Many Monets and Other Adventures

Only in Paris can you sit in a room and be completely surrounded by Monet's Waterlily paintings. By completely surrounded, I mean that you are sitting in a circular room with panorama paintings done by Monet. The Musée de l'Orangerie was designed by the artist so that the people of Paris have a place to come and relax. Not only are Monet's beautiful impressionist paintings relaxing, the museum itself is calming. Since it used to be an orange tree greenhouse, it is sunny or rainy depending on the weather outside. Located in the Tuileries Gardens, this museum was a beautiful place to visit. Besides the Monet paintings, this museum is home to works by Picasso, Renoir, and Cezanne. I had the chance to tag along with my roommate who is in an art history class. It is incredible to have someone explain why a painting is the way it is and what everything means in the painting. 

If you're ever in Paris, I'd highly suggest you go to the Musée Marmottan Monet. Although the l'Orangerie Museum is beautiful, it is also crowded. This museum is a little farther out in the Paris neighborhoods, but it is primarily Parisians that visit it. The building was the former residence of a family of society and is an lovely location for a museum. The main attraction for this museum is the variety of art and the basement exhibit of Monet's paintings including the painting that was the "beginning" of impressionism.

One of my favorite things about Paris, among many, is how many cafés there are. If you're craving a hot chocolate, you have the choice of many area cafés to buy one. One the walk home from the Museum Marmottan, I stopped at a cafe with a lovely view of the traditional French Parisian buildings. It is hard to imagine the real age of the buildings here since even the oldest American buildings aren't even close in age to those in Paris. If only the walls could speak!

Today, my business class took a field trip to the auction house called Drouot. This auction house sells art, designer clothing, furniture, and other items in a live auction style format everyday. My class sat in on a fashion auction where they were auctioning off names such as Chanel, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, and Valentino. Most of the people that bought these items were most likely buyers for high end stores, but it was interesting to see these items as well as hear a French auction. I was tempted to bid on a Chanel handbag, but it sold for almost two thousand euros. 

With only two weeks left, I am trying to see as many things as I can while I am still in Paris. Next week, I am going to see the Paris Ballet performing Notre Dame de Paris! I can't wait to see it, especially since it is in the Bastille Opera House! And, July 14th is on Monday! I hope to go to the parade down the Champs-Elysées.

Monet at Musée Marmottan

Musée Marmottan

Musée de l'Orangerie

Drouot Auction House

Chocolat Chaud