Via del Corso

Laura, Sean and I documented a spot on Via del Corso for a photography project given by Stanley Hallett. Here are some of the pictures!

Paris (et Croatia), je t'aime!

When it came to planning spring break, the destination was up in the air for a while. Andrew, Sarah, Steph, Dan and I went back in forth between going to Athens, Portugal, or Croatia. I think I even considered Australia at one point (totally impractical!) But in the end, we decided to go to Croatia. None of us really knew much about the country, but we figured we would never have another chance to go, so why not explore! I think I speak for everyone in our group when I say that I can't imagine a better place to travel. The food, people, and accommodations were incredible. Oh, and did I mention it's gorgeous? We flew into Split, stayed a few days, then drove down to Dubrovnik. Despite the fact that Sarah and I packed on the assumption that the weather would be quite warm (wrong!), it was sunny every day, without a cloud in the sky. We hiked, took sketchy bus rides, made lots of french toast (we had a private kitchen in our hostel!) and took lots of pictures. But most of all, we thoroughly enjoyed each others company. We were so thankful that we were able to experience such a place!

Our trip to Paris had been on my mind right from the beginning of this semester. I had been to Paris once before, with my French Honor Society in high school, and I fell in love with the city. But to my surprise, this most recent trip exceeded my already high expectations. Although I was exhausted after each day, I got to see so much! Stanley Hallett was our guide through the city; he is absolutely fantastic! Along with the tourist hot spots like the Eiffel Tower, La Grande Arche, the Louvre, and the Pompidou, we got to see the Institut du Monde Arab, Cite de l'Architecture, Place des Vosges, and so much more. La Grande Arche was my favorite building. I'm so glad we learned a lot about it's purpose and construction. We even got to go all the way to the top, which provides a great view of the city! I also got to see Notre Dame again, my favorite cathedral. It's been my favorite cathedral since my first visit to Paris, but experiencing it a second time with a better appreciation for its architectural aspects made me love it even more. The food was as equally amazing as the architecture. I fell in love with the falafel's and croissants! I tried to speak french as much as I could, but 3 years away from the language left me remembering only simple phrases. By far my favorite trip so far, I'm glad we could spend a week in the beautiful city of lights! I can definitely see myself returning to Paris, and possibly living there.

Project #2

Proposed urban design for the Porta Portese area