She Wolf

Watch this video:

YouTube - Shakira - She Wolf

Okay, so I don't think this video has received enough attention. I think it is just as important as Single Ladies and better because it is also stupid and cheesy. The rooftop ending makes me want to puke over and over. Other than that part, Shakira is amazing and sexy.

This video is historical fantasy.

The Tomb

I went. It is an army museum as well, so I did that first. Suits of armor, swords, children's suits of armor (why?), miniature models, an amazing wing with an audio tour that is everything the story of Charles de Gaulle. I learned a lot about the French in WWII there.

I got a little hungry/cranky right before Napoleon's Tomb, which I was saving for last. So I got a little lunch so that I could fully enjoy it.

There are other tombs there, which I tried to admire/learn about, but I really wasn't focusing because I was also trying to ignore the main event in the middle until I could give him full focus.

When I turned my attention to his tomb, I was astounded. It was so much larger than I imagined, like the size of a car, no joke. I think 6 meters long, 2 meters wide and 5 meters high. I learned that within the red porphyry outer layer, he is in a tin coffin, then mahogany, then lead, then ebony. I went downstairs to see it at eye level.

I got a teary-eyed at the entrance, when I read the inscription above it, "I desire my ashes to be lied on the shore of the Seine among the people of France whom I loved so deeply." This was in no way his mere ashes or among the people, but oh man, they had so much respect for this guy. They moved him from St. Helena 20 years after his death so that he could be on the bank of the Seine, like he had asked. It made me so happy.

This place was totally redesigned just for him when they brought him here. The tiles on the floor are mosaics of his face and emblem. Surrounding the tomb are the places of his greatest victories, they had lists of all the great buildings and places in Paris that he commissioned. The amount of reverence they had for this truly amazing leader is amazing and totally justified. I was trying to figure out who in America would deserve this sort of memorial? Who singlehandedly changed the course of history and set in motion reform like that? I think in our case it is the communal work of a lot of great leaders, so it is hard to say. The American people could never unite and decide who was their greatest leader. I mean, these days people get mad about kids watching the President of the United States speaking about the importance of education at school.

There are bas-reliefs all around the tomb, probably 12 or 14, every one with him in Roman Emperor garb. Funny, as he is usually shirtless and ripped. Needless to say they are ideal depictions of the man.

Needless to say I wasn't disappointed. Then a few minutes later I imagined I was him when I walked down a big marble staircase.

Napoleon

I am considering going to Les Invalides today. When I began to think about the prospect of going, I got really nervous. I believe there are two reasons I have never visited the resting place of my hero, Napoleon Bonaparte before now.

1. Afraid of Disappointment

Napoleon was the best in the business when it comes to making himself look good. He erected monument after monument to himself while he was still alive. BUT he did not plan his tomb at Les Invalides. I am worried I will get there and say "this is it?" Plus visiting him is one of the top activities on my bucket list, I've built it up too much.

2. Afraid of Rejection

Honestly I am afraid of that man. Am I worthy to look upon him? Have you seen his throne?

Also, what do I do when I get there? Write a poem? Pee my pants? I guess I will let you know.

Where am I?

If you are reading this, you probably know a little something about my life. My dad in Michigan, my mom in Florida, my siblings in New York. And now I am in Paris for 4 months, I expect it will be a very different semester than my life in New York.

In beginning to write this post, I was going to type "I've been away from home for..." but then I started to think...wait, where is my home? I grew up in Michigan, but now 4/5 of my immediate family is no longer there. I stayed with my mom in Florida this summer, a place I had never lived before then. I lived in Chicago on the weekends and for a good part of most summers in Chicago with my aunt and uncle during high school, I miss that family and some of my closest friends are still there. And then there is New York, the place I have made my home the last 3 years. Again my siblings and freshest relationships are there. It's where my watch collection and Betty White memorabilia is in storage at this moment (I brought 4 watches).

It is incredibly hard to have so many important components of my life in so many places, but at the same time I realize how lucky I am to have each one. I guess in traveling now, staying in hostels and with friends until I get my apartment here in Paris next week, I have realized how scattered my life is regardless of where I sleep at night.

