"It’s sad to think that a Mark Rothko painting sold for 87 million dollars when that money could have been spent on a private jet." -Steve Martin via Twitter

Visited the Centre Pompidou today (modern art museum of Paris). I can appreciate modern art. I know there is great creativity and concept involved. I was eternally moved by the Matisse exhibit, I love the way he draws. At first glance, his paintings seem childish and simple, but when you stare at them for a long time, you can really get a lot out of them. That was definitely my favorite part. 

"Beneath this succession of moments that constitutes the superficial existence of beings and things, and which clothes them in changing appearances, soon to vanish, it is possible to seek a truer, more essential character." -Henri Matisse, 1972.

I love that.

It was fun to see Andy Warhol's Elizabeth Taylor painting. I enjoyed seeing a Jackson pollack up close. How nice to see some of Picasso's earlier work, and original Rothkos. Some very fun things.

But being honest, for a lot of the work, in my head I was like "Chuck it. Chuck it. DEFINITELY chuck it. Maybe keep tha....nah, chuck it." I think I belong at the Louvre and D'Orsay more than the Pomidou. But it was a fun afternoon, and I really appreciate the passion that other people have for modern art. 

I completed assigned walk 18. This took me to the Printemps shopping mall in Paris and the Galeries Lafayette, a beautiful department store with a stained-glass domed ceiling like a cathedral----they do that kind of stuff right in Paris. 

I also visited the Opera Garnier. A lavish and beautiful Opera house that actually has a lake underneath it. I was blown away by the decoration and history of that place. Not to mention that I was humming "Music of the Night" as I walked around. From here I visited the cathedral of Saint-Roche. I love the atmosphere in cathedrals. Soft lighting, cold draft, the smell of wet stone, the loud echo of people's footsteps. I sat down in front of the altar to take it all in--there were people praying all around me. I wasn't paying attention, and I suddenly found myself in the middle of some sort of service. I had to stand up and cross myself like everyone else (because I didn't want to be rude) and then I sheepishly snuck out. I also saw the statue of Joan of Arc. She was very beautiful if that statue is a true likeness. What a great girl she was. Pretty inspiring. And I will give her dream the benefit of the doubt. 

Went to a cafe and read my book for about two hours for lunch. Such a nice thing about French culture, no rush while you're eating. 

A sketch by Matisse. And the way I feel lately.