Feed the Birds...

Visiting St. Paul's Cathedral was one of those experiences that I've dreamed of for years.  Ever since I watched Mary Poppins as a little girl and heard Julie Andrews' petition to "buy my bags full of crumbs,"  I knew there was something special about St. Paul's.  My recent visit simply confirmed that St. Paul's that.  It is the heart of London, the symbol of the British people's survival, resiliency, and hope.

The current St. Paul's is actually the 4th, possibly even the 5th, cathedral to stand on the site.  Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, it dates back to the 17th century.  I was impressed when I learned about the recent cleaning of the building, which was a staggering job to undertake.  They left one small patch of the wall uncleaned to show just how dirty it was-it was so cool to see what centuries of grime had done to the church!

When I entered the cathedral, I was awe-struck by the immensity of the cathedral. It is HUGE.  I was also impressed with the style of the architecture done in the neoclassical style, which seems a little unusual for an Anglican church.  As I moved down the nave and came under the dome, I was flabbergasted by its size.  It is 365 feet from the top of the dome to the floor, a length to remind people of the time it takes for the earth to orbit the sun.  Needless to say, the dome, with its wonderful monochrome paintings of scenes from the life of Saint Paul, left an impression.

The quire is so exquisitely decorated with mosaics that just shimmered and sparkled in the low light.  One of my favorite parts of my tour through St. Paul's was seeing the American Memorial Chapel, which lays right behind the high altar.  I teared up when I saw inscribed on the floor, "to the American dead of the Second World War from the people of Britain," and as I picked out the different state insignias in the stained glass windows, I was so proud of my country and so happy that St. Paul's had given such a nice tribute to America.

I conquered the monstrous number of stairs up to the Whispering Gallery in the lower part of the dome, which was a cool view of the cathedral.  I continued my journey up the dome, finally coming out in the Golden Gallery at the very top of the dome.  My physical efforts were all worth it however when I reached the top, where I was rewarded with one of the best views of the city.

I finished my tour down in the crypt, which contains some really nice memorials and tombs many people, including the Duke of Wellington, Lord Nelson, and the architect of the cathedral himself.  Sir Christopher Wren's tomb was particularly touching, because it was very simple and modest, tucked into the corner of the crypt with a simple inscription.  His son had inscribed, "If you seek his monument, look about you."  I agree that St. Paul's is a fitting tribute to the man that built it and the city that holds it dear.

Louvre and Orsay Museums

While in Paris, I had the privilege to visit the Louvre and Orsay museums.  Both experiences were highlights of my short trip to the City of Lights, and I have an even greater appreciation for the priceless works of art that they contain.

The Louvre is immense.  Unfathomably immense.  And it has so much artwork!  On the Seine cruise that I went on, the tour guide said that if you spent a minute or two in front of every piece of art in the museum, you would be there for over four months!  So, after hearing that, I wasn't too stressed about seeing everything, because I knew I couldn't see it all.  But I did see a lot!  And my experience at the Louvre was incredible.

I started in the Richelieu wing with the Northern European painting galleries, where I saw numerous Rembrandt,  Durer, and van Eyck.  I then moved into the middle wing, the Sully, where I saw countless works by the celebrated French artists, such as Poussin, Watteau, Chardin, Boucher, Fragonard, David, and many many more.  One of my favorite galleries was one that houses all of the important French national pieces, all of which were larger than life both in size and in the overall aesthetic effect.  It was incredible to see so many works that I have studied in class.  It was easy to see with some of them why they are so revered and celebrated, because it was much more powerful seeing the real painting up close.  You could not only see the texture of the paint and canvas better, but the colors, figures, and lines were just more alive.  

I was in awe of the Denon wing of the Louvre, which houses "Winged Victory of Samotrace", "Venus d' Milo," and of course of the "Mona Lisa," which was actually bigger than I expected it be.  I also loved seeing the works of the Italian masters, such as Raphael, Caravaggio, and other works by da Vinci.  I loved the Louvre and I'm so glad that I walked away with an even greater appreciation for the art of centuries past.

