That's what you might have thought last night as locals celebrated Spain's EuroCup (soccer) win over Germany. Despite the fact that Strasbourg has a big German community, apparently the locals are thrilled that Spain won -- they honked horns, shouted and sang for about 2 hours last night -- though I think I drifted off about 12:30 am.
After the luxury of my hotel in Reims, my hotel here is like a dorm room -- and the staff seem completely confused by me in every way -- even though I know I'm using the proper phrases. Hmmmm... They seem to assume I am German (or from Mars). The guy sitting next to me thinks I am a CIA agent -- even though I told him I'm not. And when I speak French he mumbles oddly.
My bigger concern today is driving. I pick up the car in a few hours and I'm a bit nervous -- or a lot. Please send up a prayer for me and the rest of France that everything goes okay.
Strasbourg has been a little strange this time around -- but I'm celebrating small victories like figuring out how to open the window, turn on the shower, and find the apostrophe key on this keyboard. '''''''' ;)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
pas dormir
I didnt have jet lag all the time I was in Paris, but my sense of when to sleep is all screwy now. I woke up at 4 am yesterday because I thought it was light out - it wasnt -- there was a lamp post. This morning it was 2 am -- so I finished a book (I know -- I actually read something!) I had dinner at Chez Yvonne last night -- Deb, I ordered the Feuillette of Muenster w/ kirsh sauerkraut that we loved last year -- it was so good. So far, I have succeeded in confusing the French by eating things all wrong -- like ordering just mashed potatoes for dinner or an appetizer as a meal. I get some strange looks. Ah, well ...
Still on this French keyboard -- which wont switch to English no matter how many times I set it, very frustrating -- so excuse the lack of apostrophes and the short post. Im going to the cathedral for some organ music. Still having fun, though a little tired today. ;)
Still on this French keyboard -- which wont switch to English no matter how many times I set it, very frustrating -- so excuse the lack of apostrophes and the short post. Im going to the cathedral for some organ music. Still having fun, though a little tired today. ;)
a quick note...
Im now in Strasbourg after having sipped champagne in Reims. All is well -- there is lots more to say, but the keyboard is French and so it is hunt and peck -- and Id rather be enjoying the town than next to sweaty, smelly guy in the basement of this cyber café!
a bientot!
a bientot!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
C'est Bon!
Despite my best efforts and careful packing of only sensible shoes, I've still managed to get blisters -- I even have one on my toe! That said, it's the worst thing that's happened so far. Oh, and both my watch and travel alarm clock went kaput -- even with new batteries. Luckily, I don't have any early morning trains and can probably manage a while longer without either. Besides, my morning wake-up call is a sound I can only describe as bowling with garbage trucks on the Avenue Bourdonnais. It's kind of funny actually. It reminds me of Arles... Tristan, Deb and Stacey will know what I mean.
I'm sure you're really enjoying this scintillating post -- ha ha. There is a lot more to report. I love the location of my hotel -- it's just blocks away from Rue Cler (home of my favorite cheese shop in Paris) and close to the metro. Last night I went to Cafe Camille and ordered just the mashed potatoes for dinner. I thought of you, Deb and asked what they put in them (I was guessing Ementhaller). Nope, just cream and butter -- the French certainly know dairy. Mmmm... After that, I sat at a table outside a little place around the corner from my hotel and enjoyed a Pastis. Double mmmmm.
The weather here is perfect -- about 75 today and the same yesterday. Paris is a different city when it's warm, and it brings out a whole different set of fashion. Speaking of which, I saw a some Vivienne Westwoods today -- and a few other fancy things at the Galleries Lafayette. I went there looking for a watch -- came out with a dress for only 14.90 euro. Hrm... other than that, I really haven't bought anything except metro tickets and food. It is sooooo good.
