We visited quite a few museums both on the way in and out of Copenhagen and in the city itself. On the way in to town we stopped at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. The setting for this museum is absolutely gorgous as it sits on the Sound and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Lots of people, families, were enjoying the parks and the water outside of this museum. Inside, there was a huge installation by several artists about different ways of "living" like in treehouses and the like from all over the world. Also, an exhibit by David Hockey about drawing using an I-Pad.
In Copenhagen, we visited the National Gallery of Art which for my purposes, was one of the most accessible museums we visited, something that was very important to me the day after I fell at Kronberg Castle. The art ranged from French to Scandanavian painters and from the Renaissance to modern art, which should provide the students on the trip with excellent examples for their research papers.
We walked from there to the Hirschprung Collection, located in the same block. Here the art was arranged as if it were in a home and included period furniture from the artists´ homes. The paintings were from the Golden Age in Denmark.
The least accessible both physically and otherwise for me was Thorvaldsen`s Museum. Bertel Thorvaldsen was a Danish sculpture very famous in Denmark and the museum houses not just his sculptures but everything he collected including ancient from Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
On the way out of town we went to the Arken Museum of Modern Art which sits on the Sound a few miles out of Copenhagen. We enjoyed the exhibit of Anna Archer a Danish painter who, even though she wasn't allowed to enter the Academy because she was a woman, became a highly-regarded painter in the late 19th century and early 20th century. There was also an installation which the students enjoyed experiencing several times which made the participants feel like they were in a dense fog with various kinds of light.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Copenhagen, city of bicycles . . .
We liked our hotel, Ibsens, located pretty much in the center of the city. This is a city of bicycles. We saw more bicycles here than we have since we were in China in 1999. Pregnant women, old people, people smoking while they bicycle, conversing, traveling in huge crowds, alone, and in pairs, on old bikes, nondescript bikes, bikes with big wagons on the front for the kids or maybe even an adult.
The buildings are old, 3 or more stories high, with lots of windows and they sit on numerous canals throughout the city. Anyway, back to the hotel. Our room was plenty large for us and furnished in simple, Danish modern style with a bed, desk, and a huge footstool. No closet, but places to hang things and the bathroom was teeny tiny but got the job done. Basically, the floor of the bath was the floor of the shower. You could put all your stuff in the sink and then just reach for it when you needed it while showering.
We enjoyed the breakfasts which were included with the hotel. Buffet style, of course, with little half sandwiches of cheese, chicken, salmon with lots of greens (salat) housed in open paper packages. Yogurt in little dishes with different types of fruit. Then if you wanted to, you could add almonds, granola, etc. Coffee served in small, thick, squat glasses. Everything went on a tray with little indents for each glass.
There was a nice dining area furnished in Danish modern style plus a sitting area and then a lovely courtyard outside where we chose to eat. David photographed it all so we'll see if we can get them posted onto the site. So far posting photos is tedious and a bit difficult.
More on the museums later . . .
The buildings are old, 3 or more stories high, with lots of windows and they sit on numerous canals throughout the city. Anyway, back to the hotel. Our room was plenty large for us and furnished in simple, Danish modern style with a bed, desk, and a huge footstool. No closet, but places to hang things and the bathroom was teeny tiny but got the job done. Basically, the floor of the bath was the floor of the shower. You could put all your stuff in the sink and then just reach for it when you needed it while showering.
We enjoyed the breakfasts which were included with the hotel. Buffet style, of course, with little half sandwiches of cheese, chicken, salmon with lots of greens (salat) housed in open paper packages. Yogurt in little dishes with different types of fruit. Then if you wanted to, you could add almonds, granola, etc. Coffee served in small, thick, squat glasses. Everything went on a tray with little indents for each glass.
There was a nice dining area furnished in Danish modern style plus a sitting area and then a lovely courtyard outside where we chose to eat. David photographed it all so we'll see if we can get them posted onto the site. So far posting photos is tedious and a bit difficult.
