La Tour Eiffel
It's one thing to see pictures of the Eiffel Tower online; it's another to see it up close. Since I grew up in a small city, I never imagined that I would get to see something so immense as the Eiffel Tower. It made me realize just how small humans are in comparison to the tower. I know there are bigger monuments in size all over the world, but seeing the Eiffel tower was not just about admiring its grand size. It was also about taking a trip back to the past, back to when there wasn't as many monuments that could compare to the tower. When I looked at the tower for the first time, I could only imagine what Gustave Eiffel was thinking. It came as shock to learn that people wanted to tear the tower down after just 20 years of its creation because the tower was considered an "eyesore". That just showed that Eiffel was clearly ahead of his time and an amazing innovator. The Eiffel Tower was built in celebration of the French Revolution. Today, the Eiffel Tower can be described as the icon of France. After going to the July 14th celebration, it is clear that Gustave Eiffel gave incredible meaning to the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower represents not just France but its people. It shows that even if they undergo some difficulties, the people will continue to stand tall. It also shows unity because every bolt helps keep the tower strong. The Eiffel Tower serves as a constant reminder of what the French Revolution created and what the people should continue to do, stay together in order to create strength.
Musée de Cluny/ Musée National du Moyen Age
As I entered the Cluny Museum, once again I felt like I was transported to another era, the Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages. During this time period, it is said that there was no advancement in art, science, or technology. That statement can prove to be contradictory because the Cluny museum is composed of very religious Romanesque artifacts because it was once a monastery. It housed the Cluny Order, which through many years were able to combine religion with art. The goal of the Cluny Order was to bring some of God's beauty into perspective. In the museum, you can find sculptures, paintings, stained glass windows, and many other artifacts that had some kind or tie with Christ, Mary, or the disciples. People back in those days were so obsessed with the idea of God because, at the time, it seemed like God was their only salvation. The Middle Ages was a time period where everyone faced death at every waking hour. Praying to god and showing him their tribute was away to ensure that they would have a pleasant afterlife. The museum also focuses on the monarchy and its knights. Inside it, there are many shields and armors that prove that knights were willing to risk their lives for their kings and, thus, protect their honor. Again, this was also tied to religion because the king was the human that was closest to god.
Romanesque and Gothic Cathedrals
There are churches and abbeys in Paris that can date back to the 6th century. Many have suffered great damage due to the French Revolution or the Commune in 1871. Some abbeys were completely destroyed along with its monks. Though Catholic churches had served as refuge to many, nobody could deny that the church was tied to the monarchy. The people back then thought that in order to save themselves, they had to get rid of both the church and the monarchy. After all the chaos and destruction, eventually many cathedrals were salvaged, and so, we are now are able to take a look at where people went to find spiritual enlightenment. Some Cathedrals have Roman architecture and can be described as very simple and dark with thick windows and walls. Those cathedrals tend to be the older ones. An example of Roman catholic cathedral is St. Germain des Pres. The gothic cathedrals were built around the 13th century and onwards. They are more elaborate and have a more artistic view, with their iconic gargoyles and stained glass windows. An example of a gothic cathedral is the Notre Dame de Paris, as shown to the right. These cathedrals were built to be beautiful because people tended to connect beauty with religion. They considered God to be the ultimate beauty.
The Louvre
Originally, the Louvre was a fortress and also served as a prison and place to keep hidden treasures. Eventually, King Charles V transformed this fortress into a royal palace in 1360. It wasn't until 1793 that the Louvre became a museum. What was once a splendid palace is now one of the most prestigious museums of the world of today. The iconic glass pyramids weren't added until 1971. This museum is composed of many art works from all over the world, thanks to Napoleon Bonaparte. Some artifacts date back to almost 9,000 years ago. It harbors both ancient and modern artifacts as well as works of art. The Louvre Museum is so immense that seeing the whole museum in one day is absolutely impossible. The museum literally took me through all the era in time where humans existed. The museum literally took me through all the era in time where humans existed. When I went there, I mainly looked around the Egyptian Antiquities and famous paintings and sculptures from the Renaissance Never did I expect to see Egyptian artifacts up close. It only made me wonder what the people back then were thinking when they were busy weaving their baskets and carving out their sarcophaguses. I was also able to see paintings like the Mona Lisa and sculptures of gods and goddesses, such as Nike in the Winged Victory of Samothrace. It is clear to me that no matter what civilization, all artists back then were so focused on mythology because their gods seemed so distant from them that the artists made it their life's' work to bring these gods closer, into the people's perspective.
