Vist to Palais Garnier

My most favorite excursion put on by our study abroad program was the visit to Palais Garnier, also known as l'Opera Garnier. This is the famed opera house where the novel The Phantom of the Opera was inspired, and yes, of course, we say the humongous chandelier on the ceiling! Our entire Northwestern program visited and we were given a tour of the opera house. I was lucky to be in the group with a really great tour guide that made the already wonderful trip even better!



The Opera house from the outside


The architect, Baron Haussmann


inside entrance










Inside the audience room..

The door to an expensive box seat!


Other box seats around the opera house


ground floor seats


drawn curtain of the Opera


the Queen's box


the King's (aka Napoleon III's) box




The original ceiling painting in the opera


the new ceiling painting


depiction of the Opera house in the ceiling painting


Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet


Mozart's Magic Flute



The Grand Foyer.. looks very similar to the Hall of Mirrors!

Rostropovich Cello Competition: Winners' Performance

On a lovely Sunday afternoon, I went to Salle Pleyel to hear the winners of the Rostropovich Cello Competition perform. After a week of competing against high caliber cellists, the top four laureates each performed a piece. Among the pieces performed were a modern piece (I forgot the name of the composer), Popper's Elfentanz, Bach Suite No. 1, and the first prize winner performed the entire Dvorak Cello Concerto with the Orchestra of Paris.

Inside an empty Salle Pleyel

judges of the Rostropovich Competition

the winner after performing Dvorak Cello Concerto

Rome

During the last week of October, we had a week off of our study abroad program for the All Saint's Holiday (Toussaint's) that is celebrated in France. I decided to visit Italy with my friends, Sam and Kevin, since I enjoyed Italy so much the last time I went! We flew off to Milan-Bergamo and headed for Rome the next day, where we spent a few days there, and also visited Florence. Here are some pictures from our adventures!


Getting ready to take off to Milan!


Leaving our hostel in Bergamo


and getting ready to take the train to Rome!


scenic view from the train in Italy


The Spanish Steps


Ancient Ruins










Colosseum in the evening




The Trevi Fountain


Enjoying the evening in front of the Vatican






Biking in the Villa Borghese in Rome!


view of Rome from Villa Borghese







Villa Borghese








Vespas!


view of the Tiber River




Colosseum again!




more ancient ruins








Trevi fountain in the day


Raphael's grave