Since it's been over a week since I was in Paris, I'll just give the highlights: saw Mona Lisa, she says hi; Venus de Milo is still armless; Eiffel Tower at night is freaking amazing; it's also awesome during the day; Versailles is phenomenal; Notre Dame during mass is epic, and so is Sacré Coeur; Moulin Rouge is expensive, so I just got a postcard; and the top of the Arc de Triomphe is super cool!
All in all, my trip was amazing, and now I'm a bonafide expert on using the Metro. Hostels ar gross, though, but liveable. Sit-down toilets are amazing over unisex unrinals.
So, yes, Friday morning I was greeted with "Did you hear Michael Jackson died? So did Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon." That's a lot of death in one day. It was a very dark day for me, because I'm easily affected by stuff like that. To make it worse, the teachers were talking about it, too. So that entire day was really a blur, and I felt like I didn't learn anything. And my second French teacher I've had so far went over our homework in the last five minutes of class. Not the best idea, I think.
To make matters worse, we're getting two more teachers after that. Hooray for confusing education and different teaching methods! This is going to be an interesting month.
So, yes, that's life in Chambéry, so until I write again, au revoir!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Italia
Heather, Krisdeena, Prakalp, and I got on a train to Milan at 5pm on Friday. We arrived around 8, and then faced some drama with the room. Apparently, Prakalp ordered a triple room for four people, so we made him get a single room for himself. We talked forever before we finally got out on the town. Heather and I walked down the main street and found all the shops and beautiful buildings. Prakalp and Krisdeena decided to wait for the tram. We found the statue of Leonardo da Vinci, and then right behind it was this amazing square with all these fancy shops. We were walking around trying to find the statue of Leo's horse when we saw a horse statue and right behind it was the cathedral. It was huge, beautiful, and just illuminated by all the street lights. I took tons of pictures and just admired the city at night. We ended up waiting for the other two, but they never showed up, so we just went back to the hotel and found them there. I guess they were almost mugged, but I didn't experience any problems at all.
Saturday morning, we had a delicious breakfast at our four-star hotel (that only cost 100€ total) and then hopped the train for Venice! We arrived at 1pm, checked into our hotel and then had lunch at the restaurant right outside. Our hotel room looks right over the the Grande Canal. After that, we walked around and then took a gondola ride around the city! It cost 70€ total, but it was worth it because our driver was really good at turning corners...and he was adorable. We took pictures with him at the end, and I was a happy camper. Then we found a bank so I could get more cash--not a lot of places take credit cards in Venice, FYI. As were were walking back, we stumbled upon a store, and I ended up buying a cute dress for 13€. We headed back to the room to wait for Prakalp and Heather to meet us. They ended up going to Pisa early in the morning. I still haven't seen the pictures, but I did get one of those cool floaty pens. They arrived, then I took Heather down to the the ATM and that shop. We met over by the bus bay and then we split up once more to meet at the Rialto Bridge (the giant bridge connecting both main islands of Venice) for dinner. Again, Heather and I walked while Prakalp and Krisdeena took a water bus. We made it to the bridge in about 10 minutes through the windy alleyways they call streets.
We waited forty minutes before we decided to sit down and eat without them. Before that, we ran into a guy carrying a fake, life-size coffin on his back. It was his friend's bachelor party and he talked to us in a combination of French and English. He was hilarious. After he asked for our names, he asked for a kiss, so we both kissed him on the cheek. Now I've kissed an Italian guy! Ha ha! Afterward, we crossed over the bridge and had a delicious pasta dinner. I can no longer have American pizza or pasta ever again. It was that good. After a tasty dinner with a great view of the Canal (since we were literally 5 feet away from it) we headed back to the room, had more drama with the other two, and then went to bed.
Heather and I got up around 6am the next morning and quietly left the room to see the city. We first headed to the Jewish Ghetto--the first and oldest Ghetto ever. They had a Holocaust memorial for the Venetian Jews who were taken from the city. It was sobering and very heartbreaking. I almost started to cry, it was so sad. After walking and taking in the square, we headed the backway to the other side of the island to see the Bascilica St. Marco. We walked, again, down the winding, narrow streets of the city and when we got to the Bascilia, it just opened up to this huge courtyard. The Basilica was goregeous. We couldn't go inside because tours weren't untl 2:30 that day, and our train was supposed to leave at 1pm. But we walked around, saw the area where The Italian Job was filmed, and then headed back to the hotel to meet the other two. We took the water bus and rode down the entire Canal. It was amazing and such a great experience.
