVXn2PpThF49ltpRiUxFF_e6W9Uh7ZPCfht2AbWb0UyYhgaKEz8oLOUHQ6K7Rno1vsuyreZHmXkrZBpzy/s1600/France+366.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7UTl4uf-7KmPCFDTpFbJBCzOJEj-N3VRMcDQxWCNeYrZsaRNR0njE8NI8pUFVXn2PpThF49ltpRiUxFF_e6W9Uh7ZPCfht2AbWb0UyYhgaKEz8oLOUHQ6K7Rno1vsuyreZHmXkrZBpzy/s320/France+366.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621143275162241266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><ul><li>visits to the tombs of Alfred Dreyfus, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir in the Cimetière Montparnasse</li></ul><br /><ul><li>an intellectual discussion at the café "Les Deux Magots" (a famous existentialist hangout in the Faubourg Saint-Germain)</li></ul><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyp6yLmaujwdwXsM6J-Z41oVZTuvg6YYL0cHzdWUppjNXTpZQsYv8Li2YuPSTodqkOFcfLdStXSvIFFNr86Ae2h2DKWMI5_aaSQncG9g8SNUzZ3Wzpv7qBPcD4aToIjobqH6_2A3omdCc4/s1600/France+376.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyp6yLmaujwdwXsM6J-Z41oVZTuvg6YYL0cHzdWUppjNXTpZQsYv8Li2YuPSTodqkOFcfLdStXSvIFFNr86Ae2h2DKWMI5_aaSQncG9g8SNUzZ3Wzpv7qBPcD4aToIjobqH6_2A3omdCc4/s320/France+376.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621144023645812130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekrh4e5zYvilq1FWPBnlNu07w3Ygh4ggzJoisHUhBABaJP9mTRqPKFGQUrlTT1K4UexZ32k_SI-os18KURBADzj2X81F1s6iDcJBf1lUZi0uWC-9bcRPxbt0MYAsKyMwTaI1jDfqB1OX5/s1600/France+396.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekrh4e5zYvilq1FWPBnlNu07w3Ygh4ggzJoisHUhBABaJP9mTRqPKFGQUrlTT1K4UexZ32k_SI-os18KURBADzj2X81F1s6iDcJBf1lUZi0uWC-9bcRPxbt0MYAsKyMwTaI1jDfqB1OX5/s320/France+396.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621145100099746130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><ul><li>a presentation by grad students on a book by sociologist, writer and politician Azouz Begag</li></ul><br /><br /><ul><li>a delicious dinner in a North African restaurant, the Café Bistrot Toucan.</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaUW-kTXsQGAmQgo59-_CZR9cRvGFI-yqq9jinJqa2MBqwr2C7e70xN7TmYAdYropdF4R4xt7MKZuKU_nPOgg8dV5EIDBTijiDYC-_8PnYtAlklGXZK8PK_Hhj8CKHnsjVuj9SdUV7M-t/s1600/France+408.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaUW-kTXsQGAmQgo59-_CZR9cRvGFI-yqq9jinJqa2MBqwr2C7e70xN7TmYAdYropdF4R4xt7MKZuKU_nPOgg8dV5EIDBTijiDYC-_8PnYtAlklGXZK8PK_Hhj8CKHnsjVuj9SdUV7M-t/s320/France+408.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621147634568663698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBpFlR_F9EhH6mlejIdxualu591_WDlIc2LqHY_DfI5hsO22HQv4puSn9Mq8W-A3wLGmnvKmzx4Lj44t_VXiT5Irq4FUEHHAvvU7pux3cv5tQRJ9e3YruuX4N7vGhxcLKdldJI5tdvwi2/s1600/France+414.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBpFlR_F9EhH6mlejIdxualu591_WDlIc2LqHY_DfI5hsO22HQv4puSn9Mq8W-A3wLGmnvKmzx4Lj44t_VXiT5Irq4FUEHHAvvU7pux3cv5tQRJ9e3YruuX4N7vGhxcLKdldJI5tdvwi2/s320/France+414.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621145775396259410" border="0" /></a>Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-86873697883490198902011-06-21T17:48:00.006-04:002011-06-21T18:46:06.006-04:00On Versailles and very patient students!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IMDPVjY-QChp8cwBVvRZW3C_g6EkG-PHaPcAdZBKOJr1gsbyaWP7ZsfxwVbW1Rdrt0Pw_OSyCTtEt2ZHS4OYTpR8u9WKb_svMHTBbiimNJUv8LAmRpuA0XHKj0JahsaTGQ_MwbfZ4TQr/s1600/France+316.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IMDPVjY-QChp8cwBVvRZW3C_g6EkG-PHaPcAdZBKOJr1gsbyaWP7ZsfxwVbW1Rdrt0Pw_OSyCTtEt2ZHS4OYTpR8u9WKb_svMHTBbiimNJUv8LAmRpuA0XHKj0JahsaTGQ_MwbfZ4TQr/s320/France+316.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620803902404122914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Today was to be a "light" day....but Versailles turned out to be a little more complicated than anticipated!<br /><br />For one thing, the weather continued to be not optimal--grey with intermittent light showers. At the château itself, there was only one line to get in. Normally, there is at least two--one for groups and one for individuals. The good news is that we had our museum passes so we didn't have to stand in the ticket line, just in the line to get in. The bad news is that we stood in line for an hour and a half. Despit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TAm_hyphenhyphenKnSrVP9ug8i2Mt8ZQiZTpLqdu1RouxIwBYp4CEIqasip7wvK0fLfCVLmyetDsJ72S44pEasHNonLnyFBVBwUOvLdc-NXqdJDFBij_XQMrSP6ZEdd2oSDLo6vdO0oVPZlGDNefR/s1600/France+329.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TAm_hyphenhyphenKnSrVP9ug8i2Mt8ZQiZTpLqdu1RouxIwBYp4CEIqasip7wvK0fLfCVLmyetDsJ72S44pEasHNonLnyFBVBwUOvLdc-NXqdJDFBij_XQMrSP6ZEdd2oSDLo6vdO0oVPZlGDNefR/s320/France+329.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620804581786457058" border="0" /></a>e all this, our students were patient and good-humored (thanks, guys!).<br /><br />I love Versailles (usually!)--my area of specialization spans the 17th and 18th centuries of French literature and culture, and, as you can imagine, there is lots to see at Versailles that is relevant to the period from 1660 to th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH0gX00S0D4CJBLbTs57QleprKO3qOtpB8_NAtY2YBIMst1JxvkvnOODCCqoHWyiCRbfeS5qjvmrAZz3d8tIPzg-GWNi3TpMo19bXYNFSVeykLpPDpGxdr4eR9XIsn28r8rjVB_i5j_Kl/s1600/France+334.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH0gX00S0D4CJBLbTs57QleprKO3qOtpB8_NAtY2YBIMst1JxvkvnOODCCqoHWyiCRbfeS5qjvmrAZz3d8tIPzg-GWNi3TpMo19bXYNFSVeykLpPDpGxdr4eR9XIsn28r8rjVB_i5j_Kl/s320/France+334.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620806161151873890" border="0" /></a>e French revolution. I'm including in today's blog some neat paintings and sculptures displayed at Versailles that I particularly like. The first sculpture is a bust of Louis XIV during his very handsome youth. Then, I've included a painting of Louis XIV from later in life (note that even though he's no longer young, he positions himself in such a way that you can see his shapely legs--he was very proud of his legs and danced when he was a young man). The second sculpture is a bust of Marie Antoinette.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-GjSo4niPkHmFa-yvD53eOu4mZqx-xo0l0RF2qYaaMQh_xD-YCKbr60AxIrs3OMSFhl1_txcGVsKNZfhEzPGzLB71DWHmCCgXK9DBKy-u1ab4jzatkM51HBL6DTQZy6bePu43ViRp41s/s1600/France+352.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-GjSo4niPkHmFa-yvD53eOu4mZqx-xo0l0RF2qYaaMQh_xD-YCKbr60AxIrs3OMSFhl1_txcGVsKNZfhEzPGzLB71DWHmCCgXK9DBKy-u1ab4jzatkM51HBL6DTQZy6bePu43ViRp41s/s320/France+352.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620806847770555490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Tomorrow: the Montparnasse cemetary and a philosophical discussion at "Les Deux Magots"!Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-4418151774817764402011-06-20T14:56:00.011-04:002011-06-21T02:10:01.242-04:00"Iffy" Weather and Program Modifications<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KrRszNLp2qrRDUDoQRnD4SLdMhcxAnyLeWlP1U-6D-ryciQ7r_FVtCEom66tyMNLOMRinXs5AvVlVi5gXsQi2B-cEt7pzSXLVOuM8vW4oDZ8bcU8ADK_zu4GZ19rLjdwIifvulmj4lND/s1600/France+196.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KrRszNLp2qrRDUDoQRnD4SLdMhcxAnyLeWlP1U-6D-ryciQ7r_FVtCEom66tyMNLOMRinXs5AvVlVi5gXsQi2B-cEt7pzSXLVOuM8vW4oDZ8bcU8ADK_zu4GZ19rLjdwIifvulmj4lND/s320/France+196.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620384843469814754" border="0" /></a><br />Since the arrival of the students last Thursday, the weather here has been partly to mostly cloudy with showers. This morning, it was really raining! We had planned mostly an <span style="font-style: italic;">outdoor </span>day, but modified the agenda to include mostly <span style="font-style: italic;">indoor</span> activities.<br /><br />We started the day at the Pantheon, the monument and tomb to the great heroes of France--the great 18th-century <span style="font-style: italic;">philosophes </span>Voltaire and Rousseau (whose tombs are located there) are obvious examples. The Pantheon also houses the tombs of Marie and Pierre Curie (great scientists) and writers (Emile Zola, who we have studied in the course, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas), Jean Moulin (a hero of the French Resistance), and important politicians (such as JeanJaurès and Jean Monnet). I'm including, at right, a photo of Jean Moulin, which is part of the exhibit on the Resistance at the Musée de l'Armée (a museum that we visited yesterday). Moulin was quite a dashing figure (very handsome) and the story of his heroic refusal to break under torture by the Nazis is legendary.<br /><br />Some of these names are more known to Americans than others; I think <span style="font-style: italic;">our </span>students will have a lasting memory of Emile Zola, since we have "run into him" at the Orsay, in the Montmartre cemetary and now again at the Pantheon!