Visiting the Orsay was also an awe-inspiring experience.  The old train station in home to mainly French paintings from the 19th century.  I loved seeing the works of the French masters, and it was so amazing to see their works in person.  Impressionist works are so much more impactful when you can see the brushstrokes and vivid colors as they were meant to be seen.  All of the art in the Orsay had a huge impact on me, and I left the museum uplifted and with a deeper love for the art of 19th century France.

An American in Paris

Last week was our whirlwind, jam-packed trip to Paris!  It was such a wonderful and enlightening trip for me, one filled with awesome learning experiences and great memories.

We arrived in France in no time thanks to the Eurostar train, a non-stop service from London to Paris.  The only roadblock for me was a fever that I was fighting off the morning that we left, but luckily I had lots of people looking out for me that helped me carry my bags up and down stairs in the Underground and at the train station.

After a hop, skip, and a jump over the Channel, we arrived at the Gare du Nord train station in Paris on Tuesday afternoon.  I spent the rest of the day cruising down the Seine, dining on the Champs Elysees, and looking out upon Paris at night from the tippy-top of the Eiffel Tower.  It was such a great introduction to Paris!

On Wednesday morning, we made our way out to Versailles (after a slightly circuitous and industrially scenic route to the train station.  Haha).  Versailles was mind-blowing!  I've seen my fair share of elegant palaces since being in Europe, but the opulence of Versailles was incredible, and at times a little overwhelming.  

My favorite part of the palace was wandering through the unfathomably huge gardens, which are exquisite, even at the end of autumn.  After returning to Paris, I ate the best onion soup of my life, wandered around the Latin Quarter, and finally ended up at the Musee du Louvre, which was one of the highlights of my trip.  I have so much to say about the Louvre (and the Orsay), so you'll have to wait for another blog post. :)  Needless to say, I loved the Louvre!

On Thursday, the last day in Paris, I started off with a visit to Musee d'Orsay, which showcases mostly French paintings from the 19th century.  I could have stayed in the Orsay all week.  It was incredible, and I left the museum definitely uplifted.  I then made my way to Sainte Chapelle, a church I have wanted to visit for some time.  My jaw dropped when I entered the upper chapel, for I was so impressed with the architecture and exquisite stained-glass windows.  It really does feel like you're trapped in a giant jewelry box! 

 I then moved onto another symbol of Paris, Notre Dame.  I conquered the killer stairs and enjoyed a gorgeous view of Paris up at the top of the bell tower.  After hanging out with the gargoyles and the great bourdon bell, I made my way down and inside the church, which was a great moment for me.  It seems that I was trying to get my fill of churches on Thursday, because I finished my trip to Paris by going to Sacre Coeur, a basilica at La Butte Montmartre, which is a hill overlooking the city.  Sacre Coeur was beautiful and unique both inside and out, and it reminded me a lot of many Byzantine-style churches, something I didn't really expect to find in Paris.  As I looked out at Paris from the top of Montmartre, I was so thankful for the opportunity to experience this amazing city!

Poem for Honors 260 - Darwin's Down House Assignment

Confession

One flint marker.
Theories and questions buzz like
Flour-dusted bees,
Chalky-white in the sunlight,
Buzzing and whizzing through my brain.
How do I destroy the world's
One desperate hope?
How do I extinguish the divine spark?
It feels like murder.
Two flint markers.
I try to hide my crime,
Desperately scrubbing my blood-stained hands,
But the fossils, finches,
Mockingbirds and tortoises
Gave me away. The evidence is
insurmountable.
Three.
The world is not a haven; the wind
Whispers not peaceful melodies,
But war cries,
Telling of each organism's struggle
For survival.
Four.
And yet, man will yet draw closer
To perfection
In the midst of the toil and struggle and hard reason
Shines sympathy,
That noblest part of our nature,
Somehow transcending
Life's toil, warming others and ourselves.
Five flint markers.