Versailles
When Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, decided that the Louvre wasn't as grand as he wanted it to be, he moved to the palace of Versailles. There he would host great parties and invite other powerful individuals close to his status in order to keep a close watch on them. Since then on, the palace of Versailles was always used to show off the power and wealth the monarchy had. It is here that the French Revolution started. King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were chased out and dragged straight to the guillotines. The palace of Versailles is what is left of that monarchy. It was surreal to stand outside such a magnificent palace. The inside was even more unbelievable. It was full of luxuries everywhere you looked. Every painting told a story. Some date back to medieval times, showing knights on horses ready to protect their kingdoms. The gardens were equally grandiose. It felt like they stretched on for miles and were sculpted to perfection. Everything in the gardens were about beauty. Marie Antoinette's estate was equally beautiful, though in a smaller scale because it was meant to allow her to go back and experience the simple life without luxuries. However, it is easy to live the simple life if you have the opportunity to go back to a life full of luxuries at whatever given moment. This explains why she was so unsympathetic to the people living in poverty. A modern example of that are the leaders that were overthrown in Africa as a result of the Arab Spring. Mubarak, the ex-president of Egypt, had a country almost full of people living in poverty. These harsh condition are what lead to the French Revolution and the Arab Spring.
Panthéon
Before it became the famous Panthéon of Paris, this building was the church of St. Genevieve, which was full of murals of God and his disciples. In the past, honors were given to the gods and the kings. The Panthéon changed that. As stated before, the French Revolution lead to the demise of many churches, but the ones that were left standing were typically converted into something else. The Panthéon's new purpose was to show off the brilliant minds of France. It is obvious that there is a conflict between religion and science the minute you step foot in the Panthéon. There are sculptures that are more modern with paintings on the wall dating back to when the church was active. Though it was being remodeled, there was a giant pendulum that proved that the Earth spun on its axis. The Panthéon puts into display the accomplishments that the scientists and philosophers buried there did during their lifetimes. The Panthéon shows that there were real people living in France rather than imaginary Gods. It shows that accomplishments of people like Marie Curie, who discovered radiation. Thanks to her work almost a century ago, there are now treatment for cancer. The people buried at the Panthéon are an inspiration to everyone around the world. I know from my experience that walking through those hallways gave me a sense of knowledge and peace. Learning about the people from our past can lead to the creation of new innovators. These people set an example and I am sure that there will be more people to be buried there as a result from their future accomplishments.
National Holiday and Monuments
Just like every other country celebrates their independence day, so does France. On July 14 1789, the French Revolution took place. The French overthrew the monarchy and the church and stopped their reign of terror. Today, they celebrate the fall of the monarchy and church. They celebrate their freedom and what they currently have. During the morning of July 14th, people gather to see their soldiers march and pay tribute to their flag by singing the national anthem. There was a display of aircrafts and parachutists. It is evident that the French really value what they have because it seemed like everyone in Paris was outside enjoying the celebrations. At night, the Eiffel Tower was packed with people and so was the park in front of it. They continued the celebration with classical music, a lights show, and fireworks. Everyone sang along to "La Vie En Rose" by Edith Piaf and to the national anthem. It comes to show that every country is patriotic. When I visited the Arc de Triomphe, it was a clear sign of how much the people valued the efforts their soldiers put into protecting their country. Every country cherishes the fact that they are one unit, whether it is Mexico, the U.S., or France. It was nice to step into the shoes of the French and learn about their history. It comes to show that we can all learn from history, and just like people, each country comes from a different background. But no matter what country or background they have, people are always willing to protect what they believe in and what they have.
