Le Roi est Mort
February 13, 2016
At Versaille, there is an entire exhibit dedicated to Louis XIV death: La mort du roi. French monarchs were bearers of absolute and divine power. After his death, everyone wanted a piece of the Sun King. His body was buried in the Saint-Denis Basilica, his entrails sent to Notre Dame Cathedral and his heart placed in Saint-Louis-Saint-Paul. The most interesting discovery was this painting. It does not stand out. I probably would have walked right past it if our guide, Benjamin, hadn’t pulled us aside to point out what made it special. The heart contains a substance that can be added to varnish. Emulsion containing Louis XIV’s heart was actually sold to painters who would use it to enhance their artwork. Martin Drölling was among them and this is why his Intérieur d'une cuisine now hangs in the... Read More
Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture
February 9, 2016
If you’re looking for an alternative activity away from the crowds, visit Paris’s abandoned railway, The Petite Ceinture, which stopped operation in 1934. There is no formal entrance: The way in was a simple swing over a barrier, but the way out, I am proud to say, I... Read More
Cider Taste Test
February 3, 2016
We took cover from the rain in the Coeur de Lion, one of Normandy’s famed cider distilleries. Who knew the apple had this many uses. The tasting was a great finish to the tour – apple and pear brandy, calvados, gin. Then came the puzzle: How do you get the apple inside... Read More
Carmen à tout prix at the Théâtre Trévise !
February 3, 2016
The perks of having a friend in the program whose host mother is an opera singer, actor and comedian: front row seats to the show! A spin on Carmen, the show starts with an announcement of its cancellation. What comes next is a hilariously thrown together production. The... Read More
Visite Montmartre
January 24, 2016
The cobblestone streets here start climbing upward and require a good amount of leg work. At the summit is the Sacre-Coeur overlooking all of Paris where tourists mill around taking pictures of the sprawling view. We were lucky to have our first visit here accompanied by... Read More
The Packing One
December 31, 2015
NOTE: this post speaks more directly to girls, as they tend to have a much more difficult job of packing to do than boys. Sorry, guys. Now that the holidays are nearly over, I’m sure many of you are overrun with new clothes. In addition to all the super cute new... Read More
A Word from the Wise
December 25, 2015
These are some pieces of advice directly from the girls of this past semester. Heed their word! Don’t be afraid to ask for help even if you’re not sure if you’ll need it. About literally anything. (The APA directors are super available, really helpful, and... Read More
Tips for future pigeons
December 22, 2015
My last week in Paris was a flurry of exams and papers. To recap so any future students can know what to expect, I took 5 classes. Two were the required APA classes, one a language course, the other essentially a modern French poli sci and culture course. I took three classes... Read More
Madelyne Pigeon Barcelona
December 22, 2015
Running off to Barcelona the weekend before exams perhaps isn’t the wisest idea, but I honestly regret nothing. I even watched “Vicky Christina Barcelona” the night before leaving to excite myself for the trip. Leaving Friday after impulsively buying a cheap round... Read More
A digression into ducks
December 22, 2015
The weekend after London I did very little except study, prepare for exams and attempt to write 10 page essays in French, but I did get out a little to explore more of Paris. Here are some pictures from the Canal Saint Martin, the 4.5 km long canal that starts near Place de... Read More
The British Pigeon
December 22, 2015
First, I have to apologize for my absence the past couple weeks. As finals have come to an end, I finally have some catch-up time. For any future students doing an abroad program in France through their university system, be ready for a storm at the end of each semester, the... Read More
The Identity of a Pigeon
November 25, 2015
Despite all that has happened, Paris has almost gotten back to normal. People still go out to cafés, bars, concerts and continue to live with joy and vivacity as always. C’est toujours le bonheur à Paris. The city has a special way of rebirthing itself and igniting tiny... Read More
Growing roses from bullet holes
November 15, 2015
After staying inside for the past couple days, I started to get the sense that it wasn’t really real. That it must be happening somewhere else, somewhere far away that could only reach us from a news station, or that it was just a dream. Today I left my apartment and to... Read More
Le prochain jour
November 14, 2015
I haven’t done much today. I stayed inside (as per President Hollande’s recommendation), read, watched TV, bought groceries, and often refreshed the BBC Live Update report online. Yet by 7pm, I am exhausted. I slept very little last night due to the siren noise that... Read More
L’état d’urgence
November 14, 2015
At around 8pm this evening I went out to bring home dinner for a night in. Around 10pm I get a message from a friend in the US asking if I’m okay. A few seconds later I become aware of a chorus of sirens from outside my building and really in every direction I... Read More
