With the bad weather, today was especially slow. For most of the people in the class, the week finally caught up with them. I was the first one up (by about 4 hours) and when I discovered that it was cold, raining, and that very little was open, decided this morning would be a good time to continue reading Pillars of the Earth. For anyone who hasn't read it, it's a novel about the building of a medieval cathedral in England. It's based on a real cathedral, but I don't remember which. Still, I though it was relevant to my studies and figured a little extra excitement about what I'm seeing couldn't hurt.
Tomorrow I'm off to Chartres cathedral all day. We're taking a bus pretty early, so that we'll be there in time to really see it before our tours for the day. I know we are also getting a stained-glass demonstration, which sounds like it will be absolutely amazing! Even the journals for the class, which are assigned everyday on various subjects, are actually interesting to write. I have to keep reminding myself that this is a class, and not just a vacation of a lifetime. It's insane that my university will be giving me credits toward my degree for taking field trips to cathedrals and living in Paris for five weeks!

Well, tomorrow is an early morning, so I'll be getting to bed shortly. Since most people have stopped eating dinner out because it's expensive, we have many more dishes to do this weekend! I think we get new towels and linens tomorrow. Not sure yet what the situation is. It's all very exciting though! Today was the first day we sort of lounged. We had a great time sitting at a cafe for a late lunch today and watching the Italy and New Zealand World Cup game. The excitement from every goal, no matter which team's, is such that even the waiters stop and watch!

Anyways, I'm sure I will have a lot to say about Chartres tomorrow, if I'm not too tired when I get back, so bonsoir for today! I'm glad so many people are enjoying reading about my adventures! It's fun to share them!

Yesterday was a slower day. Looked up trains to Aachen and Rouen, but finding no luck, decided on visiting St. Denis Basilica instead. I took the metro up there (long ride!) and it wasn't as crowded as I had expected for a Saturday. Sat on the steps to the altar and sketched for a bit. Three separate times I was approached by someone who attempted to converse with me and look at what I was drawing. It's really quite embarrassing to have to admit that you're a foreigner who doesn't speak the language. And I got asked directions again on the metro. Twice. Wasn't a good day for interactions...
St. Denis, however was beautiful, with the light shining through the stained glass. There was a concert going on right outside, so I could hear the music too. After the church, I caught a bite to eat in a boulangerie (is that how you spell it?) and ordered some really amazing olive bread! It was rather intimidating ordering though, because it was the middle of the after-work rush hour and I was terrified I would freeze and order the wrong thing and end up getting toast with salmon or something. I did get two extra chocolate croissants, but I think that was just because they were closing soon. I didn't mind. :)
No plans yet for today. Below are the photos for yesterday. I attempted to morph two photos to get the stained glass and church together, but it looked rather quasi, and was too big to upload, so maybe I'll put it up another time. I also let myself do some precision, obsessive sketching, and then once seeing how little I had gotten done, did a much looser sketch of some of the vaulting. Another drawing is from the other day, drawn from memory on the train back from the church, so it's rough. Getting better at loosening up, though. I'll definitely have to keep at that this week! The other photo is really amazing wood work from the choir seats.