I am happy about it. I have people all over, people I trust. I feel loved many places and love them right back. And I'm lucky to have the resources and live in a world where that is possible.

Paris, four months my home. Here we go...

Amsterdam

Two other NYU students, Ms. Bailey Carr and Grayson Brannen were also in Amsterdam, so after we dropped our luggage, we called Bailey (she smartly left a note on her luggage at the hostel so we could contact her).

It was so nice to have a little group to walk around with. First we went to Museumplein and went to the Van Gogh Museum. One of my favorite things to do is to make up facts when in settings like that. They knew not to believe me.

Little known facts about Van Gogh:

Born in Japan

Was in love with his brother, Theo

His entire family's first names rhymed with Gogh, except him.

He thought he was mentally ill but was in fact just a loser.

We also of course went to the Red Light District. And Eric, like I was last time, was astounded by the situation. It is strange to have prostitutes look into your eyes or try to seduce you in. And also, they are not as gross as one would think. I think that is what is most surprising. I mean, sure they are wearing neon underwear and are standing smoking cigarettes in their private windows, but they are not as dirty as the idea of prostitution.

All four of us were really considering going to a live sex show, but it was too expensive and so we opted for just the 2

euro for 2 minutes peep show. It was sort of in the round and you could see all the other people in their little window if you looked over the folks having sex in the middle. It was at the same time hilarious, fascinating, embarassing and thrilling. We all agreed it was a good experience. We also went to the Sex Museum, but the peep show was more fun.

I believe it was that night that I ate something at the same time so delicious and nauseating: Shwarma Pizza. With toppings. Onions, chili and garlic sauce. We loved it. Our last night at the hostel we went back for a second. And then took one to go. My body tried to disown me the next day.

I loved the Anne Frank Huis. I went when I was six, but of course it meant nothing to me then. I have been reading a book trying to explain Hitler for the last year (yeah, I read it bit by bit when I have time), but that one individual story just sheds light on what happened. I am so glad I got to experience it again. Plus when we went, the guy at the ticket booth said that we were lucky because usually there is a line. It was nice to experience it relative solitude.

So now, the only bad thing about Amsterdam while we were there. So this company that we got the free tour from in Prague also had a free one in Amsterdam. Eric and I had very high expectations that were not met. I realized how much a tour depends on your tour guide and how much he cares about the city or the history. This guy cared little. We learned so much less about Amsterdam than Prague because of that. Sad.

I think we all had a good time in Amsterdam. After four days we had to split up. The girls went one way and Eric and I another. It was really great because we all got to experience the same thing in different parts of our European adventures. Eric coming from teaching children English in Italy for 3 months, Grayson having just spent 6 weeks in Amsterdam for an NYU summer theatre program, Bailey heading to a semester in Florence, and me to Paris!

The Train to Amsterdam

So Eric and I left Prague in the evening to take an overnight train to Amsterdam. It all went fairly well, we made it on time and then as we got on, it was really hot in our cabin, so we stood in the hall and sort of looked out the window as we steamed (not a steam train) toward Germany. Well the guy in the next cabin also had the same idea and at this point there were not many people on the train yet. He was Australian and let's just say his name was Levi PartyGuy. After chatting for a bit, we went to go get food and Levi came with us.

He was convinced when people joined at the stops thereafter, they would be guests at his rager. Well we got beer and apparently we were the first guests. Another beer followed and then Levi produced a half a bottle of whisky from who knows where.

Upon talking to Eric about it the next morning, we realize that we had somehow become implicated in this party which we are sure our cabin mates who got on in Berlin were not necessarily happy about. At this point it was after midnight, but we remember talking to them anyway. They owed it to us. I remember lifting all their luggage entirely by myself...

Levi PartyGuy caused me a hangover. But I was not mad. In fact, the next morning when we arrived in Amsterdam Eric and I realized we never wrote down the address or directions to the hostel. But guess who was staying at the same place that night?

Levi saves the day!