Louvre: The Poster Child for Power

When I exit the metro for the Louvre, I know I am in the right place. The French have seen to that by decorating the metro walls with replicas of art works from the Louvre its self. To redecorate something as everyday as a metro stop takes money and time. So it would be safe to say that the intention of this beautiful transportation platform is to send a message of what is valued by those in power and what they want you to think of them and their country. The image and message I am getting is that France is the Art and Culture capital of the world. The metro stop only adds to the Louvre's history of displaying power.

Many of the powerful made their mark on the Louvre quite literally. King placed their initials in pediments and arch ways on the whole exterior.

The oldest sections of the Louvre still standing were built by François I and Henri II. In between two columns there is a crown on top of and “H”. This “H” stands for Henri II and above that is his royal initial, two “D's” inverted and placed on top an “H”.

 

He argued they were not “D's” (which symbolized his mistress) but that they where really two outward facing “C's” (his wife). Under the “H” there are two olive branches which are a symbol for bringing peace. So make no mistake when you view this wall of the Louvre. It was build by Henri II, he was a victorious leader (at least according to him), and he preferred his mistress to his wife.

Some messages and propaganda, like picture symbols, where meant to be less obvious. Or as less obvious as you can get by putting a bust of your self in a pediment and placing it on the front your home.

The pediment I am talking about is the one on the Louvre facing the center of Paris, built by Louis XIV. His bust appears in the center being adoringly addressed to by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and victory. 

Below the pediment are a “cornucopia” of symbols surrounding a window. These symbols represent the blessings that come with peaceful times brought to you by yours truly, Louis. These symbols include images such as musical instruments and palettes which represent having time for culture and not being busy losing battles. It also includes two actual large cornucopias which represent nourishment and overflowing abundance, literally meaning horn of plenty. At a time when the Louvre was one of the most beautiful artistic object that the majority of subjects would ever see the message was hard to miss. “I, King Louis the XIV, am powerful, victorious, and wise. I bring my people times of peace and plenty.” Symbols like the ones Louis displayed say a lot but so does destroying and replacing symbols.

Getting new people in power is common for the Louvre, so they were constantly calling over the Exterior Designer for redecorating. If you look on the opposite side of Louis XIV's pediment we find another Louis XIV pediment (but not really).

During the revolution people got passionate and passionate people do extreme things. For example tearing down an historical pediment to create a new pediment to express revolutionary values with new symbols of power. At the center of this pediment there is a roster. The roster was the symbol of original Parisians of Gaul. This was chosen to discredit the history that included the monarchy and present a more neutral history of Paris and France. Surrounding the roster there is a snake eating its tail, which represents eternity. This pediment, of the revolutionaries, says we are the real Parisians and this republic will last for ever 

(it didn't but nice try guys).

Some of those who seized power did not feel the need to redecorate, instead they just added on. On one of the new wings, added by Napoleon I, there is a pediments in which he put eagles. 

Fun fact for all you Americans, the eagle is the symbol of Zeus. The eagle represents noble nature, protection, and fierceness. (There maybe more our founding fathers where trying to say with our national bird) 

 

 

No jokes man this is serious stuff.

In another, like Louis XIV, he put Athena surrounded by musical instruments and easels to represent victorious times. 

 

In others he put piles of armor and weapons to represent spoils of war and victory. 

Napoleon I, like many before him, was implying that he was the best. 

Sorry not this guy...

Not this one ether... 

Ok here we go.

The Louvre its self has always sent a message of power and value but so has the ways in which it has been used.

The Louvre was originally supposed to be a blockhouse in the 1202 

 (Louver was an archaic term for block house), to send the message that Paris is a protected city. This message was directed more at foreigners than subjects. The Louvre later became a palace under François I in the 16^th century. While living in the Louvre François invited many artist and art work, even Leonardo 

Ok not really. It was more like this guy...

And lets face it he is still the coolest Leonardo hundreds of years later.

He also brought with him his Mona Lisa when he came to the Louvre (Wonder where that went?). 

This invitation by François I implied the new importance of art and culture. 

 Where the king resides is where the power of the country is. So when Louis XIV moved out of the Louvre in, 17^th century, and into Versailles, 

which was out side the city of Paris, it implied that Paris was no longer as important to the king. Louis additionally insulted the people by letting the Louvre fall into disrepair. It took a revolution to restore those wings of the Louvre when later became The Grande Galerie in 1793 and The Louvre buildings where unified later by Napoleon III. 

This sent the message that the people in power continued to value art and culture.

