Voleur!!!

Today our group experienced our first "episode" with thieves on the train. Due to the grieve (the strike, which I will discuss later) we arrived early to catch the train that was leaving at 12:56. We had all grabbed something to eat and were sitting around. There were two teenage boys behind us, that quite frankly looked like no good, possibly due to the fact that they were making kissing noises at us and then they would sit with their legs in the entry way so they had to both move so you could get out to throw something away while we waited. All is well, we leave...everyone is laughing and having a dandy-ole-time and suddenly at the 3rd or 4th stop one of the boys snatched my friend's bag (it was under her chair). One of the boys was holding the door open with his foot and then they both escaped and the doors shut. My friend, Myra, who hasn't said one curse word the whole trip, stood up and said Shit really loud and Dr. Patton, knowing Myra's conservative and shy nature, instantly knew it must be an emergency, opened the doors and started running after them (he is 60). Then, the one guy on our trip, Houston, opened the set of doors closest to him and started running as well (he is 19 and an athlete). Fortunately, Houston caught up to them relatively quickly, and according to Dr. Patton, he was yelling and screaming and sounded like a "damn near crazy person," and just before he could grab the little SOB he dropped her bag kept running. Fortunately, this story ended happily ever after. I think Mrya will hold her bag with a death grip from now on and all of us are a little more suspicious than before. You like to trust people but then you realize not everyone is nice and of upstanding character.

I certainly do NOT understand strikes in France. In this case, SNCF, the train company, was going on strike (I think over job firing) but the crazy thing about it is that they have to announce the strikes like months in advance and even though there is a "strike" there are still several trains that run AND they post when they arrive and leave as normal. Therefore, although it is rather "annoying" it doesn't exactly have a very strong effect- you simply rearrange your plans or schedule. Whereas in the states, there are less major strikes and when they strike they do it right, they get you at the worst time, say at christmas or thanksgiving, and you're SOL.

I haven't read who has the majority in the senate yet but I am trés trés contente that the house now has a democratic majority. Do we really have to suffer through this yankydoodledandy bs for 2 more years with Bush? I'm ready for change ASAP.

Oh, other news. I found out the other day that one of my french teachers, Dr. David Morgan, is the world's leading Latin expert. I knew that he "spoke and wrote" latin, but I had no idea that he travelled to the Vatican and areas in France several times a year to "create latin words for things" and translate manuscripts (He is a very humble man, as I spent all last year around him for the language house and never knew this). He also speaks Spanish and Italian fluently and I think a couple others relatively well. Genius!!! Oh, I almost forgot. He also has a law degree from Princeton (he decided it wasn't his thing) and now he is a specialist in 18th century french civilization. I will take his class this spring- wish me luck!

Vous me manquez (I miss you).

Prime Time Télé

So last night I discovered something called "THE NUZ." This is a play on words in french because to be naked is to be "nu(e)" and the news is called the "nouvel." Put two and two together and you have people who strip, while giving the news. You can also find random pornography on the basic channels too (my family has the basic package and it seems to have a lot). I hope you don't think I am some pervert- but I have to say that I was at least happy to know that it wasn't all girls on this news channel. The french love being naked but they aren't biased as to who. It's just strange to think its "allowed." Somebody would surely get fired at NBC if they pulled something like this.

There is going to be a train strike tomorrow. We are supposed to go to Paris but we might end up waiting for nothing at the "gare." Oh well, it's all part of the "experience."

I'm glad to be back in Versailles- in my own bed with normal sized meals. A la prochaine mes amis!!

SHH!

NO, there are unfortunately no secrets.

S= South of France H= Horse back riding H= Halloween.

That is what I've been "up to," persay. I'm actually in Lyon now, which I like a lot, probably because we are staying in a 3 star hotel and there is internet and I feel like we're in a palace (ha I wish) compared to some of the other hotels. The others weren't bad but they just don't compare.

I always thought the south of France could be compared to, say, Florida. While the northern part of France freezes the southerners bask in the sun and drink kir royals overlooking the Mediterranean. While we did enjoy a very pleasant boat ride on the Mediterranean last week (at Sète) the weather took a turn for the worse. There is a windstream called the Mistrel and it is not your friend. I have never been so cold in my life. I might as well have gone out in a tank top because that SOB Mistrel rips right through every layer your wearing anyway. I forgot to bring my itinerary down to this computer so I could tell you every where we have been these last 12 days but I didn't, so I will have to fill in the blanks later.