I already want to go back there. The people may not speak much English, but if you have a phrase book, you can survive. But really, all you need is a map and common sense, and you can have a fantastic time. I'm so glad I went to Italy this past weekend. The sights were incredible and now I can say I've been to one of the cities I've always wanted to visit.
This weekend: Paris. I can't wait for that!
Saturday morning, we had a delicious breakfast at our four-star hotel (that only cost 100€ total) and then hopped the train for Venice! We arrived at 1pm, checked into our hotel and then had lunch at the restaurant right outside. Our hotel room looks right over the the Grande Canal. After that, we walked around and then took a gondola ride around the city! It cost 70€ total, but it was worth it because our driver was really good at turning corners...and he was adorable. We took pictures with him at the end, and I was a happy camper. Then we found a bank so I could get more cash--not a lot of places take credit cards in Venice, FYI. As were were walking back, we stumbled upon a store, and I ended up buying a cute dress for 13€. We headed back to the room to wait for Prakalp and Heather to meet us. They ended up going to Pisa early in the morning. I still haven't seen the pictures, but I did get one of those cool floaty pens. They arrived, then I took Heather down to the the ATM and that shop. We met over by the bus bay and then we split up once more to meet at the Rialto Bridge (the giant bridge connecting both main islands of Venice) for dinner. Again, Heather and I walked while Prakalp and Krisdeena took a water bus. We made it to the bridge in about 10 minutes through the windy alleyways they call streets.
We waited forty minutes before we decided to sit down and eat without them. Before that, we ran into a guy carrying a fake, life-size coffin on his back. It was his friend's bachelor party and he talked to us in a combination of French and English. He was hilarious. After he asked for our names, he asked for a kiss, so we both kissed him on the cheek. Now I've kissed an Italian guy! Ha ha! Afterward, we crossed over the bridge and had a delicious pasta dinner. I can no longer have American pizza or pasta ever again. It was that good. After a tasty dinner with a great view of the Canal (since we were literally 5 feet away from it) we headed back to the room, had more drama with the other two, and then went to bed.
Heather and I got up around 6am the next morning and quietly left the room to see the city. We first headed to the Jewish Ghetto--the first and oldest Ghetto ever. They had a Holocaust memorial for the Venetian Jews who were taken from the city. It was sobering and very heartbreaking. I almost started to cry, it was so sad. After walking and taking in the square, we headed the backway to the other side of the island to see the Bascilica St. Marco. We walked, again, down the winding, narrow streets of the city and when we got to the Bascilia, it just opened up to this huge courtyard. The Basilica was goregeous. We couldn't go inside because tours weren't untl 2:30 that day, and our train was supposed to leave at 1pm. But we walked around, saw the area where The Italian Job was filmed, and then headed back to the hotel to meet the other two. We took the water bus and rode down the entire Canal. It was amazing and such a great experience.
I already want to go back there. The people may not speak much English, but if you have a phrase book, you can survive. But really, all you need is a map and common sense, and you can have a fantastic time. I'm so glad I went to Italy this past weekend. The sights were incredible and now I can say I've been to one of the cities I've always wanted to visit.
This weekend: Paris. I can't wait for that!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
La Jeudi Dernière
Ever been to Grenoble? If you haven't, then you should. It is such a beautiful city. It was the host of the 1968 Winter Olympics, has a 19th century bastille on top of a mountain, and is a bustling metropolis. We climbed onto a train around 1:50pm on Thursday and got the afternoon to explore the city. Firstly, we all got on a gondola that took us up to the mountain so we could look around the bastille. Unfortunately, it was closed for a party, so we just got to take in the amazing view of the city. I got a lot of pictures. I wanted to explore as much of the mountain as I could, so I wandered around with a guy in our group named Katin. He's from California and swing dances. We're planning on getting together to do some swing soon. But anyway, when we got back to the main area, everyone was gone! So we just walked around a bit more and then took the gondola back down to explore the city.
The city was really nice. We walked through the park next to the gondola entrance and ended up in the shopping district. We found a bookstore and I finally bought a French book. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In French, of course. Then we headed back to the train station to meet up with everyone but stopped at a Kebab place before we got there. I had a delicious chicken sandwich and French fries. I couldn't stand the flavor! It was too good. Then we came back to Chambéry and homework.
My weekend in Italy was fantastic, but that's going to take awhile to get through, so I think I'll save that for another day...
