Though there have still been many new discoveries around Paris, there is beginning to be a lot more routine as well. After several trips to the Latin quarter, I practically consider the Panthéon my second home in Paris. The first couple of trips in the area felt strongly focused on the architecture of the area, which is admittedly impressive. However, through subsequent visits I became much more enraptured discovering more about the people who lived there.
One of the most significant of these for me personally was the residence of Ernest Hemingway when he was living in Paris. Although the location is extremely unassuming, I felt like I was completing a pilgrimage in paying homage to my fellow American. Hemingway feels like such a kindred spirit to me, as a young American searching Paris for a creative awakening. Another discovery that was super cool to me was that the final resting place of Sainte Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, is inside a church the the area that I had already visited several times. Although I had only just recently learned who she was and why she was significant at all (long story short, she saved Paris a couple of times), I was surprisingly moved by my visit to her. I guess that means I'm getting attached to Paris.
I also got to see a lot of the city from the Seine River this week. We finally took the cruise that we had planned for the beginning of our trip. Boat rides are generally pretty exciting, but getting to tour Paris from the water was just magical. Most prominent, of course, was the Eiffel Tower, but we also got some good perspectives of several other parts of the city.
The final major thing I got to explore this week was a pair of fancy houses turned museums. Although they were both from the 19th century, they exhibited a very defined rococo style. I didn't really get too excited about the architecture the way I sometimes do over the gothic style structures, but the art collections they had in the houses were quite extravagant. It was a little surreal to be casually walking through the tour and to look over and see original Fragonard, Rembrandt, and David works, all sitting in the same house off a random alley in Paris.
One of the most significant of these for me personally was the residence of Ernest Hemingway when he was living in Paris. Although the location is extremely unassuming, I felt like I was completing a pilgrimage in paying homage to my fellow American. Hemingway feels like such a kindred spirit to me, as a young American searching Paris for a creative awakening. Another discovery that was super cool to me was that the final resting place of Sainte Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, is inside a church the the area that I had already visited several times. Although I had only just recently learned who she was and why she was significant at all (long story short, she saved Paris a couple of times), I was surprisingly moved by my visit to her. I guess that means I'm getting attached to Paris.
I also got to see a lot of the city from the Seine River this week. We finally took the cruise that we had planned for the beginning of our trip. Boat rides are generally pretty exciting, but getting to tour Paris from the water was just magical. Most prominent, of course, was the Eiffel Tower, but we also got some good perspectives of several other parts of the city.
The final major thing I got to explore this week was a pair of fancy houses turned museums. Although they were both from the 19th century, they exhibited a very defined rococo style. I didn't really get too excited about the architecture the way I sometimes do over the gothic style structures, but the art collections they had in the houses were quite extravagant. It was a little surreal to be casually walking through the tour and to look over and see original Fragonard, Rembrandt, and David works, all sitting in the same house off a random alley in Paris.
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