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWV65XXHc4aCnHvAR2qxmaY2NFSgKlKWmMuEIBPcWqBQypPEQddMmz2RM61ERbXsUv0YBwCu8JDm6LX8PQPS16UO7ha_aKKQGwym4o14cCPXJV7r7S0nBfGKTqppN2DPmsVZrp8ODLzuf/s1600/France+295.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWV65XXHc4aCnHvAR2qxmaY2NFSgKlKWmMuEIBPcWqBQypPEQddMmz2RM61ERbXsUv0YBwCu8JDm6LX8PQPS16UO7ha_aKKQGwym4o14cCPXJV7r7S0nBfGKTqppN2DPmsVZrp8ODLzuf/s320/France+295.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620386852055394162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Afterwards, we spent about 45 minutes at the Orangerie viewing the huge canvasses of Monet's <span style="font-style: italic;">Les Nymphéas</span>--beautiful impressionist paintings of Monet's Japanese garden at Giverny (we'll see it in person in a couple of days).<br /><br />Lunch today was quick street food--many of us had falafel pitas at <span style="font-style: italic;">L'As du Falafel</span> (the best falafel in the world), whose bustling take-out window is located on the Rue des Rosiers in the Jewish quarter. Delicious.<br /><br />Finally, we visited the Musée Nationale d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme (the National Museum of Jewish Art and History) which houses a wonderful collection of European Jewish cultural and religious artifacts.<br /><br />Dinner was Chinese food at a restaurant that Dr. King and I particularly like, Fong Lai, just around the corner from our hotel on the Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud--we highly recommend!<br /><br />In sum, another fun and intellectually stimulating day with great examples of the wonderful international foods available in Paris!Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-53495807361388870422011-06-20T14:31:00.006-04:002011-06-20T15:39:21.742-04:00House Museums<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf22ZOv48XBOa6JMGedl7JOe1RtMhMgn1cVeuGOWD2jV9JKWBMX7c4CBAsjIPnncXKZXwx7Wck7PTk1o6U9In7UF3TMUI9s7uhk5DQf2dQ9rw8AA6f-uKUsRhNwkp-TwCLiq1BPG-Wlt9W/s1600/Dumas+House.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf22ZOv48XBOa6JMGedl7JOe1RtMhMgn1cVeuGOWD2jV9JKWBMX7c4CBAsjIPnncXKZXwx7Wck7PTk1o6U9In7UF3TMUI9s7uhk5DQf2dQ9rw8AA6f-uKUsRhNwkp-TwCLiq1BPG-Wlt9W/s320/Dumas+House.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620387351501018930" border="0" /></a><br />I have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">always</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">been</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">great</span> lover <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">house</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">museums</span>. I have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">visited</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">the</span> homes of 10 or 15 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">U.S</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">presidents</span> . I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">loved</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">seeing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">James</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Buchanan's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">stately</span> mansion (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">the</span> 15<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">th</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">president</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">United</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">States</span>, for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">those</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">who</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">were</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">wondering</span>), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Eisenhower's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">perfectly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">typical</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">suburban-like</span> home in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Gettysburg</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Teddy</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Roosevelt's</span> place in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Oyster</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Bay</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">adorned</span>--if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">right</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">word</span>--<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">heads</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">dead</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">animals</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">Visiting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">house</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">museums</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">learned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">that</span> Mark <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">Twain</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_59">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_60">neighbors</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_61">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_62">Harriet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_63">Beecher</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_64">Stowe</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_65">Herman</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_66">Melville</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_67">wrote</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_68">Moby</span> Dick in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_69">basically</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_70">one-room</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_71">cabin</span>. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_72">think</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_73">walking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_74">through</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_75">person's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_76">house</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_77">connects</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_78">you</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_79">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_80">historical</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_81">characters</span> in unique <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_82">ways</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_83">You</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_84">can</span> imagine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_85">Twain</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_86">chatting</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_87">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_88">Stowe</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_89">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_90">back</span> yard.<br /><br />But <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_91">there</span> are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_92">house</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_93">museums</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_94">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_95">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_96">emphasis</span> on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_97">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_98">house</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_99">then</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_100">there</span> are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_101">house</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_102">museums</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_103">with</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_104">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_105">emphasis</span> on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_106">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_107">museum</span>. In Paris, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_108">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_109">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_110">mainly</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_111">the</span> former. