French Architecture

I am not a photographer, as much as I would like to pretend. And the more I have to look up online the names of places that I have forgotten, the more I realize how unoriginal most of my pictures are - especially the ones I thought were original. But it is medically impossible to go to Europe and not take pictures of architecture. Even when you think you are taking pictures of something else, they turn out to be architectural photos.

The best place to do this is...you guessed it, the Eiffel Tower. Everywhere you look, there are angles and lines, and then out of nowhere there is a gear or a light fixture that is round and commands you to stop what you are doing and look.





But to limit great architectural photos to only the tower - that many Parisians detested until the last 70 years or so - is a great injustice. It's hard to think of a museum, religious building, or even department store that doesn't draw the eyes up. Sacre Coeur

At Le Galleries Lafayette, one of the oldest department stores in Paris, and certainly the grandest (pick a designer and it's there!) This store had the most extensive perfume department I have ever seen. There were three buildings, actually. The largest was for women's apparel (go figure), one for men, and one for home furnishings located across the street.

One can't forget Napoleon's Arc de Triumph. It really is stunning, and the views from the top are some of the best in Paris (if you've got the strength to climb the 284 stairs). But what is hiding underneath the arc is the most amazing and yet again draws your eyes upward.

The Louvre is a must-see when going to Paris, but what I found so interesting was that the art's beauty, especially the sculptures, were enhanced because of the grand rooms. "Winged Victory", for example, would not be as amazing if it weren't placed at the top of a staircase with domed ceilings and round windows framing her. The pyramid, I hate to say, looks ridiculous from the outside, but when you stand below it and look up, there seems to be no better place for those panels of glass to be. There are actually three pyramids, and one of the smaller ones is located directly above a courtyard that is full of French sculptures, and the light bounces off of the marble, making the room appear as though it is glowing.







The Orsay Museum, which was actually my favorite though I mentally grumbled about going at first (after the Louvre, wouldn't everything else be a disappointment?), was originally built as a train station. When advances in train technology made the station outdated, it was converted into a museum. What is so interesting about the structure is the juxtaposition of modern lines with turn of the century ones. While the art in this one was overall much more interesting to me (mostly Impressionist movement), there were structural points that were very intriguing as well:




I visited many cathedrals, basilicas and churches while touring France and Spain. There are so many similarities among them because most were constructed in the gothic style. This doesn't mean, though, that they weren't a sight to see. It is hard for me to wrap my brain around the construction of these magnificent buildings so many centuries ago - all of the work that went into them, the PHYSICAL work of every individual participant, which makes these buildings more beautiful because of the loving attention to detail you see in every inch. That is how I felt in these buildings - the love of the people wanting to build something glorious for Heavenly Father. We can have no understanding about how many people have walked through these buildings, how many prayers have been said, how many widow's mites have been offered...they are truly works of love.





The oldest architecture I saw in France was in Carcassonne, a walled medieval fortress where Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" was filmed. It was so old it almost didn't seem real-there are parts of the outer wall that the Romans had built. Our group got there around 9 am on a Sunday- the shops were just opening and the tourists hadn't really started arriving yet, so it was quiet and pretty deserted, which is the perfect way to see this city.

Blogging about a trip

There are so many things that happened and that were seen on my trip to France and Spain, but how do I begin to blog about all of it? There is the daily play-by-play, which I fear may become long and tedious to some, and even myself and the last thing I want is for this to become a chore to myself and those who read. There is the city commentary method, but that may become more of a collage of places I've seen instead of the stories that go with them which is really more interesting, after all. So I've decided to blog about this thematically/categorically (choose whichever word makes the most sense to you) because let's face it, many of the places are famous enough that you've seen pictures of them before. I will try to include stories that are interesting, but if I get too verbose, feel free to peruse the pictures. If you would like to see a more complete collection of pictures (I took about 1,100 and we all know I'm not going to load even a third of those on blogger because it takes FOR-EV-ER), check my facebook account by clicking here where less then half of them have been uploaded.

