It's amazing what it takes to wake you up sometimes. Sometimes it's a friend's brother getting in a terrible accident. Sometimes it's another friend telling you to just go after it. Sometimes it's losing something you never knew you had. Sometimes it's just a song. But you always wake up. You always wake up.

Colmar

Grunewald's famous altar piece

A blind man "seeing" the altar piece.

Strassburg

Strassburg in Alsace Lorraine was a short, but beautiful visit. We were fortunate enough to be able to attend mass on All Saints Day. The priest's voice was absolutely beautiful when he sang. It was truly an experience to see a mass in French. Even if it was freakin' cold in the church....

Marmottan, Louvre, D'Orsay, Louvre!

We weren't able to take picture in the Marmottan, but I wish we could have. They have on collection a wonderful set of Impressionism paintings, but most famous is their collection of Monet. I'm not a huge fan of his work, but I did find a wide range of other paintings I enjoyed much more. It was an awesome museum setting - set in the home of a wealthy Parisian businessman from way back - and had a great feeling of "comfort" involved with it's layout. I would definitely go back again.

One does not simply avoid the Louvre while in Paris.

Venus De Milo - Again. 

My favorite statue - Nike of Somathrace. I was so glad to be back at the Louvre to see her. She is stunning, even without her head. It just goes to prove that a woman need not be naked or have a pretty face in order to be beautiful. Her form is full of power and confidence (I guess that's why she is the Goddess of Victory..) but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

One of Da Vinci's paintings that has just recently been cleaned. Apparently the difference is impeccable - making the historians wonder what we would see in the Mona Lisa if she were cleaned. The issue is still under debate. 

By far THE COOLEST art museum I have ever been to, the Musee d'Orsay was breathtaking. Set in Paris's old train station, the layout is a maze to maneuver, but an awesome setting for such groundbreaking pieces of art. The amount of Impression paintings in their possession is impressive - amazing - wonderful - gah. I wish we could have taken pictures. The Degas! The Renoir! The Toulouse! The EVERYTHING! I want so badly to go back again and be able to spend more than just 2 hours there. I would suggest it to ANYONE.

Another girl from the program and myself went back to the Louvre, because of a bit of a debacle that had occurred earlier that day. We were happy to have no time limit, as well as a rather clear museum to wander around. It was so great to take my time through a few of the exhibits I hadn't been to yet. 

Finally find some of Renoir's paintings to take pictures of - even though I'm pretty sure there was a sign that said not to - whatever.

My absolute favorite of the Impressionists, Degas! 

Rubens

Vermeer. Sigh.