More on the museums later . . .
A fall at Kronberg Castle
Our first stop on our way to Copenhagen after we left the ferry from Sweden, was Helsingor, the home of Kronberg Castle. It was built in 1420 as a fortress and is the model for Shapkespeare´s Elsinor in Hamlet and sits on the Sound, the body of water between Sweden and Denmark. Complete with a moat and drawbridge, the buildings form a square around a huge courtyard. You can visit the underbelly of the castle where the soldiers would hunker down during a seige and prisoners would be housed.
While everyone was exploring the dungeons, I waited for them to return because I didn't think I could navigate the stairs (a good call, David informed me later). But as I headed toward the doorway to the courtyard to talk to a museum staff member, I was looking up to see where she was and totally missed that there was a big step down so down I went, flat on my face, actually my knees. The staff member and others helped me up, sat me in a chair to recover and even brought me water. Meanwhile, everyone in our group was looking for me and couldn´t see that I was in a foyer out of sight from the courtyard.
I´m glad I´m writing this a few days later because now I know I am just fine and the trip isn´t ruined because I can´t walk. Just some bruises and such and now my "good" knee isn't so good! And now I've had my fall for the trip so that should be it!
While everyone was exploring the dungeons, I waited for them to return because I didn't think I could navigate the stairs (a good call, David informed me later). But as I headed toward the doorway to the courtyard to talk to a museum staff member, I was looking up to see where she was and totally missed that there was a big step down so down I went, flat on my face, actually my knees. The staff member and others helped me up, sat me in a chair to recover and even brought me water. Meanwhile, everyone in our group was looking for me and couldn´t see that I was in a foyer out of sight from the courtyard.
I´m glad I´m writing this a few days later because now I know I am just fine and the trip isn´t ruined because I can´t walk. Just some bruises and such and now my "good" knee isn't so good! And now I've had my fall for the trip so that should be it!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
An evening in Sweden
We were invited to join the staff and faculty of the Mullsjo Folkhogskola for an outing to an island located in a nearby lake. We took a bus to a ferry about 25 or 30 miles from Mullsjo and the bus went right onto the ferry. After about 20 or 25 minutes we arrived on the island where we were joined by a tour leader who explained the history of the island, various points of interest including two ruins of ancient castles. She also took us into a very old church that had been there since the 1500s. An earlier church that had been located in the same place was built in 1100. The art in the church seemed kind of like folk art, kind of germanic in nature. There were statues of a duke and his wife made out of alabaster, religious statues and paintings, lovely curved arches all the way up to the ceiling, and lots of huge brass plates with gold decor located in the church. There were also several angels with wings hanging from the ceiling and located all down the middle aisle of the church. Oh, and there were also wooden statues of Jesus´ disciples. The tour guide spoke at length in Swedish but David and I were both able to hear some translated information from individual faculty members. There were some crown jewels in a safe in a room off the entryway that we could view. This island was the home of many Swedish kings in past centuries.
Our bus also took us to one of the ruins of an ancient castle, which due to erosion, is now sitting right at the edge of the lake. As we were walking around it, a major rain storm hit us and the temperature dropped by quite a bit. We hurried back to the bus but not before getting totally soaked! I met a woman who had visited Andersonville, a neighborhood near Chicago where Matthew Varmecky now lives that was originally settled by immigrants from Sweden.
We had dinner at another folkhogskola (school) located on the island. I asked the president of the school if he had arranged the program. He said yes, he liked to have the staff and faculty go on an outing in June and then again in August. He said usually they go for a couple of days but they had so many programs scheduled for the summer they had to do this program in one afternoon-evening. I asked him if the programs were usually of an historical-educational nature, and he said, "usually they are centered around food!"
Everyone was very friendly, they chatted constantly with each other, and obviously enjoyed each others´ company. I thought it was very good that the president of their institution made it a priority for the staff and faculty to spend time together like this. This included the people who cook, who clean the facilities, and keep up the grounds as well as the faculty. They also have a coffee break together at 10:00 and 2:00 every day plus lunch, too.