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_112">This</span> trip <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_113">Dr</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_114">Nell</span> and I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_115">visited</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_116">Alexander</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_117">Dumas</span>' <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_118">house</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_119">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_120">wrote</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_121">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_122">Three</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_123">Musketeers</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_124">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_125">Count</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_126">of</span> Monte <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_127">Cristo</span>) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_128">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_129">students</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_130">visited</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_131">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_132">Rodin</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_133">Museum</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_136">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_137">Hotel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_138">Biron</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_139">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_140">Rodin</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_141">used</span> as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_142">workshop</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_143">starting</span> in 1908. In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_144">Dumas</span>' case, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_145">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_146">house</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_147">generally</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_148">holds</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_149">artifacts</span> about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_150">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_151">life</span> but none <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_152">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_153">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_154">furnishings</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_155">decoration</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_156">from</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_157">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_158">time</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_159">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_160">occupied</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_161">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_162">house</span>. (There is a writing table in the mock-castle based on The Count of Monte Cristo that he used as his space to write)<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_163">Rodin's</span> sculptures (and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_164">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_165">paintings</span>) are on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_166">display</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_167">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_168">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_169">Rodin</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_170">Museum</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_171">including</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_172">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_173">ones</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_174">everybody</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_175">knows</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_176">like</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_177">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_178">Kiss</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_179">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_180">Gates</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_181">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_182">Hell</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_183">my</span> favorite) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_184">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_185">Thinker</span>. For <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_186">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_187">reason</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_188">when</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_189">saw</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_190">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_191">Thinker</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_192">this</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_193">time</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_194">all</span> I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_195">could</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_196">think</span> about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_197">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_198">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_199">early</span> 1960s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_200">sitcom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_201">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_202">Many</span> Loves <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_203">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_204">Dobie</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_205">Gillis</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_206">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_207">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_208">Thinker</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_209">was</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_210">touchstone</span> statue on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_211">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_212">college</span> campus. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_213">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_214">best</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_215">character</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_216">that</span> show, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_217">of</span> course, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_218">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_219">Maynard</span> G. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_220">Kreb</span>s, a beatnik <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_221">cum</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_222">airhead</span>.<br /><br />Don't misunderstand me. