Cultural Activity #4: Maison de Poupee

Last night I experienced French theatre at its finest. Ibsen's Maison de Poupee (The Doll House) was playing at the Madeleine theatre and starring Audrey Tautou. We couldn't pass this one up. I really really enjoyed it. Thankfully I read a synopsis of the play beforehand, otherwise I would have been very lost. I have never heard anyone speak French more quickly than Audrey Tautou. She was highly entertaining. I loved the symbolism in the play. The one thing I didn't get was what in the world a giant polar bear rug had to do with anything? If you know, please enlighten me.



This is the Madeleine Theatre as seen from my seat. This was my first theatre experience where I had to lean forward on the cushioned railing in front of me to see the play. It all felt very European.



And this, for the sake of those of you who do not know, is Audrey Tautou. You may recognize her from the Da Vinci Code. She did a fabulous job last night, and I am so excited that I can say I was able to go and see her perform live!

Of Art, War, and World Fairs

How appropriate to start this walk of art, war, and world fairs, by popping out of the metro and coming face to face with Charles de Gaulle, the French General himself.


After paying our respects to the General, we walked this way towards the bridge. What a sight huh? It was gorgeous today in Paris!




And here it is, Pont Alexandre III. Named after the Russian Czar Alexandre III, this bridge was built as a symbol of friendship between the Russians and the French. The various sculptures along the bridge bear the arms of both Russia and France, and symbolize peace and the joining of two great nations.

Notice the couple. Could anything possibly be more romantic?!

When we got to the other side of the bridge I realized their was a very strange thing going on in the sky. Can you see the giant ring around the sun? I have no idea what it was all about, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't part of the tour, but it sure was cool!


Our first stop was the Musee Rodin. We opted to wander around the gardens first. I couldn't help but take this picture of "The Thinker" surrounded by the strange sun phenomenom. It made him seem more...enlightened.

Hmmmm........Hmmmmm........Hmmmmm.......

Rodin's "Gates of Hell." I'm not sure what put it in his mind to create such a thing. It's kind of scary, especially close up.

Rodin's tribute to Victor Hugo

Once Rodin's home, this is now his museum. Isn't it a fine prospect?

We are now inside the museum... I took pictures of my favorite pieces for you.

"The Kiss"

Rodin did a lot of Random sculptures of hands. The more I looked at them the more I liked them.


After the Musee Rodin, we came to what is now one of my favorite museums, Les Invalides, also known as Musee de l'Armee. It's full of armor, swords, guns, bows, quivers, cannons, tanks, and every thing else war related from the ancient times of this world up to WWII.

That's what I'm talkin' about...

How does one aim this three barreled gun?

Awesome quiver

These were dated 4,000 BC. I can't really wrap my small mind around this one.

All for one and one for all!

A curvy sword? I like it.

And who is burried in the exact center of the gigantic golden dome? The Emporer himself, Napoleon Bonaparte. I always thought him to be rather small in stature... this tomb was HUGE. Little man syndrome?



Today's walk ended at the most recognizable building in the world. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 for the Universal Expedition, to demonstrate France's engineering greatness. Many of the Parisians despised the tower, and one particular Frenchman said he liked to go to the restaurant on the Eiffel Tower because it was the one place he could eat without having to look at it. The tower was meant to come down in 1909, but it was saved because it was being used as a broadcast tower. Sixty tons of paint are required to cover it, and it is painted every seven years. Did you know it has been yellow and red? I'm glad they decided to stick to brown. It weighs over ten thousand tons and contains two and a half million rivets. It was the tallest structure in the world until 1930. Today it is the symbol of Paris.

This was very possibly my favorite walk so far.

Saint-Ouen's Labyrinth: Navigating the World's Largest Flea Market

Largest flea market in the world? Over 2,000 shops in 17 acres? Cool! Although everything was outrageously expensive, it was still fun to browse and pretend I was someone high on the social ladder who could afford to put such antiques in my tastefully decorated mansion.




Our walks book warned us against taking pictures due to grumpy salesmen, but how can you resist? I was quick and discreet in my photo taking.




Stores like this one were my favorite. Piles and piles of "junk" just waiting to be sifted through and turned into treasures.




This chandelier had to be at least fifteen feet tall. Remember the social ladder I mentioned in the beginning? mmmhmmm.





I found my own treasure in the flea market- these beautiful 1942 copies of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.

LOVE LOVE LOVE them.


And that was the Flea Market! I wish I could have gotten away with taking more pictures because this place was really insane. The pictures don't quite do it justice. You will just have to come visit me and we can go treasure hunting so you can see St. Ouen's Labyrinth for yourself.