This Message has been more recently represented by President François Mitterand in 1981 when he started the The Grande Louvre Project. This project has been designed to bring the Louvre Museum up to date in this more modern world. But the French are not the only ones visiting the Louvre any more because this modern world is so connected. This message is no longer for the people of France but for world. 

France wants the world to know that France values Art and Culture (and that they think theirs is the best). One of these updates to the Louvre was a new and more efficient entrance under the glass pyramid. 

 Clear from the moment I enter the Louvre to the moment I get on to the metro platform to leave, France is a great country (our one of many).

How to Start Watching Doctor Who

This is an instruction guide to watching Doctor Who. AKA the show you wish you where watching for the last 50 years (That right it has been going on for 50 years). Each time that the BBC starts this show up again it has a new element that invites new viewers. (It is kinda like star trek that way but still a very different type of SciFi) This has never been as true as it is now with the new angle brought by the last two seasons. I had trouble getting others into The Doctor up until season 5 (Not including Meg and my Mother. Thanks for believing in me guys :). So the 5th season is where i suggest you start. It is the kind of television I truly believe everyone can enjoy. Thank You BBC!

Intro to the Doctor:

The Doctor is his title not his name (which has never been told to the viewers and is a mystery). So every one calls him the Doctor or some times he takes the fake name of john smith if he needs to be low key. He has two hearts (Yep two). 

That is a lot of beats

He is from an Alien race called Time Lords (lords of time). 

I know they are a bit dramatic.

There was a great time war between the time lord and the Daleks (of who you will see a few episodes in to season 5). 

Yes they do look like trash cans with plungers on them. That is because in the original show they where.

In order to end the war and save the universe the doctor had to sacrifice all of his own people (the time lords). So he is the last of his kind. 

I just thought this was funny.

He has a soft spot for humans especially Brittan (It is like he is a character in a British show or something). he pops in and out of Human history and the rest of the universe saving everyone usually accompanied by a companion which is almost all ways a women. 

The doctor does not die just regenerates into a new body (part of why the show has lasted so long) He rides around in a time machine called a Tardis (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) it is kinda alive. 

He also has a sonic screwdriver that does a lot of handy things. 

He is like a super wise old man and a little child like boy at the same time. In the last episode, before the 5th season, the Doctor had just regenerated again into a new body (Actor Matt Smith). 

Order of Doctor who episodes to watch first:

The Eleventh Doctor

Season 5:

"The Eleventh Hour"
"The Beast Below"
"Victory of the Daleks"
"The Time of Angels"
"Flesh and Stone"
"The Vampires of Venice"
"Amy's Choice"
"The Hungry Earth"
"Cold Blood"
"Vincent and the Doctor"
"The Lodger"
"The Pandorica Opens"
"The Big Bang"

Christmas Special (They do one every year. It is a British thing)
"A Christmas Carol"

Season 6:
"The Impossible Astronaut"
"Day of the Moon"
"The Curse of the Black Spot"
"The Doctor's Wife"
"The Rebel Flesh"
"The Almost People"
"A Good Man Goes to War"
"Let's Kill Hitler"
"Night Terrors"
"The Girl Who Waited"
"The God Complex"
"Closing Time
"The Wedding of River Song" 

Ok now that you have watched season 5 and 6. Go back and watch seasons 1-4 and the year of specials That started in 2005. I guarantee that going back and watching them will not be a waste of time. There is a lot of back story, inside jokes, and new characters to love.

Order of Doctor who episodes to watch next:

The Ninth Doctor 

Season 1:

"Rose"

"The End of the World"

"The Unquiet Dead"

"Aliens of London"
"World War Three"

"Dalek"

"The Long Game"

"Father's Day"

"The Empty Child"
"The Doctor Dances"

"Boom Town"

"Bad Wolf"
"The Parting of the Ways"

The Tenth Doctor

Christmas special:

"The Christmas Invasion"

Season 2:

"New Earth"

"Tooth and Claw"

"School Reunion"

"The Girl in the Fireplace"

"Rise of the Cybermen"
"The Age of Steel"

"The Idiot's Lantern"

"The Impossible Planet"
"The Satan Pit"

"Love & Monsters"

"Fear Her"

"Army of Ghosts"
"Doomsday"

Christmas Special:

"The Runaway Bride"

Season 3:

"Smith and Jones"

"The Shakespeare Code"

"Gridlock"

"Daleks in Manhattan"
"Evolution of the Daleks"

"The Lazarus Experiment"

"42"

"Human Nature"
"The Family of Blood"

"Blink"

"Utopia"
"The Sound of Drums"
"Last of the Time Lords"

Christmas Special:

"Voyage of the Damned"

Season 4:

"Partners in Crime"

"The Fires of Pompeii"

"Planet of the Ood"

"The Sontaran Stratagem"
"The Poison Sky"

"The Doctor's Daughter"

"The Unicorn and the Wasp"

"Silence in the Library"
"Forest of the Dead"

"Midnight"

"Turn Left"

"The Stolen Earth"
"Journey's End"

The Year of Specials:

"The Next Doctor"

"Planet of the Dead"

"The Waters of Mars"

"The End of Time"

Then you are back where you started with the Eleventh Doctor and season 5.

