It's about time!

Statue of King Henry IV.

Bonjour! I’m so sorry that this post is so long overdue, it has been a busy month! From Paris to Amsterdam, my passport is substantially more interesting to look at than it was four weeks ago, as is the portrait of my life!

Store St. Espresso.

A recap of each trip:

Paris

After watching Midnight in Paris last summer, I had been itching to go to Paris and bask in its cultural glory (and, if the opportunity presented itself, jump into a car with Hemingway and party with the Fitzgeralds). So when a couple of my friends suggested going to Paris for reading week, I naturally jumped at the chance.

Pont Alexandre III, where the last scene of Midnight in Paris was filmed.

Shakespeare & Co.

Despite the extreme temperatures (one day it was down to 16°F), Paris was magical. We took a couple of walking tours, which, in my opinion, were the most valuable investment because they helped us to get to know the city from the perspective of its people. Often I will walk past an apartment building and just marvel at the fact that in this one building, there are hundreds of people who each have their own life, their own story. Going on the walking tours gave us the chance to appreciate not just the beauty of the sights, but the spirit of the sights, which can only be recounted through the experiences of the people who inhabited the city and brought it to life. After the tour, we walked through the city with such a fresh perspective; instead of a beautiful stone bridge, we saw a beautiful stone bridge that marked the triumphs and celebrations of King Henry IV. Instead of the famed red lights and the tacky windmill, we saw the Moulin Rouge as the center of late 1800’s Paris nightlife and inspiration for artists like Henri de Toulouse Lautrec. Sights wise, my favorite part of the trip was the walking tour we took through Montmartre, the only mountain in Paris. In addition to the adorable feel of the quaint apartments and shops (the famed café from Amelie is on this mountain), this place has a rich history, encompassing everything from the scandalous Moulin Rouge to the sacred Sacre Coer. It also served as home (and studio!) to some of the most amazing artist of our time (Van Gogh, Modigliani, and Picasso to name a few…).

On the bridge of locks, where couples will seal their love with a lock.

Of course, I can’t mention my trip to Paris without talking about the museums. To take full advantage of our pricy museum pass, we made lots of museum visits, even venturing out of Paris to the wonderful Versailles for a day! Sadly, as many people had warned, the Louvre did not live up to its hype. An essentially overcrowded labyrinth, I felt as if I were being herded from room to room. Though the famed works were as beautiful as I had imagined them to be, I barely got the chance to take them in because there were just too many people who wished to share the same intimate moment. That being said, it was worth going to see not only the pieces, but the museum, which, as a former palace, is a work of art in itself. Overall though, I much preferred visiting the smaller museums, particularly the Musée de l’Orangerie (features the largest collection of Monet’s Water Lilies, as well as an impressive collection of works by various impressionists) and the Musée d’Orsay, which perfectly complemented the still-developing art history analysis skills I have picked up from my 19^th-20^th century art history class. Like the Louvre, the architecture of the museums mirrored their feel: simple, understated, but not without purpose or meaning. For instance, at the top of the d’Orsay, where the impressionism gallery is held, there is a giant glass clock that reveals a stunning view of Montmartre, which is delightfully uncanny as the mountain housed many of the artists featured in the gallery…

Argenteuil, Claude Monet at Musee le d'Orangerie.

 

 

 

Carousel near Notre Dame.

And the food! In addition to consuming an inordinate amount of abnormally delicious bread, wine, crepes and cheese (the BEST brie I have ever tasted), despite being on a budget I tried my best to indulge in authentic French cuisine. And I think we did pretty well! Thanks to our amazing tour guide Naomi, we were able to find some incredible food, including quiche, snails, and frog legs (which really do taste like chicken, mixed with fish!). My favorite meal was at Le Refuge des Fondues, a small, quirky fondue place on Montmartre that featured a fun, lively atmosphere, friendly staff, cheese-shaped toilets, and wine served in baby bottles. As far as desserts are concerned, being in Paris for Valentines Day gave me the perfect excuse to treat myself to a box of absolutely delectable Ladurée macarons (though I probably would have done this even if it weren’t Valentines Day).

