Le 27 avril 2005, mercredi; Paris, Louvre, Richlieu, 1st étage, 17:15
So I’ve just wandered through a portion of the Richlieu wing of the Louvre, and I have to say that I’m so happy I went to see the Jewish quartier, Josefov, while in Prague. A chance to see such a huge collection of Jewish artifacts and their richness was so nice. I feel I’ve finally seen some of these things, in comparison to all the Christian artifacts I usually see. In addition, I also visited, again in the Richlieu wing, the Islam arts department with its fabulous display of ceramics- oh I was in heaven then!- and also the Islamic antiquities. (Forgive me for still not knowing the difference between Islamic and Moslem- I’ll have to do some research.)
Friday, April 29, 2005
Skipping a few days and entries to be back in Paris.
Le 25 avril 2005, lundi: 15:13, Parc G. Brossens, Paris.
Speaking on the topic of Europe today. …but as I was walking to the park, I went past a lot of propaganda for and against the European Constitution- which France is voting on soon. One poster stated, “J’aime l’Europe, je vote non.” Another stated, “Europe = Chomâge; Pauvreté; Inflation; Delocalisations; Croissance Zero.” And it got me thinking about the beginning of the United States after the Revolutionary War, both right after, with the Articles, which failed, and twenty years later when the Constitution finally worked out. I mean, everyone knows, regardless of how much it is currently denied, that Europe is working towards becoming a nation like the US is, made up of many parts. They’ve already bypassed money, as one of the US’s early stumbling blocks, with the Euro as the common currency, and working on common laws so as to lead to common court system, etc. I understand the resistance to it, even I think I’d want to resist it if it were my future, - loss of true national identity, loss of diversity in various ways, but I also understand the need for what the subcontinent is trying to accomplish so they can continue to flourish in the future. But now on to the old guy on the train, as I’ve been promising for a while now. Let’s call him Monsieur Manette for lack of a name, and I’m tired of calling him the old French guy on the train from Metz. So M. Manette and I were chatting away for a good portion of our trip (in French of course). And for me, the most important subject we broke upon was that of the upcoming referendum vote within France on the European Constitution. To understand, let’s go over the basics: Chirac is for the Constitution, he could have just made the decision for France and already voted yes, but instead he decided that this is so important for France, the people and that nation, that he’s giving the populace the opportunity to make the decisions for themselves and tell him how they want him to vote. Unfortunately, at the moment, most of the population does not like him due to several of his recent political decisions concerning the country; results of which being less employment, inflation, the usual things we hate politicians for and happily blame them. The short of it being that Chirac will probably be voted out next election (2007), unless things radically change. And because he’s so pro-Europe, many people are determined to vote against the constitution simply because they do not like him. However, remember I’m not a poly-sci, non history major and these details are from one old M. Manette, and just as many people have just as many different reasons to vote for or against the Constitution. But at the end of our discussion I asked M. Manette if he thought France would vote for or against the Constitution, and he seemed to think that it might be close, but that the Constitution would pass. It would be odd if it didn’t, in my opinion, as Robert Schumann was French and because France is such an important nation within the various European communities.
So now you know some of what I know about the subject and you’ve finally heard the story of the old French man on the train from Metz.