Now the First Doctor through the Eighth Doctor are great and also have a lot of good background, inside jokes, and characters to love. But they are old school SciFi. So i suggest going back and watching these if you are into SciFi or just really love Doctor who :) 

Where to Watch it:

 

• BBC if you live in the UK.
• BBC America if you live in the US and yes it is an extra.
• Netfix if you have it, is a great way to watch most of the show.
• I tunes has the most recently aired episodes but it cost a lot more money though.
• There are websites where you can watch it for free but a problem that comes up is these web sites also can come with mega computer viruses especially if you have a PC. Another problem is that by the time you are done watching this show you are going to want to show support to the people creating it.

Rap-up: 

Try to avoid those "spoilers". Half the fun is the surprise. After watching Doctor Who you will never see history, space, wibolly wobolly timmy wimmy stuff, and adventure the same again. Are you ready to Run?

Thank you Whitney for introducing me to my favorite show!

The American's (le bar à soupes)

You know how there are those people, in groups we identify with, that give everyone else a bad name. This is a true story about those American's.

It all started when i woke up sick this morning or should i say when i woke up sick this afternoon. I was hungry but needed food for the sick not for the not sick French people (which would include something along the lines of a Baguette, Chocolate Croissant, Espresso, Cheese Sandwich... which normally sounds fantastic but not when you need the healing type of food). So i decided to go to this Soup Bar that my friend Erin had found and shared with me. 

le bar à soupes

First let me give a background. The women who owns this soup bar started it after visiting New York (which has soup bars all over the place) and loving the idea of have bars for soup. It is in the 11th district off of Rue Charonne and is the only soup bar in Paris. She makes six different soups everyday (all of which are vegetarian) some of which include celery and pear, a ratatouille blend, peas and mint, velvety leek, pumpkin, carrot with pineapple, ginger, lentils, Indian blondes, and different variations of classic vegetable soup. I have not tried one yet that i have not fallen in love with. For €7 you can get a large bowl of soup with some bread or 3 cups of different soups with bread. (I always get the cups because they are all great and always changing). When ever we go into this place the the owner and employees are always super nice and are kind enough to speak in English if we are having trouble.

So back to today. I walked in a little after it opened at 6:30pm and started by saying "Bonsoir" (Good evening) to the man working. (In France you must always say Bonjour or Bonsoir to a shop owner, a bus driver, receptionist, ect. when you enter there work space. This is a sign of respect.) He could tell i was American and started speaking in English. I continued to use as much french as i could to order. (The French have a lot of pride in there language and you will get the best response from them when you try. The best way to look at it is if you were visiting someones home you would not tell them how to run there home. that would be rude. I think it works the same when you go to a foreign country.)

I then seated my self (which is something you do in France at cafes and bars). He then brought me my food and i fallowed with a "Merci" (thank you). As i was enjoying my meal three Americans walked in. There was this man in his early forties with grey styled hair and a leather jacket, and two fashionable blond women in there late twenties early thirties. They did not say Bonsoir or Bonjour or even hello they just started asking what types of soups were sold.

After the employe explained the soups the man said "do you guys do samples of the soups" (Now i am not sure of this but i do not think it is appropriate to ask for samples in France just like i know it is not appropriate to ask for an alteration to an item on a menu) When Given a small sample the man did not even say thank you and after finishing it said "ok that's good, i will have that one"

After they had all ordered and sat down they started talking business. It turns out they are reps for some important fashion company. (Yes i did feel like i was in an "Ugly Betty" episode or the movie "The Devil wears Prada" were rude people in the fashion industry meet normal down to earth people)

In France when you finish eating you:

1. Wait to catch the attention of the server and then ask for the l'audition (the bill).
2. Then wait for them to bring it to the table.
3. Use cash to pay (they do not use credit cards to pay for small items in Europe unless you are at a Starbucks but lets face it if you are at a Starbucks you are not really in France any more).
4. Do not pay in large bills (change is hard to come by when using the euro, so it is very rude to use even twenties depending on how much you owe).
5. Then put the money on the little tray they give you (do not put the money directly in there hands because it would be rude).
6. Do not need to leave a tip because it is included in the bill (of course if you like there service it would not be rude to leave a little change on the tray) Also waiters don't need to work hard for tips so don't be surprised if they do not bend to your every whim. They also do not mind if you take as long as you want at your table because in the end it is less work for them.
7. Then say "Merci" or "Merci beaucoup" (Thank you very much) if you really like the meal. 
8. Fallow with a "Au revoir" (goodbye) and if it is later in the evening you can additionally say "Bonsoir".