The city was really nice. We walked through the park next to the gondola entrance and ended up in the shopping district. We found a bookstore and I finally bought a French book. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In French, of course. Then we headed back to the train station to meet up with everyone but stopped at a Kebab place before we got there. I had a delicious chicken sandwich and French fries. I couldn't stand the flavor! It was too good. Then we came back to Chambéry and homework.
My weekend in Italy was fantastic, but that's going to take awhile to get through, so I think I'll save that for another day...
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Halfway Done...
...With the week, that is. Yesterday was a very long day. I had my normal day of class: 9am to 12:30pm, and then an hour for lunch before an extra lesson from 1:30 to 3:30. I had the option of signing up for the cuisine course or the geography of France class. Since I'd rather just experience the cusine firsthand, I took the geography class. I actually learned something! I know there are more mountain ranges than just the Pyrennes and the Alps. I know there are 100 departments in France, and that there are 63 million people living in this country. After the class was over, I went over plans for Italy with some of the people and then we went to Carrefour--the Costco of France (without the buying in bulk or the membership). Afterward, I had a dinner of pasta with bread and cheese (delcious), and then went for some ice cream with Heather from Georgia. After that, we went up to Prakalp's room (he's from India and we're both going to Italy with him this weekend) and did out homework. We didn't get done until after midnight.
Today, a long day of classes once more, and then I went with Lydia to the Monoprix so she could get a bathing suit, and then we went to Le Bourget au Lac for the day. The lake is literally at the bottom of the Le Mont du Chat (Cat Mountain!) and it was just surrounded by mountains. The water wasn't too cold or too warm. Everyone else, though, thought it was too cold. They need to experience the Washington or Oregon Coast. But it was goregous there, and the weather was just right for going to the lake. I think I got a little more tan, but I still have a farmer's and watch tanline.
After we got back, Lydia, Greg, David, and I walked down to the train station and bought tickets for Nice the weekend of the Fourth of July. It's going to be so much fun! I can't believe I'm doing so much here. This is exactly what I wanted to do.
I should probably get working on my homework for it's salsa dancing tonight and tomorrow ISEP is going to Grenoble for the day. We're going on a gondola up the mountain! I'm so excited!
Friday evening, we're leaving for Milan and then Saturday morning we're going to Venice. Next weekend is Paris. This is so amazing. I'm still in awe.
Today, a long day of classes once more, and then I went with Lydia to the Monoprix so she could get a bathing suit, and then we went to Le Bourget au Lac for the day. The lake is literally at the bottom of the Le Mont du Chat (Cat Mountain!) and it was just surrounded by mountains. The water wasn't too cold or too warm. Everyone else, though, thought it was too cold. They need to experience the Washington or Oregon Coast. But it was goregous there, and the weather was just right for going to the lake. I think I got a little more tan, but I still have a farmer's and watch tanline.
After we got back, Lydia, Greg, David, and I walked down to the train station and bought tickets for Nice the weekend of the Fourth of July. It's going to be so much fun! I can't believe I'm doing so much here. This is exactly what I wanted to do.
I should probably get working on my homework for it's salsa dancing tonight and tomorrow ISEP is going to Grenoble for the day. We're going on a gondola up the mountain! I'm so excited!
Friday evening, we're leaving for Milan and then Saturday morning we're going to Venice. Next weekend is Paris. This is so amazing. I'm still in awe.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Bienvenue en France!
Let me start off by telling everyone how different the keyboards are here. The a and q are switched, as are the z and w. The m is no longer next to the n, and you need to use the shift in order to end a sentence with a period. All the numbers can only be typed if you use the shift key, but you have all the symbols for different money. This is a good way to kick the contraction habit.
But let us move on to fun things. My flight was long, but I did enjoy my layover in Amsterdam. I went to the Anne Frank House, but it was closed so I just took a few pictures of it and then had lunch at the cafe next door. I did not get to spend very long there, so I just headed back to the airport and waited for my flight to Geneva. I slept that entire flight. Then again, running on 24 hours of being awake, I was entitled to a little sleep.
The train in Geneva was not as easy as the airport. When I discovered that my train to Chambéry was leaving from a different station, I jumped on a bus, but I found out soon that I was on the wrong bus. Thankfully the one I needed crossed the same route I was on, I just jumped off and caught the bus I needed. I made it to the station before my train left, and soon I was on my way to Chambéry. I can't say much for that journey because I slept the entire time. When I arrived, I met Ufuk and Guillaume who took me to my residence. Then I was alone. After unpacking, I walked around to try to find a place to eat. All I found was a pizza place, so I got a small pizza. When I got back, I found my roommate there and we got to talking. Her name is Breanna and she's from Iowa. She was really nice and we stayed up talking until close to midnight. Then we got up in the morning for an adventure around town.