Speaking on the topic of Europe today. …but as I was walking to the park, I went past a lot of propaganda for and against the European Constitution- which France is voting on soon. One poster stated, “J’aime l’Europe, je vote non.” Another stated, “Europe = Chomâge; Pauvreté; Inflation; Delocalisations; Croissance Zero.” And it got me thinking about the beginning of the United States after the Revolutionary War, both right after, with the Articles, which failed, and twenty years later when the Constitution finally worked out. I mean, everyone knows, regardless of how much it is currently denied, that Europe is working towards becoming a nation like the US is, made up of many parts. They’ve already bypassed money, as one of the US’s early stumbling blocks, with the Euro as the common currency, and working on common laws so as to lead to common court system, etc. I understand the resistance to it, even I think I’d want to resist it if it were my future, - loss of true national identity, loss of diversity in various ways, but I also understand the need for what the subcontinent is trying to accomplish so they can continue to flourish in the future. But now on to the old guy on the train, as I’ve been promising for a while now. Let’s call him Monsieur Manette for lack of a name, and I’m tired of calling him the old French guy on the train from Metz. So M. Manette and I were chatting away for a good portion of our trip (in French of course). And for me, the most important subject we broke upon was that of the upcoming referendum vote within France on the European Constitution. To understand, let’s go over the basics: Chirac is for the Constitution, he could have just made the decision for France and already voted yes, but instead he decided that this is so important for France, the people and that nation, that he’s giving the populace the opportunity to make the decisions for themselves and tell him how they want him to vote. Unfortunately, at the moment, most of the population does not like him due to several of his recent political decisions concerning the country; results of which being less employment, inflation, the usual things we hate politicians for and happily blame them. The short of it being that Chirac will probably be voted out next election (2007), unless things radically change. And because he’s so pro-Europe, many people are determined to vote against the constitution simply because they do not like him. However, remember I’m not a poly-sci, non history major and these details are from one old M. Manette, and just as many people have just as many different reasons to vote for or against the Constitution. But at the end of our discussion I asked M. Manette if he thought France would vote for or against the Constitution, and he seemed to think that it might be close, but that the Constitution would pass. It would be odd if it didn’t, in my opinion, as Robert Schumann was French and because France is such an important nation within the various European communities.
So now you know some of what I know about the subject and you’ve finally heard the story of the old French man on the train from Metz.
Two Concerts in Two Nights! Living it up in Prague!
Sitting in St. Clement’s Church, Prague; 19:45, Waiting for Organ Concert; le 22 avril 2005, vendredi
Lest anyone become excited, both concerts have been classical music.
Miss Sophie’s, Room 15, bed 3, Prague; 23:30; le 22 avril 2005, vendredi
So today I went to the Josefov, the old Jewish Quarter. I took the tour of the synagogues, except for the Old-New Synagogue (which also happens to be the oldest and continuous synagogue in Europe). The Old Jewish Cemetery was included on the tour and it was beautiful. If I was a kid, it would have been a dream playground with all the tombstones leaning, falling and lying about… all the infinite combinations of jumping around! But it was very nice to just stroll through, with the sun dappling through the new leaves- like being in a park with all these stones lying around. But in the synagogues, you couldn’t take pictures and there were all these little old Jewish ladies who were standing guard- I did NOT have enough courage to mess with them. They argued with some obnoxious US grad student about getting the student ticket price- he was 35 or something, so I kind of agreed with the little old ladies (plus you've just got to respect them, it comes with the domain of little old ladies), but I sort of agreed with his because he is a student, but he was being such a jerk about getting the price, “…we can call the university in the States.” In the end, my conclusion is that those little old ladies should have given him the evil eye. (Should I hope for something like that, or does it jinx me too?)
Today was also shopping day. I picked up various gifts for the family, which I shall not reveal here in the off chance the family is reading this.
The organ concert tonight was a complete bust! It was just not what I had been hoping for. But I suppose I was hoping for a year and a half ago in Toulouse at St. Sernin for the highlight of the 8th Annual International Organ Festival—in the Basilica St. Sernin, where the organ was built for the first time. But it was still a nice concert, just not great and not what I wanted.
Also, I did something that scared me tonight! I went by myself to a sit-down restaurant for a meal. I went to a place that had some Czech customers but seems to cater mostly to tourists. But I was comfortable. I ordered a beer (oh my!) and the Czech goulash. The goulash was good and now I can say I ate it while in the Czech Republic.
Traveling alone is still difficult for me. But in some ways, I’m really coming to enjoy it. And I think I want to travel alone some more.
Oh, to explain my title for the night before… Listening to Dvorak’s New World Symphony, I could hear all the sounds of home in the various movements. And it made me realize that deep down, I’m still just a country girl. It reaffirmed what I already know- I shall need to return to the country to live eventually.
Lest anyone become excited, both concerts have been classical music.