So these American women leave as soon as they are ready while Fashionable leather jacket man walks up to the front leans all over the display case.

Fashionable leather jacket man: "do you take credit cards?". 

Employe: "yes".  

Fashionable leather jacket man: "do you take all credit cards" 
and holds up an American express card. 

Employe: "I think so"
at this point he is becoming a little nervous and flustered. (they almost never use the credit card machine and probably don't know a lot about American credit cards.)  He then tries to ring up the card but it does not work.
"I am sorry it did not work it says the card is abandoned"

Fashionable leather jacket man: getting angry because heaven forbid things happen beyond some ones control. "do you even know what abandoned means"

Employe: "yes it means the same thing in French" 

Fashionable leather jacket man: "fine i will pay in cash. this card never works when i travel" (like that was the employe's fault) Finishes paying and quickly walks to the door.

Employe: "Goodby have a nice evening" trying desperately to be as kind as possible.

Fashionable leather jacket man: "bye" in the most insincere tone.

After the Fashionable leather jacket man is gone the employe looks super upset shacking his head. (that was the kinda thing that can make a bad day in a pleasant place) A women, the only other customer in the bar, and i look at each other and shake our heads. She says something in french i do not understand, but i still got the idea and agreeably shock my head yes. 

I finished asked for the l'audition, waited for him to bring it to the table, used cash to pay, did not pay in large bills, put the money on the little tray he gave me, left some change on the tray as a tip, said "Merci beaucoup", and as i walked out the door i said "Au revoir" fallowed by a "Bonsoir". 

True Fashionable leather jacket man and his friends were on a short business trip and where not told the local social norms. But they did not even try to find out before they came and honestly there behavior would have been rude in the United States as well. I hope that i was good enough proof that not all Americans are rude and loud. 

Imagine how great it would be if we where all nice, kind, understanding, and reasonable.

Paris a City of Sustainability

It seems that environmental sustainability comes naturally to the french. (It may have something to do with there resources being far more expensive than in the States but I like to think it is because they care)

 When we got to the Hotel we would be staying in for a few days. the kitchen came complete with bio- degradable dish washing soap. Such a little thing and yet so cool.

 So trash cans. sorry correction, trash hoops/ bags/ hanging garbage. These are all over Paris and when i say all over Paris i mean walk a few steps and there is the next one. Ok my list of why theses are awesome:

1. Cost effient to produce
2. Less materials to produce
3. Easy to collect (but then again i am not an expert in trash collection)
4. Security, i am sure it is hard to throw things into the trash that should not be there.

One thing that is a little draw back. When it rains :P. a little gross but put up next to the benefits does not add up.  All i am saying is if i was at the point where i could change up a garbage system in a city this would be on the list of awesome changes.

 The French love there wine. (From what have been told they believe it is not really wine if it is not French wine.) But it turns out they love to recycle there wine bottles too. These glass bottle collectors may have only been in the game for a decade but they get around.

Paris may have come late into the recycling game but they have taken large leaps.

 No this is not bio yogurt, it is pronounced BO. Bio (BO) is the French term for Organic. The deodorantless hippies would be proud of this title.

 That gas station in the distance was the first one i have seen. This was on day 23 and i had to take a train out of the city to find it. Not that cars are not used, just there does not seem to be one for every person in France. Nice concept.

 

So how do people get around in Paris if most don't drive. There is a great transportation system that is every where and if you are lost the metro will find you. For  € 1.70 you can take the metro all over Paris and make as many transfers as you want before you ascend to the city above.

 Would you believe this round trip train ticket to Monet's house and back cost less than € 20. Oh plus you get a great view of the French country side.

Velib anyone. You know those communal bike systems people all ways say wont work. Well they can eat the stone street coming from the back of my velib tires. There is many a time i have found an empty rack of these cleaver bikes. Just look at how happy this next guy is...

 Of course there is good old fashion using your feet. who wouldn't want to walk to the next country town when it looks like this...

Or across the city when it looks like this....

 

This couple knows where it is at (they may have been a little creeped when i took this photo but oh well)

Ok so the French do like to use electricity to light up the Eiffel Tower all evening on the hour but hay it is the City of Lights.