The dogs are really barking tonight. And I don't mean cute puppies. I mean my swollen, blistered feet. I don't think I've ever spent so much time standing before in my life! Well...maybe you have. However my choice of shoes for today's adventures probably wasn't the smartest. I opted to wear my new espadrilles from France, since they matched my dress. But they have no support, and I hadn't broken them in yet. So, they were killing my toes and arches all day. Oh well. Cute over comfort is acceptable on occasion...just not in Europe.
Anyways, this morning we had a late wake up call--8:30am. WOW! An extra hour and a half. We ate some breakfast at 9, and were off to the metro by 10. We rode from our stop, Vallcarca, down past Catalunya square to Liceu. From here, we walked through the narrow streets to the Gothic Quarter. This area is the very oldest part of the city. Beneath it, there are Roman ruins, which we saw for ourselves in the museum we visited. For 2 hours, we walked underground in the museum (which was very well done and preserved) amongst original roman collumns and such. We saw the layout of the quarter before our own eyes--fascinating. I listened to the audio tour in Spanish, and tried to avoid reading the descriptions of all the different artifacts and areas in Spanish as well. Might as well do it while I can!
We had some time after the museum to walk around, and so my mom and I did some souvenir shopping, as did the other girls. We purchased ourselves Majorca pearl earrings--authentic to Spain. We got a discount, since two other teachers bought pearls too. I can't wait to wear them, because they are SO beautiful.
After that, we all walked as a group down by the bay and seaside. There, we were free to go to lunch, walk on th beach, and look around Barcelona for a bit more. I ate with the adult chaperones at a lovely little authentic restaurant where a 3 course meal was 11.50€. Good deal! My mom and I decided to get tapas instead of the meal, which was an excellent option. With a little bit of sangria, tapas, and dessert, it was a perfect meal. After, we had 1/2 hour to run to the beach, snap a quick picture, and run back to catch our reservation at the Picasso museum. Before the museum, we quickly explored a beautiful Gothic church, Santa Maria del Mar, and got out of the hot sun. When we got to the museum, the staff was slightly grumpy with us. We had to divide into 2 groups of 20, and we had to tick together in these groups in the museum.
Now, how exactly are 20 girls (not all of them interested in art) supposed to mov through at the same pace?
It didn't work.
The security guards didn't allow pictures, and they watched us like hawks. At one point, our feet were so tired that we had to sit on a bench in the hallway between exhibits. The guard approached me and asked me where my chaperone was: I replied that I was a chaperone, and she was all flustered. She told us we couldn't sit on the bench. When I asked her why there were benches if we couldn't sit, she replied that we just needed to get up and move. Rude. So we moved to other benches in the exhibit where Picasso's study of "Las Meninas" was displayed. His cubic take on Velazquez's classic was excellent and fascinating.
After the museum, we traipsed back to the hotel, ate some dinner, and here we are. Our last night in Barcelona. It's been a great few days here. Though I'm sad to leave, I'm excited to come home an sleep in my own bed, and use normal bathrooms. :)
Buenas noches! Off to the airport tomorrow at 9am for 12:55 flight to Paris, and then a flight around 5pm back home to Dulles. Hooray airfrance! America, here we come!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Día 8--Vive BARCA!
Ahh...vive Barcelona!
I love Spain. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE SPAIN. Can I say it enough? This place is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the shopping is positively perfect. Not to mention the metros are clean, air conditioned, and not as crowded as Paris. We had a great day!
We started in the Parque Guell--it is built into the hillside in the very northern part of the city of Barcelona. It's history is very interesting; it was bought by el señor Guell, who planned to build 60 houses on the land to sell to locals. He commissioned the great designer and architect, Gaudi, to help him design this community up in the hillside. They built one model house, where Gaudi lived, and placed it on a plot near the front of the property. Gaudi designed the land with stunning landscaping and stuctures, along with a system of paths for the future residents to drive on. Obviously, no one ever bought into this community. It was too far away from the hype of the main area of Barcelona. So, the park was finished, and Guell sold it to the city of Barcelona; then it became open to the public.
