#oieparis

[stjohnsglobal]

Without a doubt, Paris has treated me well...

Paris has truly been nothing short of a dream, so much so that I wish I didn’t have to wake up anytime soon. It’s surreal— seeing things I’ve only watched in movies or read about. I’m blown away by the mere fact that I can just wake up and decide to picnic at the Eiffel Tower, or end my day by watching the sunset at Sacré-Cœur. The historical sites are wonderful, but I was also taken by the little wonders woven through the city, like the intricate architecture of the metro stations, or how the Parisians never fail to carry a book along with them on the train. Though a day is enough to fall in love with Paris, a month isn’t nearly enough to discover all the beauty it has to offer. I wish I could stop time for a moment here, but it’s almost like the brevity of it all makes me that much more grateful.  

Though traveling around Europe from here is convenient, I found little desire to venture out of the city, save for Barcelona. I knew I wanted to immerse myself completely in Paris, leaving the weekends for delving deeper into the arts and getting lost any way I could. The first excursion I went on was to Le Crazy Horse Caberet. For the longest time, I’ve been in love with the art of Burlesque; a bit risqué, it dramatizes striptease in a skillful, artistic albeit humorous manner, draped in Old Hollywood Glamour and Vintage Pin-Up. Everything about the show, from the production to the performers, was unbelievably beautiful.  

In the days to follow, I visited Shakespeare & Company quite a lot, choosing a random book and reading beside Aggie the Cat. Despite the many wandering visitors, the bookstore itself was intimate. It is a home for all those who love to read, myself included. My next outing was to the Louvre. I had no idea the museum was so massive! Unlike the size of the building, the Mona Lisa was tiny. It felt unreal standing in the same room as Leonardo da Vinci’s work. Musee D’orsay was next on my list. I was on a hunt for a particular painting: Dance in The Country by Renoir. It seems as though it only depicts a couple dancing happily, but if you look closer, you may notice that there is another person in the picture. Some interpret this painting as a hidden story of unrequited love. The woman outside the terrace seems as though she is longingly gazing at the man from afar, while he is staring closely at his dancing partner, who is beaming at the viewer outside of the painting. The secret admirer does not have a defined identity, but she has been dubbed by some as “The Peeping Woman”. A couple other outings I was able to experience was watching a ballet performance at Palais Garnier, walking up the Arc De Triumph, going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, seeing the Catacombs and strolling through the Palace of Versailles.

Every Wednesday, we would explore neighborhoods of Paris with the help of Matthieu, the Coordinator of Student Life. We first ventured to Champs-Elysees, where we discovered what is described by some as ‘the world’s most beautiful avenue’. Visitors flock to this street to shop, appreciating the high-end stores it has to offer. The next week, we made our way to Montmarte. By far, this was my favorite neighborhood. Matthieu explained that this neighborhood was enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. There were hidden gems sprinkled in every corner, like The Wall of I Love You and the its surviving windmills. The Latin Quarter was our next adventure. We painstakingly thanked the man that created the essay, Michel de Montaigne, by rubbing his foot. I tried Couscous, a North African delicacy, for the first time at Restaurant La Mosquée de paris, and it was wonderful! For our latest excursion, we went to the Marais neighborhood. We found ourselves in the Place des Vosges, which was a the oldest planned square in Paris. My friends and I visited L’as du Fallafel, a falafel sandwich restaurant whose line stretches down the whole street.  

For our Fall Break, I was fortunate enough to visit Barcelona, Spain. During Fall Break, I took a trip to Barcelona. Watching the Cheetah Girls strut through its streets gave me high expectations, and I’m happy to say, the city itself surpassed them entirely. We planned to visit Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, the Picasso Museum and the Magic Fountain. Each experience was beyond beautiful. My favorite place to visit was La Sagrada Familia. Walking inside was unreal. I have no words for how the light spilled into the Basilica through the stained-glass windows. The high-reaching walls and intricate ceiling was so well done, it looked like something out of a fairytale book.  

As my last detail, I’d like to include something personal. Last minute, I learned that my extended family’s business, Malagos Chocolate, was invited to Salon Du Chocolate, the biggest chocolate convention in the world, taking place in Porte de Versailles, Paris. Based in the Philippines, they farm and produce their own chocolate from Cacao beans. It was nice to see fans come up to my Lola, acknowledging her for her hard work. I was so happy to see her happy. It was lovely being reminded of home despite being almost 3,500 miles away from it.  

Without a doubt, Paris has treated me well. Though I’m still here, I already miss it. I’m so very thankful to Matthieu, Dheeraj, Farida and Isabelle for taking care of us. Ciao for now, Paris. I’m ready for Rome.  

Jillian K. Dorego, Fall 2019 Social Media Ambassador 

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