Sunday, April 10, 2011

Montmartre Cemetery

What would a walk around Montmartre be without a visit to the beautiful Montmatre Cemetery? This one is a real gem, with some truly gorgeous monuments and a broad range of famous permanent Parisians.
The cemetery is below street level and is visible from the bridge above. Follow signs for a staircase down to the cemetery itself. If you want to get your bearings via map or GPS, seek out this address: 20 av. Rachel  18th arrondissement. When you arrive, grab a general map in the visitor's center near the front gates. A map of famous grave sites is posted just after the entrance.











Chanteuse Dalida


Francois Truffaut






Alexandre Dumas (fils)

Alexandre Dumas (fils)

Alexandre Dumas (fils)
Edgar Degas

It's relatively easy to get turned around and lost in this cemetery and the maps don't make elevation differences such as hills and the staircases to access them very clear. Still, a visit to this cemetery isn't too terribly overwhelming and you should be able to have a decent visit with just a couple of hours time.
For lists of famous graves check out the wikipedia site:


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Every single word in Icelandic blog.

Ever just decided that you wanted to learn Icelandic?  Just for the fuck of it?
I do sometimes, too!
I love this blog, I think it's adorable. It's Icelandic as taught to you by your friend Iceland itself and it's great vocab builder. I myself like to pick up as much language as possible before visiting a new locale.  Hopefully one day I'll get to visit this dream destination of mine.  And with as much amazing avant garde music that pours out of this little country, you might wanna pick up a few words?
Every Single Word in Icelandic

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Montmartre, je t'adore...

 Here are some photos of some of the beauty along the way to L'espace Dali as I was walking.  I love the smattering of street art/sculpture that I encountered on the trek.


Get your head cheese...no thanks.













The lovely view from the top. 

Sunday, April 3, 2011

L'Espace Dali, Paris

Salvador Dali, the proto-punk eccentric extraordinaire is celebrated at L'espace Dali in Montmartre. I've seen a large number of Dali exhibits scattered across various cities throughout the world, but this one is one of the very best. Dedicated entirely to Dali's broad range of work, from rough sketches to sculpture to film, L'espace Dali captures the essence of the man. It is well curated, lending an atmosphere that creates a fantastic homage.
How prolific Dali really was hits home in this setting. The exhibit puts special emphasis on his etchings, collage and sculpture, with many rare pieces that demonstrate Dali's unique contributions to every day design, such as his furniture pieces and silverware. Live-action Dali is projected upon a crumbling archway, while his quotes and photographic self-portraits add to the experience. You can also enjoy an interactive photo booth and step into a Dali painting or give yourself a magnificent mustache.










The gallery is walking distance from Montmartre Cemetery if you're not lazy. I quite enjoyed the walk, since it's a beautiful part of the city to explore anyway, but it is a hike uphill, so wear proper shoes. Once you get close to the area, signs will guide you on your way. The building itself is Espace Montmartre. When you're finished, you can also enjoy a magnificent view overlooking the city just around the corner.

Entry is 10 Euro, 6 for students. If you can pick up a brochure in advance, there are coupons for cheaper entry, but trust me, this is one exhibit that's well worth the entry fee if you're a Dali fan. Also bring some extra cash for shopping. They have an impressive gift shop for souvenirs to send home to your envious friends.

Friday, April 1, 2011

April Fools= Travel News

The airlines apparently go all out for April Fools.  Check out this roundup of some of the more witty pranks the airlines pulled off:
LA Times Travel:  April Fools a Busy Day for Travel News

By the way, I'll bet back to quality posts in a jiffy.  Exams, darling.  Exams....