I learned that Folkhog or folk (not sure which) refers to the method of teaching they use at this school. It involves bringing out and using the knowledge the students already have, working in groups, and doing hands on activities to enhance the learning as opposed to the teaching at their universities which involves mostly or only lecture. I got so excited when Elisabeth Johannson, a textile teacher and milliner, explained this to me, because it matches my teaching philosophy as well as what Chris Myers-Baker from TCC and I have been promoting and implementing at our school. I´m looking forward to visiting with Elisabeth about this some more.
We learned on Wed. (June 1) that the school was closing down for a national holiday so no meals are being served right now. Fortunately, we head for Copenhagen tomorrow and don´t return until Sunday but in the meantime and on Monday we are eating sandwiches, etc. Elisabeth was kind enough to offer and then take me to the large grocery store in Mullsjo. That helped out a lot because taking the bus would have been a challenge with carrying around groceries. It was fun shopping with her because she could explain what things were and recommend items, etc. The groceries cost 467 kroners, or around 75 US.
David and I had a bit of a mix-up yesterday in that he left to take the train to Jonkoping (pronounced yongchirping kind of ) and I stayed here to work on our itinerary for Copenhagen. He asked me not to lock the door to our apartment because I had the key. We pretty much don´t lock it. Well, I got in a hurry and apparently shut it up more than I thought I had so David returned from his outing at 4 and I was at the store. He forgot I was going to the store so he looked all over campus for me. Then he joined the Swedish students and MSSU students and went to Jonkoping with them. When he returned at 8 pm or so, he had blisters all over his feet and white stuff all over his shirt from the sweat that occurred from all that walking. Even though they took the bus and train, he walked all over Jonkoping photographing and it is a bit of a walk to the train. Today he has bandaged his feet up so he doesn´t incur more damage.
David and I are working on downloading his photos onto this blog. So far we've managed only his photo of the Eiffel Tower at night but we'll do some more, hopefully tonight. Tonight two of the Swedish students, Oscar and Daniel, whom were in David´s photo class here at the Folkhogskola and also they came to MSSU in Joplin in April, are hosting us at dinner in the common area of the dorms where there is a stove. They have promised steaks and beer! It will be fun, they are both enjoyable young men to be around.
More later from Copenhagen!
Our bus also took us to one of the ruins of an ancient castle, which due to erosion, is now sitting right at the edge of the lake. As we were walking around it, a major rain storm hit us and the temperature dropped by quite a bit. We hurried back to the bus but not before getting totally soaked! I met a woman who had visited Andersonville, a neighborhood near Chicago where Matthew Varmecky now lives that was originally settled by immigrants from Sweden.
We had dinner at another folkhogskola (school) located on the island. I asked the president of the school if he had arranged the program. He said yes, he liked to have the staff and faculty go on an outing in June and then again in August. He said usually they go for a couple of days but they had so many programs scheduled for the summer they had to do this program in one afternoon-evening. I asked him if the programs were usually of an historical-educational nature, and he said, "usually they are centered around food!"
Everyone was very friendly, they chatted constantly with each other, and obviously enjoyed each others´ company. I thought it was very good that the president of their institution made it a priority for the staff and faculty to spend time together like this. This included the people who cook, who clean the facilities, and keep up the grounds as well as the faculty. They also have a coffee break together at 10:00 and 2:00 every day plus lunch, too.
I learned that Folkhog or folk (not sure which) refers to the method of teaching they use at this school. It involves bringing out and using the knowledge the students already have, working in groups, and doing hands on activities to enhance the learning as opposed to the teaching at their universities which involves mostly or only lecture. I got so excited when Elisabeth Johannson, a textile teacher and milliner, explained this to me, because it matches my teaching philosophy as well as what Chris Myers-Baker from TCC and I have been promoting and implementing at our school. I´m looking forward to visiting with Elisabeth about this some more.
