All posts with the ‘paris’ Tag

(This is part of my series of recaps about traveling to England and France last year from October 25 – November 8th, 2011)

Here is the thing, I adore the Musée d’Orsay. Focusing primarily on French artwork from the mid 1800s – early 1900s (which is super decorative and opulent), the museum itself is housed inside the most gorgeous, Beaux-Arts former railroad station– which itself is decorative and opulent to the gills.

It is my most favorite museum in the world and in the handful of times I’ve had the opportunity to visit Paris I always make a bee-line for it and draw for hours. This place inspires me like crazy, I would stay in here for days if they let me.

Until this trip.

My entire reason for coming to Paris in the first place (Matt haaaaates big cities in general and Paris in particular) was to 1) meet my internet friend, Mr. Pan, and 2) draw in the Musée d’Orsay. This was already the second day of our two-and-a-half-day long stay in Paris, tomorrow we’d be leaving around noon to catch our train to Strasbourg. Honestly, I was pretty heartbroken that I would be missing out on it this time. (I know, I know, First World Problems and all that, but really, this place means a lot to me.)

We ducked under shelter of another building’s awning while we figured out what to do from here. Already soaked through and with no rain gear whatsoever, the prospect of walking all the way back to our hostel (45 minutes away, I think) in that state was just not an option right then.

We needed shelter.

We needed… an over-priced cafe called Le Royal Orsay.

We tea’ed ourselves and leisurely waited out the worst of the downpour, Matt with his book and me with my sketchpad.

It wound up being nice a little stay, long enough for the rain to let up some– though that dang line to the museum never did. It turns out they were having some… special occasion that day? Which is why a million and a half people were waiting patiently for hours in a downpour to get in. SIGH!

Read all the Europe entries together, in reverse-chronological order.

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Erika Moen’s Posters, books, prints and original artwork

(This is part of my series of recaps about traveling to England and France last year from October 25 – November 8th, 2011)

At last we arrived at Paris’ Gare du Nord!

Though I didn’t realize this when we were setting up our trip, Paris Nord is the place where Matt and I met in France for the first time almost seven years ago. I mean, we met for the first time ever in England a couple months before, but it was this train station where we met up in France to go on the month-long travel adventure that would result in our falling in love.

While we were walking through the lobby I was overwhelmed with emotion when I spotted the same place I had been standing when Matt found me through the crowd all those years ago. For a moment I relived all those intense feelings of worrying that I was making a huge mistake (Committing to traveling for a month together with a guy I barely knew?? AND I was still sick with heartache for my ex! What was I thinking!?) and then feeling all of those concerns completely melt away as we made eye contact through the crowd and had that first hug and kiss that inaugurated one of the most amazing adventures of my life. (Haha, I should have taken a photo of that spot, sorry!)

First things first, once we found our hostel (more on that in my next entry!) I changed into some cuter clothes than my standard travel uniform of jeans, tank top and sneakers. Man, I dunno what it is about traveling, but even just a couple hours on the train kicks my sweat glands into overdrive and I come out smelling like a gym locker– even with pre-emptive deodorant shlacked into my armpits! (Sorry ladies, I’m taken.) But it’s nothing that a quick shower and clothing change can’t cure.

Second things second, Matt and I headed out to the nearest grocery store to stock up on the essentials. Specifically, tea.

Man, how cute are these little guys?
Then, exploration!

Finally it was time to meet up for the first time with my long time Flickr pal, Mr. Pan!

We have been internet-friends since maybe 2006? He stumbled across some of my tentacle photos in a Flickr group for octopuses back in the day and started following me, then after checking out his photos I started following him and, y’know, a photo-sharing-friendship was born! We have a mutual love of museums, classical paintings, tentacles, red hair, interesting self-portraiture and each others’ native language. I even based my painting, Je Ne Suis Pas Un Faun, on him two years ago!

He led us across the city to his favorite book store, we had a drink in a cafe, and then he helped us find the right bus back to our hostel.

(From Mr. Pan’s camera)

Dang, our first day in Paris was pretty full.

Read all the Europe entries together, in reverse-chronological order.

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Erika Moen’s Posters, books, prints and original artwork