Beware of words.

Hey everyone. I strolled 'Belleville', the second highest hill of Paris (after Montmartre). I didn't find it pretty at all, but I found a nice photo for you:
Il faut se méfier des mots. -- Beware of words.
Information about the artist can be found here. And, guys, don't you think my photo is at least 2,5 times nicer than the one shown on that blog? ;-)

Most amazing thing I found in the world lately.

Getting used to it.

I think, I'm getting used to the greyness. Actually, today I started to like it.
In Genoa my fellow volunteer told me once that you'll only really get to know a city in the rain. The rain, the wet streets and this so very shy sun suit Paris well. I just wish it were autumn. I wish, the trees were no more green, but reddish and brown. Paris must be beautiful in autumn.

Paris est gris.

Paris is grey, much too grey. Huge grey clouds are hanging all over the sky...
Since I'm here there has been half a sunny day -- twice. I wonder, if I brought that weather with me? I wouldn't know where from, though, because as I remember Germany when I left it, it was rather sunny. So maybe the weather and me arrived independently, but simultaneously.

Here are two proofs of the greyness. -- Man, Paris, can I cheer you up in any way?


Champs de Mars
-- behind the Eiffel Tower.

Pont Alexandre III:
As I now researched, I apparently photographed "La Renommée au Combat", restraining Pegasus. (All the four 'renommées' are restraining Pegasus.) 'Renommée' seemingly translates into English with 'Fame'. But I still have no idea what kind of mythological figure is meant. ;-( So if anyone knows, I'd be happy to learn.

I actually only took that picture as a proof of the utter Parisian greyness, which isn't even brightened by a golden horse, Pegasus, able to fly... But I'm quite happy about having unconsciously chosen 'la renommée au combat', rather than the one of business or industry... ;-)

(The information I found so far is admittedly a little contradictory: a French site has the four "Renommées" to be "La Renommée des Arts", "La Renommée au Combat", "La Renommée de l'Agriculture" and "La Renommée de la Guerre", whereas an English version has it like this: the Fame of the Sciences, the Fame of the Arts, the Fame of Business and the Fame of Industry. That's mysterious, hm?)

Samaritaine

The anti-style- Style.

I found some amusement in collecting things that don't go together and wear them all together. See that:

Business-casual shoes.
(This is not yet about the socks!)

A punk's cuffs.
And, notice: I got them in two colors! Yay!
Pink and red: my favorite misfits. ;-)

A hippie's bag.

And now I'm working on some kind of African turban.
(Not yet very well done.)

I do definitely need a t-shirt or something like that in yet another style. But I'm running out of ideas. Who can help? ;-)

Pompidou

Today I found the Centre Pompidou -- by accident, of course.

La Défense

Il faut imaginer Sisyphe heureux.

Le Mythe de Sisyphe

Have a look at these MONSTERS!

Inga's Monster-Page

Yesterday's best photo: il faut partir.

Jour trois: Notre Dame.

Yesterday, I mainly saw Notre Dame. I like those beasts!

The second day. (Sunday, 10th)

That was yesterday. It was kind of more exciting, because I walked stranger routes. Actually, I ended up in the banlieu, I guess -- at least at some point I found out that I had walked out of the reach of my city map and actually past the last métro station (Bobigny). But I'll try to keep the order of events:
I started walking to the other direction than the day before. The first thing to come was some kind of Basin (Bassin de la Villette) and then the endless Canal de l'Ourcq -- which I basically followed most of the day.
For quite a bit I was still in the city, then I passed a cool science museum ("la géode" -- fun pictures to be posted!) and then I kind of left the city. Most of the time, though, the area wasn't too creepy and there were quite a few pedestrians and such.

But when I passed this building, I began to get a little nervous. Mostly because at that time there was almost nobody on my way, whereas on the other side of the canal was that crazy building and a little further some youth who noisily tested the maximum speed of their scooters. (Actually, I did what women do at that point: tie back your hair, button up your coat, put the alarm-red coloured bag to the other side and walk in a way that suggests that you know where you're going.)