I Have Returned!

As my friend Erin mentioned previously, I, Tweets the passport cover, have returned from my whirlwind European vacation! I had a lot of fun, met some interesting people, and saw some amazing things. Here is a tiny part of what I saw of this very big world!

Seeing as I had never been out of Utah, I must give a shoutout to all of the time I spent in airports, Chicago O'Hare to be specific. I spent more time here then at any other stop I made. Flying is fun, but it sure isn't for Erin because she is a lot bigger than I am...that is, unless she is sitting next to interesting Parisian and German men on the international portions of the flights. But I'll let her tell you about that herself.

After a very long day of travel, I finally made it on to French soil. I wasn't jet-lagged at all (whatever that means, anyway) and couldn't believe I was finally here!

I saw many beautiful cathedrals and basilicas. The one called Notre Dame was particularly interesting because the first day I went to see it was the day of the memorial for the Air France plane that disappeared (which also happened on the same day I arrived). I saw a lot of Air France employees, the four buses full of family memebers of the victims, and President Sarkozy's motorcade. I also got to hear the beautiful singing coming from inside the cathedral during the service. I think Erin got a little video of it, and I'll remind her to post it later.

What's a visit to Paris without stopping to see this bad boy?! It's just like the pictures and it can be seen from many spots in Paris. The next time I see it, though, I hope I have my very own special tweety bird with me because it is very romantical.

People sure were making a big deal about this painting! I thought it would be bigger than it really was, but I'm just a passport cover so what do I know!

I saw a lot of art on this trip, mostly in Paris. My favorite parts of the Louvre were the sculptures - hundreds of them! But my favorite museum was the Orsay, which focused predominately on the Impressionist movement - Monet, Manet, Pissarro, Degas, Sissley, Renior, Van Gogh, Cassatt, and Cezanne (among others). I had only one hour in the Prado, so Erin did a lot of running me to on painting to another and no pictures were allowed...not that I had time to stop an take one anyway!

I wasn't sure what to expect in Spain, to be honest. But my favorite parts were probably the midieval walled towns. This one is above Toledo, one of the prettiest things I have ever seen.

Those Spaniards sure know how to build a Royal Palace. This one in Madrid has over 2,800 rooms! I only saw about 30 of them, and I was truly amazed.

Barcelona had a lot of interesting architecture next to a lot of shabby architecture. Sorry to anyone who is a lover of this city, but this chicken was not sad to fly this coop. It wasn't all bad, and in fact I saw some pretty cool things, but for the most "cosmopolitan" city (as one Spaniard told Erin pre-trip) in Spain, I was left hoping for more.

And what kind of twit of a passport cover would I be if I didn't mention the Mediterranean Sea and the costal towns that reside there. Erin was a putz and forgot her swimsuit in her suitcase which was packed on the bus, but it was still enjoyable to sit with the breeze blowing through my fabric while Erin soaked her feet and collected sea glass and burned her nose...man, am I glad I don't have one of those!

Of course, all good vacations must come to an end. I am already missing France and Spain and hope to return someday, but I am happy to be sleeping in Erin's own bed again. I guess there truly is no place like home!

Thank you SOOOO much...

...for my beautiful passport cover, Megan! I love it so much that it is going to be the 'gnome' of my trip. Check back later to see the adventures Tweets has been on!

The waiting...and waiting...and waiting game.

Blogging often takes longer then I anticipate - you know the bit where you have all these pictures and stories to write about but you keep putting it off until you have more time, and then you find yourself with time but it's not the right time because you're not feeling it...Well, no more excuses. I am officially out of work for the next few months (don't panic, I'm a teacher if you didn't know) and waiting for my vacation to start in a few days and the waiting is killing me - I can't even read a book with confidence! But if I leave the house I spend money = less money to spend on vacation. So here is some catch-up blogging, mostly to entertain myself, of things I've done to entertain myself!