We walked to the market they have here every Saturday, and I got some delicious, ripe, red strawberries. The greatest fruit I've ever tasted, hands down. Then we walked to the old part of the city and went by the Hotel de Ville where we saw some street performers. Then we saw the Fontaine des Elephants (Fountain of Elephants) which is known as the Eiffel Tower of Chambéry. After that, we wandered some more around the old part of the city and ended up in front of the Chateau des Ducs de Savoie (Castle of the Dukes of Savoie) before we split off for lunch. I ended up going with the group that had the real French meal at Le Sporting. It took almost three hours for the entire meal--and we left as soon as we were done eating. I got the menu du jour (meal of the day) and got the chicken that was served with potatoes. The dessert was delicious. It was vanilla ice cream with a black cherry liqeur sauce. One of the students, David, kept remarking on how great it was and how it should be illegal in the US. He's a very funny guy.
I also made friends at the table. There's Lydia from Kansas, Krisdeena from Iowa, Greg from Pennsylvania, and Bree from Pennsylvania as well. It was a great meal with great people. Afterwards, we all split up and took over the town. Lydia and I went to the shops and I ended up buying a pair of flats for 6€. They are so adorable. Later that night, we all met Guillaume and went to the O'Cardianls Irish Pub for a drink. I ended up getting a Sexo con Lucia. It was very fruity and very delicious. Then a smaller group of us (me, Breanna, Lydia, Greg, David, Andrew, and Marissa) went to the other pub, O'Pogues, and just hung out for awhile. They had beer, but I'm not a fan of that drink so I just sat and hung out. Then we headed back to Breanna and my room for a dance party that ended up being rather low-key since we were all tired. It ended shortly after it began, and we all went to bed to prepare for the next day.
Sunday was a great day. We traveled up the mountains to a small cheese factory for a tour. I bought a half of a half of a wedge of the Tome des Bauges. It looks gross and moldy on the outside, but on the inside, it tastes like the combination of white cheddar and parmasan. Then we kept driving and spend the day in Annecy. There, I had the most delicious crèpe I have ever tasted in my life. We walked around the city (which is older than Chambéry) and ended up by the Chateau d'Annecy. It cost money to go inside, so we just took pictures of the outside and headed back down to the city. We ran into a woman who noticed we were English and was so happy to see us. She even hugged David (because he's from Chicago) and I took a picture of her. She was sweet. Then we got some tasty ice cream and ran into another man who loved America. After we chatted with him for a few minutes, we all walked around Lac d'Annecy. It's right at the foothills of the Alps, so it made a stunning view. It was so picturesque, I took a picture every few feet. When we had made it about three-quarters of the way around the lake, it started to pour rain. We walked quickly back and stood under the cover of some trees. After the rain stopped, we booked it back to the bus. I fell asleep on the way back and didn't wake up until we were back in Chambéry. I had dinner with Lydia and spent the evening writing postcards to friends and family I still need to send out.
This morning, our classes started. Since the Université de Savoie doesn't have school during the summer, most of the campus is shut down. Thankfully, the library is open, so I can catch up with the world. But we all stay in the same building from 9:00 to 12:00 every day and are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. I was placed in the intermediate level with Lydia, Greg, Andrew, and ten other people. Today we spent the day getting to know each other and getting in the groove of our French again. I am so excited, I can't wait for tomorrow!
Since we know when our classes are, and what the ISEP group has planned, groups of people have been getting together their own plans. This weekend, I am going with a group to Italy. We're traveling to Milan and spending the night before we spend the rest of the weekend in Venice. Next weekend is the ISEP trip to Paris. The following weekend, I think a group of us are going to go to Nice. After that, who knows!
All I know is that I'm having the time of my life and I never want to leave. Vive la France!
But let us move on to fun things. My flight was long, but I did enjoy my layover in Amsterdam. I went to the Anne Frank House, but it was closed so I just took a few pictures of it and then had lunch at the cafe next door. I did not get to spend very long there, so I just headed back to the airport and waited for my flight to Geneva. I slept that entire flight. Then again, running on 24 hours of being awake, I was entitled to a little sleep.
