I will never understand art.

So I was led to believe that visiting an art gallery on your own would be an invigorating experience and I would learn things about myself whilst relishing in the intricate details of modern art. So today I visited the Centre George Pompidou, and my experience was quite far from the idealistic experience I had in mind. 

I think there are 2 types of people when it comes to art galleries, those who go in and look at each individual canvas and sculpture, spend a good 5 minutes tilting their heads at different angles to get the best perspective, wonder what the artist was trying to portray and make approving noises. Then there's those that walk up to the sculpture or canvas, decide they will never understand it, avoid all art involving nakedness, all the while wishing art galleries had music as they find it awkwardly silent and find it hard to not inappropriately laugh. You may have guessed that I fall into the second category of people, and experienced all of the above this afternoon.

I guess the thing is I don't really understand art. But I did enjoy the experience I could appreciate the amazing building in all it's escalator glory, I did enjoy some of the exhibitions, mainly the colourful ones. And the view from the top of the Centre is pretty impressive, I do love a good view!

I took some photos...

This piece was paticularly popular, left me wondering why there's not bigger crowds of people round the Dulux colour charts in B and Q.

The urge to sit on this was almost unbearable...

This is art.

You know when you made cress-heads at school with some tights and soil...This is like 'extreme upside down cress heads minus the cress'. That wasn't the name, probably too long.

I looked at this from every angle, still no idea.

I liked this one, it lit up.

Me inside some art.

My absolute favourite one of the day. It's like someone thought 'I'll make art today' looked at the blank canvas and decided it was perfect.

And that I think is why I don't go to Art galleries more regularly...

The centre itself is pretty impressive.

Bikes.

The view from the top.

Again

Some more bikes.

Monopoly- Parisian Metro Edition

I find the metro fascinating, it's the different people, the dynamic stations and the random things that happen on it which become the norm that make it so interesting. It's the fact that each line has it's own personality as such; the people on that line form a small community for however long their journey lasts and the dynamic of these intricate communities is different on all lines of the metro. 

Something which has intrigued me since I arrived in Paris is the different designs of the metro stations and the reasons behind these different designs. So this afternoon I decided to visit and photograph some of the most quirky* stations.  Now this involved me spending 2 hours on the metro travelling along lines between different stations and I am not ashamed to say I flippin loved it. Usually I just pass through these stations barely looking where I'm going just following the signs for the exit or the next line and avoiding the armpits of strangers. But travelling with no real destination meant I was in no rush like everyone else on the metro. The 4 minutes wait for the next metro didn't make me pace up and down the platform and tut like a true brit as it does usually.

I love people watching and spending abnormal lengths of time on the metro allowed me to relish in guessing where other people were going, who they were going to meet and why, listening to conversations between families and laughing to myself when they mirror the same conversations I'd had with my family. I witnessed a child's face as they took their first trip ever on the metro, which I imagine is what I looked like when I was first taken on the underground. I witnessed the tallest man I have ever seen** guide a blind man on the metro to a seat. These small things made my day.

*sorry I've become the kind of person that uses the word quirky

**insert short joke here

I took photos of some of the weirdest metro stations for your delight, you're welcome.

Parmentier is a station dedicated to potatoes, oh the French! The seats are tractor seats and there's information about potatoes everywhere. It's very French.

Arts et Métiers was redesigned by a Belgian designer to resemble a submarine.

Cadet is decorated with the stars and stripes of the American Flag

This is my favourite metro station. It's just so pretty and the floor sparkles, and I'm a sucker for a sparkle.

Versailles and Vodka

So, today we ventured out of central Paris to Versailles, on the RER because what other way is there to travel?! 

It was a little rainy but this didn't stop us wandering round the majority of Versailles posing and taking very edgy photos. It was quite nice to be in a French town that wasn't Paris, as much as I love the big city, it was nice to explore somewhere different for the day. 

The RER journey back to Paris wasn't the dream end to the lovely day. First we had to queue for about 20 minutes for the ticket machines. For the record, it's not a stereotype, the British love a good queue and other nationalities are just not as respecting of the queuing culture, this led to quite a tutting fest on our part. 

We then got on the most crowded RER back to Paris, the world and his sweaty wife were aboard. So we got off a few stops early, as we foolishly thought the metro would be less crowded. We ate our words, and the words of everyone squished up against us for the whole journey. We experienced 'eau de le metro' up close and personal, in some cultures I would be compelled to marry the people as I'd been in that close contact with them!

Fun Paris fact of the day; pressing the button for blind people at Zebra crossings causes a very French woman's voice to boom out of the lamp post, this causes a scene. Thanks Olivia. 

Anyway, once we finally made it back to the hostel covered in the rest of Paris' sweat, we had time to eat and shower before heading out for drinks with Lorna in Montparnasse. The original plan was to go to an Irish bar, I know I'm just such an embracer of the French culture. However, we walked in and there was a crazy music quiz going on and so we left to find another bar, and there's not a shortage of them anywhere in Paris. 
This evening I let go of my Yorkshire roots and threw myself at Parisian culture* in that this evening, I bought a cocktail, it cost me 10 of the European Unions finest euros...I know, it scares me that I was okay with this. It came with a glow stick and some olives though, I'm so easily pleased. 

*metaphorically, not literally threw myself at a waiter, that's not acceptable.

Such a good two days, roll on next 'weekend'. 

Flowers and a clock

Memorial

Yep, sorry about this.

And this...

Add caption

Such love.

Pigeons and legs

Love a good clock

Today was a black and white day

Edgy.

Fun fact; Taj Mahal is the most common Indian restaurant name in England.

So French

How's that for a town hall...

Paris Friends.

Jardins and Parcs*...