QUINCEANERA- I attended one of these festivities at the beginning of May for a student who I taught and was advisor to this year. For those who aren't aware, it is a traditional Mexican/Latin American 15th birthday celebration for girls. It's basically a religious coming-out part which looks and feels a lot like a wedding for one - the Catholic service, carrying bouquets, attendants, the cake, the reception, the dresses, the toasting, changing the shoes (instead of a garter),special dances for the father and daughter and the attendants, the party until all hours of the morning...




SOUTHERN UTAH ENTERTAINMENT - When I first moved to Cedar City so many years ago to attend college, I had no idea what young people in small-town America did for entertainment. And now, all these years later (and after having participated in some of these activities myself) I feel like my high school days were cheated somehow. Shooting paint cans and food in cans, blowing stuff up, shooting at large items, and lighting large objects on fire are just a few of the things I have done since moving here. And when your friends have old furniture, you still light it up, even when you are way to old to know better.




ENTERTAINERS IN SOUTHERN UTAH - Brian Regan, a comedian, came to perform at Tuachan. Tuachan is this AMAZING outdoor amphitheater in St. George, and Brian Regan is an amazing - and clean! - comedian who is a favorite on David Letterman and Comedy Central.



REMINISCING WITH FRIENDS - I'm glad Megan and Chris bought a house(and had birthdays). It gave them a reason to have a party, cook good food, and have a night of music and entertainment. Their house is so perfect and in the cutest neighborhood that it actually, for the first time, has made me start thinking about getting a house of my own. A long LONG way off, but if I could find one as cute as theirs I might take the leap someday sooner then I've been thinking. But their house is filled with something that you can't buy and makes you want to be around for more than just a weekend...



...and these are just a few of many amazing chalk drawings from a festival in downtown Bountiful that Megan took me to see on our Sunday walk. I felt almost like I was in that scene from Mary Poppins!




THE BIRTHDAY OF ONE SO SWEET - My niece Rori turned one yesterday. She is such a sweet girl and though I've saved the blogging on the whole story for her mother, I couldn't resist a shout out to one of three reasons being an aunt brings me so much joy.

Three more days to go. And this is done. Now what?

At this time next week...

The anit-brag book

Blogging is an interesting world to step in to. It is most often used as a public brag book, though you will find the occasional serious subject matter, political commentary, and book reviews. When I don't blog, it's usually because I don't really feel I have anything to brag about. It doesn't mean things aren't going on, nor does it mean that there aren't a million things going on in my life or head - funny and not so funny. Sometimes I try so hard to think of meaningful things to commentate on that I have a brain meltdown and have a complete block of anything to say. Other times, which has more recently been the case, I don't feel like I have much that's positive to say so instead of saying anything that's not nice, I don't say anything at all. And in this way I have stripped the blog of its intended purpose.

A blog is a way of sharing information and communicating with others - the good, the better, the best, and the downright ugly muggly. We don't all have good days. In fact, we all probably have more mediocre, bad, and boring ones. But my personal relationship with blogging has turned into this creature of persuading others that my life is so fun and exciting...because that is what I predominately share. But I am here to admit that my life is filled with insecurities, sadness, and often overwhelming feelings of inadiquacy. I don't presume to say that brag-book moments are shared for some sneaky or deceptive reason, nor that we should discontinue doing so as these are the moments that make life worth living and they should be shared with those we care about to celebrate life with us. I share pictures and stories for the same positive reasons that all who share these do. But there is also a side that I don't share, and any honest reporter of integrity (because isn't that what all who blog are? Reporters of their lives?) shows an unbiased willingness to show all sides of a story.

So there. I've said it. My life is not as charmed as I'd like others to believe, and for the past few months I have felt sad, lonely, tired and confused more than I've felt anything else. I don't know why I feel this need to stop hiding behind my blog, but I do. We are entering summer, the braggiest season of them all, and I will be more guilty than most this go-around. But life is a lot more than the brag book, and instead of pretending that's all that is worth talking about, here is my declaration of the normalcy of my life.