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_223">learned</span> a lot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_224">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_225">both</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_226">houses</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_227">Dumas</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_228">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_229">half-black</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_230">Rodin</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_231">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_232">educated</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_233">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_234">the</span> Christian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_235">Brother</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_236">Rainier</span> Maria <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_237">Rilke</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_238">served</span> as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_239">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_240">secretary</span>. And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_241">Rodin</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_242">suffered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_243">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_244">serious</span> set <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_245">back</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_246">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_247">career</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_248">He</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_249">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_250">refused</span> admission <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_251">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_252">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_253">Ecole</span> des <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_254">Beaux-Art</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_255">when</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_256">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_257">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_258">commissioned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_259">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_260">create</span> a monument for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_261">Victor</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_262">Hugo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_263">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_264">be</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_265">displayed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_266">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_267">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_268">Pantheon</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_269">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_270">work</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_271">was</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_272">rejected</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_273">by</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_274">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_275">Society</span> for the People of Letters for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_276">lacking</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_277">clarity</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_278">being</span> vague. And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_279">he</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_280">suffered</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_281">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_282">harsh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_283">criticism</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_284">One</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_285">critic</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_286">opined</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_287">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_288">his</span> statute <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_289">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_290">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_291">author</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_292">Balzac</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_293">pioneered</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_294">new</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_295">way</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_296">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_297">portray</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_298">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_299">human</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_300">body</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_301">way</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_302">which</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_303">person's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_304">brains</span> are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_305">outside</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_306">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_307">head</span>. (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_308">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_309">Society</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_310">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_311">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_312">People</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_313">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_314">Letters</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_315">apparently</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_316">was a glutton for punishment</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_320">It</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_321">had</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_322">commissioned</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_323">this</span> statute as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_324">well</span>. In the case of the Balzac piece, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_326">Monet</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_327">Cezanne</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_328">Toulouse-Lautrec</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_329">sprung</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_330">to</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_331">Rodin's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_332">defense</span>. Finally, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_333">Rodin</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_334">worked</span> on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_335">The</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_336">Gates</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_337">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_338">Hell</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_339">nearly</span> 40 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_340">years</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_341">Later</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_342">the</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_343">week</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_344">we</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_345">will</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_346">visit</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_347">the</span> "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_348">mother</span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_349">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_350">house</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_351">museums</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_352">the</span> palace <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_353">at</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_354">Versailles</span>, and Claude <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_355">Monet's</span> home. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_356">Despite</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_357">its</span> opulence, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_358">find</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_359">it</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_360">hard</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_361">to</span> imagine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_362">myself</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_363">into</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_364">the</span> palace. At <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_365">Monet's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_366">house</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_367">which</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_368">also</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_369">displays</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_370">his</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_371">work</span> but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_372">still</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_373">has</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_374">some</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_375">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_376">his</span> original <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_377">furniture</span>), I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_378">can</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_379">feel</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_380">him</span> as a living <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_381">breathing</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_382">person</span>. For me, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_383">that</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_384">is</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_385">what</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_386">house</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_387">museum</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_388">should</span> do.Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-38920449120996645382011-06-19T16:37:00.005-04:002011-06-19T17:10:27.987-04:00Napoleon, Military History and Rodin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy5FAVBAPiehze_QeZQexL_cpJWa7_y8mIvcITXbQymnPyzN8ZZxeSbug0blTh9gIok37SSWd-vdec0B-AArM9GQUAndta1_dHfM_rjHP2KsTOZskDX1eJ-fa0nUx092Sjqv94Sl3BcD2/s1600/France+086.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy5FAVBAPiehze_QeZQexL_cpJWa7_y8mIvcITXbQymnPyzN8ZZxeSbug0blTh9gIok37SSWd-vdec0B-AArM9GQUAndta1_dHfM_rjHP2KsTOZskDX1eJ-fa0nUx092Sjqv94Sl3BcD2/s320/France+086.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620039739251331026" border="0" /></a><br />We had another full day today! We scheduled a little later start (we left the hotel after10 a.m.) and got to Napoleon's tomb just before 11.<br /><br />After a few introductory remarks, we spent about half an hour in Napoleon's tomb. We asked the students to look in particular at the way Napoleon is depicted (a question we had also asked at the Louvre). We then went just next door and visited the sections in the Musée de l'Armée (the Army Museum) that are devoted to the periods of the Franco-Prussian War, World Wars I and II.<br /><br />After lunch, we all went to the Rodin Museum, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ddmSEgx1srcRDNQfZIOvIJiOfzF2EmOMW84Qqu706X3oCgVIaooX5KEFBkxIxeZ0Y7zFPCsi4EIaYaPt6GIW2yIu6jnkNVeha2y9A35ewdhRZbdEYqcSvz1BYsyLtNA0Dup9oX8hCRH2/s1600/France+092.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ddmSEgx1srcRDNQfZIOvIJiOfzF2EmOMW84Qqu706X3oCgVIaooX5KEFBkxIxeZ0Y7zFPCsi4EIaYaPt6GIW2yIu6jnkNVeha2y9A35ewdhRZbdEYqcSvz1BYsyLtNA0Dup9oX8hCRH2/s320/France+092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620040785518248978" border="0" /></a>which is very near Napoleon's Tomb and the Army Museum. The Rodin Museum is one of my favorite spots in Paris--not only are Rodin's masterpieces displayed beautifully in the gardens, but also there are lovely views of the baroque Dome Church where Napoleon's tomb is located as well as the Eiffel Tower.Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-28731345640331027292011-06-18T16:34:00.007-04:002011-06-18T16:58:38.944-04:00Musée d'Orsay and Arc de TriompheA few showers aside, the weather is cool and pleasant. Today we all wen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP3T2FiTuPxs3lojvGMMKk9PzNt4gX-acdHdtrnZZF23vcBBDVtfAVhH4dy8xqB32sS6qMB25KBI7S5VPkkllDUJoezSb1Rz8WITRB40LrFzeIan51fbAqPDCcr-ly5XrIHjiDl5KN7ns/s1600/France+110.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP3T2FiTuPxs3lojvGMMKk9PzNt4gX-acdHdtrnZZF23vcBBDVtfAVhH4dy8xqB32sS6qMB25KBI7S5VPkkllDUJoezSb1Rz8WITRB40LrFzeIan51fbAqPDCcr-ly5XrIHjiDl5KN7ns/s320/France+110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619664149823347586" border="0" /></a>t to the Musée d'Orsay--an annual highlight of the course. Impressionist art and the culture of the late nineteenth century are featured in the first unit of the course; we are in particular interested in how art criticism shaped the artistic currents. We asked the students to view and study several art works that we had previously studied in our readings. Sadly, two of them, Ma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5ZRenbD7IvQ3I5y0rCUCX8mKEnFwGRMrnKYKu45iXBZZXb448nR_HsXNcgTKVkeX-Y2KKYMLsbdQoOAMRk7tHKzYuMtfhjhRaqFm8pPodyU6vPIcF_DNJfLQ4sDQWf6UjOgK5RAbcJ2R/s1600/France+116.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5ZRenbD7IvQ3I5y0rCUCX8mKEnFwGRMrnKYKu45iXBZZXb448nR_HsXNcgTKVkeX-Y2KKYMLsbdQoOAMRk7tHKzYuMtfhjhRaqFm8pPodyU6vPIcF_DNJfLQ4sDQWf6UjOgK5RAbcJ2R/s320/France+116.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619664973898784482" border="0" /></a>net's "Olympia" and the "Déjeuner sur l'herbe" have been removed from the collection and placed in a special exhibit on Manet's relationship to the modern. We didn't get the tickets to the special exhibition, so we didn't get to see these paintings!<br /><br />We ask our graduate students to prepare and deliver a short presentation to the un<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyL-6bfto4BFIHHvbTydWJNzfBuclv3jIraf8m5aPYAfIjLzXqOWU093DWfENlLEhC_HjAx5ryprUpZCxih1VLJVd2W6TO1AuIoCCXoJ14bP6-EDHxKNmR5LENvPWyTMJ1oWN8gDwB1vAx/s1600/France+134.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyL-6bfto4BFIHHvbTydWJNzfBuclv3jIraf8m5aPYAfIjLzXqOWU093DWfENlLEhC_HjAx5ryprUpZCxih1VLJVd2W6TO1AuIoCCXoJ14bP6-EDHxKNmR5LENvPWyTMJ1oWN8gDwB1vAx/s320/France+134.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619665686590868258" border="0" /></a>dergrads on a couple of extra books (books that the undergrads don't read). Today we had the first of these presentations--on Emile Zola's novel <span style="font-style: italic;">The Masterpiece</span>. This novel's hero is based on the impressionist painter, Cézanne. Maureen McCann and Shannon Harkins did a great job in presenting the novel to the undergrads!<br /><br />We also went to the Champs-Elysées and climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomph<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawhiUPOq3QE6H0leitI2ragsXQNYRl46cKoRve977gZ_mLGIkpme95ztwgTJhf-2wg7XNft44VT3eOhnzTICPQtQqS-e6k_Ks2pl1EzUwJ1RjVqb1vLnwTe3wDvJdDlR1KLuhHwnmUjTb/s1600/France+152.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawhiUPOq3QE6H0leitI2ragsXQNYRl46cKoRve977gZ_mLGIkpme95ztwgTJhf-2wg7XNft44VT3eOhnzTICPQtQqS-e6k_Ks2pl1EzUwJ1RjVqb1vLnwTe3wDvJdDlR1KLuhHwnmUjTb/s320/France+152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619666355539027330" border="0" /></a>e, which presented many photo ops (and I'm including a sample in today's blog).<br /><br />Finally, we had a great Italian dinner at a little restaurant around the corner from our hotel.<br /><br />Tomorrow--Napoleon's tomb, the Museum of the Army and the Rodin Museum!Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-54110731537345028912011-06-18T15:52:00.010-04:002011-06-19T17:30:01.046-04:00Unmanageable Museums<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvccDR81ajOUB3yph7NGk0UemJGq1W8apqkRa5HGVJJx3bUAK8PA3f78fp8eocEEapAo0BmpyX6PiCD0q6bTloV5e0Y4zYSt_axvzBV7oOD-MEhGIkIwnhZyZqLj2jlZEJ-YcE-WW_FM2/s1600/writing+in+the+louvre.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvccDR81ajOUB3yph7NGk0UemJGq1W8apqkRa5HGVJJx3bUAK8PA3f78fp8eocEEapAo0BmpyX6PiCD0q6bTloV5e0Y4zYSt_axvzBV7oOD-MEhGIkIwnhZyZqLj2jlZEJ-YcE-WW_FM2/s200/writing+in+the+louvre.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620045385365672562" border="0" /></a><br />Dr. Nell and I will blog separately this year. Dr. Nell is going to be responsible for sending what I call "post cards from home." I will try to reflect a little bit and give some additional insight on each site we see, it part to give students in my Travel Reporting classes models of different kinds of travel reporting. So bear with me, and if all you want to do is see what we are doing, look for Dr. Nell's posts.<br /><br />So here goes . When we promote this class during the school year, we promise the students that they will see all the A sites of Paris as well as many sites off the beaten track (like the Martyrium, where the founding Jesuits first promise to work with each other after they were all ordained, and which connects our students to nearly 500 years of Jesuit education). So we visit the Notre Dame on the day the students arrive. The second day we go to the Louvre and the the third day (today) we head to the Musee d' Orsay, the museum with works of the Impressionists (one of the foci of the course) and modern French art.