La Madeleine and the Opéra Garnier

On Wednesday we began at the Madeleine (church of Mary Magdalene). We discussed the unusual architecture and history of the church, and had some time to explore. We also stopped briefly at the Maille mustard boutique. Yes, a shop that sells only mustard.

We continued with a walking tour along the bd des Capucines, stopping at the building where the first Impressionist art exhibition was held. This was across the street from the Scribe Hotel, where the first public moving-picture performance was held by the Lumière Brothers.

We then visited one of the passages that are common to see on the Right Bank. These covered corridors were constructed as pedestrian shopping avenues to escape the noisy, smelly streets in the mid-nineteenth century. They were a particular feature of the city's reconstruction by Baron Haussmann.

The highlight of our morning was a guided tour of the Opéra Garnier, one of the most magnificent buildings in Paris. You will see a number of photos below, which barely do justice to the opulence of the place.

Several students returned in the evening for a ballet performance (Eugene Onegin, I believe). They bought EUR 6 tickets which placed them in an upper booth without a direct sight line to the stage. But by standing, they could see about 75% of the action. The opera house was designed for watching other spectators, not the stage!

The afternoon was free. Students rushed off to shop and visit museums. This is definitely a museum-going crowd.

Today (Thursday) is the Pentecost holiday, and also a free day for the students to do as they wish. Most offices and many small shops are closed, but almost all the museums are open. Most large stores are open as well. The students have dispersed all over the city. One even left town to see the Art Nouveau architecture in Nancy. It's 240 miles from here, but only 90 minutes by TGV train!