Paris, at the Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter of Paris is an area in the 5th and the 6th arrondissements of Paris. It is situated on the left bank of the Seine, around the Sorbonne. Known for its student life, lively atmosphere, and bistros, the Latin Quarter is the home to a number of higher education establishments besides the Sorbonne university itself.

In spite of its adaptation and the loss of its former identity, the many streets in Latin Quarter surrounding what was the student and intellectual center continues to attract tourists and Parisians.

The area gets its name from the Latin language, which was widely spoken in and around the University during the Middle Ages, after the twelfth century philosopher Pierre Abélard and his students took up residence there.  The church St Nicolas du Chardonnet, located here,  still performs the traditional Latin mass untill today (read also the article ‘Paris, at St Nicolas du Chardonnet’ in this blogspot).

Students still frequent the area, although not speaking Latin.  The world famous university of Sorbonne enrolls about 24,000 students in 20 departments specializing in arts, humanities and languages, divided in 12 campuses in Paris. Seven of the campuses are situated in the Latin Quarter, including the historic Sorbonne university building and three in the Marais, Malesherbes and Clignancourt. Paris-Sorbonne also houses France's prestigious communication and journalism school, CELSA, located in the Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine.

The history of Latin Quarter paralysed by demonstration is now half a century old. May 1968 is still regarded as the biggest upheaval to have hit modern French society, and it has forever recast the tree-lined boulevards of Paris’s fifth arrondissement as the embodiment of France’s famous spirit of rebellion.

The volatile period of civil unrest in France during May 1968 was punctuated by demonstrations and massive general strikes as well as the occupation of universities and factories across France. At the height of its fervor, it brought the entire economy of France to a virtual halt.

                                                                                                                                             

The unrest began with a series of student occupation protests against capitalism, consumerism, American imperialism and traditional institutions, values and order. The protests spurred an artistic movement, with songs, imaginative graffiti, posters, and slogans.

The well known philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre roused students, nurses, doctors and teachers into a frenzy of protest from his crudely constructed pulpit under the oak trees of the Boulevard Saint Jacques, demonstrators lobbed cobblestones over barricades by the elegant arches of the Sorbonne, and the noise of rioting echoed through the Pantheon.

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Paris, at St. Nicolas du Chardonnet

St. Nicolas du Chardonnet is a church in the centre of Paris, France, located in the 5th arrondissement.  Originally built in the 13th century, it was largely reconstructed during 1656-1763. Many changes have occurred in St. Nicolas's interior over the centuries.

Since 1977, the church has been used by traditionalist Society of St. Pius X . Under this society the church performs the traditional Latin mass untill today.

St. Nicolas church is one of a few churches in the secular Paris that regularly and exclusively perfoms  the traditional Latin-rite Mass. The Mass will be focused on the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross. There will be respectful and prayerful silence before, during, and after  the Mass.

During the first part of the Mass, Psalm 42 is sung:

As a deer yearns for running streams, so I yearn for you, my God.

I thirst for God, the living God; when shall I go to see the face of God?

I have no food but tears day and night, as all day long I am taunted, 'Where is your God?'

St. Nicolas of Myra is revered by many Christians as a saint, because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession. He was a very rich man because his parents died when he was young and left him a lot of money. After his parents died, Nikolas is said to have distributed their wealth to the poor.

His reputation evolved among the faithful, and his legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus in the modern world.

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Tokyo Disneyland, at the Small World

“It's a Small World” is a water-based dark ride located in the Fantasyland area in Tokyo Disneyland. The ride features over 300 robotic dolls in traditional costumes from cultures around the world.

Dressed in the traditional costumes of their countries, children of the world dance and sing, as we voyage from Europe, through Asia, Africa, Central America, and the islands of the South Pacific.

Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States, and it opened in 1983.  The park was constructed in the same style as Disneyland in California and Magic Kingdom in Florida.

The park has seven themed areas: the World Bazaar; the four traditional Disney lands: Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland; and two mini-lands: Critter Country and Mickey's Toontown.

Many of these areas mirror those in the original Disneyland as they are based on American Disney films and fantasies. Fantasyland includes Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, based on Disney films and characters.

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Amsterdam, at the Dam Square

In Albert Camus’ novel The Fall, the protagonist says: “ Are you staying long in Amsterdam? A beautiful city, isn’t it? Fascinating? There’s an adjective I haven’t heard in some time.”

Amsterdam, most people will have trouble labeling the city under a single category.

It is a dilemma, a mystery that is not easy to explain, but at the same time it is charming and welcoming. It is the welcoming nature of the city that makes it one of the favourite destinations for any kind of traveller.

Amsterdam has more than one hundred kilometers of  canals. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. The canal ring area were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, contributing to Amsterdam's fame as the "Venice of the North".

The protagonist in The Fall says about the canals: “How beautiful the canals are this evening! I like the breath of stagnant waters, the smell of dead leaves soaking in the canal and the funereal scent rising from the barges loaded with flowers. No, no, there’s nothing morbid about such a taste, I assure you. On the contrary, it’s deliberate with me. The truth is that I force myself to admire these canals.”

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands although it is not the seat of the government, which is The Hague. Amsterdam's name derives from Amstelredamme, indicating the city's origin around a dam in the river Amstel.

The Dam Square lies in the historical center of Amsterdam, its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the most well-known and important locations in the city and the country. Dam Square is Amsterdam’s beating heart. Nowadays Dam Square in contrast with the old days it is now a very peaceful square which is home to scores of pigeons and street performers.

 It is roughly rectangular in shape, stretching about 200 meters from west to east and about 100 meters from north to south. It links the streets Damrak and Rokin, which run along the original course of the Amstel River from Centraal Station to Muntplein (Mint Square) and the Munttoren (Mint Tower). The Dam also marks the endpoint of the other well-traveled streets Nieuwendijk, Kalverstraat and Damstraat. A short distance beyond the northeast corner lies the main red-light district: de Wallen.

On the west end of the square is the neoclassical Royal Palace, which served as the city hall from 1655 until its conversion to a royal residence in 1808. Beside it are the 15th-century Gothic Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) and the Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.

Today the square is also a venue for mass events, fun fairs and pantomime artists. Join the locals and relax at the base of the National Monument while listening to street organs. Chase the pigeons and dodge the many cyclists when you cross the square to go shopping or explore some of the historical buildings.

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