We learned on Wed. (June 1) that the school was closing down for a national holiday so no meals are being served right now. Fortunately, we head for Copenhagen tomorrow and don´t return until Sunday but in the meantime and on Monday we are eating sandwiches, etc. Elisabeth was kind enough to offer and then take me to the large grocery store in Mullsjo. That helped out a lot because taking the bus would have been a challenge with carrying around groceries. It was fun shopping with her because she could explain what things were and recommend items, etc. The groceries cost 467 kroners, or around 75 US.
David and I had a bit of a mix-up yesterday in that he left to take the train to Jonkoping (pronounced yongchirping kind of ) and I stayed here to work on our itinerary for Copenhagen. He asked me not to lock the door to our apartment because I had the key. We pretty much don´t lock it. Well, I got in a hurry and apparently shut it up more than I thought I had so David returned from his outing at 4 and I was at the store. He forgot I was going to the store so he looked all over campus for me. Then he joined the Swedish students and MSSU students and went to Jonkoping with them. When he returned at 8 pm or so, he had blisters all over his feet and white stuff all over his shirt from the sweat that occurred from all that walking. Even though they took the bus and train, he walked all over Jonkoping photographing and it is a bit of a walk to the train. Today he has bandaged his feet up so he doesn´t incur more damage.
David and I are working on downloading his photos onto this blog. So far we've managed only his photo of the Eiffel Tower at night but we'll do some more, hopefully tonight. Tonight two of the Swedish students, Oscar and Daniel, whom were in David´s photo class here at the Folkhogskola and also they came to MSSU in Joplin in April, are hosting us at dinner in the common area of the dorms where there is a stove. They have promised steaks and beer! It will be fun, they are both enjoyable young men to be around.
More later from Copenhagen!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Love, love, love Sweden!!!
We arrived in Gothenburg on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It was quite chilly and it felt great. Our drive found us with no trouble and we piled all 9 of us plus huge amounts of luggage into his large van. What a luxury - we have a driver and vehicle for the entire month we are in Sweden so no more struggling to figure out how to get to museums, etc. He will drive us up to the door and drop us off, returning to pick us up at a designated time.
I fell in love with Sweden on the drive up to our destination in Mullsjo at Folkhogskola. The terrain here is much like that of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or the northern portion of the lower peninsula, my favorite place in the world. Lots of birch trees, thick, lush green forests, little sparkly and big sparkly lakes, and that cool, cool air. This place resonates with me - it's like I'm home - like I feel when I get to go to northern Michigan for a week or two. For others that feeling comes when they are in the desert, or the mountains, or at the seashore but for me it's that northern Michigan and now Sweden type place.
The Folkhogskola is a lovely place. Our apartment is in the building where we eat our meals. We have a little living area with a round table placed up against two big windows, a couch, book shelves, two beds, a little kitchen, and plenty of closet space and other storage, and TA DA!!! a huge, soaking tub in the bathroom. I squealed out loud when I saw it. We sure weren't expecting that. So I've been taking wonderful, luxurious baths that heal my sore muscles.
We can walk to town on a very nice walking path which winds around a lake. Mullsjo is small but so far has had everything we need, including the train which we can take everywhere, and bus which goes everywhere the train goes plus to little towns.
We are served 3 meals a day in the lovely dining room which features two walls of huge windows looking out onto the woods and lakes and has dining tables and chairs in that light wood that seems to be everywhere here. There are fresh flowers in little vases on the tables. Food is served buffet style and it is wholesome and scrumptious. Breakfast features hot hard boiled eggs, a selection of lunch-type meats and cheeses, pickled vegetables, fruit sauces and a hot cereal. The hot cereal with the fruit sauce is yummy!
