Could it possibly be that spring has begun in Paris?

Yes, in fact! Or rather, finally! It's been a two months of damp and cold weather to get to this point of blooming flowers and a few days of sun. While at the moment it's still overcast and drizzling, it's nice to know that these are the final days of such weather for the season.

Again I have to apologize for the absence of these posts on a regular basis. I'm pretty sure you would all approve that I'm putting school in front of the internet, or at least attempting. Here I am now though, to update you on the past month of events here in Paris.

Currently it's spring break for Sciences-Po, which means I gotten a few days of peace and relaxation. Lauren my roommate is somewhere in Eastern Europe, but it's been wonderful to have the apartment to myself and be able to do whatever I darn please! Thus far that's included baking, playing Sudoku, listening to massive amounts of NPR and watching movies on the internet. It has been divine. Although, my new addiction to NPR is slightly disconcerting, I may really be turning into my parents...

My first two days of this break the weather was actually beautiful, somewhere in the low 70s with clear skies. I took the opportunity to sit in Luxembourg Gardens and get a little sun, while listening to NPR none the less (seriously guys, look at influence you have on me). Paris really seems to come alive with this change of the weather. The park was covered with people picnicing, reading or napping in the sun and everyone seemed to be in a good mood. Being the pale and sensitive-skinned girl that I am, I was only able to be out there for a few hours. It was enough to give me the slightest tan, but it does remind me that I need to find sunscreen so that I don't damage my skin as the weather continues to improve.

Not too many exciting things have occurred here since I last posted, but some fun outings have occurred. I was able to see the Orangerie museum that has been closed for years for renovation and I visited the cemetary Pere-Lachaise.

The first Sunday of every month almost all the major museums are free to the public. Being the poor college students that we are, my friends and I took full advantage of this and decided to check out a museum or two. We decided to try the Orangerie first, it is a small art museum at the top of the Tuileries. When we arrived the line to get in wrapped around the building. Despite what would be a fairly long wait, we decided to wait it out. An hour later we finally made it inside the building, even after the security guard scared the crap out of me by jumping at me after I walked by... he found it very amusing, I did not until I could breathe again.

The museum was well worth the wait. It is best known for housing Monet's "Waterlilies," which were wrapped along the walls of two very large rooms. The pieces were all very similar, but it was the slight differences of color that made it so interesting to see them all in one place. Though, I am curious how Monet painted so many huge pieces. They had to be at at least 20 feet long, with some near 40 feet. Apparently the museum had to be restored around the pieces, because they were too large to move. I bought myself a poster version of one of the waterlily pieces, but I'll have to wait to put it up until I get home. It's too large to roll out and put up here, as it's five to six feet long. I'm looking forward to putting it up once I get home.

The other works represented in the museum are not nearly as well known as Monet's, yet it houses some pieces by Picasso, Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse and others. One of my favorite pieces is to the right. A description I read about the painter, who was a woman, called her the female version of Picasso. While I don't quite see the connection here, I'll assume she represented him more in other works. The museum was just big enough to be interesting but not overwhelming, like many of the other museums in Paris tend to be. It has definitely earned a spot in my top ten of museums.

Just last week a class of mine was cancelled, so my friend Rachel and I took the opportunity to visit the well-known cemetary Pere-Lachaise. Now, our family has a bit of history in a previous attempt to visit this museum. We got off at the wrong metro stop, were lost in an immigrant community, and never actually made it to the cemetary. So finally, years later I was able to complete the journey. It covers over 100 acres and I don't even want to know how many graves. People such as Edith Piaf, Pierre Delacroix, Oscar Wilde, and Jim Morrison are buried here. Following the traditions, when Rachel and I were at Oscar Wilde's grave we kissed it. Yes, it is a slightly disgusting and disturbing tradition, but a tradition none the less. From the photo you can see the mass of lipstick marks covering the grave, sadly Rachel and I forgot red lipstick, our chapstick will have to suffice. We also spent a considerable amount of time tracking down Edith Piaf's and Jim Morrison's grave. The was a large tour group surrounding Piaf's grave and Rachel and I were followed by a group of confused Spanish tourists to Morrison's place. The people who went to Morrison's grave were an interesting group; Rachel and I, the group of young Spanish tourists, two middle-aged American women and random mix of others. In a tradition that I don't quite understand, the American women both ceremonally smoked a cigarette and threw the remains on the gravestone. Although Sarah later detailed to me Morrison's enjoyment of smoking, and thus the women were only paying homage. It was interesting to see the space, both for its historical and pop culture aspects, but the whole trip felt a little but morbid. Glad to have seen it, don't think I'll need to go back again.