We went to Arles and stayed in possibly the cutest, most charming little hotel ever and we saw the Roman ampitheaters (as well as the one in Orange). It's difficult to fathom that you're looking at something that was there before Christ. We also were the first group to ever throw a halloween party (we had an entire "wing" to ourselves in the cute hotel so we didn't disturb anyone). We all just invented costumes out of things we already had or that were super cheap to buy. I was a mouse. I just wore all black and put whiskers on my face and little ears too. However, at the bar party afterwards (you got a free drink of choice with a costume) people thought I was a cat. Oh well. My new favorite drink is demi pêche (beer with peach syrup).

Also, I have officially changed my mind about Christmas. I don't want any presents. I just want a horse and a couple acres of land to ride him around on. I suppose this is what horse back riding through the South of France does to a person (I can't remember the specific town but I will look it up). It was amazing. My horses name was Spirit, not "esprit" like it should have been but he was old and nice and he only tried to nibble on my feet 2-3 times (He was quite the eater and I always felt bad steering him away from plants and things because I figure this is his only indulgence, but rules are rules!). We saw the sun set on the trail too which was beautiful but that is when it became very very cold and none of us where really prepared.

I am ready to go back to Versailles, back to my permanent bed. I'm not a bad sharer but I am tired of sharing a room with 2 other girls (sometimes its only 1). I am also ready to ditch the suitcase. It is super big now, I've been buying Christmas presents.

For those of you who are interested in French Couture- there are no words. I drool in front of window shops. Most of the time I still go in them, knowing a can't afford anything. The coats and hats and scarves and boots (god don't get me going on about the boots) are quite possibly the best in the world (okay okay Italy is probably #1 but France is a close 2nd).

I'm going to take a nap now (I know I know, I shouldn't take naps with so much out there to discover) but I am dead. We never stop on the LT and I am starting to get bags under my eyes.

P.S. (this is for my mother really) I am going on a major diet when I get home. I have decided that I am alotted one christmas cookie (possibly Italien Wedding) and salad and vegetables. I'm fine with some meat but please, please NO cheese. Love you:)

I almost Forgot!!

The wedding was something out of a movie. Seriously. It was comparable to four weddings and a funeral. The women and their hats are something else too. If people wore hats in the States like the French do they would be laughed at in the face and told to go to the circus.

The église (I will give you the name later because I forgot it) was close the Chartres and it was gorgeous and luminous and there were at least 700 people there. Oh and they throw multiple bouquets (and right after the marriage at the entrance) and I caught the second one. I think old ladies caught the other 2.

The reception was at a castle and there was champagne everywhere and food everywhere (très gourmet) and then I sat at a table with a bunch of cousins. They tried to speak English with me a few times (to practice I guess) and their accents were insane. There was however, one girl cousin who had lived in Australia for 4 years and studied English since she was 3 and also travelled to England often and I couldn't tell any accent at all (not even British or Australian) when she spoke. She is 16 and it makes me sad that I didn't start learning french at 3. Swear by my words- if I have kids one day (I'll admit that with age I may change my mind) my children will be brought up bilingual. Language is, in my opinion, one of the most powerful tools/gifts in the world. Communication is a beautiful thing.

Vivent les langues!!

Fromaladie

We are on the Land Tour (LT from now on). I'm going to explain the title of this entry. Fromage= cheese Maladie= sickness. Fromaladie is the over consumption of French cheese and the awful feeling that comes after that consumption. The whole group is experiencing it and it feels like eating a sack of rocks.

We are currently visiting the Loire region. We visited Chateau Blois and Chateau Chambord yesterday and then ate at a beautiful restaurant and drank lots of wine and ate lots of cheese and then we arrived at the hotel which is super nice and I love it and I'm very contente that we are staying here again tonight (it is in Tours). Oh, I know that Chateau Chenonceaux is my favorite castle of all time. If I become the next Bill Gates I will buy it from the French government and hold parties there for my friends and family and of course people could still take tours but they won't have to pay anymore- I want this to be free for the world!

Today, we sort of got to sleep in, meaning 7:45 and then we left for Chateau d'Azay le Rideau. I like the Renaissance castles because they all have moats. I love moats. I guess when you're an American you think castles don't really exhist- they are only in Disney movies. I do however, want to know where all the "closed off" doors lead to- I usually try to open them hoping someone has forgotten to keep them locked and secure, but so far no luck.