The staff and faculty take a coffee break around 10 or so and there's a deck off the dining room that provides a great setting for conversation and relaxing. Lunch is pretty big with lots of fresh vegetables, pickled items, and yesterday we had sausages and potatoes for the entree. Dinner is apparently a lighter more lunch-like meal. We missed dinner last night because we walked to town with Janna (pronounced Yahna) a photography teacher whom David met when he was here in February. She and her husband helped us with train and bus tickets for the month, while I purchased a new hair dryer and some other items. They got on the train to go home and we waited for the bus to go back to the campus but got tired of waiting for the bus so we walked back. I've found that I can use my carry-on as a kind of "cane on wheels" and it helps me walk.
Now, why did I need a new hair dryer? We purchased one in Tulsa that was for both types of current. When I got ready to use it in Paris I didn't realize it had a switch to determine which type of current to use and it was on 120 so when I used it on 120, it burned up. So much for my new, universal hair dryer. My new one, purchased in Mullsjo, cost 398 kroners - I'm not sure how much that was in dollars! I'll have to look at my credit card bill, I guess.
We have a laundry on campus and it is interesting, especially the dryers. The washing machines are all front loaders with not much space in them. They don't have dryers like we do. There is a dryer that is like a big closet with places to hang clothes, and then you turn it on and hot air kind of blows through it. Awhile later your clothes are dry. There's also a room where we hang up our clothes on clothes lines and turn on the heat/air and shut the door. Hours later the clothes are dry!
Today we are going to go on a little trip with the faculty on a bus and then a ferry to an island. We'll have dinner with them and there will be a speaker type program (in Swedish!) and I assume we will get to walk around the island for awhile so we're looking forward to that. The faculty are all very welcoming and friendly and they all speak English. It's nice that David already knows them from being here in February.
Bottom line, I feel like we just landed in paradise. We are pinching ourselves and saying to each other, "I can't believe we get to do this!"
I fell in love with Sweden on the drive up to our destination in Mullsjo at Folkhogskola. The terrain here is much like that of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or the northern portion of the lower peninsula, my favorite place in the world. Lots of birch trees, thick, lush green forests, little sparkly and big sparkly lakes, and that cool, cool air. This place resonates with me - it's like I'm home - like I feel when I get to go to northern Michigan for a week or two. For others that feeling comes when they are in the desert, or the mountains, or at the seashore but for me it's that northern Michigan and now Sweden type place.
By the way, today (May 31) is David's birthday. I have nothing planned so if you get a chance, send him birthday wishes on his facebook page.
The Folkhogskola is a lovely place. Our apartment is in the building where we eat our meals. We have a little living area with a round table placed up against two big windows, a couch, book shelves, two beds, a little kitchen, and plenty of closet space and other storage, and TA DA!!! a huge, soaking tub in the bathroom. I squealed out loud when I saw it. We sure weren't expecting that. So I've been taking wonderful, luxurious baths that heal my sore muscles.
We can walk to town on a very nice walking path which winds around a lake. Mullsjo is small but so far has had everything we need, including the train which we can take everywhere, and bus which goes everywhere the train goes plus to little towns.
We are served 3 meals a day in the lovely dining room which features two walls of huge windows looking out onto the woods and lakes and has dining tables and chairs in that light wood that seems to be everywhere here. There are fresh flowers in little vases on the tables. Food is served buffet style and it is wholesome and scrumptious. Breakfast features hot hard boiled eggs, a selection of lunch-type meats and cheeses, pickled vegetables, fruit sauces and a hot cereal. The hot cereal with the fruit sauce is yummy!
The staff and faculty take a coffee break around 10 or so and there's a deck off the dining room that provides a great setting for conversation and relaxing. Lunch is pretty big with lots of fresh vegetables, pickled items, and yesterday we had sausages and potatoes for the entree. Dinner is apparently a lighter more lunch-like meal. We missed dinner last night because we walked to town with Janna (pronounced Yahna) a photography teacher whom David met when he was here in February. She and her husband helped us with train and bus tickets for the month, while I purchased a new hair dryer and some other items. They got on the train to go home and we waited for the bus to go back to the campus but got tired of waiting for the bus so we walked back. I've found that I can use my carry-on as a kind of "cane on wheels" and it helps me walk.
