The Left Bank II

The sights in the 6th arrondissement:

• Place Saint-Michel: The centerpiece of this square is the Saint Michael fountain, built by Gabriel Davioud in the 1850's. Due to its location in the Latin Quater the area surrounding the square is filled with bookstores, notably Gibert Jeune. Access: M4- St Michele, RER B- Saint Michel-Notre Dame.



• Saint Germain des Prés- A nice Midieval church (6th century). At the time of its construction it was located outside of Paris. The tomb of René Descartes is located in the church as well. The area around Saint Germain was also home to the existentialist movement and was frequented by Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Hemingway and Godard among others. This is also the location of several famous cafés: Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore which were frequented by the aforementioned notables. Access: M4: St-Germain des Prés, M10- Mabillon. http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/index.php, http://www.cafe-de-flore.com/



• Saint Sulpice- For those that have read, or seen, the Da Vinci code you will probably recognize this church. Originally built in the 13th century, the stucture that you can visit today dates from the mid-18th century. The church houses an impressive organ with over 100 stops and has a long history of ogran music. In 1727 a gnomon was constructed and placed in the church so that the time of the equinoxes could be predicted and then the date of Easter determined. This is the brass line that runs along the floor of the church to an obelisk. Access: M4- Saint Sulpice.



• Luxembourg Palace and Gardens- Bought by Marie de Medici in 1612, the Palace today houses the French Senat and has a rather nice museum. The palace originally housed the cycle of 24 paintings by Peter Paul Rubens on the life of Marie de Medici, these can now be seen in the Louvre. The gardens are done in the French style and has statues representing greek myth and famous individuals as well as the Medici fountain. Access: RER B- Luxembourg. http://www.museeduluxembourg.fr/, http://senat.fr/visite/jardin/index.html (French only).

Paris, Part II- The Left Bank (I)

The Left Bank (Rive Gauche in French) is full of universities and teaching hospitals. It's home to the Latin Quarter as well as the Senate and has more of a residential feel than the Right Bank.

Sights By Arrondissement

5th arr:

Museum of Natural History: M7- Jussieu, M10- Jussieu
1. Jardin des Plantes- A major botanical garden with 4500 different plants all arranged by family. The gardens are part of the larger Museum of Natural History. Both the Mexican Green house and the Winter Garden are closed for renovation until sometime later this year. http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/foffice/transverse/transverse/accueil.xsp?cl=en
2. La Grande Galerie de l'Evolution- Built in 1889 this part of the museum focuses more on the evolution of species and the diversity of living species. The Museum covers 6000m² and has four different levels beginning with the diversity of living species and ending with the evolution of species.
3. Menagerie- A small zoo within the Jardin des Plantes that has a nice array of specimens. http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/foffice/tous/tous/GuideDecouverte/lieuxVisiter/LieuxAVisiter/FLieuAVisiter.xsp?i=1&nav=liste&INFO_ID=22&SITE_ID=10&AE_ID=204&LIEU_ID=210&idx=2&MAN_ID=260
4. La Galerie de Minérologie et de Géologie- The mineral collection that this part of the museum houses is rather interesting. From giant crystals to jewelery, they have quite an extensive collection. The gallery has just reopened after a recent renovation. http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/foffice/tous/tous/GuideDecouverte/lieuxVisiter/LieuxAVisiter/FLieuAVisiter.xsp?i=1&nav=liste&INFO_ID=154&SITE_ID=10&AE_ID=197&LIEU_ID=170&idx=0&MAN_ID=256