Back to the fromaladie- the food is à la profusion (tons tons tons of it) and so is the wine but we have requested that from now on the "cheese plate" be cancelled because if we didn't demand this we would all come home weighing at least 500 pounds. Today we had Kir Pétillant (my favorite drink) and then Feuille de Saumon Fumé maison et ses toasts, Cuisse de Canard à l'orange (amazing!) et ses Pommes Noisettes (little balls pototoes that are fried and delish) then Brie and un lit (bed) de salade then an Omelette Norvégienne Vanille Café au grand Marnier(not an omelette but an ice cream cake covered in merange and then lit on fire). So imagine how you would feel after eating all that (it is extremely rude NOT to finish your plate in France). In the end, I've decided I'm going to start being rude. I can't do this anymore (and its only the 2nd day!)

Tomorrow we are visiting Périgeux. Google it!

I do have one complaint. Traveling with a group of people with MULTIPLE personalities and mutliple levels of maturity is not always "amusant." The next time I come to France (I'm hoping this will be after I graduate college as a "cadeaux" to myself, even if I have to take out another student loan) I would prefer to come with just one other person (and 4 tops).

Je vous aime et je vous embrasse.

Barcelona in a nut shell:

My uncles invited me to Barcelona for a weekend and I agreed to go- although it was a really hard decision to make- seriously you people have no idea what I have to go through.This is what I know about it now:

1. They speak Catalan (not Spanish) and super freakin fast
2. The monestir de Montserrat (serrated mountain) is one of the most amazing views I have ever seen- and they have monks and the monks make chocolate (but its spelled xocolat or something ridiculous like that). The highest peak is 4,055 ft.
3. Gaudi architecture is like taking PCP or some other hallucinogenic drug- without actually having to take them. It's mind blowing and modern and unexpected and like pop rocks on your tongue and all over your body and roller coaster I love the world good. I think that adequately explains it anyways.
4. Cavas, the spanish Champagne is very tasty.
5. They eat lots of food and they start dinner at 10 PM. Me no likey this.
6. The Princesa Sofia Hotel, where my uncle had his convention is one of the nicest hotels I have stayed in. Their breakfast brunch is like Willy Wonka's factory but with eggs and meat and fruit and churro filled pastry- oh and fresh squeezed orange juice. I highly recommend it.
7. At La Rambla- the huge walkway filled with vendors and shops and probably 75% of Barcelona's total population, they sell lots of birds and they pack them all into one cage and they also have men dressed up as who knows what.
8. There was a street performer that looked just like Pierre, my sisters boyfriend. He was highly entertaining.
9. gelato is yummy.

I had a really great time and most importantly I got to spend it with my uncles who I rarely get to see.

bye mes amigos

Going to the chapel...

This saturday 9 of us went to Chartes and there just happen to be a medieval/renaissance festival going on. The French take these festivals très serious. The "acteurs" we're playing all sorts of instruments and walking around on stilts and jousting and tending to animals (there was one really nice looking cow). They were also selling an assortment of products and some medieval costumes. I'm not really sure who was going to buy these, as the French don't exactly celebrate Halloween like we do. The cathedral was beautiful and they were holding a musical practice inside and it was nice to hear people sing. The windows are the best part- the colors are so bright and alive in contrast to the rest of the decorations.

Last wednesday we visited Auvers-sur-Oise where Van Gogh painted and died and was buried- this is starting to sound like the Lord's prayer. The room he died in was so little and contained nothing- it was very somber. The town has done a nice job displaying his artwork about. For example, we were walking in a field and then all of a sudden you'll see his painting there- and you get to see exactly what he saw as he painted and his adaptation of it.

This wednesday we're going to the Louvre- as Brian put it "the disney world of museums." Except I think this will be less hellish.

I not even going to apologize for my lack of updates on this blog- I'm starting to think of it like one of those "finding a dollar in your jean pocket" situations- it's nice but totally unexpected.

This thursday we have another birthday party coming up- I think we're going to the tapas restaurant in versailles and then to Paris for ice cream near Notre Dame friday night.

Oh yes, I'm going to a wedding this saturday with my parents. It is for the daughter of my mother's cousin's daughter. I am apparently sitting at the "younger persons table" which the cousin informed me contains all guys. Great. As most girls my age would be thrilled at the opportunity- I'm just hoping its not akward and that they serve good champagne.

Even better, sunday I'm going to the family's hunting camp to socialize with all the women while the men hunt. This is going to be my second time at a hunting camp. The first time, I think I fell off a 4 wheeler.

I have to say, I love France. I think most Americans think that people come over here and are reminded how great our country is...but I think a few of us come over here and are reminded of all the things we don't like about it. While I must admit there are certainly some things I miss (dryers, driving, and family) I think I am going to feel a little emptiness when I'm back home.

(I guess I'll need some extra christmas presents to make up for it:)