Père Lachaise Cemetery

Today I met up with the wonderful miss Brittany Crass to check out the most visited cemetery in the world. It was a surreal experience standing next to the eternal resting places of such amazing individuals. Right away Brittany and I decided the first grave we had to visit was Jim Morrison, as we both like The Doors and I feel a strong connection to my mother's love. The cemetery is very large and confusing and my map wasn't very helpful even though it outlined exactly where to find the cemetery's most famous occupants. But it was obvious when we came across Jim Morrison's grave because there was a barrier and the surrounding trees were graffitied with love letters and lyrics. A woman shushed us and I am still unclear whether she was joking or we really were being loud Americans that were disturbing the people who had made a pilgrimage to the sort of rock and roll mecca. Although I never met Jim, who died 29 years prior to my birth, or reached out and touched him at a concert as my mom did, it was an emotional experience seeing how loved he was and how even today, 40 years after his death, people still feel an attachment to his art.
Next we decided to look for Oscar Wilde's grave which we knew would be heavily visited but never guessed who be covered in lipstick. Before we found Oscar Wilde a man wearing a The Doors shirt came up to us and was pointing in a direction and talking about lipstick, we just assumed he was crazy and it wasn't until we approached Mr Wilde's art deco grave that we realized what the crazy was referring too. It was really magical to see how beloved for his professional career but also for his role in the development of gay right's, we didn't have lipstick on to kiss his grave, but there will be a next time. After accidently stumbling across Gioachino Rossini's now empty cript, which I was happy about as I love the Barber of Seville, we begun the search for Gertrude Stein and Alice Tolkas, which was perhaps the hardest thing ever. Gertrude Stein's headstone is very faint and difficult to see from the main road, and non of the french people I asked knew who she was. But after spending a summer seeing shows at MOMA and the contemporary jewish museum on the Stein's I was very excited to pay her grave a visit, and placed my handful of pebbles on her head stone, a jewish tradition I also felt inclined to do on Oscar Wilde's grave.
I really recommend that anyone reading this blog, and I doubt that includes anyone other than my mother, pays Père Lachaise a visit, as it is really a beautiful place and if you love history as much as I do, you will find it extremely interesting.
But the day is only half over! time to get ready for tonight
love always,

thursday

Before I left the United States, people requested that I write a blog so that they can be updated on my life during my four month stay in Paris, so here it goes...

     Yesterday I survived the journey to Paris from San Francisco. After two exhausting flights, a confusing RER train ride and a subway ride with suitcases in tow, I arrived in the Montmartre district where I am at staying for a few days. Today was my big walking day and so far I have seen the La Tour Eiffel, The Arc de Triomphe and the Pont de l'Alma tunnel where Princess Diana died, which I found on complete accident. After two days of not eating I finally decided I'd have my first Parisian meal which consisted of cheese a fresh baguette from a pâtisserie. Today was beautiful and very warm so everybody and their entire family were out and about. My self-guided walking tour of Paris took my to some of the most crowded areas which was inconvienent but still exciting. I popped into some stores on The Avenue des Champs-Élysées, which is similiar to fifth avenue in New York. Avoiding the intimidating giant doors of Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and other upscale designers I decided to pop into the familiar H&M, Zara and Sephora. Oh the Euro... H&M was identical to the store in San Francisco except instead of a blouse priced at $15 it was 15 euros, so I promptly left and walked into Zara. As soon as I walked in I recognized the music blaring as toot it and boot it. It was the most ludicrous situation to watch the distinguished elderly Parisian women shop for overpriced casual wear while listening to the song. I kept walking and found myself across the seine from the Eiffel Tower, which is an amazing sight. I wasn't planning on going to the Eiffel Tower and when I saw the massive crowds my plan was reaffirmed. I wandered around until I found a nice grassy area and plopped down to just people and tower watch. But after ten minutes I got bored and hungry so I headed back along the river and towards Avenue George V. To get out of the heat I popped into a welcoming building which turned out to be American Cathedral, It was a beautiful building and I was all alone so it was that much more beautiful and relaxing. I began to read the history of the cathedral and then came across "Cathedral is open to the World's Christians of any denomination" so I felt unwelcome and left. Tonight I have plans to meet Henriette for dinner, last night she took me around Monmartre and then we had wine on top of the hill below Sacre-Coeur which was very touristy but really fun.
 That is all for now! Au revoir