Travel Rewind - A Photo Adventure

After saying goodbye to Freiburg, I took full advantage of the handful of days before my Nantes program with some pre-planned meetings with Kathi (German T.A. at Alma last year) in Cologne and Heidi in Paris. Unfortunately I had some camera trouble (ironically only at times when I need photos the most - I had similar problems in London), and thus I don't have photos of my time with Kathi.
However, I spent an extra day in Cologne, and entirely unplanned. When I arrived at the Cologne train station on Sunday in order to make the necessary reservation for a Paris train, they were all booked until 4:00. I didn't make it to Paris until 9:00 that night.

But a free day in a European city is never a bad thing with one of the world's most famous cathedrals and a huge modern art museum.

I didn't get any pictures in the Museum Ludwig, but the Cologne Cathedral was pretty epic on its own, though it was hardly possible to capture its magnificence in photos.






















The peace resonating throughout the cathedral was just what I needed after the exhausting morning. Due to a rather eventful night of clubbing, I had a total of 20 minutes sleep the night before (with additional napping on the train to Cologne). Then after the reservation fiasco, I stuffed my enormous rucksack into an automatic storage machine, frantically e-mailed Heidi in a shady internet cafe doubling as a casino arcade, and ate a pretzel covered in almonds and chocolate for breakfast. But in the end, I was soothed by the cathedral's glorious tranquility and the art museum's stimulating collection - all 4 levels.

Then it was off to Paris! I'd been once on a high school trip, but it was rushed and jumbled (as high school trips tend to be). This time around, Heidi and I tried our best to see the sights (and enough art to appease me) in two days. Here are the highlights:

10:30 Fountain at St. Michel: We catch a glimpse of a fashion photo shoot, or a stylish attempt to ruin a $5000 gown.

11:30 Eiffel Tower: One look at the mass of tourists underneath and we decide to come back later, instead heading off in search of cheap baguette sandwiches.

1:00 Centre Pompidou: Finally, I get to meet Duchamp's Fountain. Believe it or not, this urinal is the cornerstone of modern art. Needless to say, I was pretty excited.

10:00 Eiffel Tower: Heidi and I witness an alien abduction over Paris. (Actually, it's just the searchlight from the top of the tower on time-exposure. But it was still a great view).

11:00 Musée d'Orsay: Heidi and I discover a ballroom hidden between the multiple levels of art in this converted train station. Dancing was necessary, at least long enough for a photo to capture the moment!

3:00 Arc de Triomphe: Someone's got to keep the Arc standing, right?








5:00 Eiffel Tower: A cheap picnic in front of la Tour proved far more enjoyable than any expensive restaurant. And I had just enough time to capture it before my camera died!





All in all, two days well spent in Paris. A bit of sightseeing, a bit of art, and a lovely intro to the country we'll call home for the next 4 months.