Vignettes From a Walk Along Paris' Right Bank

"... it is possible to love a place like it is a person... a place is never just its physical coordinates, for its location is often in the heart. Thus, it can be carried around forever, and passed on to one's children, with all its lingering memories and wistful fragrances."

                                                                              -- The Long Walk Home

Yup, I am quoting from my own book above, my second novel that is, where a character grapples with Partition. But that is also how I view places; a place is organic, it has pulse and rhythm and smell - much like a human being. And places speak for the people who come from them. For a California resident, a New Yorker is an alien and if you're in India, whether you are a Delhiite or a Mumbaikar can be a decoder for the entire You! 

Paris is one of my favourite places and because its Paris - that much feted City of Love - it is a world unto itself. So, any Parisian will tell you, whether you are from the Left Bank or the Right will speak volumes about you. The Right Bank is the traditional upper crust, where you find the big businesses and banks, along with the Louvre, Champs Elysses, Arc de Triomphe, Centre Pomipdou and others. Left Bank, on the southern side of the river Seine, meanwhile, is historically the boho hangout of legendary writers and artists - Picasso, Matisse, Hemingway - who lived in the more affordable part of the city. 

With that as a backdrop, let's walk the Right Bank, shall we?! 

                                                                                                 

Probably the most prestigious resident of the Right Bank, certainly for an artist: Musee du Louvre

I thought you couldn't snorkel in the Seine but clearly some folks can!

This is one American even the French like to flaunt: classic Pacino swigging cigar in place of George Washington.

The pavement vendors have interesting wares on offer - this is Paris, after all!

My daughter and I never, ever, miss any dog - this evoked a simultaneous sense of deja vu and wonder.  We see such sights in India all the time where the homeless often make their home with man's best friend. The pups, mother and master were catching some Easter sunshine.

Shop after shop of postcards, vintage posters, rare books on the Quai du Louvre, enough to make up for the professed lack of bohemia in the Right Bank!

I mean to do a post on the Left Bank as well; meanwhile, au revoir!

Quotable: Antoni Gaudi

God has all the time in the world... or the Spanish take on India's Ram bharose!

I have returned from vacation all charged-up and renewed. Nothing like a long break with family to rejuvenate the spirit, and when the vacation spots happen to be Paris and Barcelona, the senses are swimming too :)

Running the gamut from Gaudi to Picasso, the Louvre to Musee D'Orsay, I came across such engaging artists - their work inseparable from their lives - that I have decided to start a new category of blogposts: Quotable. The idea is to provide a sneak peek at the thinking that went behind the work, which will, in turn, prompt a greater appreciation for the masterpiece and its maestro.

Here is the first one: Antoni Gaudi, "God has all the time in the world!"

A visit to Barcelona is incomplete without visiting La Sagrada Familia, a Roman Catholic church that is Gaudi's work-in-progress masterpiece. It's construction began in 1882 and is ongoing since the funds for building come from the public and donations. Which means that when you buy a ticket to visit, your Euros go towards the construction and, on your next trip, you can see how well it's growing up!

La Sagrada Familia is Gaudi's vision of Gothic architecture at its best. Yet, it is imbued with his love of nature and the harmony he always sought with art and its surroundings. The soaring towers reach out to the heavens, and yet delight us with their sinuous curves. Gaudi was much inspired by 'The Great Book of Nature' written by god and he emulated it in his designs: a column is never a straight line, it grows like a plant; a spiral staircase trails like a falling leaf.

The scale of the project was so monumental that it became clear the building of the church would outlast its builder. A frustrated accomplice is said to have asked Antoni Gaudi, "But when will it be complete maestro?"

To which Gaudi replied, "Not to worry, my client is in no hurry.

"God has all the time in the world!"

This brings me to another connection between the two cultures besides Jai Ho, the Oscar-winning song from Slumdog Millionaire, the Hindi lyrics of which were interspersed with Spanish. (According to Rahman, the composer, the song was meant to be a vision of the world celebrating the slumdog's victory.)

Gaudi's reasoning recalls a familiar Indian expression: Ram bharose - leave it to the Gods. The critical difference, however, is that while in India the same attitude generates complacency, with Gaudi's masterpiece it has led to an ongoing labour of love.

One thing though cannot be discounted - it helps to have god as your patron!

Ummm... Is there a way I can leverage that when chasing publishing deadlines?