• Arènes de Lutèce- A Gallo-Roman arena near the Museum of Natural History. Built in the 1st century AD, it could at one time seat 15 000 people and was used to host gladiatorial combats. The name of the arena comes from the name that the Romans gave to Paris: Lutetia. The arena is open every day from 8:30- 5pm, 9:30pm in the summer. Access: M7- Jussieu, Place Monge; M10- Cardinal Lemoine, Jussieu.
• Saint-Etienne-du-Mont- Church near the Panthéon. This church houses the shrine of Sainte Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. It also houses the tombs of Blaise Pascal, Jean Racine. The grave of Revolutionist, Jean-Paul Marat can be found in the church's cemetery. Access: M10- Jussieu, Cardinal Lemoine, M7- Jussieu, Place Monge.
• Panthéon- Construction of the Panthéon was begun in 1758 during the reign of Louis XV, it was initially meant to honor the patron saint Geneviève. Construction did not end until the start of the Revolution in 1789, upon which it was converted from a church to a mausoleum honoring great French intellectuals. Since the Revolution it was twice converted back into a church, only to be changed back into a temple to Great Minds. Some of the people buried within the necropolis are: Voltaire, Hugo, Dumas, Emile Zola, Rousseau and Louis Braille. Under the dome of the Panthéon is the Foucault pendulum. Designed by French physicist Léon Foucault in 1851 to demonstrate the Earth's rotation. The pendulum moves in a clockwise motion at 11° an hour making a full circle rotation in just under 33 hours. http://pantheon.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/?fl_r=4 Access: M10- Cluny-La Sorbonne, RER B- Luxembourg.
• Musée de Cluny- Also known as the National Museum of the Middle Ages it was originally constructed in 1334. This is where you can see the tapestry The Lady and the Unicorn a six part tapestry telling the story of the Lady and the Unicorn. The museum also houses sculptures, illuminated manuscripts and furniture all from the Middle Ages. Also on the ground of the museum are the remains of a Gallo-Roman bath. You can visit the remains of both the frigidarium and the calderium. http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/ang/index.html Access: M10- Cluny-La Sorbonne, Maubert Mutualité.

Next: The Left Bank Part II. I find it easier to break everything down by what's to see by arrondissement due to the volume of things to see.

Paris, Part I

Paris is the capital of France. Located in the North of France, it began its life as a stronghold on an island in the middle of the Seine known as Ile de la Cité (Island of the City). Today Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, attracting around 40 million tourists every year. People have christened Paris the City of Love and the Eiffel Tower has been its symbol ever since the 1889 World's Fair. Many see Paris as the capital of fashion and flock to the Champs Elysées to browse the chic clothing stores that line the street. However, Paris also has a bohemian side that comes to light in parts of the Left Bank and in Montmartre.

Weather

Paris' location in the North of France gives it extremely varied weather. Fall is cool and rainy with highs averaging in the 40's. Winter is cold and alternates between periods of sun and rain though snow is a rarity. In Winter temperatures average in the 30's and it can be fairly windy, though December brings about Paris bedecked for Christmas. Spring is also a mix of rain and sun, though at this time the temperatures begin to warm up and the trees and flowers are in boom. Spring is the best time to visit, it is just before the influx of tourists so you can still get better deals on apartments and hotels. Summer can get fairly warm and sometimes unbearably hot, however most days will be sunny. Summer also brings about the tourists and in August you can find yourself with not much to do as it is when most of the country goes on vacation.

Getting There

Paris is served by two airports: Roissy- Charles de Gaulle and Orly. The majority of flights originating from the US arrive in Roissy-CDG. From the airport you can either use the train, your hotel's shuttle service, the bus service, an independent shuttle service or you can rent a car.

http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-gb/passagers/home/

http://www.parishuttle.com/

Getting Around

The Paris Métro is the best way to get around the city. You can either buy tickets by a "carnet" of 10 or you can buy day passes. There is also the ParisPass which allows you to visit many attractions and use public transportation for free (http://www.parispass.com/). Maps of the métro are available for free at most métro stations as well as Les Galleries Lafayette.

Paris also has a good bus service, though it takes a bit longer to get from point A to point B.

In conjunction the the métro you also have the RER. This is faster than the métro because it has fewer stops, but you can not use it to go everywhere within the city. In the city you use the same ticket as you would for the métro. You need to keep this ticket though or you will not be able to exit the station! Outside of the city you need to buy a ticket to be able to use the RER as the ticket prices vary according to where you plan to go.

It is in general not a good idea to drive in Paris. There is a lot of traffic and it is a hassle to try to find parking. Unless you want to spend most of your time in traffic jams, use the métro.

The taxi is an expensive option to get around the city and standard rules for hailing a taxi apply.

