Paris and its museums
September 1995.
It was my second time to visit Paris. When I was a postdoc at Yale. Because I have been deeply charmed by Paris, a city full of glamour, I asked Joan to allow me to attend an USF meeting in Strasburg. In the early fall of 1995, I flew from New York to Paris. Although it was eight years ago, I still remembered when I reached the de Gaulle Airport, how an Eva Air plane at the apron elicited my nostalgia. I had wished the plane would bring me back to Taiwan and cure my homesickness. In order to pursue my career, I was away from home and beloved. That was a truly difficult time for me.
When I just started my tour, my purse was very unfortunately stolen in a subway bounding for the Louver. I called back to Taiwan for help. Finally I got cash from Robin’s friend who was studying in Paris. Before I left for Strasburg, I even visited his apartment and enjoyed a homey dinner made by his wife.
During my trip in Paris, I spent a lot of time in museums and galleries. I went to the Louver and enjoyed walking through the galleries which exhibited the paintings of who were my favorite Flanders artists, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, and Vermeer. One cannot miss French paintings of 19th centries such as those of David, Delacroix, and Ingres. It was a routine to see Mona Lisa. Although I spent some time on Italian Renaissance art pieces, I didn’t love those much those Romantic or Baroque art and the paintings with historical or religions themes. Indeed, I appreciated the Muse d’ Orsay more than the Louver. I enjoyed the works of impressionists I also disliked from during the late 19th and early 20th centries. Manet is my most favorite artist. He painted his portraits with simple but fascinating color and with clear contour. Especially I have been fascinated by Olympia. She has a pair of the penetrating eyes, which could see through something. I was also excited to look at the paintings of Degas, Pissaro, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and Van Gogh.
This art journey took me through six centuries from medieval, Renaissance, to modern ages. Moreover, I visit the Pompidou Center again, where illustrates the abstract works of Miro, Dubuffet, Chagall, Picasso and Matisse. I can still remember the moment when I was staring at Matisse’s “Blue Woman.” I then went to visit the nearby Picasso Museum, trying to comprehend how Picassao presented women’s abstract faces that are often twisted out of recognition. Apart from art, I had been to the Cite Island, where everyone goes for the Cathedral Notre Dame. I walked along the River Seine and smelled the odor of Paris. I had also been to Montmartre. Near the Sacre Coeur there were many street artists portraying for the sightseers. I got my portrait but I lost it a few years later.
Till today I still think Paris is the place I love the most. Art and literature have been blooming in this city, and their influences are remained on every corner. I will come again in my life.
***
I then went to Strasburg for a meeting. The meeting was held in an abbey located on a 800 meters-high hill in Mont Sainte-Odile. This place was simply beautiful and quiet, and especially for spiritual reflection. One thing impressed me the most was the view of my room, from which I could see all over the Plain of Alsace. The view can go all the way to the ridge of the Black Forest, which is on the other side of the Rhine River in Germany. I can remember that we had our dinners in a medieval-age café. Alsace cuisine is deeply influenced by Germany and provided a lot of meat and sausages. I was surprised that a large piece of solid cheese, such as Chambertin, not cheesecake, was served as dessert. I was stuffed every night.
One day we took an excursion to a place. It was probably Riquewihr in Colmar, an old town constructed in the 16th century. Nearby there were many vineyards. We went to taste wines and looked at the wine vaults. I then flew back to New York instead of Taipei. I was still far away from my home town and brought my homesickness to Yale. (written in 2003)
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