More on the architecture--Gaudi didn't want the structures to stand out in the nature. He believed that understanding nature was the first way to becoming inspired and enlightened. All of the paths, buildings, and archways are made from the same neutral colored stone. He based most of his designs off of the hyperbolic arch, or a parabola, and a few of his designs looked like crashing waves. It's a beautiful place to go and walk and connect with nature while observing such an artistic masterpiece.
The park is also well known for the bright colors of the tile used in the main square, in the dragon statue, and in the lizard statue, as well as in the ceiling below the main square. Gaudi was basically a genius. (PS: Cheetah Girls 2 was filmed here. Cool!)
Then we moved on to the very famous work in progress basilica, La sagrada familia. It has been under construction since 1882, and in November of this past year, the roof was finally finished! The pope came to celebrate the first mass there, and it was a grand ocassion. We didn't get to go inside, cause the line was so long, but we took plenty of pictures of the exterior. There are many cranes surrounding it and lots of noise, since the construction is going on every day. It is truly an amazing basilica, it was designed once again by Gaudi, and it's expected to be finished in about 30 years. Woohoo!
Then we headed down to the vey famous street, called Las Ramblas. It has mmay shops and vendors, as well as a great place to eat churros y chocate (a yummy Spanish treat that I absolutely love). I spent most of my time in El Corte Ingkes--my favorite department store that can only he found in Spain. 9 floors of everything you could possibly want or need. I got a super cute dress and a top. Gotta love the shopping!
We headed back to the hotel for some dinner (and a little wine), and now we are off to bed before our last full day in Europe tomorrow. This trip has been full of excitig events and surprises, and I'm sad see it start drawing to a close. But I'm excited to be coming home to share my experiences and to spend time with my family all together on father's day. :)
Off to the beach, more roman ruins, and Picasso museum for our last day tomorrow. Buenas noches--vive Barca!
I love Spain. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE SPAIN. Can I say it enough? This place is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the shopping is positively perfect. Not to mention the metros are clean, air conditioned, and not as crowded as Paris. We had a great day!
We started in the Parque Guell--it is built into the hillside in the very northern part of the city of Barcelona. It's history is very interesting; it was bought by el señor Guell, who planned to build 60 houses on the land to sell to locals. He commissioned the great designer and architect, Gaudi, to help him design this community up in the hillside. They built one model house, where Gaudi lived, and placed it on a plot near the front of the property. Gaudi designed the land with stunning landscaping and stuctures, along with a system of paths for the future residents to drive on. Obviously, no one ever bought into this community. It was too far away from the hype of the main area of Barcelona. So, the park was finished, and Guell sold it to the city of Barcelona; then it became open to the public.
More on the architecture--Gaudi didn't want the structures to stand out in the nature. He believed that understanding nature was the first way to becoming inspired and enlightened. All of the paths, buildings, and archways are made from the same neutral colored stone. He based most of his designs off of the hyperbolic arch, or a parabola, and a few of his designs looked like crashing waves. It's a beautiful place to go and walk and connect with nature while observing such an artistic masterpiece.
The park is also well known for the bright colors of the tile used in the main square, in the dragon statue, and in the lizard statue, as well as in the ceiling below the main square. Gaudi was basically a genius. (PS: Cheetah Girls 2 was filmed here. Cool!)
Then we moved on to the very famous work in progress basilica, La sagrada familia. It has been under construction since 1882, and in November of this past year, the roof was finally finished! The pope came to celebrate the first mass there, and it was a grand ocassion. We didn't get to go inside, cause the line was so long, but we took plenty of pictures of the exterior. There are many cranes surrounding it and lots of noise, since the construction is going on every day. It is truly an amazing basilica, it was designed once again by Gaudi, and it's expected to be finished in about 30 years. Woohoo!
