A visit to where the sun never sets...
Last weekend i traveled to Paris primarily to take the Foreign Service Exam at the US embassy. The five hour exam was held in an elaborately decorated conference room near the Place de la Concorde where during the French Revolution many lost their heads on the guiolltine. Despite spending the previous night in the train, the test went very well for me. I finished all the sections and answered intellectually to the written question. A definate personal best yet i fear its just not going to cut it. It was so bizarre to be in Paris in a room full of Americans. The east coast chicks drove me crazy and i wanted to hit the pompous Texan who was next to me. I hope i do better in Madison....
So since i was in paris anyway, i took a room in a hostel for the night and decided to see Versailles on Sunday. When i was in Senegal during Christmas, my friend informed my that a former classmate of mine named Patrice was living in Paris and studying at the Sorbonne. I was able to contact him and we ripped up Paris sat night. We first went to a Senegalese restaurant in the 18 arrondissement where most African immigrants have settled. I had ceebujen and bissap while listening to wolof melanged with french. It was a great reminder of Africa and since i hadnt seen Patrice in almost 2 years, we had no trouble filling hours with conversation. It went so well that he decided to accompany me to Versailles the next day.
Patrice, his friend Christian, and myself headed south west of Paris to the city and castle of Versailles. A 30 min train ride later, we were meadering through a quaint french town and the sunday market. The flowers were the most notable spectacle. As we approached the castle, i noticed an enormous amount of buses and tourists from all over the world! Being sunday, the castle gardens held special fountains shows complete with classical music. It was really breathtaking, all of Versailles is incredible. I really enjoyed the hall of mirrors, and the kings (louis the 14th) bed chamber. His symbol was the sun and so his room faces the east to watch the sun rise. Suns and golden decor dominate the castle, and the marble floors and statues make you feel as though you are in a dream. It was a long but wonderful day visiting the castle and conversing with two senegalese. Paris is just full of wonderful surprises...
So since i was in paris anyway, i took a room in a hostel for the night and decided to see Versailles on Sunday. When i was in Senegal during Christmas, my friend informed my that a former classmate of mine named Patrice was living in Paris and studying at the Sorbonne. I was able to contact him and we ripped up Paris sat night. We first went to a Senegalese restaurant in the 18 arrondissement where most African immigrants have settled. I had ceebujen and bissap while listening to wolof melanged with french. It was a great reminder of Africa and since i hadnt seen Patrice in almost 2 years, we had no trouble filling hours with conversation. It went so well that he decided to accompany me to Versailles the next day.
Patrice, his friend Christian, and myself headed south west of Paris to the city and castle of Versailles. A 30 min train ride later, we were meadering through a quaint french town and the sunday market. The flowers were the most notable spectacle. As we approached the castle, i noticed an enormous amount of buses and tourists from all over the world! Being sunday, the castle gardens held special fountains shows complete with classical music. It was really breathtaking, all of Versailles is incredible. I really enjoyed the hall of mirrors, and the kings (louis the 14th) bed chamber. His symbol was the sun and so his room faces the east to watch the sun rise. Suns and golden decor dominate the castle, and the marble floors and statues make you feel as though you are in a dream. It was a long but wonderful day visiting the castle and conversing with two senegalese. Paris is just full of wonderful surprises...
posted by Tara at 5:05 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home