So I decided that no ones stay in Paris is complete without a trip to a Jardin and a Mcdonalds, both I realise are not specific Parisian based activities but combined create a wonderful experience. 

So we wandered round the very Autumnal (apparently 'Autumny' isn't the corrective adjective) and had a Mcdonalds over looking the boating lake, next to some people having the most upper class picnic ever, surrounded by people jogging, I like to think they were all secretly jealous. Then I had to head to work and say a long and emotional goodbye to the lovely Thorpe who I'd really enjoyed the company of for the weekend but as she once quoted 'We don't really say goodbye as we never know when we'll meet again'**

Today myself and Olivia woke up and quite spontaneously decided to go to Disneyland for tea, we jested about this happening in the past but never thought we would actually become those people, but we are, and we have no shame. But, it's the holidays in France, and this only increased the number of 'Disney ear wearing adults' to an unacceptable level. So we had a cheeky trip on Space Mountain before going to watch a show (half in French, rest assured part of me is embracing the culture). We then went to the well known Parisian restaurant Planet Hollywood***, and on Robert our waiters recommendation I had a chicken pasta thing which was lush. 

I've noticed in the past week how British I am in some aspects, one of them being the fact that customers find it perfectly acceptable and normal to read my name badge and refer to me directly as 'Becky', before speaking to me, I still find this terribly odd. I was reminded of this when a French guy hollered our waiter Robert today by calling his name across the restaurant, taking 'give me a call if you need anything' VERY literally. 

This is not the only name based anecdote I have for today's blog you'll be pleased to know. So it appears my name is becoming somewhat more of a problem, than I anticipated I have had emails at work addressed to 'Peggy' and been called 'Betty' more than once, sigh, thanks Mum and Dad. 

*Parc Disneyland classes as a Parc

**Thorpe, K. (2010) Centenary Camp Interview, [GirlguidingUK]

***Note: Yet more sarcasm, I love a good American restaurant

Anyone fancy a game of count the chins/ find the eyes?

Boats

Mcdonald's and one of my favourite people

Autumnal Park

Friends who Disneyland together, stay together.

Le restaurant francais

Cider in one hand, ketchup in the other, you can take the girl out of East London...

Sorry for how awkward this photo is...

Did you know Kirsty is in Paris?

Okay so any mutual Facebook friends of mine and Kirsty's will be pleased that this weekend has finally come so that the incessant wall posts and countdowns will finally be over. But I'm here to tell you that much to your delight we've done a joint blog, you lucky buggers.

So Kirsty arrived into Paris at 3pm yesterday, unfortunately I was working so couldn't meet her at the airport with a banner and an embrace like a scene from *insert movie with airport scene here*. However, she managed to make it safely, despite losing the RER whilst on it and me waiting lovingly at the metro station only for her to exit via the furthest possible exit to the one I was waiting at. But alas, were you expecting this trip to run smoothly?

So after a lengthy catch up, some food and a bottle of wine, we headed out to see the Eiffel Tower (the only actual reason Kirsty came to Paris, we're not even friends really).
After a pretty uneventful metro experience, the people of Alma-Marceau were met by a very excited Kirsty, making sounds which resembled those made by crowds of people watching fireworks. We then walked along the Seine (it wasn't raining and we didn't laugh apologies*) before attempting to buy a crèpe only to be offered a waffle instead as they'd run out of crèpes, I think the expression on my face was enough to tell the woman that I was not prepared to accept her waffle substitute and found an alternate place to fulfill my crèpe based needs. We ate them by the sparkling tower, it was magical. 

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6YqC3D0GMo 

So today began with a trip on the double decker RER, because one cannot simply come to Paris and not experience the joys of a double decker train. Because I'm such a good friend I put myself through the grueling torture of climbing the 285 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe again and I have to admit that the view still doesn't disappoint  I attempted to be a top tour guide but quietly after having been mistaken for working at the Arc de Triomphe on my last visit, I wasn't prepared for this to reoccur. 

After a meander down the Champs-Élysées and through the Jardin de Tuilieries we glanced at the queue for the Louvre, laughed, then continued our journey onto Pont des artes and Pont Neuf. We followed this with a trip to FranPrix where I heard possibly the most brilliant description of the Yorkshire accent I've ever encountered 'You sound like a seal taking a crap'. I discounted this comment as it was made by an American who was clearly jealous of our dulcet tones.

Kirsty then ditched me for the entire evening and went and had a fun evening of fun up Tour Montparnasse, whilst I slaved away at work. Her and Olivia unintentionally went wearing the same outfit and became the best of friends. How lovely. I'm not bitter.

So all in all a fun filled fun packed day of fun was had by all, at least I know if my career as a stand up comedian fails**, I've always got being a tour guide to fall back on.

**NB: sarcasm

Il pleut comme vache qui pisse...

Today it rained in Paris, a lot. So I decided what better way to cheer myself up than visiting Paris' biggest cemetery. 

Okay so it's not the most uplifting of visits but it is quite something, it's so big and some of the tombs are huge! Today they are more than 1 million bodies buried there, which is quite weird to think as you're wandering round. Because it's so popular you now are only allowed to be buried in Père lachaise cemetery if you lived in Paris or if you died in the capital.*

Due to the fact it was absolutely throwing it down and I had decided to walk from the hostel in clothes I put on when I didn't realise it was raining, I didn't wander round all the graves and find everyone famous. But I did take some edgy photos and meander amongst the dead people. 

Fun French phrase of the day: il pleut comme vache qui pisse, literally it's raining like a pissing cow. Did I mention I flipping love French?

*All credit goes to Wikipedia

Don't hate me because I've become the kind of person that takes photos like this...

and this...

The view out my window is flippin awesome