This was my first time visiting Paris so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Because of the city’s artistic, cultural and political history I knew it would be full of rich character. I was hoping to have an intimate and personal experience that was more affecting than the overwrought touristy images that are always projected by the media here in the United States.

The architecture was the first thing I noticed. Coming from Philadelphia, which also has an architectural history, I appreciated the beauty of the residential and public buildings and the way they melded classical and modern styles. I noticed the many spaces devoted to the arts, whether they were galleries, museums or comics shops. And of course the countless bakeries and pastry stores. It was a relief that most of the local Parisians were actually friendly and didn’t mind that I was clearly a tourist. Despite my rudimentary French language skills, people were very helpful in terms of answering my questions. Taking the Metro was one of my favorite experiences and I was amazed at how easy it was to get around and the efficiency of the public transportation system.

One of the most profound experiences I had in Paris was seeing the Surrealism exhibition at the Centre Pompidou. It happened to align with my stay and I spent almost three hours in the museum. I have always been influenced by the surrealists and seeing such an exhaustive collection of the work within the movement was greatly inspiring. Thus my piece for The Jaunt depicts a person within a gallery space who is so moved by the exhibit they see on display that they physically transform. It’s an attempt to show the literal and metaphorical power of art.