I spent the morning in Montmartre -- loved it, very charming and I'm glad I passed on going out to the Petite Trianon. Sacre Coeur is massive and beautiful. I sat for part of the service. One of the sisters was singing -- she had a gorgeous voice. Then, I went to the Cemetary to visit Nijinsky and Degas' graves. I was taking a picture of a cat behind a tombstone when this little old man started talking to me. Turns out he spoke enough English and I enough French that we had a whole conversation. He feeds the cemetary cats -- about 90 of them. He asked did I want to give him something to help pay for the food -- well, not really, but he showed me his secret hiding place -- inside one of the crypts -- where he keeps the food when the guards aren't looking. I asked him if it was his family's crypt and he said no. What a surprise that would be if one of the actual owners opened the door to pay their respects and found offerings of cat food! I figured that was worth a few euros -- it makes a good story, and who knows -- maybe he'll be a character in my next play.
Later, I went to the Champs Elysses -- it was big, but paled in comparison to Montmartre. The Arc de Triumph is also big. Hmmm... that's probably not the best way to describe one of France's most important monuments, but really the cat man was more interesting.
I'm not sad about skipping most of the big things -- the museums, the monuments, etc... I feel I saw most of those the last time. Instead I'm having a great time finding all kinds of small treasures in Paris. It's been a lovely visit.
I depart tomorrow afternoon for Reims, then on to Strasbourg. More later.
Love,
Amy
I'm sure you're really enjoying this scintillating post -- ha ha. There is a lot more to report. I love the location of my hotel -- it's just blocks away from Rue Cler (home of my favorite cheese shop in Paris) and close to the metro. Last night I went to Cafe Camille and ordered just the mashed potatoes for dinner. I thought of you, Deb and asked what they put in them (I was guessing Ementhaller). Nope, just cream and butter -- the French certainly know dairy. Mmmm... After that, I sat at a table outside a little place around the corner from my hotel and enjoyed a Pastis. Double mmmmm.
The weather here is perfect -- about 75 today and the same yesterday. Paris is a different city when it's warm, and it brings out a whole different set of fashion. Speaking of which, I saw a some Vivienne Westwoods today -- and a few other fancy things at the Galleries Lafayette. I went there looking for a watch -- came out with a dress for only 14.90 euro. Hrm... other than that, I really haven't bought anything except metro tickets and food. It is sooooo good.
I spent the morning in Montmartre -- loved it, very charming and I'm glad I passed on going out to the Petite Trianon. Sacre Coeur is massive and beautiful. I sat for part of the service. One of the sisters was singing -- she had a gorgeous voice. Then, I went to the Cemetary to visit Nijinsky and Degas' graves. I was taking a picture of a cat behind a tombstone when this little old man started talking to me. Turns out he spoke enough English and I enough French that we had a whole conversation. He feeds the cemetary cats -- about 90 of them. He asked did I want to give him something to help pay for the food -- well, not really, but he showed me his secret hiding place -- inside one of the crypts -- where he keeps the food when the guards aren't looking. I asked him if it was his family's crypt and he said no. What a surprise that would be if one of the actual owners opened the door to pay their respects and found offerings of cat food! I figured that was worth a few euros -- it makes a good story, and who knows -- maybe he'll be a character in my next play.
Later, I went to the Champs Elysses -- it was big, but paled in comparison to Montmartre. The Arc de Triumph is also big. Hmmm... that's probably not the best way to describe one of France's most important monuments, but really the cat man was more interesting.
I'm not sad about skipping most of the big things -- the museums, the monuments, etc... I feel I saw most of those the last time. Instead I'm having a great time finding all kinds of small treasures in Paris. It's been a lovely visit.
I depart tomorrow afternoon for Reims, then on to Strasbourg. More later.
Love,
Amy
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Je suis ici!
I am here and everything is going well. My flight from Portland to Houston was very smooth and Houston had a nice surprise -- no connection in Newark as I expected -- just straight through to Paris. I had nice seat companions on the long flight -- Eleanor (a teacher in East LA) and her husband. Eleanor had some great info on Paris to share so I'm going to check out some of the spots she showed me.
I took the RER from the airport -- much faster and cheaper than the Roissy Bus -- and a station agent kindly helped me when I forgot to validate my ticket (though he did scold me a little bit). I found my way to the hotel (only two changes on the metro). My hotel is in a great location! It's just down the street from the Ecole Militaire. I'm on the top floor in perhaps the tiniest room you can imagine but I can see the Eiffel Tower from my window! A room with a view! Imagine that! The shower curtain is rather amorous and I can pretty much do all necessary actiities in the bathroom from one spot, but I really don't care. I'm having a wonderful time so far.
