What is Today?!

I just noted the other day that I have less than two months left here in Paris. The past two months have been a roller coaster, that is for sure! So far I have a lifetime's worth of memories. I still cannot believe I had this amazing oppertunity presented to me. Every morning when I wake up I still do a double take when walking through the streets remembering that I am no longer in Millersville anymore. The caliber of self-growth I have encountered during the past two months is unbelievable. If you're willing to take a word of advice from an eighteen year old, TRAVEL. Become cultured, explore the unknown, and be open to try new things to become a better globle citizen. The amount of knowledge you will absorb is astounding. Bis, Éric

Fountainebleau

Originally called Fontaine Belle eau or Fontaine Belleaue, Fontainebleau settled on current name in 1169. This hamlet was endowed with a royal hunting lodge and a chapel by Louis VII in the middle of the twelfth century. A century later, Louis IX, also called Saint Louis, who held Fontainebleau in high esteem and referred to it as "his wilderness", had a country house and a hospital constructed there. Philip the Fair was born there in 1268 and died there in 1314. In all, thirty-four sovereigns, from Louis VI, the Fat, (1081–1137) to Napoleon III (1808–1873), spent time at Fontainebleau. The connection between the town of Fontainebleau and the French monarchy was reinforced with the transformation of the royal country house into a true royal palace, the Palace of Fontainebleau. This was accomplished by the great builder-king, Francis I (1494–1547), who, in the largest of his many construction projects, reconstructed, expanded, and transformed the royal château at Fontainebleau into a residence that became his favourite, as well as the residence of his mistress, Anne, duchess of Étampes. From the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, every monarch, from Francis I to Louis XV, made important renovations at the Palace of Fontainebleau, including demolitions, reconstructions, additions, and embellishments of various descriptions, all of which endowed it with a character that is a bit heterogeneous, but harmonious nonetheless. On 20 June 1812, Pope Pius VII arrived at the château of Fontainebleau, after a secret transfer from Savona, accompanied by his personal physician, Balthazard Claraz. In poor health, the pope was the prisoner of Napoleon, and he remained in his genteel prison at Fontainebleau for nineteen months. From June 1812 until 23 January 1814, the pope never left his apartments. Walking through the halls of this chateau are breathtaking when noting all of the meticulous detail. One of the more famous rooms of the chateau was dressed for Marie Antoinette but unfortunately she never had seen it finished because of her beheading. When walking the grounds of the chateau in the gardens you can't help but notice the massive coy fish, some as old as Napoleon III. To think this chateau is only a short drive outside of Paris is unbelievable because the grounds of the chateau are surrounded by lush green forests. Don't like touristy areas? Put this chateau on the top of your to do list when visiting Paris! (not to mention it is the most politically important chateau of france) Very little tourists and you're able to hear a pin drop throughout the chateau. National Geographic: please do not put this chateau on your "top 10 things to do while in Paris" list. It's nice to see some French historic sites without the crowds.

La Défense

La Défense is named after the iconic statue La Défense de Paris, which was erected in 1883 to commemorate the soldiers who had defended Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. In September 1958, The Public Establishment for Installation of La Défense (EPAD) buildings (of which the Esso Tower was the very first) were built and began to slowly replace the city's factories, shanties, and even a few farms. The Center of New Industries and Technologies (CNIT) was built and first used in 1958. These "first generation" skyscrapers were all very similar in appearance, limited to a height of 100 metres (330 ft). In 1966, the Nobel Tower was the first office building built in the area. In 1970 the RER line A railway was opened from La Défense to Étoile. The Tour Défense is the largest monument in La Défense. In previous years visitors could take a glass elevator to the top for breath taking views of the city, Paris, and the ability to see the Tour Eiffel and the Arc de Triomphe along with the Louvre in the distance. It has recently been closed forever to visitors. The only view you can have of the snow white cubed tower is from the base of the monument looking up to see the modern cloud-like sculpture that hangs from the building along with multiple contemporary street light sculptures in the distance. Visit this district and you will feel like you were beamed 100 years into the future. These buildings are anything but ordinary. They were built with much thought creating angles and shapes that make you think twice about their stability.

Medieval Fortifications

This past Saturday I traveled via train 2 hours east to the Medieval city of Provins. Provins is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Provins, a town of medieval fairs, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. (for those Americans obsessed with the Pennsylvania and New York Renaissance Fare...this is a must-see town). Provins was home to one of the Champagne fairs that were crucial to the medieval European economy, when the city was under the protection of Counts of Champagne. (The Counts of Champagne ruled the region of Champagne from 950 to 1316. Champagne evolved from the county of Troyes in the late eleventh century and Hugh I was the first to officially use the title "Count of Champagne". When Louis became King of France in 1314, upon the death of his father Philip IV, Champagne became part of the Crown's territories. The titular counts of Champagne also inherited the post of seneschal of France). Provins is well-known for its medieval fortifications, such as the Tour César (the Caesar Tower), and might I add, that when climbing the stairs to the top of the tower I barley could fit. I'm not saying I'm super skinny, but I am certainly not fat! This is what I was thinking the entire time framed in those tiny stairwells, "What would they say to a person who is twice my size that comes to the gate? Do they say, 'Sorry, there is a width minimum to fit through the stairs,' or do they just take their money and let them find out they can't even climb the tower?!" what a waste of their money. LOL Since Provins is a fortified city, there are the must see well-preserved city walls, and the Saint Quiriace Collegiate Church is located here. The Empress Galla Placidia is said to have presented Ancona with the relics of Judas Cyriacus. However, the saint's head was situated at Provins, brought from Jerusalem by Henry I of Champagne, who built a church in this town to display it. It is still at the Saint Quiriace Collegiate Church, although construction work during the 12th century was never completed due to financial difficulties during the reign of Philippe le Bel. A dome was added in the 17th century, and the old families of Provins who lived in the upper town were called "Children of the Dome."

The Night When Art and Culture Reign Until Dawn

I cannot believe it. I have officially been living in Paris for one month. My goodness, does time fly! This past month has been one heck of a roller coaster ride, that is for sure. Having to move three times living out of my suitcase for almost three weeks, (don't ask) changing my classes at the Sorbonne several times, long and late nights out, meeting all of these new wonderful people, living the hectic life of fashion week running from show to show, and the list goes on and on. I have had second thoughts and wondered why I was here and what I was doing, but hearing the wisdom of some of my most respected and idolized role models guided me in the right direction. There was no other better way to celebrate my one month anniversary of living in Paris than venturing the late night life of Nuit Blanche. First launched in 2002, Paris Nuit Blanche (White Night) has become a hotly-anticipated annual celebration of all things art and culture in the city of light. Attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, Nuit Blanche sees countless Paris galleries, museums, city halls, and even swimming pools open their doors all night to visitors-- with free entry. Elaborate light installations, edgy performances, concerts, and unclassifiable happenings of all sorts await. If you want to taste the continued dynamism of the Parisian arts scene, don't miss out on Nuit Blanche, which is always the first of October each year. Much like the annual Paris Music Festival (Fête de la Musique), Nuit Blanche is best experienced by ambling. I choose a couple must-see events and left the remainder of the evening to chance. Treat Nuit Blanche with the avant garde spirit it represents, and remember, you, too, are part of the happening. Nuit Blanche 2011 was clustered around four main areas in Paris, with installations, video, and performances in close reach of each other centered around Hôtel de Ville. For those from the Central Pennsylvania area, Nuit Blanche is very similar to First Friday. Today, for me, the day after Nuit Blanche is being spent lounging watching Fashion TV and washing 4 weeks worth of laundry. How are you spending your Sunday?