The train in Geneva was not as easy as the airport. When I discovered that my train to Chambéry was leaving from a different station, I jumped on a bus, but I found out soon that I was on the wrong bus. Thankfully the one I needed crossed the same route I was on, I just jumped off and caught the bus I needed. I made it to the station before my train left, and soon I was on my way to Chambéry. I can't say much for that journey because I slept the entire time. When I arrived, I met Ufuk and Guillaume who took me to my residence. Then I was alone. After unpacking, I walked around to try to find a place to eat. All I found was a pizza place, so I got a small pizza. When I got back, I found my roommate there and we got to talking. Her name is Breanna and she's from Iowa. She was really nice and we stayed up talking until close to midnight. Then we got up in the morning for an adventure around town.
We walked to the market they have here every Saturday, and I got some delicious, ripe, red strawberries. The greatest fruit I've ever tasted, hands down. Then we walked to the old part of the city and went by the Hotel de Ville where we saw some street performers. Then we saw the Fontaine des Elephants (Fountain of Elephants) which is known as the Eiffel Tower of Chambéry. After that, we wandered some more around the old part of the city and ended up in front of the Chateau des Ducs de Savoie (Castle of the Dukes of Savoie) before we split off for lunch. I ended up going with the group that had the real French meal at Le Sporting. It took almost three hours for the entire meal--and we left as soon as we were done eating. I got the menu du jour (meal of the day) and got the chicken that was served with potatoes. The dessert was delicious. It was vanilla ice cream with a black cherry liqeur sauce. One of the students, David, kept remarking on how great it was and how it should be illegal in the US. He's a very funny guy.
I also made friends at the table. There's Lydia from Kansas, Krisdeena from Iowa, Greg from Pennsylvania, and Bree from Pennsylvania as well. It was a great meal with great people. Afterwards, we all split up and took over the town. Lydia and I went to the shops and I ended up buying a pair of flats for 6€. They are so adorable. Later that night, we all met Guillaume and went to the O'Cardianls Irish Pub for a drink. I ended up getting a Sexo con Lucia. It was very fruity and very delicious. Then a smaller group of us (me, Breanna, Lydia, Greg, David, Andrew, and Marissa) went to the other pub, O'Pogues, and just hung out for awhile. They had beer, but I'm not a fan of that drink so I just sat and hung out. Then we headed back to Breanna and my room for a dance party that ended up being rather low-key since we were all tired. It ended shortly after it began, and we all went to bed to prepare for the next day.
Sunday was a great day. We traveled up the mountains to a small cheese factory for a tour. I bought a half of a half of a wedge of the Tome des Bauges. It looks gross and moldy on the outside, but on the inside, it tastes like the combination of white cheddar and parmasan. Then we kept driving and spend the day in Annecy. There, I had the most delicious crèpe I have ever tasted in my life. We walked around the city (which is older than Chambéry) and ended up by the Chateau d'Annecy. It cost money to go inside, so we just took pictures of the outside and headed back down to the city. We ran into a woman who noticed we were English and was so happy to see us. She even hugged David (because he's from Chicago) and I took a picture of her. She was sweet. Then we got some tasty ice cream and ran into another man who loved America. After we chatted with him for a few minutes, we all walked around Lac d'Annecy. It's right at the foothills of the Alps, so it made a stunning view. It was so picturesque, I took a picture every few feet. When we had made it about three-quarters of the way around the lake, it started to pour rain. We walked quickly back and stood under the cover of some trees. After the rain stopped, we booked it back to the bus. I fell asleep on the way back and didn't wake up until we were back in Chambéry. I had dinner with Lydia and spent the evening writing postcards to friends and family I still need to send out.
This morning, our classes started. Since the Université de Savoie doesn't have school during the summer, most of the campus is shut down. Thankfully, the library is open, so I can catch up with the world. But we all stay in the same building from 9:00 to 12:00 every day and are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. I was placed in the intermediate level with Lydia, Greg, Andrew, and ten other people. Today we spent the day getting to know each other and getting in the groove of our French again. I am so excited, I can't wait for tomorrow!
Since we know when our classes are, and what the ISEP group has planned, groups of people have been getting together their own plans. This weekend, I am going with a group to Italy. We're traveling to Milan and spending the night before we spend the rest of the weekend in Venice. Next weekend is the ISEP trip to Paris. The following weekend, I think a group of us are going to go to Nice. After that, who knows!
All I know is that I'm having the time of my life and I never want to leave. Vive la France!
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