Okay, I'm suddenly very hungry... time to find a patisserie!
A bientot!
Amy
I took the RER from the airport -- much faster and cheaper than the Roissy Bus -- and a station agent kindly helped me when I forgot to validate my ticket (though he did scold me a little bit). I found my way to the hotel (only two changes on the metro). My hotel is in a great location! It's just down the street from the Ecole Militaire. I'm on the top floor in perhaps the tiniest room you can imagine but I can see the Eiffel Tower from my window! A room with a view! Imagine that! The shower curtain is rather amorous and I can pretty much do all necessary actiities in the bathroom from one spot, but I really don't care. I'm having a wonderful time so far.
Okay, I'm suddenly very hungry... time to find a patisserie!
A bientot!
Amy
Monday, June 23, 2008
Let's wave as we pass each other...
I leave tomorrow!
It's very exciting!
I'm still a little nervous about the driving, but I made it through two driving lessons and my first solo drive without crying. (Woot!). I have, however, told Christian to alert the rest of France that I'm going to be on the road, so watch out! I also heard back from Niels, our fantastic host at L'Orangerie, whom I'll get to visit with when I'm at Germolles. It will be really fun to see him and David again -- they are the definition of lovely people. Niels serves a breakfast that makes a non-breakfast person like me think that maybe breakfast IS the most important meal of the day.
My thanks to Rhonda and Kim for helping me learn to drive -- especially Rhonda, who handled the first part of "Amy grinds gears and burns rubber" like the most fantastic person you ever met. Heart you, lady!
Deb is coming back from Kansas which she reports is "very flat with no trees". Stacey returns home from Alaska tomorrow where she's been having a whole bunch of fun. I'll be taking off so we've decided to wave to each other out the plane window.
Look up tomorrow -- I'll be waving.
It's very exciting!
I'm still a little nervous about the driving, but I made it through two driving lessons and my first solo drive without crying. (Woot!). I have, however, told Christian to alert the rest of France that I'm going to be on the road, so watch out! I also heard back from Niels, our fantastic host at L'Orangerie, whom I'll get to visit with when I'm at Germolles. It will be really fun to see him and David again -- they are the definition of lovely people. Niels serves a breakfast that makes a non-breakfast person like me think that maybe breakfast IS the most important meal of the day.
My thanks to Rhonda and Kim for helping me learn to drive -- especially Rhonda, who handled the first part of "Amy grinds gears and burns rubber" like the most fantastic person you ever met. Heart you, lady!
Deb is coming back from Kansas which she reports is "very flat with no trees". Stacey returns home from Alaska tomorrow where she's been having a whole bunch of fun. I'll be taking off so we've decided to wave to each other out the plane window.
Look up tomorrow -- I'll be waving.
Monday, June 16, 2008
8 Days
It's hard to believe in just 8 days I will be in France. It's harder to believe that a year ago, I was only thinking about my first trip to France -- with no idea that I would be returning so soon, let alone to stay at a castle in Burgundy. I am so excited, I can hardly stand it. I keep thinking this is all a dream -- and amazed that it is not.
The chateau website is working again. Click on the "galleries" link at the right side of the main page to see more photos of where I will be for two weeks. Of course, more pictures will follow.
Stacey is in Alaska -- she goes sea kayaking later this week. I'm sure she'll have adventures to tell about when she returns. Deb is hosting out of town guests soon and vacationing in Portland -- which isn't a bad place to be at all! Tristan is road-tripping this summer to mine for opals and turquoise -- and to visit the west.
The Travel Gals are all well, adventure begins! Happy travels!
The chateau website is working again. Click on the "galleries" link at the right side of the main page to see more photos of where I will be for two weeks. Of course, more pictures will follow.
Stacey is in Alaska -- she goes sea kayaking later this week. I'm sure she'll have adventures to tell about when she returns. Deb is hosting out of town guests soon and vacationing in Portland -- which isn't a bad place to be at all! Tristan is road-tripping this summer to mine for opals and turquoise -- and to visit the west.
The Travel Gals are all well, adventure begins! Happy travels!
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