Its Free Sunday, Free Louvre Day

On every 1st Sunday of the month, entrance to most of the museums in Paris is free. With le Louvre in the list, it  is not that difficult to pick which to go this weekend.

People have been giving us the "arghh to Free Sundays" look when we say that we are going to le Louvre, simply due to the "confirm plus chopped" snaking queue at the entrance. Very true...but, we bypassed that!!!! Once bitten, twice shy. I've queued 1 hr in summer just to get down to buy tickets, no way am I doing this again in winter!

To bypass that queue, 2 golden rules:

Rule 1: Go very early. It opens from 9am to 6pm, so plan to be there by 9am sharp.
We reached the pyramid at 8.55am, and the queue down to the hall has already started snaking.

The snaking queue at the main entrance

Rule 2: DO NOT go by the pyramid entrance. Instead, go in by Porte Des Lions Entrance, along Quai François Mitterrand. Just cut across Place du Carrousel, towards Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. You can buy tickets and deposit your jackets here as well. Basically, we were the only ones at this entrance, when the tourists were just waiting to go down to the main hall at the pyramid.

Since it's free entry, we decided to pay for 2 audio guides to have a more fruitful visit. It is E6 for each, definitely worthwhile if you do not want to just waste time snapping photos for the sake of telling people that you've been there.

Just key in the numbers found next to the pieces, and the audio guide will tell you the contents and details to look out for.

Note: There is another audio set that do not allow you to key in numbers, but just follow the highlights they have in the set. Try to get this with the option to key in numbers, as it is much more informative, and they cost the same.



Bits and pieces of our history and art lesson...

This is the only remains of the Louvre as part of the fortress in the early years, as the rest were given way to construct and extend the palace after that.

Anne of Austria's Room

 This was Anne of Austria's room. The ceiling is the works of Italian Romanelli. Ceilings of the 6 rooms are all different, and he personified mythology beings to depict a good government during her time.

 

A sarcophagus with the 9 muses. 

These rooms are now filled with sculptures. You can really see a difference in the sculptors' style as you progress through the ages. Pay attention to the details of their hair and cheeks if you are in this room, you can even pick up that since ages ago, sculptors have already realised that cruel rulers do have some distinct features. We were too busy studying the "heads" here to take photos.

Cour Puget/Marly

Cour Puget containing French sculptures

What is he looking at????

On a serious note, there are a lot of symbolism on these Four Captives (or Four Defeated Nations)...find out if you are interested..:P

Milo of Croton - OUCH!

Milo is a Greek athlete, and not that drink you have after a swim. But I guess I know how MILO got it's brand from now...This statue is a story of how Milo got sabotaged by his own weaknesses, simply put it in the Singaporean way: He "gay kiang" (aka smart Aleck), so try to split the tree trunk with his hands, but sculy got stucked and got killed by a wolf. The artist here was very kind, he sculpted a lion instead of a wolf to give Milo more dignity. 

Details to note: We cannot imagine the extent of the artist's attention to details. From the toes of Milo cramming onto the rocks, his protruding veins and the depth of the lion's claws, we can already feel his pain in this scene. And not forgetting how Milo's muscles are depicted to show a "caught in the moment" act.

Spartacus

Seriously, I'm not that into him to take this angle. This is entirely the Student's work, ego thing.

Set of tapestries depicting history of Scipio: Battle of Zama

A set of 10 tapestries, this being the last. Each piece is this big, using my head as measurement, this means each is about 50 of my head. This set of "cartoons" tells an interesting story, and basically tells you to forget about battling your enemy if you have brawn without brains. But then again, how do one who do not have brains know that he does not have one?

Hey, you millionaires out there, get one of these plates to serve your guests if you want to flaunt your wealth. These plates are so ravishingly decorated, that even the back are covered with motifs. The style is very signature, as only shades of black to grey are used.

Napoleon III Apartments

Drawing room

Grand dining room

2nd time to le Louvre, and this is still my favourite section, love the grandeur of the rooms and the decorations. With a dining room to hold more than 40 pax, no wonder he needs another smaller dining room.

I wanted to bring the Student right here the moment we stepped in, even higher priority than Mona Lisa. But its seems that the Student did not really share my likes after all.

Paintings

We spent a lot of time staring at paintings and deciphering the codes behind it. So much so that we forgot to take pictures of what we saw. Except for this one, need not explain why...A picture says a thousand words.

