When Rachael and I first arrived in Paris, we walked around the Olympiads metro station in the Paris version of Chinatown. It was no San Francisco or Toronto but it was still pretty cool. Rachael and I ate some good Chinese food and then headed over to meet some of Rachael’s friends.
We ended up meeting a group of German kids, plus one Greek girl that are all studying in Paris. They were all really nice and I jokingly called the Germans my GPS (German Planning System) because pretty much all the Germans that I know somehow find a map and know exactly where they’re going at all times.
We ended up meeting a group of German kids, plus one Greek girl that are all studying in Paris. They were all really nice and I jokingly called the Germans my GPS (German Planning System) because pretty much all the Germans that I know somehow find a map and know exactly where they’re going at all times.
La Nuit Blanche takes place along the various stops along the #14 metro line in Paris. So on this night, when all of the museums are staying open, the #14 runs nonstop all night. Some restaurants and cafés, wanting to capitalize on the event also stay open all night.
This was one of the displays at the Olympiads. There were 5 different cars, each with a different color theme and flower.
Our first stop was Les Olympiads where we met up with the Germans. Cartoons were being playing on the sides of skyscrapers and fog was coming out of drainage grates like in scary movies. So Rachael and I fought off some kids and took pics in the light up fog. The weirdest thing that we saw there was this type of parade of women dressed like brides followed by a HUGE mechanical horse on which a guy who looked like Beetlejuice rode. The brides and this man took turns riding the horse and having the microphone. One bride was saying things like how marriage was like yogurt. It had an expiration date—after which it just gave you indigestion.
Our first stop was Les Olympiads where we met up with the Germans. Cartoons were being playing on the sides of skyscrapers and fog was coming out of drainage grates like in scary movies. So Rachael and I fought off some kids and took pics in the light up fog. The weirdest thing that we saw there was this type of parade of women dressed like brides followed by a HUGE mechanical horse on which a guy who looked like Beetlejuice rode. The brides and this man took turns riding the horse and having the microphone. One bride was saying things like how marriage was like yogurt. It had an expiration date—after which it just gave you indigestion.
The next place that we went was an old church next to Les Halles (the old town market). On the side of the church, they showed some video clips of what seemed to be an old man and and old woman with taut bodybuilder bodies. It was fascinating and freaky all at the same time. It was one of those things that you’re scared of, but just can’t take your eyes off of. You could hear everyone whispering to each other about whether or not the body builders were really old or just movie magic. Inside the church, they had a concert going on of a percussionist playing these bell type things and a cellist.
Apparently my grandmothers have been slacking ; )
We then headed over to Bibliothéque Mitterrand which is the biggest library in Paris. They have a huge rare book collection which is kept underground. The buildings themselves look like open books, all facing a courtyard in the center. At this station of La Nuit Blanche, we saw lots of video clips on various floating objects. They had this one weathervane looking thing that had a video of random letters on it and a guy playing a shovel with a string. Another display had a witchlike woman next to a stack of books with a sheet over it that looked like it was on fire. I get that most of this was supposed to be very symbolic and everything. But I have to say, that this was not my kind of art. It was just too weird.
We then headed over to Bibliothéque Mitterrand which is the biggest library in Paris. They have a huge rare book collection which is kept underground. The buildings themselves look like open books, all facing a courtyard in the center. At this station of La Nuit Blanche, we saw lots of video clips on various floating objects. They had this one weathervane looking thing that had a video of random letters on it and a guy playing a shovel with a string. Another display had a witchlike woman next to a stack of books with a sheet over it that looked like it was on fire. I get that most of this was supposed to be very symbolic and everything. But I have to say, that this was not my kind of art. It was just too weird.
Part of Bibliotheque Mitterrand
Some of the weird exhibits on display at the Bibliotheque.
We then went to Les Comedies, which to me, just seemed like a square or plaza. Here we saw a poetry slam going on, but it was also very theatrical and had this guy with a really creepy voice. I only understood about ½ of what they said--but it was intense.
*Sorry, I know that it's sideways...i just don't know how to fix it.
Across the street from the Louvre was this really cool screen display where people could go and stand in front of a screen and make movements. The light and music that played next, corresponded to the type of movement that the people were making. It was awesome. You should have seen the people dancing in front of it.
My favorite place of the night, however, was the fire display at the Louvre. In a word, it was magical. I just kept thinking how it seemed like a movie. There were flowerpots with fires burning all throughout the perimeter of the gardens. Scattered throughout the center portion, there were chimney’s of fire that workers could make erupt in balls of fire. Even the fountains had fire floating on the water. There was also a globe of flowerpots with burning fire. All of this had the Eiffel Tower and a huge Ferris wheel in the background. It was so beautiful.
While we were outside the Louvre, I saw the Eiffel tower for the first time. I about wet myself. It was beautiful even though I could only see the top of it (so it only looked about 3 inches tall). At certain points during the night, it even came alive with lights and glittered against the dark Paris night. It was gorgeous. And the Parisians (and even Rachael) just regarded it as nothing new—just some everyday occurrence. I know that when you live with something everyday, it just seems normal to you and I guess in some ways that’s kind of sad.
La Nuit Blanche just happened to fall on the night that Paris was playing New Zealand in the quarterfinals of the Rugby world cup. If I hadn’t said it before, this country is all Rugby’ed out. It is amazing. Everywhere you go, there’s Rugby jerseys and signs. In Arras, they’ve even transformed one street of town into Rue du Rugby and it has green astro-turf down it. It’s so cool. Well, getting back to my story, the All Blacks (aka New Zealand) were the heavy favorites to win the entire World Cup. Somehow, however, the French were able to beat them in the final seconds of the game. The streets of Paris went wild. You could hear car horns and people yelling. There were also people carrying flags and dressed completely in blue, white, and red.
*People watching the game at a bar
All in all it was a tiring but memorable night.
The Louvre
No comments:
Post a Comment