from Aidan O'Kelly | Comment (2) | Jan 5, 2010

On a recent trip to Paris i visited the Louvre and Pere Lacahaise cemetary. Mainly, we walked the streets and I led us through old parisien neighbourhoods using a street map and getting some ideas from the rough Guide and following my nose. When I visit cities, my favourite "cultural" thing to do is wander the streets of residential neighbourhoods. Especially old working class neighbourhoods. It fascinates me to pick up the signs of change (everywhere in paris seems to be gentrifying which makes me feel uncomfortable). i love to wander neighbourhoods as it's a way of avoiding crowds of tourists; i love to look at buildings, especially domestic architecture; and, I feel i learn alot about a place by casually looking at its buildings, looking through the windows (there are many old ceilings with mouldings in central Paris apartment blocks), watching people and getting a feel for the place: the shops, the cultures, etc. I do visit some of the spin palace casino galleries and i enjoy especially looking at art from the early and mid 20th century. i like to wander through the galleries and have conversations about paintings. sometimes, it all gives me a headache afer about an hour. I usuallyleave a gallery feeingl inspired to be more creative: drawing, painting and writing. (I've been trying to revive my creativity for the past few months.) The Louvre: i loved the building and looking at the tall ceilings and taking in the views of the Seine. We wandered through the egyptian galleries. The place was thronged with tourists, large groups following a guide holding an umbrella. It began to give me a headache. I thought it odd that people took photos of themselves standing in front of, say, the mona lisa. There was a huge crowd looking at mona so we wandered off to another section. I felt happier when we went outside and wandered through the Palais Royal and I pointed out the place where Colette used to live (i read her biography). Before wandering around a cold and busy Pere lachaise cemetary I didn't think i knew much about Jim morrison, but since seeing the "pilgrims" standing around and taking pictures of his tomb, I've listened to his music and realised i know lots of songs by the Doors. It's a nostalgic sound that reminds me of the 1970s. I noticed many plaques around the city marking the death of resistance fighters and the transportation of jews. i feel these little bits and pieces of experience from the streets taught me more about the city than the the louvre did.