Escargot.

Overall, going to Paris rejuvenated me with a newfound sense of gratitude. I remember sitting in Notre Dame and suddenly being hit with an overwhelming sense of appreciation; it was if I had just realized that after years of daydreaming, I was actually in Europe, traveling and living the life I had once only been able to fantasize about. After my accident, I was overcome with this sense of purpose, I have since tried to dedicate my life to others, in attempts to helping others find their own purpose, the passion that makes life meaningful and worth living. But when you become so busy and involved, it’s easy to just get caught up in keeping up with life. It is always nice to be reminded of why I set off on this adventure in the first place, as it keeps me inspired to continue giving, but not without living (however corny that might sound).

Candles in Notre Dame.

A prayer I left in Notre Dame.

Our jumping picture near the Eiffel Tower.

Versailles.

House of Invalides.

Rodin's "The Thinker"

Sacre Coer by night.

Le Refuge des Fondues.

View of Montmartre from Musee d'Orsay.

Paris from the Arc de Triumphe.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam by night.

Amsterdam was a completely different trip from Paris. Unlike our schedule in Paris, which was often a little exhausting and jam-packed, we took our time in Amsterdam, sleeping in and stopping to take advantage of spontaneous finds, like the playground near our hostel or the giant I (am)sterdam sign. The people in Amsterdam were also significantly nicer than they were in Paris, where many of the people were, sadly, quite rude towards Americans. Having no language barrier was likely part of the reason people in Amsterdam were so much more willing to communicate, but overall the people just seemed much more amicable and laid-back. One older gentleman even went as far as to walk me to my hostel when I got lost on the way back from Leiden.

Posing with the I (am)sterdam sign.

The former entrance to the city of Amsterdam.

From HI to Leiden.

I spent the first day in Leiden with Elyssa, one of my best friends from home. My friendship with Elyssa is one I truly cherish; despite not seeing her for nearly a year, I feel just as close and connected with her as I did when I last saw her. We spent the day as if we were at home in Hawaii, taking some time to go on adventures (we biked around the town and spontaneously got our ears pierced), and then taking some time to just catch up and relax (we got Thai takeout and watched a movie). It was perfect.

Leiden.

A sample of some of the amazing street art in Amsterdam.

Some cultural highlights included the Van Gogh museum, a fascinating walking tour, a quick trip through the red light district, and a tour through the old Heineken brewery. The city was great, but it was truly the company that made this trip such an enjoyable, unforgettable experience.

Inside one of the kettles at the Heineken Brewery.

Red shutters near the Pancake Bakery in Amsterdam.

A wall of green bottles at the Heineken Experience.

Some other recent highlights:

Performing on a London stage! As with every show, the actual performance, though amazing, is, albeit crucial, only one component of the experience. Part of the reason I love doing shows has little to do with being onstage and everything to do with the process – I love watching a show slowly come to life. It was so great to get to see a small bit of what the musical theatre scene is like at UCL and getting to meet the talented people who are involved in it.

Turning 21! Although turning 21 isn’t quite as big of a deal in London as it is in the states, I was determined to make it count. With the help of my truly wonderful friends (I even got to celebrate with my friend Julie who came to visit from Pamplona), I had the time of my life, complete with delicious Mexican food (which I was really starting to miss) and a drinkable birthday cake.

First night of birthday festivities at the Camden pub crawl.

Friends sipping out of the drinkable birthday cake at the Zoobar.

Birthday cupcakes from Julie and Helen.

Lent! In concordance with my New Years Resolution for genuine kindness, I have decided to sacrifice being intentionally mean to people. This includes gossiping. So far, it has been going pretty well!

This upcoming week is full of exciting events, including a visit from my best friend Aaron and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. I will be sure to not let a month go by before I post about it this time!

Cheers!

Olivia