Then we headed down to the vey famous street, called Las Ramblas. It has mmay shops and vendors, as well as a great place to eat churros y chocate (a yummy Spanish treat that I absolutely love). I spent most of my time in El Corte Ingkes--my favorite department store that can only he found in Spain. 9 floors of everything you could possibly want or need. I got a super cute dress and a top. Gotta love the shopping!
We headed back to the hotel for some dinner (and a little wine), and now we are off to bed before our last full day in Europe tomorrow. This trip has been full of excitig events and surprises, and I'm sad see it start drawing to a close. But I'm excited to be coming home to share my experiences and to spend time with my family all together on father's day. :)
Off to the beach, more roman ruins, and Picasso museum for our last day tomorrow. Buenas noches--vive Barca!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Day 7--medieval cities, and SPAIN!
Au revoir France, Bienvenidos a ESPANA!
(by the way, sorry that last blog entry was a bit vague and rushed--I was in a hurry, and didn't have time to sit and7 type a detailed account on this tiny iPod screen.)
Today's the day--we made the 6 1/2 hour bus ride from Orange to Barcelona, with a stop in the medieval city of Carcassone. It wasn't too bad, seeing as our stop was for 2 hours, and it broke our trip into (more or less) 3 hour segments. It sure feels good to be in Spanish territory; France was positively charming and amazing and fun, however I do enjoy being able to communitcate and understand the language being spoken around me! It's good practice, since I don't speak enough Spanish at home to be 100% fluent.
We left Orange at 8:15am this morning, and arrived in the medieval city of Carcassone around noon. This place was breathtaking! The city is surrounded by 2 stone walls. As we walked inside the city walls, we crossed a drawbridge with a moat, and found ourselves on a tiny cobblestone street fuof tiny shops and places to grab a crepe or panini. It was decorated just like a medieval town--all of the signs and building decor reflected this theme. It reminded me almost of Disneyworld--except it was actually the real thing! (what. very American thing for me to say--but really, Disney does a good job recreating different places around the world).
My mom and I explored the city's interior. We stopped in a few stores (well...more than a few...) and bought several things. I got a pair of Espadrilles with stripes, so I can sport French products in the US! We took lots of pictures and marvelled at how intact the city still was. Most fortresses have been destroyed by war and such, but this one has remained for years and years. Why? Well, there are 3 secrets of Carcassone.
First, the city walls are not just made of stone. They are stone, but they are also brick. This made them nearly indestructible. Since bricks are softer, they gave the wall flexibility. When catapults were fired at the walls, they would shake, yes. But they would never break.
Second, the water system. They used several wells in the city to draw water from below the surface. This kept them alive and well hydrated when they were confined within the walls during attack. Enemies never knew!
Third, olive oil. This oil, like salt, does well at preserving flavor. They would use it to keep things tasting good after a long time of being preserved.
For lunch, we had a savory ham and cheese crepe (our last crepe in France!) that was absolutely delicious. The dough had rosemary and garlic in it, and the flavors were amazing. We also got sorbet--I got Cassis, which is a special flavor found only in the south of France. The cassis berry is special to the area we were in, because it is a local berry. It tasted like a cross between a blackberry and a cranberry. It was refreshing and very tasty!
We climbed back on the bus around 2:30, and headed out to Barcelona. We drove through Los Pirineos (mountains), and made our way across the border of France and Spain. Since both countries are in the union, we didn't have to stop for customs. Thank God for that--it wouldve taken forever, and we were about to hit bad traffic into Barcelona anyways.
After plodding along the autopista (highway), we made it to the city of Barcelona--POR FIN! I'm so glad to be back Herr. We ate a delicious dinner in the hotel, had some tasty sangria, and were off to bed to rest up for tomorrow.
We will be visiting Gaudi's very famous Parque Guell, and La Sagrada Familia, which is a cathedral that has been a work in progress for over 100 years. WOW! I also sense we will be shopping along Las Ramblas, a very famous street in the city.
