Today, I saw artistic masterpieces at the Musee d’Orsay, did a Bikram yoga class right next to the Centre Georges Pompidou, discovered an amazing new band at a jazz club, and saw Lenny Kravitz. Yeah, I would say it was a pretty decent day.
So this afternoon, I went to the Musee d’Orsay (gratuit on Wednesdays!) and was completely blown away by the beauty of the art there. The whole experience was surreal, and I couldn’t believe that I was really standing in front of original Van Gogh, Degas, Cassatt, Monet, Pissarro, and so many other beautiful works. I kept having to remind myself that I wasn’t just looking at this art through the television or through pages on a book – they were actually there right in front of me. It was amazing.
After the museum, Leslie, Allie, and I went to Beaubourg to see the Centre Georges Pompidou, do Bikram yoga, and walk around. I walked around for a little bit with them, saw the awesome Centre Pompidou, and then searched for my yoga studio. It was literally right across the street from the Centre – so cool! So, I took a class while Allie and Leslie walked around some more. The class was pretty good. Not as great as mine in Belgium, but I’m still glad that I went. It was just weird, and made me miss my studio at home a lot. The class was too cold – I was barely sweating during most of the class – which made stretching (and focusing) a lot harder. On top of that, the teacher opened the door during camel, completely freezing the room right before the class’s deepest backward bend. Not a good idea. It was just frustrating that my hot yoga class wasn’t . . . hot.
But anyway, after class, I met up with Allie and Leslie again and we walked around a little bit before taking the Metro back to the hotel. I had showered (kind of) at the studio, so my priority at the FIAP was dinner. I scarfed down some legumes, a banana, and peanut butter (YES!), and found out that my friend Liz is engaged!!! It was an extremely exciting day J
So then, there wasn’t enough time to truly shower before going to the jazz club, so I just ran upstairs, threw some real clothes on, and ran back out the door. I met up with a bunch of people, and we all took the Metro to the New Morning jazz club in the sketchiest part of Paris I have been to so far. When we finally found the club, though, it was like a whole new world inside. It was warm and festive and had amazing music blasting from the speakers. When Mme Dargan told us we were going to a jazz club as a group, this was not what I expected. It was AWESOME.
Naturally, we made our way to the main floor where everyone was standing, and started our own dance party. It was one of the BEST concerts I have ever been to. The band was Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and they were from New Orleans, and they were amazing. They were all so talented, and had such a powerful energy when they performed, that everyone there was mesmerized (especially by Trombone Shorty’s voice. Oh my god. Pure beauty).
So, everything is amazing – we’re dancing and laughing and listening to the music, when Trombone Shorty introduces his next song, “Something Beautiful” as a song he wrote with his dear friend, Lenny Kravitz. Woah- he knows Lenny Kravitz?! I thought that was pretty cool, but not too surprising considering that these guys were some of the most talented musicians I have ever seen. So the band is playing and TS is singing like an angel, when all of the sudden the music slows and all the sudden we hear, “Everyone give a warm welcome to my dear friend, Lenny Kravitz!”
What. The. Fuck. We all just looked at each other and screamed, in total shock, as Lenny Kravitz and a guy following him with a video camera got on stage. Lenny jumped on the drums as the band finished out the song, and it was the most insane thing I have ever seen. I would have never thought in a MILLION years that I would randomly get to see Lenny Kravitz perform in a jazz bar in Paris. It was so fucking cool.
So, long story short (because I am exhausted), the band played for a while, came back for two encores (because they are AMAZING), and talked to us after the show. We bought CDs and were about to leave, when someone told us that the band was inside signing autographs! Naturally, we sprinted inside and got Trombone Shorty and Mike Ballard (the badass bassist) to sign our CDs and to take pictures with us. Apparently, they just played a gig at the 930 Club in DC! I definitely have to track them and see when they’re playing there again. I can’t wait to go back to another one of their concerts. They are amazing.
So, after that, we made our way back to the hotel where I am now. I just ate my 40 cent pineapple without any utensils, so that was a complete and delicious mess, and now I’m still hungry. But mostly tired. Tomorrow we’re going to some museum at 10, but I don’t know which museum it is.
All I know is that nothing will top what we saw tonight.
Goodnight!
Love, Josie
Awesomeeeeee!
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