<br /><br />The Louvre is basically impossible to negotiate. Even with an audio guide it is very difficult to find your away around. To compensate, we give the students certain specific works to look for, some related to the class and some because they are the "it" pieces in the Louvre--The Mona Lisa, The Winged Victory and the Venus de Milo. Of all the thousands of pieces of art in the Louvre, those are the three that everybody must see. That is reductionism in the extreme.<br /><br />For those of you who have not been there, the three large buildings joined in a U shape that make up the Louvre are cut up into hundreds of little rooms, each generally with a specific collection Technically you can move from wing to wing but it isn't easy. Wondering around, you can go directly from a collection of artifacts from Mesopotamia to 18th century French Sculpture. Nineteenth century French paintings are not next to 18th century French paintings and even when I look at a map and am not sure how to get from one section to the other. I once took a audio tour and still got lost. Often it is just easier to exit from one wing, cross the central lobby--which is heated up by being directly under the I.M Pei pyramid--and entering another lobby.<br /><br />So it seems to me that you basically have two choices, wander around in this huge jumble of art and artifacts or build a sense of purpose that enables you to look at specific works and ignore others. You have to reduce the Louvre into something manageable. But even then, you are bound to get lost.<br /><br />The Orsay is smaller than the Louvre and completely different in its architectural look. But it too is divided into small rooms. But while I find a visit to the Louvre wearying, I find the Orsay deeply affecting, and it is not just because of the works themselves,though that plays a role in it. The Louvre, for me, is a "must do" site. While the same sense of obligation exists for the Orsay (it is an A site afterall) the payoff seems more meaningful.<br /><br />As for the students, the visits to both museums wears them out. But as they follow the direction given to them, they understand that they have taken steps forward.Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-11567204388154072092011-06-17T16:51:00.004-04:002011-06-17T17:14:44.408-04:00Welcome 2011 Paris Students!We've all arrived in Paris, France, for the Paris Study Course: Communication and Culture in Contemporary and Modern France! Students arrived yesterday and, despite just a few glitches, we picked up the students at the airport (two students had already arr<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8ue_VUGPkzZhP2O2dLQTuqq9sd4gdx4jPs8_EYjoPhgWPYfS7JVzC8Sld3eEFEeQJoxdj2OhLZWf2Std5dJ2j-qPk0oRcxmRWxeqAZyQpKgVIB3f6B7P2_0LimrzwOvqCOzvhBwugPp_/s1600/France+036.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8ue_VUGPkzZhP2O2dLQTuqq9sd4gdx4jPs8_EYjoPhgWPYfS7JVzC8Sld3eEFEeQJoxdj2OhLZWf2Std5dJ2j-qPk0oRcxmRWxeqAZyQpKgVIB3f6B7P2_0LimrzwOvqCOzvhBwugPp_/s320/France+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619298189431553906" border="0" /></a>ived, so they met us at the hotel). After a pretty grueling day of travel and arrival, everyone got a good night sleep and we started bright and early today.<br /><br />Highlights of our activities included: three hours in the Louvre, contemplating works that are important to the subject matter in the course (by artists such as Delacroix, David and Gros). Oh, and we saw the Mona Lisa, too! We went up to <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQLIAxwq9v-UzN9GTavRqkeVzkFJ9BeiGObajpzyadZBBMQkWYUx6QaEwPsKhD-8buuyAMaBdK3DFamKA4t6pjtWUqgsTSqNwSS-lwjC9eCLzO6JoEHzIhyphenhyphen9EtSMQSyB-ygC8n9xrmvVx/s1600/France+047.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQLIAxwq9v-UzN9GTavRqkeVzkFJ9BeiGObajpzyadZBBMQkWYUx6QaEwPsKhD-8buuyAMaBdK3DFamKA4t6pjtWUqgsTSqNwSS-lwjC9eCLzO6JoEHzIhyphenhyphen9EtSMQSyB-ygC8n9xrmvVx/s320/France+047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619299069337156098" border="0" /></a>the Montmartre and visited Emile Zola's <span style="font-style: italic;">first</span> tomb (hint: he has a <span style="font-style: italic;">second</span> tomb that we will visit later) and the Martyrium, the chapel where St. Ignatius of Loyola and his first companions made their first vows. We also spent a few minutes in Sacré Coeur and toured the wonderful Montmartre district. Finally, we had dinner at a restaurant in Montmartre. Tomorrow, the Musée d'Orsay and more paintings that we are studying in our course!Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-20481665716494163752010-06-28T03:02:00.009-04:002010-06-28T03:23:42.763-04:00Last Day in Paris! Jim Morrison, picnic, banquet and river cruise<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamKvTHhX9mMPes0cvq6BowFhlzp5Dc8QnThJpbwuYh23ZXYj7pikZObYYyw_XeARdskWz8L7J2joRoD_brAcu3x4AYXgBykSyl1ZeJqSiFYyT8xvet2WZn_w22Wv1huwiGiMUHHj1fEms/s1600/Paris+Course+Last+Day+007.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamKvTHhX9mMPes0cvq6BowFhlzp5Dc8QnThJpbwuYh23ZXYj7pikZObYYyw_XeARdskWz8L7J2joRoD_brAcu3x4AYXgBykSyl1ZeJqSiFYyT8xvet2WZn_w22Wv1huwiGiMUHHj1fEms/s320/Paris+Course+Last+Day+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487721701333662290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What a great last day! A few of us started early with a visit to the Père Lachaise cemetary. Carson and Andrew wanted to pay hommage to Jim Morrison, who died in Paris in the early 70s.<br /><br />Later, the group met at the hotel and we picnicked at the Eiffel Tower.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKnQzJDwSALXirG2oDViY-UmMalD3on91z5FqjpBpQsho6u_a3oXW5alwgiyn4YbWn-b6H61759mzxr0khl8ySgg_NnGwETrkJrK-8J_Kx7TBQUjXZV3i6BaoxN4oe_VWzq3jb1gOHXaA/s1600/Paris+Course+Last+Day+013.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKnQzJDwSALXirG2oDViY-UmMalD3on91z5FqjpBpQsho6u_a3oXW5alwgiyn4YbWn-b6H61759mzxr0khl8ySgg_NnGwETrkJrK-8J_Kx7TBQUjXZV3i6BaoxN4oe_VWzq3jb1gOHXaA/s320/Paris+Course+Last+Day+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487718508901659442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkHPAVBc-HVxEtkyTA3Ig9KtQ_a79q4gO1g4SezmB6JJGFZlgcvZ2wbt-xGvmd8BjlNXVexDjklsG_DGIA3POjtjE6Pj-XP-k-ve5UseCwbcsgjSvBzYvfYAmqugf4ZnMLgAi40A6mT00/s1600/Paris+Course+Last+Day+027.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkHPAVBc-HVxEtkyTA3Ig9KtQ_a79q4gO1g4SezmB6JJGFZlgcvZ2wbt-xGvmd8BjlNXVexDjklsG_DGIA3POjtjE6Pj-XP-k-ve5UseCwbcsgjSvBzYvfYAmqugf4ZnMLgAi40A6mT00/s320/Paris+Course+Last+Day+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487718747069576114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our banquet was great this year--a French restaurant in the Marais.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwLy4C5ipkVVego6ed2zlJBAH4cSpFS0XWWdnQpDw715cqkjhyphenhyphend79SaaYE3EOaNy9RvYM1twIGu_iUBQmexKZtKaWPCHmG27pv2RRKez8XlZvh8H9cuohBs5Nz9n9_g8EoPPeI1L8_xJg/s1600/Paris+Course+Last+Day+047.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwLy4C5ipkVVego6ed2zlJBAH4cSpFS0XWWdnQpDw715cqkjhyphenhyphend79SaaYE3EOaNy9RvYM1twIGu_iUBQmexKZtKaWPCHmG27pv2RRKez8XlZvh8H9cuohBs5Nz9n9_g8EoPPeI1L8_xJg/s320/Paris+Course+Last+Day+047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487719450844355010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDSrH3wNSNaW6HtxkVV1_KVIKJCMiGs_w4Auzjr_cs5rjouQ4092pqw6fm1IT2K2HALyQOAWiqXUGfXJv1MEubeGAvoV_OeTR2GV5Ap3TpHoP8TgJEswLrLcJLpg0dSjMif3rh0YdFc6F/s1600/Paris+Course+Last+Day+040.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDSrH3wNSNaW6HtxkVV1_KVIKJCMiGs_w4Auzjr_cs5rjouQ4092pqw6fm1IT2K2HALyQOAWiqXUGfXJv1MEubeGAvoV_OeTR2GV5Ap3TpHoP8TgJEswLrLcJLpg0dSjMif3rh0YdFc6F/s320/Paris+Course+Last+Day+040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487719202586810002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our tradition is to end the course with a cruise down the Seine at sunset.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL5YU-zO6dPWAnilyCsbp1LH96xc241d_Uv1EqHNGShiM1A-lRIguLudA3c4qEHargcC9809FxT1tpAH2trynaRrXW4Ko18aC8bCfAolHlM01c4lYN8ZKpKm5G8M7mrrW67b94fVeGFyq/s1600/Paris+Course+Last+Day+064.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL5YU-zO6dPWAnilyCsbp1LH96xc241d_Uv1EqHNGShiM1A-lRIguLudA3c4qEHargcC9809FxT1tpAH2trynaRrXW4Ko18aC8bCfAolHlM01c4lYN8ZKpKm5G8M7mrrW67b94fVeGFyq/s320/Paris+Course+Last+Day+064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487719689769556818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We just put our first group of students on the shuttle to the aiport--it's been a great experience for all!Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-3676228369033512152010-06-27T05:43:00.002-04:002010-06-27T05:50:01.368-04:00Picnic at the Eiffel TowerIt is hard to believe that we are at the last day of the trip and we leave tomorrow. Today, we will picnic at the Eiffel Tower. Then the students will then have time to pack (or, if they have packed, time to pick up some last minute souvenirs. ) We finish with a closing banquet and a boat ride down the Seine.