Sacré Coeur
There is a legend that states that a decapitated man walked for miles to where the church of St. Denis is, which was named after this man, on the hill of martyrdom, also known as Montmartre. For a long time, Montmartre was the holiest place to be at since it was visited by a lot of church figures, such as Joan of Arc. On that hill there used to be an abbey until the French Revolution came along and destroyed it. Soon, the Commune of 1871 that resulted from France's loss in the Franco-Prussian War lead to the making of a Basilica at Montmartre in the 19th century. It was named Sacré Coeur, as pictured right. When I climbed all the way to the top, It seemed that Sacré Coeur was built there in order to overlook the city. It makes me think that they meant for it to represent God looking over its people. Its architecture is very detailed with Joan of Arc also watching over her people. She looks like she is ready to attack anything that threatens Paris. When painted, Sacré Coeur is usually very white, as if to represent purity. Inside the Basilica, there is a sense of tranquility. It is very grand and has a mural of Jesus Christ on its ceiling. Once you start walking on the streets of Montmartre, it doesn't feel like you're in Paris anymore. It feels like an old village.
Musee de Rodin
Without a doubt my favorite place to visit in Paris was the Rodin Museum. The house itself is a work of art. It may not be as big as the other palaces or museums, but it painted a very clear picture of the life of Auguste Rodin. His sculptures leave their viewers speechless. Auguste Rodin is considered the "father of modern sculpture" because he was the first to give movement and emotion to his works of art in the 19th century. His art shows a moment that has been frozen in time with the most emotion. On the right, you can see The Call of Arms that portrays an angel screaming and ready to battle. It leaves the viewer wondering what will happen to that angel. He gave life to his sculptures. The use of emotion in his sculptures is a clear sign that he was a romantic artist. As to be expected of a French garden, it was absolutely perfectly shaped. Nature only accentuated Rodin's sculptures of The Thinker and The Gates of Hell. Throughout his pieces of art, the viewers can tell that Rodin had a very influential person in his life, Camille Claudel. She was his muse. If you look at his works in a chronological order, you can guess around what time Claudel entered and left his life, as well as his emotions. Walking where someone as talented as Rodin walked is certainly one of the greatest experiences of my life. The only question left in my mind was if I stayed there long enough, will his wisdom and knowledge rub off on me? If he's inspired a non-artist like me, I'm sure he's responsible for inspiring great artists of today.
Musee d'Orsay
Formerly a train station, the Orsay Museum became known for hosting the reject art. Today we know this museum as the impressionist museum. All of the paintings show light, shadows, colors, movement, and emotion. It was revolutionary because it mainly revolved around the working class instead of gods and kings. The impressionist movement represents an era where artists were no longer restricted in any way. They were free to leave their art studios and paint landscapes. Before, artists could only paint the weather in its ideal form. After the impressionist movement, artists were free to paint the storms and dark scenes and show how life truly was. On the right, there is the La Madeleine Ou La Douleur by Paul Cezanne. It shows thick brush strokes, as opposed to the more classical style that made the painting seem like a photograph with its light strokes. This painting also shows the pain and despair of a commoner. The impressionists focused on trying to make their paintings come to life and jump out at the viewer, as if a three dimensional figure. Though these painting were thrown into the reject museum, it is clear today that they are made by incredibly talented people. These impressionists were just ahead of their time. Human nature is to reject the unknown. Since this type of art was unknown, it was immediately rejected just like La Madeleine Ou La Douleur on the right. All of these paintings show what each artist had to say. They were all individuals who saw the world in a different way. Again, seeing these paintings made me wonder what they were thinking and what they were going through at the time.
