Curves and Cow Heads

My friend Susannah left for Paris yesterday. She and her family are there while her husband teaches at a University there, and it's brought back a lot of memories, and I think for the first time since we got home I actually am missing Paris. Not that it wasn't a completely amazing experience, but after last year (which, to remind you, included building a house, a bad case of pnemonia, as well as moving my whole family overseas) it's been nice to be home. I'm loving my new labeler and organizing closets.

I know, nothing like life in the fast lane.

But I have to say that it feels good to be nostalgic. I feel like our time in Europe was such a whirlwind, especially the end when we left Paris and then spent ten days in London and two weeks in Amsterdam. It was wonderful, but left me overwhelmed in the blogging department. So, expect a little catch up in the next few weeks, starting with today.

I really did learn a lot about beauty and art in Paris because it surrounds you there, and thinking of this brought me back to one of the most beautiful things I saw during my time there.

I was at a tourist shop with my sister Angela when she visited and I was waiting outside on the corner while she made her selections. I had walked down the street a million times, but I had never stopped on this particular corner and taken a look around. I spied what looked like an building from a movie set at the end of the street and, after my sister was done, we went to check it out.

Turns out it was one of the best examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Paris, so I had to snap some photos:

Every little detail of this building was a piece of art in and of itself. The doorway was so beautiful I could have just studied it's details all day.

One of my favorite parts of Art Nouveau is the weird assymetry and whimsy. Like the oval shaped window thrown in randomly (behind the tree). It just made this example over the top. As I was taking the photos an American tourist couple stopped to see what I was doing. I explained that this was the most stunning example of Art Nouveau architecture I had ever seen. The woman said it reminded her of Gaudi, and then added "And it certainally is GAUDY, isn't it?" Ugly Americans. Even when they're cultured enough to know who Gaudi is, they have to go ruin it by making a stupid comment. Whatever.

I especially loved the color in this building. Next to all the monochromatic gray Haussmann buildings in our neighborhood, it stuck out like a really beautiful sore thumb.

Curves and Cow Heads. Both should be required in all buildings in my opinion.

Even the artist's signature was beautiful. And this guy deserved credit for this masterpiece.

So, I wanted to share. Despite all it's haughtiness, Paris is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth. And I was so lucky to be there, even if it added to the absolute craziness of my year.

And I really am terribly jealous of Susannah.

Is that so wrong?