<br /><br />Yesterday was a free day. There was a lot of good shopping and some of the folks went to some special places their parents' had recommended to them. Everybody was able to make their way around Paris and return to the hotel on time.<br /><br />Dr. Nell has the camera so I assume she will post some pictures later. We will probably post on or two more times before we leave.Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-29212452031250811492010-06-26T17:01:00.004-04:002010-06-26T17:17:54.687-04:00Free day in Paris!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4ylNO0yrTnqG1AYUcHbca6O1hy5VecEyNKN8l02FrBsScnF5AkYrHrbLMt-0Eh4as-Rd8Hmpv8YKXHU9gtiHayv0gfHiJQjcsDKoqxAaUyxKgr_EGexb_WfFMD9HgSSpf0h0SFRIHugX/s1600/Paris+Course+Free+day+Pompidou+center+034.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4ylNO0yrTnqG1AYUcHbca6O1hy5VecEyNKN8l02FrBsScnF5AkYrHrbLMt-0Eh4as-Rd8Hmpv8YKXHU9gtiHayv0gfHiJQjcsDKoqxAaUyxKgr_EGexb_WfFMD9HgSSpf0h0SFRIHugX/s320/Paris+Course+Free+day+Pompidou+center+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487194173169478018" border="0" /></a><br />Today Dr. Amy Wells, who gave a lecture to our students yesterday on the burka controversy, and I went to the Centre Pompidou (the French national contemporary art museum).<br /><br />What a great choice for the free day! There was a great exhibit of the work of women artists from the permanent collection of this museum. Here's the website: http://www.ina.fr/fresques/elles-centrepompidou<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Wivkjuy4BaumGufVM2BrgWeq23Oo1HmcNG_Nkf9NYiz7fOVM0uSgbWRsMASTY3B7k8M7YpyR6wuHIBWJ7XuW0At9_MpFtgRFSSRuawow8s-m1_dAvaKAR6rJ3anc9YQSKoNWAiVc8ABR/s1600/Paris+Course+Free+day+Pompidou+center+013.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Wivkjuy4BaumGufVM2BrgWeq23Oo1HmcNG_Nkf9NYiz7fOVM0uSgbWRsMASTY3B7k8M7YpyR6wuHIBWJ7XuW0At9_MpFtgRFSSRuawow8s-m1_dAvaKAR6rJ3anc9YQSKoNWAiVc8ABR/s320/Paris+Course+Free+day+Pompidou+center+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487194485146174338" border="0" /></a>/Html/PrincipaleAccueil.php .<br /><br />I'm posting here a work by the Guerilla Girls which is part of the exhibit.<br /><br />Also, we saw a special exhibit by Lucian Freud, the grandson of Sigmund Freud, and a very interesting exhibit on "Dreamlands"--from the beginnings of theme parks to imaginary cities.<br /><br />Tomorrow is our closing banquet and scenic cruise on the Seine!Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-66383224984558282042010-06-26T02:59:00.002-04:002010-06-26T03:06:52.274-04:00Footloose and Fancy Free in ParisDr. Nell gave a great summary of yesterday and the pictures say it all. One of the promises we make to this class going in is that Paris itself is the classroom and you can see that it is the case from the pictures. The talks are so much more real when they are delivered in situ, so to speak.<br /><br />The other promise we make is that by the end of the stay, the students will be the masters of Paris and today is the day they get to demonstrate that. Since a nationwide sale started earlier in the week, I know that some folks have been plotting their shopping excursions for days now. I am heading for a trendy new district called South Pigalle (SoPi) to see what I can find.<br /><br />It is hard to believe that we are getting towards the end of our stay. Tomorrow we will picnic at the Eiffel Tower and then have a closing banquet followed by a boat ride along the Seine.Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-17321339831777046292010-06-25T15:37:00.008-04:002010-06-25T15:52:29.902-04:00Ethnicity: the Jewish quarter and museum, lecture on the burka law and North African dinner<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnubjiaVzgg7hv2PWYYBbmPeInoUy9oRhhMe-K4g1V4t03m__930wn-Q7ti2_8I6P7C0bKGIJEHNfeuu2GGPVHKtuXJXu3m2banusrUMQPXhkkc-vhvZUhlBsbz6L4M39Ae95hZ8AKaBy/s1600/Paris+Course+Ethnic+day+Amy+Wells+006.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnubjiaVzgg7hv2PWYYBbmPeInoUy9oRhhMe-K4g1V4t03m__930wn-Q7ti2_8I6P7C0bKGIJEHNfeuu2GGPVHKtuXJXu3m2banusrUMQPXhkkc-vhvZUhlBsbz6L4M39Ae95hZ8AKaBy/s320/Paris+Course+Ethnic+day+Amy+Wells+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486799933082202146" border="0" /></a><br />It's been another very full day. We had a free morning, so students slept in or went with Dr. King to visit the Arc de Triomphe. At noon, some of the students met me at the hotel and we went to the Marais district for "the best falafel in the world"--where we ran into Dr. King. After lunch, we went to the Musée d'art et d'histoire du judaïsme (Museum of Jewish Art and History) where we learned about Jewish life and traditions in Europe.<br /><br />Before dinner, we met for a lecture in the park by Dr. Amy Wells of the University of Limoges.<br />Dr. Wells talked about the current c<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsRbPnvKoR_KHzpWtaLlyMhda82qF7HK5B0CF854eKsI4Tcutt24zcWjPq10q52PayGTMVWQmPqlsI14FFx6xTki43Ai3ReiG1V_zMNS4gNd80pMgyL3419aTxiSI1HB2jP-EpoJMiqU-/s1600/Paris+Course+Ethnic+day+Amy+Wells+008.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsRbPnvKoR_KHzpWtaLlyMhda82qF7HK5B0CF854eKsI4Tcutt24zcWjPq10q52PayGTMVWQmPqlsI14FFx6xTki43Ai3ReiG1V_zMNS4gNd80pMgyL3419aTxiSI1HB2jP-EpoJMiqU-/s320/Paris+Course+Ethnic+day+Amy+Wells+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486800188562985650" border="0" /></a>ontroversy in France concerning wearing the burka. Currently the French government is considering outlawing the burka.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXV9Sy0GRDzoJtfXYRhOVQOtxKiaQIYyhAgCF1gDiU3pRtX_JUuafMOq5h0zZvcNaP_mRcGtpIKc88w5zvXNIPSUF82aJxQxPj4tju-Ku6sCUSZig_AE__UGnTChLCDl5QBrj4yz2zSgD/s1600/Paris+Course+Ethnic+day+Amy+Wells+016.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXV9Sy0GRDzoJtfXYRhOVQOtxKiaQIYyhAgCF1gDiU3pRtX_JUuafMOq5h0zZvcNaP_mRcGtpIKc88w5zvXNIPSUF82aJxQxPj4tju-Ku6sCUSZig_AE__UGnTChLCDl5QBrj4yz2zSgD/s320/Paris+Course+Ethnic+day+Amy+Wells+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486800473152904322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDM6y97atfUR23f3s2Iu-sqLX1p407hBBThCFuNvtXjQ1235RDyO7zSxTeNKhpyS51ts-rSwRoQfW4soILymfdLsSpwMGXjcJypFpuq_QTCPOPdm43qbjTKv2MYeD4QZhQbx_15B5UZqVe/s1600/Paris+Course+Ethnic+day+Amy+Wells+022.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDM6y97atfUR23f3s2Iu-sqLX1p407hBBThCFuNvtXjQ1235RDyO7zSxTeNKhpyS51ts-rSwRoQfW4soILymfdLsSpwMGXjcJypFpuq_QTCPOPdm43qbjTKv2MYeD4QZhQbx_15B5UZqVe/s320/Paris+Course+Ethnic+day+Amy+Wells+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486801049795553378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />After the lecture, we headed to "Toucan Café" where we had a delicous North African dinner--couscous!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We ended our dinner with mint tea. Tomorrow is the "free <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NOpNR8QIK5f0svXk9FecuyA1-oMHltqK0VF7-2PTnJ_d3NyHT6SxprQQgMhjhbJpQP0vAH-mUdhAYi35ScOLNmoi80NuIc3jQREH3zYEu4BZbo7mA_JmkVHv0BRCG9zemzqAvxzt0l8B/s1600/Paris+Course+Ethnic+day+Amy+Wells+024.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NOpNR8QIK5f0svXk9FecuyA1-oMHltqK0VF7-2PTnJ_d3NyHT6SxprQQgMhjhbJpQP0vAH-mUdhAYi35ScOLNmoi80NuIc3jQREH3zYEu4BZbo7mA_JmkVHv0BRCG9zemzqAvxzt0l8B/s320/Paris+Course+Ethnic+day+Amy+Wells+024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486801407735367122" border="0" /></a>day"--what will our students decide to do???Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-24731718671691266902010-06-25T05:04:00.006-04:002010-06-25T05:19:03.036-04:00Our fantastic day at Giverny!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvgoo_RjYWTJ0t6BYpNeRLeQEmyUKrADLlefJYwZA_CmQPTZRNyyKwuXZ4gSysksIEl9Z1A9jAeejFZ0umDjaVaV1qFsa5S7nb6wzjx_fCoeYEMxNWHt3rsjrse-pp6FOQt-fG6lKY3bh/s1600/D%C3%A9jeuner+sur+l%27herbe.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvgoo_RjYWTJ0t6BYpNeRLeQEmyUKrADLlefJYwZA_CmQPTZRNyyKwuXZ4gSysksIEl9Z1A9jAeejFZ0umDjaVaV1qFsa5S7nb6wzjx_fCoeYEMxNWHt3rsjrse-pp6FOQt-fG6lKY3bh/s320/D%C3%A9jeuner+sur+l%27herbe.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486637691861127890" border="0" /></a><br />The stars aligned, the gods smiled and our day in Giverny worked out really well! Problem: there was a strike yesterday. The French government has decided to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 and the unions called a strike. It didn't shut down everything, but did slow things down. Our train was delayed for 30 minutes on the way to Giverny and about 40 minutes on the way back. We had no problems getting tickets for the group from the bus driver (I was worried about this), but he did look at me a bit funny when I asked for a large number! We had ordered picnic boxed lunches from a restaurant in Giverny and were able to have our own version of "Luncheon on the Grass" (a famous painting by Manet).