(by the way, sorry that last blog entry was a bit vague and rushed--I was in a hurry, and didn't have time to sit and7 type a detailed account on this tiny iPod screen.)
Today's the day--we made the 6 1/2 hour bus ride from Orange to Barcelona, with a stop in the medieval city of Carcassone. It wasn't too bad, seeing as our stop was for 2 hours, and it broke our trip into (more or less) 3 hour segments. It sure feels good to be in Spanish territory; France was positively charming and amazing and fun, however I do enjoy being able to communitcate and understand the language being spoken around me! It's good practice, since I don't speak enough Spanish at home to be 100% fluent.
We left Orange at 8:15am this morning, and arrived in the medieval city of Carcassone around noon. This place was breathtaking! The city is surrounded by 2 stone walls. As we walked inside the city walls, we crossed a drawbridge with a moat, and found ourselves on a tiny cobblestone street fuof tiny shops and places to grab a crepe or panini. It was decorated just like a medieval town--all of the signs and building decor reflected this theme. It reminded me almost of Disneyworld--except it was actually the real thing! (what. very American thing for me to say--but really, Disney does a good job recreating different places around the world).
My mom and I explored the city's interior. We stopped in a few stores (well...more than a few...) and bought several things. I got a pair of Espadrilles with stripes, so I can sport French products in the US! We took lots of pictures and marvelled at how intact the city still was. Most fortresses have been destroyed by war and such, but this one has remained for years and years. Why? Well, there are 3 secrets of Carcassone.
First, the city walls are not just made of stone. They are stone, but they are also brick. This made them nearly indestructible. Since bricks are softer, they gave the wall flexibility. When catapults were fired at the walls, they would shake, yes. But they would never break.
Second, the water system. They used several wells in the city to draw water from below the surface. This kept them alive and well hydrated when they were confined within the walls during attack. Enemies never knew!
Third, olive oil. This oil, like salt, does well at preserving flavor. They would use it to keep things tasting good after a long time of being preserved.
For lunch, we had a savory ham and cheese crepe (our last crepe in France!) that was absolutely delicious. The dough had rosemary and garlic in it, and the flavors were amazing. We also got sorbet--I got Cassis, which is a special flavor found only in the south of France. The cassis berry is special to the area we were in, because it is a local berry. It tasted like a cross between a blackberry and a cranberry. It was refreshing and very tasty!
We climbed back on the bus around 2:30, and headed out to Barcelona. We drove through Los Pirineos (mountains), and made our way across the border of France and Spain. Since both countries are in the union, we didn't have to stop for customs. Thank God for that--it wouldve taken forever, and we were about to hit bad traffic into Barcelona anyways.
After plodding along the autopista (highway), we made it to the city of Barcelona--POR FIN! I'm so glad to be back Herr. We ate a delicious dinner in the hotel, had some tasty sangria, and were off to bed to rest up for tomorrow.
We will be visiting Gaudi's very famous Parque Guell, and La Sagrada Familia, which is a cathedral that has been a work in progress for over 100 years. WOW! I also sense we will be shopping along Las Ramblas, a very famous street in the city.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day 6: Nimes and Avignon!
There were lots of Roman ruins to be seen today as we made our way down to Nimes. This town is most known for the very famous roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, which is a serious feat in ancient engineering. We walked through the park area to the aqueduct, where there were rocks and olive trees that were a hundred or so years old. We finally made it to the Pont du Gar, which was ENORMOUS. The sky was so blue today, and they keystone arches were a picturesque contrast with it's surroundings. I took more pictures than I can remember of the undersides of the arches and the aqueduct itself.
Then we moved on to the main area of Nimes, where we saw the ancient Roman amphitheater. To the boys who went to Rome--this is supposedly better than the Coliseum, because it has been the best preserved in the entire world, and is still in use. It was awesome to go inside and take pictures, and the audio tour was well put together and very informative.