Miss Sophie’s, Room 15, bed 3, Prague; 23:30; le 22 avril 2005, vendredi
So today I went to the Josefov, the old Jewish Quarter. I took the tour of the synagogues, except for the Old-New Synagogue (which also happens to be the oldest and continuous synagogue in Europe). The Old Jewish Cemetery was included on the tour and it was beautiful. If I was a kid, it would have been a dream playground with all the tombstones leaning, falling and lying about… all the infinite combinations of jumping around! But it was very nice to just stroll through, with the sun dappling through the new leaves- like being in a park with all these stones lying around. But in the synagogues, you couldn’t take pictures and there were all these little old Jewish ladies who were standing guard- I did NOT have enough courage to mess with them. They argued with some obnoxious US grad student about getting the student ticket price- he was 35 or something, so I kind of agreed with the little old ladies (plus you've just got to respect them, it comes with the domain of little old ladies), but I sort of agreed with his because he is a student, but he was being such a jerk about getting the price, “…we can call the university in the States.” In the end, my conclusion is that those little old ladies should have given him the evil eye. (Should I hope for something like that, or does it jinx me too?)
Today was also shopping day. I picked up various gifts for the family, which I shall not reveal here in the off chance the family is reading this.
The organ concert tonight was a complete bust! It was just not what I had been hoping for. But I suppose I was hoping for a year and a half ago in Toulouse at St. Sernin for the highlight of the 8th Annual International Organ Festival—in the Basilica St. Sernin, where the organ was built for the first time. But it was still a nice concert, just not great and not what I wanted.
Also, I did something that scared me tonight! I went by myself to a sit-down restaurant for a meal. I went to a place that had some Czech customers but seems to cater mostly to tourists. But I was comfortable. I ordered a beer (oh my!) and the Czech goulash. The goulash was good and now I can say I ate it while in the Czech Republic.
Traveling alone is still difficult for me. But in some ways, I’m really coming to enjoy it. And I think I want to travel alone some more.
Oh, to explain my title for the night before… Listening to Dvorak’s New World Symphony, I could hear all the sounds of home in the various movements. And it made me realize that deep down, I’m still just a country girl. It reaffirmed what I already know- I shall need to return to the country to live eventually.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Learning.
Some park in Prague, Foot of the Royal Way: le 21 avril 2005, jeudi: 17:15
So today's been one of those learning days. As it's been three years since I've truly traveled and visited a place on my own, I've had to relearn how to do it. It's truly not so much being alone, as it is having to organize and make my own decisions. When it comes to traveling, I like to see everything and whatever. So having to figure out what I want to see has been difficult. Typically I just follow along with what everyone else wants to do, as I said, I just want to see it all and so I just follow along. Now I have to choose myself and it's hard! Part of it depends on the fact that I only have so much time here, and I can't just spread my visits out to when I feel more comfortable. I mean, I'm not really living here, like in Metz or Toulouse, even Paris in a fashion. So I decided to take the City Walks tour- the Insider Tour and see what they could tell me an show me. It was ok, I really enjoyed having some more history, but it wasn't really much more than I'd already read. Later tonight I'm going to a concert of Dvorak. A bit pricy, but should be worth it and besides, I'm in Prague-- il faut!!
There's these Italian boys sitting on the grass nearby, singing all sorts of songs! They're about lycée- so a little like my troisièmes. I miss my kids!
Sitting in the Municipal Hall, waiting for the Dvorak concert: Prague, 20:15
Reviewing my photos a few minutes ago reminds me that in the photo of me with the Charles Bridge in the background, you can't see my fabou green polo shirt- and my undying faith that polos never go out of style!
I think I could want to live here for a few months. Except for all the Anglos, who might eventually drive me nuts!
