Friday, March 27, 2015 0 comments

Stones Below Paris


As we walked through the diverse city of Paris, we were able to see huge buildings and cute cafes. The smell of delicious pastries drew us in every morning to our neighborhood boulangerie to buy croissants. Walking narrow and wide streets through the different arrondissements, I could see the way Parisians go about their day. Making mistakes on the metro, walking into stores saying bonjour and merci is an amazing experience. One of the best ways to experience and absorb the culture is to interact with locals. A great way to connect with a new city is by understanding its history. Context Travel does this for the intellectually curious traveler. The process of Paris becoming a city that values history, by keeping and; restoring historical buildings and objects, is lovely. By understanding the birth of the city of Paris, individuals can connect with its history. Here, I’ll share two Context Travel tours that greatly influenced the way I see the city – and the world.


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"La crypte archéologique du Parvis de Notre-Dame (Paris) by dalbera from Paris, France
Wikimedia Commons


The Birth of the City of Light walk with Context Travel gave us an overview of the Roman city of Lutetia, located in the grounds of what is now Paris in the Ile de Cite and mainly in the left bank. This walk had many interesting facts about the Roman city. However, visiting the Crypte Archeologique was breathtaking. Our docent shared the history of the city of Lutetia. It was discovered when Parisians were digging to create more space, and fortunately found the remains of the ancient Roman city. The remains of the ancient city showed how stones were set up to create the city. It was interesting to learn the way Lutetia kept expanding in a circle, like rings of a tree trunk, with the Ile de la Cite in the center. Many Roman structures are still used in Paris, including; the Roman city planning main north-south-oriented main street called  cardo maximus. The process of seeing these ancient sites and then comparing it to the innovation of the buildings above throughout time made me think about what the world values. Paris appreciates the beauty of original buildings and makes them accessible to the public by having major museums free of charge for children and students. More places should follow this structure of having accessible sites for young people, it gives individuals a chance to explore and learn outside of school.   
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Louvre medieval fortress photo by Rebeca Vargas


The Louvre Crash Course walking seminar started by entering the newly discovered medieval fortress under the famous museum. This part of the walk held my attention because it was underneath the Louvre for a long time until it was discovered in the 1980s, when the glass pyramid was added to the beautiful museum. After learning about the medieval fortress, the history of the rest of the Louvre fell into place.
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"Fortress remains, Louvre, Paris June 2014" by daryl_mitchell from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
 Fortress Remains-Wikimedia Commons


The amusing part of the discovery of the fortress is that it was not planned. The discovery of most remains of historical buildings in Paris are opened for the public to explore and learn about the past. I wonder if I start digging in my backyard, what will I find? I have grown an interest in the findings of historical buildings and objects. I have created a new challenge or added to my bucket list, to go back to the Louvre and learn about the artifacts there that we did not see today. Realistically, it will take me more than three days because the Louvre is huge, but I am up for the challenge and will return to the City of Light later in my lifetime. How long do you think it takes to go through the whole Louvre? 
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Notre Dame: Holy Museum?


Entrance to Notre Dame
Photo by: Jessica Hardy
   When thinking of Notre Dame, one might picture ornate spires, rusted gargoyles, and monumental entrances. I, too pictured this in my head, in anticipation for my visit to Paris. While I did found these characteristics to hold true, Notre Dame was also overrun by various less appealing characteristics as well.
   Upon approach, Notre Dame offers a spectacular entrance, second to none, characterized by three doors ornate with not only biblical and historical sculptures, but also royal motifs. The cathedral’s larger than life appearance excited my architectural passions and beckoned me to see more. Once inside, however, I witnessed first-hand the results of the presence of tourists and holy relics in one city. While the nave of Notre Dame is nothing less than an impressive showcase of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture, I was easily distracted by the presence of the crowd, murmuring and snapping pictures. I will not lie, I took pictures too; but I was constantly pervaded by the thought – this was not a gothic cathedral.
Ceiling at Notre Dame
Photo by: Jessica Hardy
  

   During medieval Paris, the Catholic clergy had Gothic Cathedrals constructed with massive stained-glass windows, colossal columns, complex ceilings, and dimmed lighting to create a supernatural experience for Parisian commoners, making the individual minute in comparison to the church. However, the presence of camera-snapping tourists and church-related advertisements coinciding with serious Catholics performing prayers and visible confessionals created a quite uncomfortable juxtaposition. Such a contrast provided no room for the reverence due to such a holy building. I had expected a holy cathedral and found a “holy museum”?
   
Alter at Sainte-Etienne-du-Monte
Photo by: Jessica Hardy
Even though Notre Dame did not satisfy my preconceived notions, I still highly recommend visiting the cathedral for its sheer scale as well as its biblical and historical symbolism. However,  I found that the smaller cathedrals around Paris present a more personal and traditional experience. For example, the Sainte-Etienne-du-Monte is a church in Paris, located on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in the 5th arrondissement, near the Panthéon. Although much smaller that Notre Dame, it contains the shrine of St. Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. In addition, its’ smaller scale allows a more individual experience. I also found that I was able to enjoy the ceremonial mass, the lighting of the prayer candles, the symbols of the stained-glass windows, and the solemn atmosphere in a quieter, more traditional space. Who knew that I would find what I was looking for at Notre Dame in a smaller, less famous church – home to the patron saint of Paris? On second thought, that makes perfect sense.
Sunday, March 22, 2015 0 comments

2015 Scholarship Winners Prepare for Paris

Within 24 hours, Jessica Hardy and Rebeca Veliz will be in route to Paris. After three months of preparation classes, Context walks research, variety of readings and films, these two girls are ready to land in the City of Light.  Although it is challenging to write about a city that you have yet to see in person, each student wrote a pre-trip blog. Thanks to Dr. Jessie Voigt for working behind the scenes to assist students with their blogs. 

Check out Jessica's post, titled, From Cardboard Box to Notre Dame Cathedral


Wikimedia Commons: By Freepenguin


It is so funny how over time we grow and our minds tend to change. However, there are some passions that never leave our heads, those reoccurring dreams that we want so much to be a reality.
When I was about ten years old, I took the liberty to go through my mother’s mail. Upon finding an architectural magazine, I began to look through it… and every single house plan and style seemed to catch my attention. Some I fell in love with, some I hated. As a ten year old, I began to have an opinion about the world of architecture.
To read more, see Jessica's blog post, click link below.  Featured on Wandering Educators

Check out Rebeca's post, titled, Monet to Banksy: From Impressionist to Street Art
Auguste Renoir - Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette, 1876, oil on canvas, 131x175cm - Musée d'Orsay RF 2739 (derivative work - AutoContrast edit in LCH space). Wikimedia Commons

Cafés in Paris, France in the 19th century served as a place where individuals gathered to talk about painting, literature, and politics. In the corner of a Café, a group of young artists (who later became known as Impressionists) shared their dreams and aspirations in the art world. Their dreams included becoming professional artists, with their art works being accepted and displayed in the Salon, however they faced rejection from the art community. Many Impressionist artists, like Renoir and Monet, didn't go to traditional schools of painting - they went to studios that artists opened for young artist to use. Despite their rejections at the Salon, they didn't give up - and now their artwork is displayed in famous museums in Paris and around the world. Their ambition and grit helped them achieve success. The Musee d'Orsay is one of the museums that displays Impressionist works.
To read more, see Rebeca's blog post, click link below.  Featured on Wandering Educators



 
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