We went to Avignon for the remainder of the afternoon to explore the Palais de Papes, which tool 20 years and 2 popes to build. After them, Christendom was located in Avignon for more than 100 years before moving back to Rome. COOL! The palace was a medieval, fortress-looking structure, and was pretty massive. We climbed to the top of the tower!
We had dinner in Avignon and then went back to the hotel to relax. Now, we are off to Barcelona! We will stop in Carcassone, the medieval city, to break up the 6 hr drive. Woohooo!
Then we moved on to the main area of Nimes, where we saw the ancient Roman amphitheater. To the boys who went to Rome--this is supposedly better than the Coliseum, because it has been the best preserved in the entire world, and is still in use. It was awesome to go inside and take pictures, and the audio tour was well put together and very informative.
We went to Avignon for the remainder of the afternoon to explore the Palais de Papes, which tool 20 years and 2 popes to build. After them, Christendom was located in Avignon for more than 100 years before moving back to Rome. COOL! The palace was a medieval, fortress-looking structure, and was pretty massive. We climbed to the top of the tower!
We had dinner in Avignon and then went back to the hotel to relax. Now, we are off to Barcelona! We will stop in Carcassone, the medieval city, to break up the 6 hr drive. Woohooo!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Day 5: Sheer beauty.
This was, by far, one of the most beautiful days on this trip!
We departed early from the hotel, and drove 2 hours south to a tiny fishing village on the coast of the mediterranean called Cassis. I was asleep for most of the ride, but I was really in for a treat when I woke up!
As we wound our way down the rocky coast, we could see the blue sea meeting with the coastline and the little village. We passed by local houses--they were beautiful! Some had pools and gardens, and most were white with a brown tile roof. It was very picturesque, and it only got better when we got off the bus! We took a little train down from where the bus was parked, and we walked from where the train dropped us down to the main area. There were many shops and restaurants, and lots of people were visiting the town. In Europe, today (Monday) was a holiday for Pentecost, so the long weekend allowed for vacations. Luckily, we didn't hit bad traffic.
We went down to the beach area and dipped our feet in the Mediterranean--it was very VERY cold. But people were sunbathing and enjoying the water. Some women were bold enough to remove their bikini tops...lovely. Lovely indeed. I could've done without the old woman showing me her chest. At least the water, cliffs, and surrounding area were enough to keep the girls focused on the scenery.
We then got on a boat that took us along the shoreline, and into the canals between the cliffs. The wind was blowing, the sun was shining, and it felt so refreshing to be out on the sea. I took many pictures that I can't even describe. It was very, VERY pretty. We made it back to the coastline and did some shopping. My mom and I met up with my cousin Katie and her husband Pierre, and we ate a great lunch at an Italian restaurant, and got delicious gelato for dessert. It was so hard to leave Cassis!
We bussed next inland to Aix en Provence--an adorable city with great views and shopping. The city is dedicated to water, and so there are many fountains that you can find all throughout town. We explored a cathedral from the 6th century, and saw the original baptistry--absolutely amazing! My mom and I looked around in the shops some more, and headed back to meet the bus with the rest of the group.
We drove to the restaurant where we ate last night and indulged in a delicious meal of turkey with potato balls, and more wine. YUM. Dessert was chocolate mousse. We walked back to the hotel (very full) and had a quick meeting, and off to bed we went. All in all, it was a fabulous day along the coastline, and we got to experience many great things.
Off to Nimes to see the aqueduct and Avignon to tour the papal palace tomorrow!
We departed early from the hotel, and drove 2 hours south to a tiny fishing village on the coast of the mediterranean called Cassis. I was asleep for most of the ride, but I was really in for a treat when I woke up!
As we wound our way down the rocky coast, we could see the blue sea meeting with the coastline and the little village. We passed by local houses--they were beautiful! Some had pools and gardens, and most were white with a brown tile roof. It was very picturesque, and it only got better when we got off the bus! We took a little train down from where the bus was parked, and we walked from where the train dropped us down to the main area. There were many shops and restaurants, and lots of people were visiting the town. In Europe, today (Monday) was a holiday for Pentecost, so the long weekend allowed for vacations. Luckily, we didn't hit bad traffic.