Gabrielle d'Estrées and One of Her Sisters

It is not what you think. Nipple pinching is not only a defence and attack technique, but is a gesture of lactation. Gabrielle is the favourite of Henry IV, and she is the one who got pinched. The lady pinching her is her sister,  Madame de Balagny. The nipple pinching symbolises Gabrielle's pregnancy, and the later birth of Henry IV's illegitimate child. You might wonder what's that extra doing behind the room. Well, she confirms the interpretation of the pregnancy by sewing a garment for the arriving child.

All in all, for any one reading this and is thinking twice about visiting le Louvre on free Sundays...GO FOR IT!!!! It is totally worth it...and get some form of guide and explanations on what's going on for a more fruitful trip.

Une Voiture Finalement! (A car finally!)

Bonjour Little 107 (小蓝), and au revoir Old Sunny (老红).

After 3 weeks' struggle with the public transport here, we've finally gotten our passport to drive!

Prior to our arrival in France, we have already purchased a car from a very reliable source, and is all ready to get behind the wheel on the day we touched down. But problem is, we thought we were not able to drive, as the car insurances here do not cover foreign driver licences (non-EU). The problem is amplified when the exchange of foreign licence for a France licence requires a Carte De Séjour (CDS), and this is usually given about 3 months after receipt of the récipéssé.

It turns out that, when you do not know what you do not know, you'll have to press the right buttons. 

Any insurer will say a big fat "NO", if they hear that you are holding a foreign licence. The trick is, what about countries that allows for an exchange, which Singapore is? Voila! The answer is "YES", but we have to exchange for a French one as soon as we receive our CDS.

Oh well, 3 weeks of grocery shopping on public transport have strengthened up the Student very well...

Little 107 feels like a reckless young chap, dressed in a bright swanky blue. Honing its engine with every little step of the accelerator and zipping heads in into teeny parking lots all so easily. 

In the little town called Orsay...

We had wanted to go to Versailles this weekend, but we just realised on Friday night that there is a 1 for 1 ticket offer, which requires us to order on-line and print it out. Problem is, we can't print at home. And so, here we are in GIF, lazing the weekend away at the valley.

There was a really stressful 15mins at the bank, when we tried to change our pin for security sake. We have never thought that the ATM will not have English. Lucky for us, the counter staff spoke minimal English. Seems that right here, we cannot change our given pin to whatever we want, instead, we need to live with it. Printing our statements via the machine needs admin charge too. But I must say that the bank feels REALLY safe with double layer front doors. No way for robbers to escape without being trapped in between doors!

Had our lunch at teeny weeny Orsay. Euro 25 for 2 persons for a 3 course meal with coffee. Not too bad...delicious panna cotta!

I've never liked macaroons, except for their pretty appearance. But after trying the macaroons here with black coffee, it's never the same again.

Got some macaroons here

This is where the market, town hall and hospital is.

  

Love how this town has the mix of old and new architecture and culture. Even with the presence of Supermarches, the traditional fromageries, boulangeries, charcuteries and poissonneries are still very much visited by the locals.

The Student asked me what is signature about Orsay, and I say this bridge.

The mairie of Orsay

Taking a rest before our walk back home

Carte De Séjour - CHECKED!

This is our 3rd week in GIF, glad that both the Student and the Wife have got their CDS settled.
Next on the checklist: Exchange our driver's licence, and hit the road with that car!

After reading all the horror stories about people trying to get their CDS from the prefecture in Paris, I think we should really count our blessings for what we went through. We were scheduled to go to the sous-prefecture at Palaiseau on 2 separate appointments (should be on the same day since we are married, but somehow the appointments were really packed). On both occasions, we have met really kind counter personnels. I think this is definitely not by chance, my 2 cents worth on why we were so blessed:

1) Since we live in Supélec, and the assigned prefecture is according to where you stay, we were assigned to go to Palaiseau instead of Paris. This means that it is not as crowded = less frustrations for the personnels handling the applications.

2) Supélec was really professional to have arranged a meeting with HR to prepare the paperwork with us. Which I supposed, they could have just let us fumble on our own.

3) For Scientific visas, there are 3 dedicated counters with pre-arranged appointments made. We did not even need to send in our OF-II form for the appointment, as Supélec have already made the appointments for us. (We were confused on the need to submit the OF-II at first, but seems like it is required to set up an appointment with the prefecture, otherwise, it is not needed.)

Conclusion, its a thumbs up if you are coming to France on a Scientific visa, especially if your organisation is linked to the prefecture somehow.

