Paris!

Highlights

Louvre: Sharon was busy one evening, so I decided to go to the Louvre by myself. I can't say that was the best decision. Since many of the displays were in French, I didn't exactly know what I was looking at. However, I did make my own scavenger hunt game where I picked a famous piece of artwork and tried to find it in the huge maze of Louvre masterpieces. The Mona Lisa was the easiest to find because they had a lot of signs pointing out the way. I also found the Venus de Milo, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, and The Raft of the Medusa. I have to admit I like the Deutsches Museum better than the Louvre.

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur: It takes some effort to Sacré-Cœur because it's on a hill. The Metro lets you off at the base of the hill, and you get to enjoy a climb to what I think is the highest point of the city of Paris. Once we were at the basilica, we had a beautiful view of the city. Also nearby was a collection of artists displaying their works and drawing portraits of paying tourists. It was fun to see the different displays of Paris in a wide variety of artistic media.

Notre Dame: Our legs got yet another work out when we visited Notre Dame. We climbed the stairwell to the top of one of the towers. Once at the top, we hung out with the gargoyles that surround the building and pretended we were in the novel/movie Hunchback of Notre Dame. This was our opportunity to be a little silly.

Eiffel Tower: This was my highlight of the Paris trip. Even though it was raining when we ascended the tower, I learned a lot about the mechanics and architecture of the Tower. We walked up the stairs to the first and second levels. When we reached the second level, the clouds started to let loose. We had to wait in the souvenir shop for 20 min before we were able to take the elevator to the third level. The advantage of not-so-great weather was that there was no line. The downside was that it was so cold outside that we just ran out to the deck, snapped a few pictures, and ran back inside. Of course it just so happened that as we were walking away from the Eiffel Tower, the skies cleared and the sun started to come out. At least we can look back on good memories of an Eiffel Tower experience in the rain!

München!

Highlights

Schloss Nymphenburg: Remember how I said I wanted to live in a schloss after I saw Schloss Charlottenburg in Berlin? Seeing another schloss increased my desire to have my wish come true. The palace was huge with, of course, a beautiful backyard. Interestingly enough, an artificial ruin Magdalenenklause was built in the backyard. We saw a bit of the inside that looked like the interior of a cave. I guess the interior designer had a unique taste.

Schloss Neuschwanstein: I cannot begin to describe the “interesting” and “memorable” experience we had going to this castle in the mountains. Let’s just say we had a few issues with the German public transportation system and we were thankful that our only casualty was a lost umbrella. The Neuschwanstein is famous for being the inspiration for the Disney castle, and I can only imagine what it looks like under the scaffolding that was present for the current renovation. I’m not yet sure if the castle visit was worth the time and money, but I’ll definitely remember it for a long time. Please ask me to share about it if you would like to hear more.

Residenz Museum: This mansion was a lot bigger than I thought. We did the audio tour and had to start skipping sections towards the end because the museum was closing. I would not have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself because it seemed as if each person had 2 antechambers, a display/ “fake” bedroom, a real bedroom, and a private room. I think 90 of 130 rooms are currently open and that was more than enough for our time there.

Google Munich: We visited my Stanford friend Will at Google where he is completing a summer internship. He showed us around a bit and we were even able to grab some German candies. Yum!

Deutsches Museum: By far, my favorite place in München. This museum has it all: Aeronautics, Optics, Pharmacology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Mining, Electrical Power, Materials Testing… I could go on and on. I really felt like a kid in a candy shop. (I actually think that saying should be changed to a “kid in an interactive museum”.) Even Sharon found something she liked, so we ended up splitting up so we could both cover more ground and focus on the areas that we liked best. I think teachers would benefit a lot from this museum because they present a lot of information in an engaging way. If only Stanford professors taught Chemistry like at the Deutsches Museum, I can only imagine how lecture attendance would soar.

Barcelona!

Highlights!

Warm weather: Did I type “warm”? I think I meant to type “HOT”. Whenever we walked outdoors, all I could think about was the next air-conditioned destination.

Gaudí: I actually did not know who Antoni Gaudí was before I went to Barcelona, but I really began to like him when I was in Barcelona. I was not initially attracted to the Modernista style. However, when I read about the subtle, and sometimes hidden, symbolism and significance in the architecture, I began to see the genius behind the work. Now I have a greater appreciation for all things Gaudí.

Casa Milà (La Pedrera): This was an apartment complex designed by Gaudí and opened as a kind of museum. The exhibits have great explanations for Gaudí’s design rationale. The rolling terrace is a fun place to run around in the morning when the weather isn’t scorching hot yet.

Parc Güell: I think I would have enjoyed this park a lot more if it were about 10 °C cooler. Nevertheless, we enjoyed a small picnic in the lower court where we were surrounded by magestic Doric columns and shaded by creative mosaics on the ceiling.

Sagrada Família: This is a huge church that has been under construction since 1882. The expected completion year is 2030. I was very impressed with the enormous scale of the project. I’m a little disappointed that many of Gaudí’s plans were lost over the years, but I think the Sagrada Família is meant to be the product of many great minds, not just one. Surprisingly, my favorite thing in the Sagrada Família was not from Gaudi but the magic square designed by Josep Subirachs. Can you see why it’s so “magical”?

Picasso Museum: When I think Picasso, I think Blue Period and Cubism. I was surprised to see relatively little art of these two periods. Since the museum covers his whole life, I enjoyed seeing the development of his artwork. As a teenager, Picasso used his family members in his work. One of my favorite Picasso paintings was one that actually won honorable mention at an art competition when Picasso was 16. Titled Ciència I caritat (Science and Charity), the painting includes a technique of perspective that makes the bed lengthen and shorten as you move around the painting. The painting reminded me that regardless of first place, honorable mention, or no recognition at all, if you love what you do, that passion will make itself apparent.