We went down to the beach area and dipped our feet in the Mediterranean--it was very VERY cold. But people were sunbathing and enjoying the water. Some women were bold enough to remove their bikini tops...lovely. Lovely indeed. I could've done without the old woman showing me her chest. At least the water, cliffs, and surrounding area were enough to keep the girls focused on the scenery.
We then got on a boat that took us along the shoreline, and into the canals between the cliffs. The wind was blowing, the sun was shining, and it felt so refreshing to be out on the sea. I took many pictures that I can't even describe. It was very, VERY pretty. We made it back to the coastline and did some shopping. My mom and I met up with my cousin Katie and her husband Pierre, and we ate a great lunch at an Italian restaurant, and got delicious gelato for dessert. It was so hard to leave Cassis!
We bussed next inland to Aix en Provence--an adorable city with great views and shopping. The city is dedicated to water, and so there are many fountains that you can find all throughout town. We explored a cathedral from the 6th century, and saw the original baptistry--absolutely amazing! My mom and I looked around in the shops some more, and headed back to meet the bus with the rest of the group.
We drove to the restaurant where we ate last night and indulged in a delicious meal of turkey with potato balls, and more wine. YUM. Dessert was chocolate mousse. We walked back to the hotel (very full) and had a quick meeting, and off to bed we went. All in all, it was a fabulous day along the coastline, and we got to experience many great things.
Off to Nimes to see the aqueduct and Avignon to tour the papal palace tomorrow!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Bonjour from the south of France!
We are now in Orange--a small city in the south (obvious) . It is full of Roman ruins from ages past, and it's brimming with history and character. How exciting to be here!
This morning, we spent our last few hours in Paris in the "Cite"--an island in the middle of the Seine river in Paris that houses the city's oldest buildings and historical landmarks. We attended 9:30am mass in Notre Dame, which was amazing!
The Notre Dame's Gothic architecture dissapoints some people who are used to the gold-guilded churches and elaborate decor. Personally, I get the chills being in this church. They are DEFINITELY good chills. The stained glass windows inside combine so many unique and extraordinary colors, and they complement the flying buttresses and vaulted ceilings quite nicely. As you walk in the Notre Dame, there are individual chairs in rows facing the altar, which is very modern (the altar) and made of what appears to be granite. (I wasn't too keen on the altar, since it's modern flair didn't really fit in). Then behind the altar, there is an area with seats and a sacristy, as well as a beautiful marble statue of Mary holding Jesus. Behind them, there is a crucifix. All around the inside of the church, there are chapels dedicated to saints--mostly, these were saints with French significance. I lit a candle in front of a crucifix that was quite large right near the doorway of notre dame.
As we were in mass, I couldn't help but look around and marvel at all the different people from around the world celebrating Pentecost mass in Le Notre Dame! It was very moving. Mass was celebrated by 6 priests (woah!) and afterwards, there was a Laude with excellent singing and music, and a procession. An experience I will never forget, that's for sure!
After mass, my mom and I did some souvenir shopping along the streets near the cathedral. There were many cute shops to explore and choose from. Also, we indulged in a lemon and sugar crepe right along the seine and a beautiful bridge.
The crepe was very delicious, and the area was so picturesque and very "Paris". On the bridge, we saw a man with a piano on a cart, and his friend on a double bass, and they were improvising wonderful music. I needed my music friends with me to help me appreciate these talented street musicians!
After some great pasta for lunch, we headed to he train station to catch the TGV high speed train to Avignon. We said au revoir to Paris, and off we went on this train that was moving faster than 150mph!
The train wasn't just for Avignon--it was also for passengers travelling to Marseille--a coast town in the deep south along the Med. Sea. It only stops for 2 minutes in Avignon. Think about it: 40 people. One tiny door. Luggage. 2 minutes. We can't lose anyone.