Also I had no idea where the next métro station could possibly be, but I definitely didn't want to walk the same way back -- that feels like retreat. But then I saw two women passing my way and I asked them for the next station. They said the next stations were some kilometres in either direction, but most importantly they didn't make at all an impression of finding this a bad way to walk along alone. So I was definitely calmed and decided to -- of course -- continue my route.
I passed further funny things. I missed the last métro station and actually had to walk back a little bit. Well, and then I decided to have a quick look at the Montmartre. So I went there and was annoyed by all the tourists.

Here is my favourite picture of Sacre Coeur:


I was wondering whether I should try to get a pepper spray or the like. But I actually think that it wouldn't help very much anyways and in the long run I'd be slower than some predator. (Especially on high heels.) Whatever. As soon as I will have some guests here, we can go and check out the banlieu in two!

The first day. (Saturday, 9th)

I'm not sure if anyone knows (I wouldn't know how anyone should know), but I really do like walking around in cities without any plan or destination. So I just started walking that day and the first major attraction that popped up was "Les Halles" and a church ("St. Eustache"?) and a nice pedestrian precinct.








After that I followed some random streets and you know what: I found the Louvre. I hadn't been there ever before -- and I was actually impressed.

I walked along the Champs Elysées after that and I found that street a little long and way too crowded. (I was also getting tired.) Heaving reached l'Arc de Triomphe, I decided that walking to the Eiffel Tower would be too much, so I took the Métro.
Well, and la Tour Eiffel had some kind of Europe theme -- I already posted a picture.
It was a nice day. And, admittedly, I was proud to be able to walk that long. Walking is great.

Arriving. (Friday, 8th)

Arriving was not that difficult. There is that train from Cologne to Paris, which takes only 4 hours and is not even very expensive. (Why was I not way more often here?!)
On the train, the customs controll was extraordinarily heavy -- and unsurprisingly it seemed that African-looking people were more carefully examined. Man! I was mostly talking to a Russian lecturer for mathematics, or, to be correct, he was talking to me. But it was ok.
Then, in Paris, I had to find the person who was supposed to give me the key to the appartment. That worked well, too, and then I found the appartment and then I was there. That's it. This is how arriving in Paris goes.
(For who wants to look it up: the appartment is near Stalingrad Métro station and the Street is called Rue du Faubourg-St.-Martin. And Bethany: of course I will fetch you (hm - pick you up?) from the airport!!! How could I not?!)

Well and now --

-- I'm in Paris.



I'll be writing more. Very soon. Promised.

And it looked like this, the MPI:

(The place I interned at. Actually, I was in the ugly building next door, but this is the main building, so I guess I'm justified in claiming that I interned there... ;-))

Beautiful, huh?

The reasons.

The reasons are very simple. There was no time. That actually means, I guess, I didn't take the time. But no! Why not make something else responsible: my internship. That was pretty intense, indeed. Most days (lateron I overslept) I arrived at half past 8, which required me to get up at half past 6. (I guess, I already wrote about that. Perhaps I'm just fascinated that it's possible to get up that early.) And then I started to take the last train home and entered my parents' house at quarter past 12. So there was no time, right?
Why was that internship this crazy?! Well, most importantly: it was a lot of fun -- otherwise I hadn't spent soo much time there. And secondly: it seemed necessary; we started that project and time pressed. But in spite of the stress, or maybe even because of it: it was really, really exciting and I enjoyed it a lot. (I'm actually too lazy to tell you about the research we did there in detail. I can make some general remarks upon request, though.)
But I really do hope, that these conditions (in terms of working hours) won't reoccur later in my life. (--> So there are good chances that the blog won't be deserted ever again! ;-))

I'm so...

... sorry. I really am. I didn't expect that I'd abandon this project for such a long time. (I actually didn't expect most of what happened during the last weeks.) I so much hope that YOU haven't given it up, yet... We will catch up soon. I promise. I have a lot of stories for you -- and maybe even more so: photos.

PS: And also: I'm really sorry that you have to read so much bullshit. I'm gonna try to reduce the bullshitty parts in the following.