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNv8pU3Rx2Wa0leqUmhb__5ZcQrq9VgU9JrSh9kT9JawnRnE0okA8fgUzaQZctvJbwPq9jT4EYUDDOEqQC9CmcxaOAa763LwEb7d__O9PWmEZ8FjXs4i6fyFAq270OiJkEnWEEq8vVtL6/s1600/Ladies+in+the+Japanese+garden.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNv8pU3Rx2Wa0leqUmhb__5ZcQrq9VgU9JrSh9kT9JawnRnE0okA8fgUzaQZctvJbwPq9jT4EYUDDOEqQC9CmcxaOAa763LwEb7d__O9PWmEZ8FjXs4i6fyFAq270OiJkEnWEEq8vVtL6/s320/Ladies+in+the+Japanese+garden.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486637812855312882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We were able to stay on schedule with our group reservation at Monet's house and had a wonderful time wandering the gardens and touring the house.<br /><br />It was great this year to have extra time in the village. We all walked to Monet's tomb and I had some delicious sorbet at a restaurant where Monet and the other impres<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABH92o_8rntDuFtTo8jtTBcZOMtAQxj1lBn6xKgbVOGc44zt2PnYE01zGAWagATV6yCtt0Pss9Q5L5HOY5ySpFpQw0mraILlGIJA1aIRqaK8ss382KsQ6HgXZ7mrfooyJvitipitFY7zM/s1600/Dr.+Nell,+Kelly+and+Meaghan.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABH92o_8rntDuFtTo8jtTBcZOMtAQxj1lBn6xKgbVOGc44zt2PnYE01zGAWagATV6yCtt0Pss9Q5L5HOY5ySpFpQw0mraILlGIJA1aIRqaK8ss382KsQ6HgXZ7mrfooyJvitipitFY7zM/s320/Dr.+Nell,+Kelly+and+Meaghan.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486638102451783474" border="0" /></a>sionist artists hung out. I also had an impromptu conversation with an elderly French man and his wife about the weather, the American revolution and Lafayette!<br />(Sharon Nell)Sharon Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15440047250080962405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-67995830415668525192010-06-25T03:51:00.002-04:002010-06-25T03:58:38.629-04:00The wireless in the hotel is down so I am on a French keyboard which is a pain. Yesterday was a great day in Giverny, which is my favorite part of the trip. The weather was perfect; the sun was perfect to appreciate the full splendor of the pond. We have lots of great pictures; which we will have to figure out how to post.<div><br /></div><div>Today is immigration day (I cant find the quotation marks) and we will have a guest lecture by Dr. Amy Wells of the University of Limoges. Hope to have the Internet issues resolved soon.</div>Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-38422305019006944862010-06-23T17:09:00.006-04:002010-06-23T17:21:16.456-04:00Rambling Around Paris<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18WE0Q2nLVVFDoIK1NjDXW3J3F33LbfEiL3eZ9Pqoy6BmVbf_sxxmqJj20SysuJ1qRBZqKCUnGbMYFiZ6XorEuWMe2gvj9KnOGH8r09iMljGwrvqnZW9DxuLIIKR6wsQyRSIdoM_TyOzc/s1600/l'ongariere+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486081597717264594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18WE0Q2nLVVFDoIK1NjDXW3J3F33LbfEiL3eZ9Pqoy6BmVbf_sxxmqJj20SysuJ1qRBZqKCUnGbMYFiZ6XorEuWMe2gvj9KnOGH8r09iMljGwrvqnZW9DxuLIIKR6wsQyRSIdoM_TyOzc/s320/l'ongariere+2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><br /><div>The weather in Paris has gone from cold to hot. For most of the day, it was just perfect. But from time to time, it was just too hot. It should be hot and sunny for the rest of our visit (at least that is the forecast.) Hot and sunny is better than cold and rainy.<br /><br />Today was a great example of the way the trip works. In the morning, the students visited the Musee d’ l’Orangerie, which has a huge collection of Claude Monet’s Water Lilies. Tomorrow we travel to Giverny to see the pond on which the water lily paintings are based. At least we hope that is what we will be able to do. Real life has intruded on the trip as there will be a general strike in Paris protesting raising the retirement age in France to 62 (from 60), one of the actions taken by the current government in response to the European debt crisis. Railroad officials assured us there would only be minor delays on the trains, so we hope the trip to and from Giverny will be uneventful. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsANIGugGKSGwfmXo4ydP3wrbrHZEtUXQ5NdLmMApdN9r5tV58V-ORxeFBDVfY1hIS1oOMbxgDykdnHwM7QSN0vIAjgm9mMofXveQ7YmUqpQLYT83tXILgn9oDHEpM092NJAQU7wdf1tOe/s1600/l'organerie.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486080737381076802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsANIGugGKSGwfmXo4ydP3wrbrHZEtUXQ5NdLmMApdN9r5tV58V-ORxeFBDVfY1hIS1oOMbxgDykdnHwM7QSN0vIAjgm9mMofXveQ7YmUqpQLYT83tXILgn9oDHEpM092NJAQU7wdf1tOe/s320/l'organerie.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The rest of the day consisted of going to Napoleon’s Tomb and the Museum of the Army. The students then went on their own to the Rodin Museum and the Pantheon. We had Italian food for dinner.<br /><br />Everybody is getting along well and I just heard that Shioban Prior, who graduated a couple of years ago and is now playing women’s basketball professionally, may visit with us on Friday, which will be fun.<br /><br />Oh, and one more thought. Being in Europe, we are following the World Cup soccer tournament pretty closely. It has been a disaster for France<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiiN0bpEoyJGR1eNtpiWu7UW3TCqSiePxxepLNO8McuWkm8IFLgO_GHADYg4wqy1DkpKfjtxHWblfga-p083iwk9mBGMbiubBwj4J1bRyJbTEg2cu1pjSNOjvW07xG6McfaZUHwcN8koB/s1600/Napoleon's+Tomb.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486081009893408722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiiN0bpEoyJGR1eNtpiWu7UW3TCqSiePxxepLNO8McuWkm8IFLgO_GHADYg4wqy1DkpKfjtxHWblfga-p083iwk9mBGMbiubBwj4J1bRyJbTEg2cu1pjSNOjvW07xG6McfaZUHwcN8koB/s320/Napoleon's+Tomb.jpg" /></a>—one newspaper’s headline called it “the end of the world”—but USA won a thriller today. </div><div> </div><div>If you squint real hard you can see Dr. King talking to the students on the steps of Napoleon's tomb. For this course, Paris is definitely our classroom.</div></div></div>Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699195895353021867.post-57983262044585556552010-06-22T14:51:00.002-04:002010-06-22T14:56:59.164-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQy2FTIaKDqqMFwWBRrigUR56aE5NjlPLx7LZYLn9Q1kLaUa1qSOwMGJL7msy3pGcHjon4r1YPqLGVtx9kXOk6SiF-GnvQb-ULxL0EpCUkmvKyiH4s9jMmKQrwK91wMScUFcplLlIsJBx2/s1600/versailles+total.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485673366095629186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQy2FTIaKDqqMFwWBRrigUR56aE5NjlPLx7LZYLn9Q1kLaUa1qSOwMGJL7msy3pGcHjon4r1YPqLGVtx9kXOk6SiF-GnvQb-ULxL0EpCUkmvKyiH4s9jMmKQrwK91wMScUFcplLlIsJBx2/s320/versailles+total.jpg" /></a> Today we visited Versailles. Obviously this is on the “A” list when it comes to visiting Paris. But for our students, it is also another important step in mastering their way around Paris. While Dr. Nell and I accompanied the students to Versailles, they made their own way back to Paris. One group of students stopped at the Eiffel Tower and others made other stops on their way back. The students are becoming increasingly confident in their ability to negotiate the mass transit system here.<br /><br />Until now, the weather has been very cold and overcast (but fortunately no rain). Today, there was a glorious blue sky and warm weather. We are looking forward to good weather for the rest of our stay.<br /><br />I forgot the mention that last night we ate in a Spain Tapas restaurant. Tomorrow night we will eat at an Italian restaurant. The final two dinner stops will be North African and then back to France for our final banquet. We learned today that the crepe place by the hotel is run by people from Sri Lanka and I found out that we have a lot in common—none of us can speak French. (Some of our students speak French quite well and the others are doing their best to pick it up.)<br /><br />Tomorrow is another big museum day. The difference is that after the first stop—a museum that has a huge collection of Monet’s Water Lily paintings (we travel to the pond on which they were based the day after tomorrow)—the rest of the day the students will make their way around town on their own.<br /><br />It is hard to believe the trip is at the halfway point, but it clearly is. Some of the students have begun to plot their shopping excursion for the free day on Saturday.Elliot Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870251966544164607noreply@blogger.com0