I'm a Country Girl
In room, Miss Sophie's: 23:00 Prague, le 21 avril 2005, jeudi
So this morning I missed the walking tour and thus ended up back at the hostel feeling a bit lost, not knowing what to do. So I borrowed the french girl's guide to read up in english. That helped to ground me. Then I went out to get my ticket to the Dvorak concert. I ended up watching the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square at noon and then got lost on the way from the Municipal Hall to the Weneslaus Square to meet the walking tour. But I was only a few minutes late and so caught them. After the tour I came back to the Old town to get a falafel for dinner and come back to the hostel to rest for a bit. The concert was lovely! The Municipal Hall is an Art nouveau building with influences from the Czech School of Art Nouveau. And the music was nice. Not amazing but fitting to listen to Dvorak in prague. I forget the first piece, but the cello soloist was ok as a player, but dreadful as a performer- he acted exhausted all the time, except like he was overembellishing it. The second piece was Dvorak's "The New World Symphony"- one of those reasons I love Prague is the connection between in and Iowa on account of Dvorak's living in bitty Springville Iowa in 1892-1893 (that should be correct...). And the New World Symphony sounds likes the melodies of the Iowan countryside- the animals, the wind blowing through the fields, and even the people somehow. I wish my parents could have been there.
There are two Australian girls in tonight at the room- their friend is sort of MIA though. Her flight came into Brno and then she didn't have money or transport I guess, so she started to walk into Brno and that's the last they've heard as her phone died.
(Below are the photos from my first day in Prague.)
So today's been one of those learning days. As it's been three years since I've truly traveled and visited a place on my own, I've had to relearn how to do it. It's truly not so much being alone, as it is having to organize and make my own decisions. When it comes to traveling, I like to see everything and whatever. So having to figure out what I want to see has been difficult. Typically I just follow along with what everyone else wants to do, as I said, I just want to see it all and so I just follow along. Now I have to choose myself and it's hard! Part of it depends on the fact that I only have so much time here, and I can't just spread my visits out to when I feel more comfortable. I mean, I'm not really living here, like in Metz or Toulouse, even Paris in a fashion. So I decided to take the City Walks tour- the Insider Tour and see what they could tell me an show me. It was ok, I really enjoyed having some more history, but it wasn't really much more than I'd already read. Later tonight I'm going to a concert of Dvorak. A bit pricy, but should be worth it and besides, I'm in Prague-- il faut!!
There's these Italian boys sitting on the grass nearby, singing all sorts of songs! They're about lycée- so a little like my troisièmes. I miss my kids!
Sitting in the Municipal Hall, waiting for the Dvorak concert: Prague, 20:15
Reviewing my photos a few minutes ago reminds me that in the photo of me with the Charles Bridge in the background, you can't see my fabou green polo shirt- and my undying faith that polos never go out of style!
I think I could want to live here for a few months. Except for all the Anglos, who might eventually drive me nuts!
I'm a Country Girl
In room, Miss Sophie's: 23:00 Prague, le 21 avril 2005, jeudi
So this morning I missed the walking tour and thus ended up back at the hostel feeling a bit lost, not knowing what to do. So I borrowed the french girl's guide to read up in english. That helped to ground me. Then I went out to get my ticket to the Dvorak concert. I ended up watching the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square at noon and then got lost on the way from the Municipal Hall to the Weneslaus Square to meet the walking tour. But I was only a few minutes late and so caught them. After the tour I came back to the Old town to get a falafel for dinner and come back to the hostel to rest for a bit. The concert was lovely! The Municipal Hall is an Art nouveau building with influences from the Czech School of Art Nouveau. And the music was nice. Not amazing but fitting to listen to Dvorak in prague. I forget the first piece, but the cello soloist was ok as a player, but dreadful as a performer- he acted exhausted all the time, except like he was overembellishing it. The second piece was Dvorak's "The New World Symphony"- one of those reasons I love Prague is the connection between in and Iowa on account of Dvorak's living in bitty Springville Iowa in 1892-1893 (that should be correct...). And the New World Symphony sounds likes the melodies of the Iowan countryside- the animals, the wind blowing through the fields, and even the people somehow. I wish my parents could have been there.
There are two Australian girls in tonight at the room- their friend is sort of MIA though. Her flight came into Brno and then she didn't have money or transport I guess, so she started to walk into Brno and that's the last they've heard as her phone died.
(Below are the photos from my first day in Prague.)
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