Paris To Do List

Every once in a while, I'll hear about an event through a blog or see an ad for a temporary exhibition while riding the métro, and write it down in the hopes of checking it out. Here are a few of the things I've written down recently:

• Ever since a day trip to Nancy (Lorraine) two years ago, I've been an art nouveau nut. I hope to satisfy my craving for art nouveau glass work by checking out the Tiffany exhibition at the Musée du Luxembourg, just next to the Sénat and the Jardins du Luxembourg. The exhibition showcases the vitraux (stained glass windows) of Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933), son of the guy who started Tiffany & Co. Runs through January 10. 

• Graffiti - social expression, art, visual pollution, whatever you think about it, that's what you think. (True.) If you're interested in seeing a graffiti retrospective, head by the Cartier Foundation, 261 Boulevard Raspail in the 14th. It runs through November 29. If you don't feel like paying to get in, at least stop by to see the graffiti outside the building. 

The building itself is also really cool - one of those inside/outside sort of things. Also, don't miss the slickness of the exhibition website (here and here), which makes me want to go even more than the graffiti I've already seen there, and the recommendation from Invisible Paris.

•  "Islamic Arts: Masterworks of the Khalili Collection" is the title of an exhibition open through November 22 at the Institut du Monde Arabe, which is one of those awesome landmarks/tourist opportunities that very few people know about. (The building, at one end of Boulevard St. Germain in the 5th, has an incredible view of the city center.) The collection includes manuscripts, curtains and tapestries, ceramics and glass, metals and goldwork, jewelry and enamels, panels and stonework, but that's not what made me want to go. Rather, it was the poster that's all over the metro: 

So cool.

•  Last (for now) but definitely not least, there's a ton of great music happening at Opéra Bastille: Puccini's La Bohème (with Natalie Dessay!), Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore (with Anna Netrebko! (Tom, eat your heart out)), Korngold's Die Töte Stadt, Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and a concert of Korngold's chamber works (who knew??), and that's just this week! I'm hoping to pick up a "passe jeune" which allows youngsters/students to pick up rush tickets for super cheap.

Certifying Panda

Way back on May 1st, we posted a "to do" list for our trip. With nearly two months to go, we've completed most things on that list:

Get long-stay visa

Arrange health insurance

Find a place to live (ideally 1 bedroom, not a studio)

Find subletter

Make monthly budget

Contact French scholars

Email French friends/family

Find/take a picture to headline this blog

Figure out Panda's travel arrangements

Book flight(s)

Find other useful Americans-in-Paris blogs; steal their ideas

Sign up for classes

It may seem silly that the most important figure in this blog - Panda! - is the last one to get set to go. But yesterday we made progress in rectifying that situation.

Panda and I went to the vet after having acquainted ourselves with all the rules and regulations concerning exporting an animal to France. We got her microchipped. She got two out of four yearly vaccinations, as well as year-long Heartguard and Prozac prescriptions (why Prozac?). And most importantly, Dr. Ulrich filled out both a USDA International Health Certificate and the French health certificate, both of which we'll need to make it through customs. The USDA certificate I mailed (along with a rabies vaccination certificate, the $34 fee, and a pre-paid, self-addressed envelope) to the Massachusetts State Veterinarian (find yours here!) so they can stamp it and send it back to me.

What remains? Panda needs to go back to the vet two days before we leave to get her last shots (apparently they need to be given 24-72 hours before leaving), which will be recorded on the French health certificate. The vet will also fill out one more (different) health certificate for the airline, which promises that Panda is capable of withstanding normal flying conditions. The rest happens at the airport (more on that later).

Cliff's Notes, just in case that was confusing:

Panda needs . . .

• to be microchipped (✓)
• to be up-to-date on rabies, tick, worm, and other vaccines/treatments (½ ✓)
• a USDA International Health Certificate, filled out by her vet, stamped by the State Vet, and returned to her owners (½ ✓)
• a French/European Union Veterinary Certificate, filled out by her vet, submitted at customs (½ ✓)
• a certificate, filled out by her vet within 10 days of leaving, confirming her ability to withstand normal flying conditions

Panda is well on her way!

To Do

Maggie and I have decided that we're going to try to post something new every day - taking turns, of course. So I'm going to get us started with a to-do list, which will probably inspire a bunch more posts.

To do: 

Get long-stay visa

Arrange health insurance

Find a place to live (ideally 1 bedroom, not a studio)

Find subletter

Make monthly budget

Contact French scholars

Email French friends/family

Find/take a picture to headline this blog

Figure out Panda's travel arrangements

Book flight(s)

Find other useful Americans-in-Paris blogs; steal their ideas

Sign up for classes

Ok, that's a start. Wish us luck!