Paris!

So just as in university in Canada we get a week off aptly named Reading Week...this is of course the perfect time to skip the books and head across the pond to enjoy some french culture. Paris is definitely such a lovely city. The Eurostar to the Gare du Nord takes no time at all. We visited Sainte Chapelle which was stunning with the light coming through all the stained glass. We climbed the steps to Sacre Coeur with Hagen Daz and listened and watched street performers in the late afternoon sun. Friday we took the train to Versailles to check out the grandeur and ornateness of the palace while confronted with the juxtaposition of Takashi Murakami amongst the busts and portraits of Louis and Marie-Antoinette. The gardens astounded and thwarted us with the thought of walking and losing our way in the gardens. After a full omelette lunch we ventured to Marie Antoinette's village and farm. We napped among the ruins in the glorious fall sun before returning to the city of lights. In the failing light we floated on a cruise down the Seine to see the sights with a bottle of delicious french wine. For our evening meal we feasted on fondue...my experience of Paris is bread and cheese....ooooo delicousness. There was a meat portion too but that was minor given the amount of melted cheese available. Saturday morning we got our art on at the Louvre and at the FIAC (french art fair/read: art trade show), the best part of the day was sitting in a cafe in the Louvre eating a quiche and chatting with the girls. OR sitting in a cafe near the tuileries having wine with Libby and eating a Chocolat Lava Cake and Lemon Tart! On Sunday I took the metro to the Arc du Triomphe and walked down the Champs Elyseees, only stopping in Louis Vitton to visit their exhibition of artists investigating Peter Pan. Then it was off to the Musee d'Orsay and the Centre Pompidou before heading home to finally have Dre in London!

Fall in the City

Well its officially starting to get cooler out there...the rain threatens everyday and the wind sends a chill down your spine. However, I love this city. Everything is moving at once and there is always a million things to do and see and explore. Luckily we have our home which is a haven where its quiet and comfortable. We love this place, and my mom approves too. We are still waiting on Dre but he will arrive next friday the 22nd.
Its already October time is flying by. School is definitely the right place for me. I am pretty much into a routine, but school definitely keeps me on my toes. The house is getting set up properly, once Dre arrives we can put some good little touches to make it our own. I have finished my first paper, it was a struggle to get it going but I am beginning to remember what it is like to write a paper again. The best part about school is the field trips. I have seen some absolutely fabulous amazing things and these trips are the best ways of learning. My first week of school we went down to the South of the country to visit a sculpture foundation which helps emerging artists get their starts and help to fund their creation because materials such as bronze are very expensive. The Cass Foundation was created by a couple with strong ties to the art world. We got to walk around the grounds checking out all the artists and their monumental artworks. It was absolutely stunning. We also visited a historic town with a large church and well known art gallery. It was lovely to see the countryside and the beauty and greenery of the UK.


We also get to go on some weekly trips in the city visiting some galleries and learning about how businesses are run and the strategies employ. I have visited everything from Old Masters to a Contemporary gallery that is built inside an old riflemaker's shop. I have also been to see some of the preview of sales at the Sotheby's Auction house. I also had the pleasure of visiting the USA Ambassador's house which is located in Regent's Park and was given a tour with only 20 of my classmates by the Ambassador's wife. It was a wonderful experience to see their exhibition of post war American art placed in the setting of a very ornate old Victorian house. They had all the big names which was cool to see how they all worked so well inside this house.
The other really great field trip was a very long four hour bus trip to Chatsworth house in Derbyshire. Sotheby's has a sculpture sale and they place all the works for sale in the gardens of the estate, the house and the gardens are absolutely stunning. They filmed parts of the new Pride and Prejudice there. The sculpture of with the head of butterflies was bought on the first day of the sale from a collector who flew into the estate on his helicopter...



This week has been really busy, Mom and Carla flew into London for the week on Saturday, so I have been visiting with them and touring the city a bit while trying to maintain my classes. Also the big art fair called Frieze is in the city. Its the trade show of the art world so it is a big deal and a lot of really great events are going on for it.
Next week is reading week so I have a week off of school which will involve writing another paper, catching up on my readings and going to PARIS with a group of friends to go to the Paris Art Fair for 3 nights. Lots is going on but I am having the most wonderful time.
Hope all is well.
Lots of Love Alyssa