Although there are lots of sites on the application for the CDS, information on Scientific visas was rather vague for us. Now that we went through it, below are the essential documents to include if you are in a similar situation:

For main applicant:
1) Birthcert & translated copy in French
2) Passport
3) Status letter to indicate financial standing & translated to French. Indicated amount to be in EURO
4) Proof of accommodation (Testimonial from the landlord that you are staying with them is best )
5) Scientist Convention Letter
6) 2 self-addressed envelopes with stamp
7) 3 coloured photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm)

For Spouse:
1) Birthcert & translated copy in French
2) Passport
3) Marriage cert & translated copy in French
4) Proof of accommodation (Main applicant will have to prepare a testimony in French to declare that you are staying together, which is actually obvious since you are married)
5) Status letter, convention letter of main application as above

6) 2 self-addressed envelopes with stamp
7) 3 coloured photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm)
8) If main applicant has already received the temporary CDS (Récépissé de Demande De Carte De Séjour),  prepare a photocopy

* The photos needed for the long stay visa (3 months) which is applied from your home country is 2.5 x 3.5cm. For CDS, the measurements are different! We ended up with photo booth photos for our CDS, which had our ugliness amplified by at least 10 times!

After the interview, which is about 30 mins. You'll receive the Récépissé de Demande De Carte De Séjour. The prefecture will send a letter to you to indicate when you'll have to go for the medical appointment, and another letter to tell you when the CDS is ready for collection. This explains why you'll need 2 envelopes.

If everything goes really smoothly, you can receive your CDS by the medical appointment, if not, it is usually within 3 months for the CDS to be ready.

I'm not sure if this is the same in other prefectures, but it seems that besides for our passports, they are not interested in our original certs (BC & marriage). Instead, the translated copy is VERY IMPORTANT! Sworn translators by the way...

Jogging on the Plateau - Reloaded!

After a failed attempt to run at -1 degree C, I tried to run without the snow at 10 degree C... Success! Thanks to the hooded wind breaker I literally robbed from Genevieve.

Fuelling ourselves for the run later:

Tweaked my recipes to coat the fish with a layer of flour seasoned with Spice de La Provence, pepper, salt and a tinge of lemon zest...nicely cooked this time round. 

The housewife is a little frustrated with only 3 pots, 4 plates and a tiny kitchen to whip up meals. But I finally understood why the French do not have that many seasoning as Asians do. Simply because, flavour comes naturally from their fresh produces, and all I need is just salt and some herbs!

Pan Fried White Fish with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

30 mins run on 45 degree slopes = 60 min run along Clementi Ave 6 canal:

We ran down a road that we have avoided for the past weekend, cos it is really scary to look at. At the start of the road, it looks like a chain saw massacre entrance. After the turn, it is THIS! But, it was a fabulous work-out, and we discovered this shortcut to Gare Le Guichet!  

Rue de Colline

Saturday in Paris

- A day too cloudy for pictures, and perfect for just walking around, doing nothing.


Took a leisure walk from Place St-Michel to Les Invalides and Tour Eiffel. Final stop at Trocedéro for the best view of the Eiffel. 4 hours in all including lunch at Paul's, very walk-able!

"Stoning" after 40mins in the RER

For a trip to Notre-Dame,Paris from Supélec, we'll need to take the RER B from Le Guichet to St-Michel. Each trip cost 4E/pax, but could be cheaper if we are less than 26 years old, or we could buy a book of 10/20 tickets. (More info on transport after jump-break)

We also found out that Ticket T+ cannot be used on return trips on the same bus, only for connections within 1.5 hrs from validation. Can't be used on RER out of zone 1 too!

Lunch at Paul Boulangerie

Macarons at 7E for 4, trés cher!

Resting on a wall of Les Invalides

J'aime Paris!

Excusez-moi, Ms. Orange...

This certainly looks more reliable than the trishaw

Enjoying our glace amidst the cold weather. Wasn't easy to find ice-cream here in winter though. Unlike Italy, whereby Gelato shops are abundant in the streets, and there are more flavours to choose from.

In France, less is more, only vanilla, chocolate and the berry flavours to twirl with.





Having been to Romantic Paris with 2 men at 2 different occasions, both have taken the same picture of me, same background and same spot. I conclude that Eiffel is indeed a place you should visit only with a romantic partner!

Celebrations in a Foreign Land

This is a week of celebrations annually, for the Student and the Wife. But this year, we do it rather differently. No lavish dinners, no musicals or surprises...just us on the plateau, the smell of half-melted snow, 2 simple but delicious cakes from the pâtisserie and a very satisfying cup of hot chocolate. 

12 Feb: Sweetness in Simplicity!

14 Feb: Chicken stew with Baguette to dip.