Well, we did it! But we had all of Avignon laughing hysterically at us as we hustled all of the girls off, and made a chain, passing luggage and more luggage through the little door. We were successful, and even had 30 seconds to spare! I was exhausted afterwards, since the adrenaline was pumping hard from throwing overpacked bags on the platform. But all is well, we made it to Orange, and our hotel is beautiful.
Our dinner was delicious--pork and vegetables with potato, bread, and Rose wine for the adults (yippee!! Local goodies!). Dessert was apple pie. Bon appetit!
We are all exhausted and ready for our roadtrip to Cassis, the fishing village 2 hrs south, tomorrow morning. More to come!
We are now in Orange--a small city in the south (obvious) . It is full of Roman ruins from ages past, and it's brimming with history and character. How exciting to be here!
This morning, we spent our last few hours in Paris in the "Cite"--an island in the middle of the Seine river in Paris that houses the city's oldest buildings and historical landmarks. We attended 9:30am mass in Notre Dame, which was amazing!
The Notre Dame's Gothic architecture dissapoints some people who are used to the gold-guilded churches and elaborate decor. Personally, I get the chills being in this church. They are DEFINITELY good chills. The stained glass windows inside combine so many unique and extraordinary colors, and they complement the flying buttresses and vaulted ceilings quite nicely. As you walk in the Notre Dame, there are individual chairs in rows facing the altar, which is very modern (the altar) and made of what appears to be granite. (I wasn't too keen on the altar, since it's modern flair didn't really fit in). Then behind the altar, there is an area with seats and a sacristy, as well as a beautiful marble statue of Mary holding Jesus. Behind them, there is a crucifix. All around the inside of the church, there are chapels dedicated to saints--mostly, these were saints with French significance. I lit a candle in front of a crucifix that was quite large right near the doorway of notre dame.
As we were in mass, I couldn't help but look around and marvel at all the different people from around the world celebrating Pentecost mass in Le Notre Dame! It was very moving. Mass was celebrated by 6 priests (woah!) and afterwards, there was a Laude with excellent singing and music, and a procession. An experience I will never forget, that's for sure!
After mass, my mom and I did some souvenir shopping along the streets near the cathedral. There were many cute shops to explore and choose from. Also, we indulged in a lemon and sugar crepe right along the seine and a beautiful bridge.
The crepe was very delicious, and the area was so picturesque and very "Paris". On the bridge, we saw a man with a piano on a cart, and his friend on a double bass, and they were improvising wonderful music. I needed my music friends with me to help me appreciate these talented street musicians!
After some great pasta for lunch, we headed to he train station to catch the TGV high speed train to Avignon. We said au revoir to Paris, and off we went on this train that was moving faster than 150mph!
The train wasn't just for Avignon--it was also for passengers travelling to Marseille--a coast town in the deep south along the Med. Sea. It only stops for 2 minutes in Avignon. Think about it: 40 people. One tiny door. Luggage. 2 minutes. We can't lose anyone.
Well, we did it! But we had all of Avignon laughing hysterically at us as we hustled all of the girls off, and made a chain, passing luggage and more luggage through the little door. We were successful, and even had 30 seconds to spare! I was exhausted afterwards, since the adrenaline was pumping hard from throwing overpacked bags on the platform. But all is well, we made it to Orange, and our hotel is beautiful.
Our dinner was delicious--pork and vegetables with potato, bread, and Rose wine for the adults (yippee!! Local goodies!). Dessert was apple pie. Bon appetit!
We are all exhausted and ready for our roadtrip to Cassis, the fishing village 2 hrs south, tomorrow morning. More to come!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
So.Many.Typos.
Hello again!
I just want to make it clear--I'm really sorry about all of these typos and misspellings. This iTouch can only do so much for me. I'll try to edit my posts to avoid embarrassing little errors.
Merci!
I just want to make it clear--I'm really sorry about all of these typos and misspellings. This iTouch can only do so much for me. I'll try to edit my posts to avoid embarrassing little errors.
Merci!
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