I noticed you guys have better weather than we do right now. Hmph.
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We just sent back our bikes from our daytrip out to one of the more remote beaches. Nice drive, nice beach, and a restaurant on it to boot. I had a salad of in season fruits and veg that was dressed with shrimp mousse and “garnished” with Gambas, or Scampi. (the scampi were bigger than the glass, let alone any of the individual parts of the salad) Then, there was tanning, reading, lazing and more biking. Nice picnic if you ask me.
I think one of the major differences to me (Chris has a different perspective) between this place and other resort towns I’ve been to, is that the beaches have all these restaurants on them, and you can use their beach chairs, or just drink on the beach and not have to be staying at that hotel, or whatever. I kind of like it. Going off in the middle of nowhere, finding a beach, and low and behold, there is a bar there! and it serves haute cuisine!
So, we made it to the island! So far, we’ve walked around, snorkled a bit off the beach, and ate. We’ve got a pretty sweet little set up here, Right beside the church (I’m not even melting! I think it’s presbyterian, that might have something to do with it) so we always know what time it is 
and a couple markets, a laundrymat, many many restaurants and shops, and of course the beach. Also, it’s like 10 steps from the port, which makes carrying baggage quite easy. The NGV (Navir grande vitesse) is unbelievable! It is so fast, and amazingly smooth (I coule barely tell we were moving, even while I was peeing) and it only takes 2h55min to travel the 180km.
I have to say, I’m not sure if it had anything to do with my mood, or what, but I wasn’t really all that impressed with Nice. It seemed touristy, with little to offer other than bars and beaches. Cab fare was incroyable! 14 Euros for 800m. that’s like 20 bucks! could you imagine? Anyway, I’m left with the feeling that we missed out on something, cause everyone was so enthused about it.
So far the food here is really good, understandably, and the local animals are primarily goats and boars, so my beach towel is one that has the head of an goat superimposed on the map of corsica. It’s delightfully kitch. The cheese and the beer here are amazing, I don’t even know how to describe the cheese, but it’s really good
More stories will follow, I’m sure. This place is really laid back, and nice. A good change
That’s one big freaking bottle! Although we did not drink *that* much champagne last night, We did drink about a Rehoboam of Champage yesterday, starting around noon It turned out to be a pretty expensive night, lots of champagne, lots of shellfish (cold raw sea snails, yuk!) and missing the last train: 70Euros for a cab from the equivalent of Leduc to our house. Ouch. But well worth it all, in my opinion.
The Champagne making process and some other things were well learned and appreciated, the samples at the ends of the tours were nice, and each house had its own different flavor of tour, as well as champagne. At one of the houses, I ate some pilfered grapes from outside. The Pinot (noir or meunier, I couldn’t tell) were really good, but the chardonnay were yuk! really small, tart, unripe.
I’d love to recount everything, but I’m distracted, and just really don’t know how to tell of all the super fun times we had. We met some people, laughed, ate, drank.
Reims (pronounced just like France the french way, but without the F. wierd, eh?) Is a beautiful town, 120 000 people live there, and beacause it’s “small” the streets are wide and you can see the beautiful majesty of the French architecture for a good 200 meters at a time, something that you can’t do in Paris, or even in Prague. It’s a place where they’d crowned kings from the mid 5th century, so it’s well kept, lots of gorgeous monuments etc. Just an all around beautiful place to be.
But I think I forgot to eat today. Sure, I had breakfast, but that was like 10 hours ago. I’m feeling pretty queezy right now, and I think that’s why…
Oh well. So Chris and I did, in fact visit the catacombs, and they were every bit as cool as an ossuary should be and a bit cooler to boot. I liked the winding damp tunnels and all the dark French poetry about death. Some were really touching, some were religious, some were just nihilistic. Not nearly as informative as the Sewer museum, but that could be just because we were self guided. Speaking of which, I was proud of myself yesterday for totally following the tour in French. I was worried in the beginning, since I had no idea what she was getting on about, but I soon realised I just needed a bit to get used to the “accent”. We’ve been making a concerted effort to read all in french, listen and speak (to others) and I think to good effect. We’ve only run into one Surley french man, and many many awesome ones. I even wrote in French in my “diary” this afternoon.
Chris and I just got back from the Mussee D’Eroticisme, and it was OK. The feature exhibit was a Japanese one, which chris and I both agree, is not our kind of thing. I’ve never been able to find anything erotic about Japanese Porn, or whatever, They’ve lost the sensual and gone straight into the extremism of sexuality. There were some neet things to see, and some very well executed pieces. We stood beside the Moulin Rouge, not nearly as grandiose as I’d expected, and Chris had his life threatened on the subway.