Now, why did I need a new hair dryer? We purchased one in Tulsa that was for both types of current. When I got ready to use it in Paris I didn't realize it had a switch to determine which type of current to use and it was on 120 so when I used it on 120, it burned up. So much for my new, universal hair dryer. My new one, purchased in Mullsjo, cost 398 kroners - I'm not sure how much that was in dollars! I'll have to look at my credit card bill, I guess.
We have a laundry on campus and it is interesting, especially the dryers. The washing machines are all front loaders with not much space in them. They don't have dryers like we do. There is a dryer that is like a big closet with places to hang clothes, and then you turn it on and hot air kind of blows through it. Awhile later your clothes are dry. There's also a room where we hang up our clothes on clothes lines and turn on the heat/air and shut the door. Hours later the clothes are dry!
Today we are going to go on a little trip with the faculty on a bus and then a ferry to an island. We'll have dinner with them and there will be a speaker type program (in Swedish!) and I assume we will get to walk around the island for awhile so we're looking forward to that. The faculty are all very welcoming and friendly and they all speak English. It's nice that David already knows them from being here in February.
Bottom line, I feel like we just landed in paradise. We are pinching ourselves and saying to each other, "I can't believe we get to do this!"
Goodbye Paris
On our last day in Paris I splurged and took a taxi to the Rodin museum and gardens. It was totally worth it because I arrived after only 15 minutes with lots of energy for the museum visit. While it was quite busy, it wasn't as crowded as the Dorsay the day before and the gardens were very relaxing. Since I was by myself I could go at my own pace and just linger wherever I felt like it. My favorite part was the building that housed the museum - a old hotel where Rodin once lived. It looked kind of like the Tulsa Garden Center before they renovated it. They are going to renovate the museum - make repairs etc. beginning this winter. I took a taxi back to our hotel in Monmarte. David and I had a nice dinner and walk around our neighborhood that evening. Our room was right on the street, Rue de Marcadet, which seemed to be party central every night we were there. Lots of raucous hollering, huge crowds, very noisey. We found our ear plugs that we brought along for the plane worked great.
We had to get up the next morning (Sunday) at 4:00 a.m. to catch our shuttle to the airport. When you're riding down the French expressways you could be anywhere - Tulsa, OK; Joplin, USA. We flew to Frankfurt, changed planes and then on to Gothenburg.
The first stage of the trip ended but the second stage was just about to begin . . . .
We had to get up the next morning (Sunday) at 4:00 a.m. to catch our shuttle to the airport. When you're riding down the French expressways you could be anywhere - Tulsa, OK; Joplin, USA. We flew to Frankfurt, changed planes and then on to Gothenburg.
The first stage of the trip ended but the second stage was just about to begin . . . .
Friday, May 27, 2011
The French
Some observations at the risk of lumping all the French together in one big heap. I love the language. It's so lilting, especially when the women say "bonjour Madam" "Merci Monsieur." They are very polite with formal greetings and goodbyes. The women dress very well with lots of them wearing scarves and they are very trim. I even see men wearing scarves tied in different ways, even those puffy scarves made out of light material.Sometimes I think we are offensive even though we don't mean to be. David and I stopped at a sidewalk cafe late today. I had tea and David had Irish coffee(s). My feet were sore and my legs all swollen so David helped me lift them up and put them on a chair. Then our server brought me a stool. It felt great. But then a man walking by said something really loud about "madame" and I don't know what it was but apparently it was very derogatory because I said "what did he say" and a gentleman at a nearby table said "you don't want to know."