The Pompidou Museum
The Pompidou Museum is a new museum out to put into display modern art. It was interesting to see what all those years of art have led to. It focuses on post-impressionism and cubism. It is mainly about abstract art. In this time period, artists are out to show people what is really happening in the world. Throughout the years, artists have fought to be heard and to show the world their perspectives. Today's artists are not going to let all that hard work go to waste. On the right there is the cubist painting Nature morte sur une chaise by Juan Grise. I can breathe a sigh of relief after seeing these paintings first hand because it is clear that modern artists also have a chance to succeed in today's society. Some people may think of this art as too radical. Like I said before, humans don't like the unknown, much less change, but I think society needs a little of this radical art. The world is radical as it is with all its wars and conflicts. If artists want to be heard, they have to be radical in order to send their message across. If our ancestors had seen this type of art, it might have ended up in a reject museum, but history has proven that there really isn't reject art. It is just not understood, it is too radical for its time. Brilliant minds are still brilliant even if they are radical.
Natural History Museum
Seeing art in Paris is absolutely amazing, but I was definitely glad that I was able to see a museum that was dedicated to nature. It shows that nature itself is art. This museum focuses on the math and science of nature. I shows that everything in nature is there for a reason. It shows so much but at the same time so little because, relatively, humans know very little about nature. This museum also puts into perspective the human need to learn and expand their knowledge. Humans feel the need to analyze all that is around us and compare it to themselves. Humans need to collect and study their findings. The Natural History Museum shows the history of life and it shows how humans aren't nature's center of attention. Humans are just part of one giant cycle. They are not better than any other creature. Humans just have to play their role in this giant ecosystem. After seeing this museum, I now know that it is imperative that humans figure out a way to keep all species alive. Humans may be equal to all the other animals, but they sure know how to mess with the balance in nature better than any other species.
Giverny
Going to Giverny was quite the experience. Not only was it a challenge for me to bike my way up to Claude Monet's house, it was almost spiritually enlightening. The difficulty of bike riding was completely worth it. I had never seen so many paintings in such a small home. It was very colorful, very lively. Every room had an assigned color. The gardens were even more colorful. It is easy to see where Monet got his inspiration. Nature was his muse. With a garden like his, it obvious that it was natural for him to paint outside and break the tradition of only painting indoors. Monet knew that nature was far more beautiful and interesting to paint than the typical aristocrat or god. He knew that nature was the beauty of all beauties. People like Monet exist in history because they prove how important it is to learn from history. Through his paintings, Monet demonstrates that it is essential to keep nature alive. We now know that Monet was right because of things like the Greenhouse Effect. Humans need to learn how to preserve nature in order to find salvation. I believe that the answer to this problem lies in history. Humans need to learn not to repeat history, if not, catastrophes like another ice age or extreme radiation could mean the end for all living creatures.
Blois
I never imagined seeing one castle in my lifetime. By now, I had already seen a couple, but it still came as a shock to find out that there were three castles at Blois. Before relocating the monarchy at Versailles, the monarchy was situated at Blois. On the right, I have a picture of the castle of Chambord. Entering that castle was like traveling back in time to medieval times. After staying for most of my time at a busy city like Paris, Blois truly seemed more like a village. I couldn't help but think that Chambord seemed to be straight out of a movie. It seemed like not too long ago knights and their horses were running around freely. According to what I learned there, Francois 1st was the king who started to build the castle. He even hired Leonardo da Vinci. He had three castles at his disposal: Chambord, Blois, and d'Amboise. Going to Chambord was like going to another city. It had so much land that we were forced to rent bikes just to see a glimpse of it. It also caught my attention that inside the castle, there are writings on the wall. Some seemed to be fairly recent but some seemed to date far back to when the castle was built. Again, I can only imagine just how many people have come to the castle and what it felt to live here. After exploring Chambord, we went to see the castle of Blois. It seemed relatively more modern compared to Chambord but still very grand.