You can also rent a bicycle to get around the city and it is fairly safe to get about the city this way. http://www.en.velib.paris.fr/comment_ca_marche

Coming up: Paris, Part II- The Left Bank!

Study Abroad and Lille, France

I think everyone should try to study abroad at some time during their education. As for me, I decided to go to France my sophomore year for the Spring semester. I had my cow (Milk Shake!) in tow, and I set off for my adventure in January 2004. The sister school for my university was located in Lille, right smack in the middle of Flemish country (though many will argue with me that they are staunchly French).

Lille is considered the 4th city of France in terms of population size, and it serves as the cultural center to the North of France. While I was there in 2004, Lille was serving as the Cultural Capital of Europe so there were events all over the place. This "capital" moves around Europe and gives the city a chance to display her cultural "wares". For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Capital_of_Culture

Lille isn't very far from several European capitals, all of which can be reached easily by train. From Lille, Paris is only 1 hour away on the TGV, Brussels is about 30 minutes away on Thalys and London is about 1 1/2 hours away on the Eurostar. All of the trains give discounts according to age (youth discounts are up to 25 years, senior discounts begin at 60) and sometimes you can even get a student discount!

I didn't really visit much when I was there, nor did I take many pictures. Like it so often happens when you live there you say to yourself that you have plenty of time to go see it, and then time comes to leave and you realize that you haven't seen anything. That being said, these are the places that you absolutely must see in Lille:

• Vieux Lille- the old, Flemish part of the city. Beautiful architecture full of quaint restaurants and stores.



• La Vielle Bourse- built in the 17th century this used to house the stock market.



• Place du Général de Gaulle- this is where they hold the flower market. There is a fountain in the center and the whole Place is surrounded by old Flemish buildings.



• La Cathédrale Notre Dame de la Treille- In Vieux Lille, but sort of out of place. Construction was begun in the 19th century, but it wasn't completed until the 1910's, it is rather modern. I walked by this everyday on the way to my dorm. You can access the street where you find the Vielle Bourse from here.



• The Vauban Citadel



• La Porte de Paris- Built by Louis XIV to commemorate his victory in Lille in 1667.



• Le Palais des Beaux Arts- I never visited this, but I will recommend it. It is Lille's art museum and it houses art from the Antiquities to the 20th century. http://www.pba-lille.fr/

It is easy to get around Lille. They have an extensive bus system as well as, a tramway and an automated metro line. As for hotels there is an Ibis hotel (part of the Accor hotel chain) right in Vieux Lille near la Vieille Bourse. These are reasonably priced hotels that offer a no-frills room and a breakfast buffet (usually just breads, cereals and yogurt) at extra-cost. However, with all of the bakeries nearby, why would you want to eat in the hotel?

*Photo courtesy of the Internet. I was unable to load my own this time..... :(

Where we've traveled

Ever since 2004, Cow has been travelling the world. In 2007 he was joined by his friend, Pig for their first trip to Asia. Before beginning their adventures I thought I would give a list of places visited so far, just to give an idea of what's to come.

• 2004- France
• 2005- France (Normandy), Tennessee
• 2006- Greece, England (mainly London), Washington DC, Williamsburg VA.
• 2007- Bali, Singapore, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Bryce Canyon, Germany (Bavaria), Austria (Tyrol)
• 2008- San Francisco, Reno, Salt Lake, Yellowstone, Arches NP, Denver, Rapid City
• 2009- (upcoming) Iceland

Seeing as Iceland will be their next trip I feel that it would be best to begin their narrative with that trip. For now I will just give highlights of previous trips made as well as travel tips.

About this blog

Several years ago when I was studying abroad in France, I got the idea of taking a stuffed cow and pig with me on my travels. I thought that it would be fun to take pictures of them in the different locations that I visit and one day compile a travel blog about them and their adventures across the world. In this blog I hope to bring a fun but enlightening view on world travel. I will begin by posting past tales of their adventures, all while interspersing them with travel tips on anything from reserving a hotel in Bali to renting an apartment in Paris.

I hope that you will have fun reading this blog, and that it will inspire you to travel to the places we have visited. Or, if you're not able to travel I hope that you will have fun travelling with us through the tales of all the different adventures.

Happy travels!