We went to Versailles today and I noticed how very competent all nine of us were getting onto the right train, exiting when we needed to and then getting on the next train without having to look at maps of the subway system for long periods of time. We got to Versailles pretty early but it soon got very crowded. I enjoyed seeing all the thrones, canopied beds with huge beds with feathers on top and marble walls, marble fireplace mantles, etc. etc. David and I ate lunch in a very nice restaurant there (hope you don't mind if I talk about food, we haven't had a bad meal yet). I had quiche lorraine with salad and David had grilled scallops with rice. We each had dessert - he had a melt-in-your-mouth creme puff almond thing that was to die for and I had a macaroon only not like ours, more like a wafer with some cream in it. Not surprisingly, we aren't having any dinner tonight because we're not hungry and that meal blew the budget!
On the way back from Versailles, we stopped at the Muse' Dorsay. We didn't have to wait in a line at 3:00 p.m. but the place inside was so crowded. There was one show-stopping masterpiece after another plus what a gorgeous building. I could just picture it in the 1930s with bunches of trains linining up, entering and exiting, with their whistles blowing and people scurrying to catch their trains. David provided me with an art history lesson on many of the paintings and most were familiar to me from all those art history papers I typed for him when he was at TU. Definitely more of a thrill than the Louvre.
I couldn't help but think at Versailles about how we cycle through the same types of times over and over again. The King didn't like Paris so he had his Dad's hunting lodge made over into this massive castle with over-the-top gilding of real gold all over everywhere, then had to pay the members of his court to come out there and be with him thereby spending all the money while his people - the everyday folks - went hungry. Then the poor people rebelled. The only thing that's different is that very few are rebelling at this time.
Not sure what we're doing tomorrow except I know that David and the students will be out photographing. I may go to the Rodin gardens, not sure. Tomorrow is our last day here and then Sunday we fly out very early and head for Sweden. Nicole N. was kind of enough to comment about how she landed in a surprised gentleman's lap in London on the tube when she was backpacking around Europe. Keep the comments coming - thanks Wendy, Matthew, Nicole, and Jeremy!
t
We went to Versailles today and I noticed how very competent all nine of us were getting onto the right train, exiting when we needed to and then getting on the next train without having to look at maps of the subway system for long periods of time. We got to Versailles pretty early but it soon got very crowded. I enjoyed seeing all the thrones, canopied beds with huge beds with feathers on top and marble walls, marble fireplace mantles, etc. etc. David and I ate lunch in a very nice restaurant there (hope you don't mind if I talk about food, we haven't had a bad meal yet). I had quiche lorraine with salad and David had grilled scallops with rice. We each had dessert - he had a melt-in-your-mouth creme puff almond thing that was to die for and I had a macaroon only not like ours, more like a wafer with some cream in it. Not surprisingly, we aren't having any dinner tonight because we're not hungry and that meal blew the budget!
On the way back from Versailles, we stopped at the Muse' Dorsay. We didn't have to wait in a line at 3:00 p.m. but the place inside was so crowded. There was one show-stopping masterpiece after another plus what a gorgeous building. I could just picture it in the 1930s with bunches of trains linining up, entering and exiting, with their whistles blowing and people scurrying to catch their trains. David provided me with an art history lesson on many of the paintings and most were familiar to me from all those art history papers I typed for him when he was at TU. Definitely more of a thrill than the Louvre.
I couldn't help but think at Versailles about how we cycle through the same types of times over and over again. The King didn't like Paris so he had his Dad's hunting lodge made over into this massive castle with over-the-top gilding of real gold all over everywhere, then had to pay the members of his court to come out there and be with him thereby spending all the money while his people - the everyday folks - went hungry. Then the poor people rebelled. The only thing that's different is that very few are rebelling at this time.
Not sure what we're doing tomorrow except I know that David and the students will be out photographing. I may go to the Rodin gardens, not sure. Tomorrow is our last day here and then Sunday we fly out very early and head for Sweden. Nicole N. was kind of enough to comment about how she landed in a surprised gentleman's lap in London on the tube when she was backpacking around Europe. Keep the comments coming - thanks Wendy, Matthew, Nicole, and Jeremy!
t
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