Weekend Activities

My last weekend in Paris (as I'll be in Florence this weekend) was divided among various means of truly enjoying the city, as if I were an actual Parisian. On Friday I supported Les Bleus as the opened the Rugby World Cup against Argentina. Unfortunately France didn't pull it out, but it was nevertheless a really fun experience. I have rarely seen that many young French people in one place, nor that excited about something. And despite my pretty pathetic knowledge of rugby, I was shouting "Allez!" and "Poussez!" with the best of them by the end and developed a much better appreciation for the sport. I don't know how people don't die or become paralyzed on a regular basis, but it is fun to watch!

Saturday I decided to visit the small museum on the other side of the monument to my apartment. It is a modern art museum devoted primarily to the work of Aristide Maillol (hence it is the Musee Maillol) who was a contemporary of Gauguin, Bonnard, and Matisse. I really liked his work, which focused primarily on the figure and ranged from massive sculptures to beautiful sketches, and I was once again impressed with my utter lack of knowledge! If I could be so unaware of an artist with such an impressive collection of work, what else am I completely ignorant of? Thankfully I think I have a few more years to keep learning!

After the museum, I decided to do a bit of window shopping as well as checking out a store recently written up in the New York Times as full of "classic pieces priced on the upper end of reasonable." Although they did have some very well cut items, I was overall pretty disappointed with how basic and somewhat bland the majority of the collection was. I got to explore my new surroundings a bit more though, so it certainly wasn't a waste of time. I picked up a bunch of groceries on the way home, as well as some more amazing cheese, and settled in for the evening to watch the France vs. Italy soccer match, a rematch of last year's World Cup final.

Sunday I woke up early to check out a new market nearby and was happy to find it rather well stocked. Although mo
re expensive than the one near the Bastille, it was far more convenient and more than adequate for my needs. After being disappointed with my last two peach purchases, I have finally given up on them as out of season, but was happy to see that the apples are now fresh and delicious! When I finished putting away my goodies at home, I decided to test whether rollerblading had the same instinctual memory as riding a bike. I put them in my backpack and walked the several blocks to the Seine, where I knew I would be able to find a safe, even surface, as the government shuts down the quai on Sundays. I was delighted to find that I was still proficient and was soon lamenting the societal prohibition on rollerblading in the States. For some reason, the trend that swept the States in the 90s never went out of fashion here, and whereas I think most people (my age at least) would laugh at someone rollerblading through the city, it is completely normal here! And it is so fun! Although the responsible mothering side of me was a bit concerned about my stupidity in wearing shorts (exposed knees) and not having wrist guards, I decided to forge ahead and hope for the best. Thankfully I didn't fall once! It was a really nice way to see the city and appreciate the water and buildings from a new perspective. I wish I had found a pair earlier in my visit - I'd be a pro by now! Click on the picture to see a little video!

I don't have much lined up for this week other than dinner with one of my language exchange friends and work, but I'll try to write another update when I get back from Florence!