France 2008

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.

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!

I noticed you guys have better weather than we do right now. Hmph.

Well, the countdown has begun. I’m looking forward to comfy clothes and dinner on *my* time. I thought the Roses were bad, eating after 6pm! Also, something other than pastry for breakfast. I know that sounds awful, but it’s true. I’m a protein girl, all the way

Carcassonne has been pretty cool so far, awesome, awesome guest house. everything is big here the room, the scenery, the freaking castle. Wow. Mel and my prep has paid off I think, there have been no complaints in the leg department, and although there have been no Big Up Hill Hikes, I’m still thanking that prep cause I can tell when I walk up that I’m not even close to labouring The Pictures are all going to come up when we arrive home, since we’re only here for a short while longer, and I think this will be the last internet cafe. We were (and are still considering) getting a reservation at a Micheline star restaurant tomorrow, so …maybe we’ll have something (expensive) and excititng to talk about when we get home. we’ll let you know.

Some Highlights:
Truffles, truffles, truffles, truffles. should I do a lottery, or just pick myself? who will it be, who will it be?
In Avignion, I learned what foie gras was: Even I had a twinge of “Meanies!”
And here, in Carcasonne, Chris has schooled me in medieval warfare, very interesting.
I learned what gésiers are: I ordered a “salade au gésiers et artichauds” and, well, I got one of the wierdest salads ever. nice bed of greens, tomatoes, cuces, light dressing, spattering of artichokes, and 2 chickens worth of extra crispy super hot hearts and kidneys.
I had a dream so bad, my hair turned white. (litterally just one of them)
Watched a frenchman laugh at an englishman who tried to buy worschestershire sauce at his shop.
Saw a muskrat so big I thought it was a Beaver
Stepped in Dog shit
Watched a great game of Bocci Ball
Photographed a Nuclear Power Plant
Made out in a 2 thousand year old structure at least once
Went through a river lock twice
Watched a mini lock once
Bought Yarn

i figured I’d go through and do a highlight reel, since all you got was random mumblings of tired folk, likely just at the internet shop to kill time in waiting for something else

Paris:
We started at the Eiffle tower, Wow. Big steel thing. This is a quote from my personal travel log:

“While in the historical part of the Musee des Egouts, {sewer museum} there was a mural pained of Jean Valjean carrying Marius, like in the book, so I made Chris take a picture of me in front of it. There was a couple checking us out, since we were making silly faces, animated commentary, and getting the settings on the camera just right. Since we were paying so much attention to it, they went over, and read the plaque describing the scene. The look on their faces and the shrug they both gave each other made it clear that they just didn’t get it. I got a good chuckle out of that. I know how it feels to check something out because peole around you are making a big deal out of it only to just not get it. See: Eiffle tower. Is it litterally just a tall monument whose only signigicance is it’s status as a tourist attraction ?!?”

She is quite pretty, though

The next day, of course, we checked out the sewer museum, from which the last quote came. It is arguably the only reason I’d ever gotten to step foot in Paris, so it’s likely the reason that this trip was made. It was worth it. I enjoyed it, saw the first rat of my life. I’d felt one run over my foot in Prague, and saw it’s tail, but that was barely the whole animal. If you squint, you can see it in this picture:

To continue on our underground theme, Chris and I visited the Catacombs. It was at one time I rock quarry, which they took too much rock out of, and the city started sinking in some parts, so they stopped mining, and since at the same time, they were having problems with the cemetaries being over full and starting to smell, they turned it into a giant undergroung ossuary. It was damp, winding, earthy, creepy and just plain wonderful.

Now, we’ve seen where Napolean was born, and entombed:

And where Christophe Colombe was born and entombed. (Both born in Corsica, and Nap entombed at The church of Les Invalides, and Chris entombed in Dominican Republic) Neet, I guess

So, in the Champagne district, we visited both Reims and Epernay. Epernay is the closest to the birthplace of champagne by Dom Perignon, who, once he discovered his masterpiece, apparently (probably quite drunkenly) ran up the streets yelling: Quick my brothers, come! I’m drinking the stars! Now, that described it well, me thinks.

We learned a wonderful amount about champagne, about its creation, and how truly different every house is in taste, and in technique, to their ability of course, since the process is so meticulously controlled. And, most importantly, drank a respectable amount of champagne. Mom, if you are reading this: No silly flip flops for me.

Sur le pont D’Avignon, on y danse, on y danse

Well, Avignon was a place of wonder, beauty and food. Oh God the Food. The City is rich with history, art, and FOOD. Chris and I spent 3 wonderful days cruising, walking, wondering, and laughing. I made it through the Palais de Papes without melting, but not without offending someone ;). We oogled gargoyles, shot each other with corks projected from crossbows, checked out the secret coffers of the Renegade Popes. Every time we passed an alcove whose statue had been taken out, I took the opportunity to insert a statue of Notre Dame de Drama Queens

We took a cruise to Arles, which takes about 2 3/4 hours, so we ate at a wonderfully leisurely pace on the way there, cruised around arles fro a few hours, Made out in a structure almost as old as Jesus Christ (it was finished about 100 years after his death) And was generrally awed at how people still lived and thrived in the modern way in homes that are 1500 years old. It’s the case in Avignon as well, and probably much of Provence, but we had just learned that on our super cheesy tourist train ride

We laughed at how awesome Old guys are, especially when they are competitive

And marvelled at the scenery. Much of Provence is still very religious, so it was a bit of a shame being there on a Sunday and Monday, since that is the weekend, and not in the party sense. They close everything down. Probably good for my pocket book, cause I was in the mood to shop, and good for our bakcs, since we were a bit tight on the back pack space.

Avignon was beautiful and fun and the closest to comfortable I reached in France. Best done again in the future but only if we are renting an appartment. Cooking is a must. Freedom to roam the countryside in a car would have made 3 weeks based out of there seem short.

All in all, the trip was fun. Chris and I had a truly wonderful time together. France did not wow me like any other place I’d been, or leave me with any really potent memories like other trips I’ve taken, and I’d likely not go back, but if I had to do it again, I would wholeheartedly. I loved the time with Chris. I love that we made what we did of it. I love that despite where I am and how I feel, I’m comfortable with him, and we can make the most of any given experience, whatever the expectations are.