Today was my big planning day before the family comes. I ran all my errands, the bank, picking up tickets for the Louvre, Orsay, and the Orangerie Museum. I bought my RER ticket to meet them at the airport tomorrow, and my bags are packed, ready for the hotel to move them to my new room. Phew.

Besides all the running around for tomorrow, I did manage to visit the museum I wanted to see. It's called the Musee Jacquemart-Andre, and has an exhibit up on Spanish painting from Dali to El Greco. After five weeks of my course on French art, it seemed almost sacrilegious to go see something not French. The exhibit was cool, but would have been cooler if my audio guide wasn't too low on batteries to work. I was forced to read the written descriptions and text, which of course were only in French, but this actually turned out a plus. I learned that while I can't identify, let alone pronounce, every word, I can actually read French. How exciting is that?! I really want to see if I can fit the course French for Reading Knowledge into my semester this fall. If I want to continue with art history after undergrad, I'm going to have to be able to read both French and German! Eek.

After the special exhibit I attempted to return to the main collection, because I heard it is huge and incredible. Well, because I am seriously directionally impaired, I found myself outside the museum, and way far away from the entrance again. This isn't to mention that I got seriously lost just getting to the museum. I'm really pathetic, I know. I probably could have returned and made my way back to the permanent collection, but I just decided that since I was getting tired already I'd cut my losses and just look at the private house part of the museum. After what I've studied about French architecture, I went around each room testing myself on which century and art movement each decoration or piece of furniture belonged to. I love when you can identify something by just background knowledge! Art history is awesome.

Anyways, after the museum visit I finished up my work for tomorrow, like informing the front desk that I am the same person who is checking back in tomorrow in a different room, and repacking everything. I have my new map, my recharged Navigo metro pass, my RER ticket, a new phone card, and the flight number and terminal written down. I think I'm all set. Wish me luck with coordinating everything!
Bonsoir!

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days! I think class finally caught up with me and made me lazy for a little while. I have settled into the new hotel, although tomorrow I change rooms, so I can't get too settled. My class ended somewhat anticlimactically, and it was strange when we all began to leave. On Friday we began our day at the Musee du Quai Branly, which is a museum for African, Asian, Oceanic, and American art, designed by Jean Nouvel. I was hesitant about visiting this museum after we experienced the Institut du Monde Arabe, a building that terrified me. The Quai Branly, however, was very cool! The museum only opened in 2006, and I've been told that a new generation of curators have taken over in France. Well, this museum I think does a wonderful job of offering what is expected from a museum today. The building is funky, and fun to walk through, with different spaces and lighting that are somewhat unexpected but fit together nicely. The exhibits were interactive, innovative, and not the typically white walls full of art. I actually wish I had had more time there! If this museum shows what the new generation of curators are trying to do, count me in! I'm a supporter of teaching within a museum, so that anyone, not just field experts, can understand and appreciate art, and Quai Branly I think did that pretty well.

After Quai Branly, we went to the Palais de Tokyo, a museum with work from current artists. This museum was exactly the type of museum I don't much enjoy. The building's interior had tall, white walls, big rooms with about three pieces per room, and little stickers with just the artist's name and title of their work in the typical print that's too small for anyone to read. The work didn't impress me too much, but I know others enjoyed it. I think some art students prefer the bare gallery look. We had lunch at this museum, at the outside cafe. I think it was our best meal all together! Our professor and TA joined us, and we had a real vegetarian option (thank you professor!). It was ratatouille, so, as most of you know I'm obsessed with Pixar and Disney, I was insanely excited to eat this in Paris! It was good food, and we all let down a little since it was our last day and had fun. Lunch was the last definite thing on the schedule, although some people went to the Arc de Triomphe in the late afternoon. My roomies and another friend in our class and her visiting friend from home and I all chilled out in the evening. We went out by where we lived and bought some mangoes, which have been really amazing here, and had an outdoor fresh dinner.

Saturday morning my roommates left pretty early, so I didn't really do anything but wake up and say goodbye to them. I left about 11, after significant tidying of the apartment so we wouldn't be charged for extra cleaning, and I had decided on walking to the new hotel. Since my room wasn't going to be ready until about 1, I stopped on the way and headed to Luxembourg gardens, found myself a bench and read for a few hours. It was so relaxing and amazing! Once I got to the hotel and into my room, I went and explored the area. It is really fantastic here! There's so much going on, and so any food options, I'm sort of blown away. I didn't even realize I was living in the middle of nowhere in Paris.

Sunday morning I worked a bit more on the scheduling for when the family members come on Tuesday, fleshing out opening times and transportation. In the afternoon I wandered across the Ile de la Cite and over to Ile St. Louis, the neighboring island. It was an absolutely perfect day to walk around, and I grabbed some lunch. I admit, I ended up taking a pretty long nap in the afternoon, before going back to the Pompidou. I guess class every day had tired me out more than I expected. This week is going to be probably even more intense! Anyways, that was definitely the fastest weekend I've had here, and now it's Monday morning! I have some planning to do today, some museum tickets to pick up, and I want to visit a museum I was recommended. I saved it for today because no other museums will be open. Well, I suppose I'm off then.

Sidenote: yesterday I bought a container of milk and box of cereal (I have a mini fridge in the room) and brought it home for dinner. When I got back, I realized I had a bowl that I bought a few weeks ago, but no spoon. After looking through everything I own to see if anything was spoon-shaped, I resorted to my best idea. I used the bottom of a plastic cup and taped it to an ice-cream tasting spoon I had. Just call me McGyver, please. It works well, although sometimes it tastes a little like scotch tape, and you have to slurp to use it, but... Still, I am now certain of my ability to eat anywhere, anytime, using anything. :) I even have a photo to show off my little invention (credit to my mother for helping my through skype with spoon ideas).

Okay, I'm off now. Sorry I don't have any other photos of the last few days, it's been a little too crazy for that. I'm excited to pick up my mom and brother tomorrow! It'll be good to travel with people I'm used to traveling with. And I'll have someone else to take my picture again, haha. I'll try to be more regular with the posts and keep you updated! Hope everyone had a great weekend!