I’m all over the place in this entry, mostly because I just can’t focus on anything other than that I want some fine french food. On that note, I will end with a highlight:
Last night, Chris and I went out for dinner, it was good, yes, but I racked my brains for about 35 mintues trying to find a desert I’d enjoyed more that the one that I was served, and I came up short. “Figues Roti” was all it was. Roast Figs, Fig puree, and creme anglais or vanilla creme fraiche, I’m not sure. It was so intensely flavorful and perfect. I don’t know if there was any added sugar at all. Wow. It knocked my socks off. Miam Miam
I had so many things to say, yet now I don’t know what to say. The pressure of Chris behind me posting of the same experiences, doesn’t help
We are here, we are acquainted, and we are comfortable. I think the hardest thing to get used to is that we are not required or expected to know what to do. It’s the norm to let the experts, be it of the restaurant, or market or whatever, make the decision for you. Anyway, to the real thing:
Last night, we were tourists, and went to the Eiffel Tower. It was really windy, and the top of the tower rocks like a 1980’s Singer-Songwriter. Appropriately, I was nauseous, and wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
We were tired, and had a glass of wine, and went to bed. This morning, we visited the market, and bought La pain, and then Lapin to put on La pain. As well as cheese, and what I require in any country I visit: Strawberries. Breakfast was awesome.
Now, I have to check train schedules, and have moments to do so, so more later, my friends:)
rock on
Chuckles.
I just wanted to mention how much I want to go to Romania. This morning I was wasting time on the internet, and you know how surfing works, you end up somewhere random. Sure you can pick the path, and sometimes it makes sense, and sometimes it is bizzare. I ended up here
Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t have some romantic idea of gypsies and poverty and tht kind of thing, I just got thinking of Simon and My trip, and talking to Ilana, and wanting to go there and why.
The dilema is this:
skiing and snow clad castles, or lakes/mountains and sun drenched castles?
Everything is complete. All we have to do is show up, and drink wine.
One of my coworkers asked me yesterday what I am going to be doing in Corsica. And, well, Nothing really. Tanning my naughty bits, excercising my thighs (bikes and mountains, people. Get your mind(s) out of the gutter!) eating seafood, drinking wine. I suppose if there are sights to see, we’ll see them. If there aren’t, then we’ll snorkle, cliff dive, boat. Speak french to the locals. Read bad corsican poetry. Maybe even good Corsican Poetry.
But most importantly, Love Chris, Of Corse
Well,　the week is almost up, and I*ve been shopping like crazy, although I think I*m all shopped out There are a few more things I would like to check out, but otherwise I think I am done. We*ve had an excellent time, I think 10 days in this country at a time is enough, it is so ADD, and I*m not so good with that.
The city of Tokyo is really like a collection of cities in the same space, so there is realy different XP every time you get off the train, which is really cool, but unfourtunately it leads to taking lots of trains everywhere. I kind of like to stay within walking distance to my hostel, but you just can*t do that here. Seriously, though, what a fantastic place!
We*ve gone spooky shopping, (I*ve got so many wierd things with skulls on them) sock shopping (there is a real thing about knee highs here) seen a cosplay park, japanese dudes who have a rock-a-billie (pardon the spelling) exhibition in a park that gets enough exposure that there is a whole host of vendor set up to feed onlookers, dudes dressed as dolls, dolls dressed as dudes, SLAYER KAREOKE, the most beautiful coloring books I have ever set eyes upon (I can*t wait to break out the pencil crayons). I don*t think that it is possible to remember all I*ve seen this weekend to write it down in this short period.
But it*s really not all wild and crazy. I*ve also gone to the Tokyo museum which houses some beautiful art and Japanese Historical aritfacts, seen some beautiful parks, and drank GOOD coffee in a 1L bottle from the refrigerated section of the Sebun-Erebun.
I am certainly going to miss the heated vending machines, warmed toilet seats, 24hour grocery stores, and and the just plan out geneeral foreignness (regardless of how Western it looks on the outside) of this place. I will also never miss the amazing helpfullness and politeness of the Japanese people. All you need is a bow and a smile, and you will get one back in return. It is truly a place that has something for everyone. Well, really, many things for everyone, but you know what I mean.
Can:t wait to upload the rest of the pictures, or show them to you when we arrive home.
Well, that fiasco aside, Chris and I had a fantastic day yesterday. We planned on a trip to Miyajima Shrine with some fellow travellers. Miyajima shrine is apparently the most well know of Japan’s tourist attractions (although I’ve never heard of it). It is a floatng red shinto shrine that is by a temple on an island with (surprise) a mountain! So, we toured the town a bit, took many pictures, and then proceded to go from the very bottom of the mountain to the very top of the mountan. Ugh! 2.5 km of STAIRS later, we arrived 523 or so M above sea level for some fantastic photo opportunities and much rejoicing.
Once we took the stairs down (easy, right? NO!) we took our jelly-filled legs back to Hiroshima for the loca delicacy. Picture this in layers: crepe, head of cabbage, soba noodles, squid, shrimp, bacon, scrambled egg, crepe, sauce. Wash down wth beer. yummmmmy! Tastes fantastic after that hike! Then we went off to the local public bath – you’ve never seen anything untill you’ve seen the Japanese bathe. looks almost painful, and extremely thorough. Had one last beer, and blissfully crashed for 8 solid hours of unitnerrupted sleep.
I’m super pleased with the sleeping conditions here, these tatami mat beds are divine! they are more firm than Chris likes, and I admit, they are not as comfortable when you sleep anyway but on your back, but nothing is more comfy than a sleep on your back on a tatami! Sweet, sweet living.
We are now off to the Peace Park Museum, and potentially the Castle. Maybe some Kimono photos will come? We will see how our tired feet fare…
And a warm welcome back to Mir and Moi! I’m glad you had such a fantastic time!
Date: 09/19/2008
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