C'est la vie

Amsterdam

So, we went. It was fun. But I’m so very happy to be back. Going on a trip with just one person is hard. I think it makes sense when its your husband or something….but not when its just one other friend. Or maybe Christine just isn’t the type of friend you go places with? I mean…I’ve been having issues with her lately anyway, so that can explain a lot. I basically had to take control all weekend and take the lead and make sure we don’t get lost and make an itinerary. Shes just so lazy. ugh! Oh well, I had the best fun you can have while needing to drag someone behind you the entire time. I saw the Anne Frank House which honestly was my favorite part of the whole weekend. Its crazy to be in there…you go behind the bookcase and everything…which made me feel a little klostraphobic but it was pretty heavy. We also checked out Heineken Brewery (Christine’s choice). I don’t like Heineken…I think it tastes too watery. And the tour itself taught me nothing. hahah. To make up for it though, we did ride our bikes to the De Gooyer Windmill just on the outskirts of Amsterdam. At the windmill there is this really awesome brewery my teacher at UArts suggested to me. We went in, I asked for their best beer (which awesomely enough was 12% and 2.50 euro—what a deal!). Their beer is actually quite similar to Dogfish Head….just cheaper. Can’t go wrong with that. We also saw the Van Gogh Museum and the Rembrandt Museum. And yes..I wanted to go to the Hard Rock Cafe. I needed some familiar food being that the more I’m in Paris, the more I realize there isn’t much of a variety of food—which is very upsetting. Aside from that….yes we did stumble upon the Red Light District. And I do mean stumble. I did want to see it but most of what you see from just the naked eye is sex toy shops…basically its like walking down South Street. But the one night we got a little lost, I started taking “short-cuts” cause it was raining and I wanted to get back to the hostel really bad, we went down some lit alley and all of a sudden there were windows with prostitutes on either side of me. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera ready hahah.

But thats pretty much the weekend for ya.

Next up is Normandy on Wednesday, which is also my mother’s birthday. I’m feeling insanely homesick lately but I’m thinking Normandy will keep my mind off of everything. I’m excited to get on a beach!

SOOOOOOOOO OVERRRRRRRR

Ugh! Yes! I can breath! We just finished our final for the art and architecture history course. My paper was turned in. I’m pretty happy with everything. I think I did well…and studying last night with the others made this whole experience much better.

But now, time to make a little itinerary for Amsterdam. I want to make sure we hit some spots. Really, nothing big…just something to keep us busy. Its three days, so its not a whole lot of time! Our train is at 6:25 am tomorrow (ey yi yi). I hope we don’t miss it. It did end up just being me and Christine. Eric is heading somewhere…only God knows…with his friend Claire I think and Chang is going south with her cousin. So time to plan for two! woohoo!

Later tonight we are going to this party at my favorite bar. So here is the back story. From day one, Eric made friends with the owners of this bar below his apartment. He had been telling us about them a lot. They are Algerian, they are really friendly and cool, they love him hahaha. So when Fete de la Musique happened I decided to check it out. Everyone else in the group wanted to stay in that night and study for the quiz we were having the next day, but I thought screw that! How are we gonna miss out on something so cool as Fete de la Musique?! It happens once a year and its a holiday here! Turns out I got a better grade then a lot of the people who studied got on that quiz…so they all felt awful they didn’t come out too. But anyway, we went to the Algerian bar and I made some great friends with the bartender as well whose name is Smile (probably not spelled that way but whatever) and this group of people that are flight attendants that are also Algerian. All very very sweet people. Buying us drinks…making bets with us for the Algeria vs. USA game coming up. It was tons of fun. Well, tonight, one of the flight attendants is leaving for a bit so they are throwing her a party and we are invited (we meaning Eric, Chang, and I). So excited! Should be a good time…and a nice celebration to the end of Christophe’s class and the beginning of my one week vacation here and everywhere!

I love all the new friends I’ve made here. Both on the trip and some of the locals. Like these Algerians, Claire, Hallie, the Irish dude on the boat—I don’t know how I’m gonna ever have fun without them.

Ok. that’s a lie. I have too much fun in Philly for me to say that honestly…or really anywhere I go. But I do hope its not the end of my friendship with these people. Plan is our first reunion party will probably be at my apartment in Philly. Everybody wants to see where I live and they are all so willing to come up. I just have to wait until September or something.

Amsterdam!!! Here I come! So excited for you!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my!

So sorry…I told you it would be hard to keep up with this. I’ve never been the journal-writing type. I warned you! hah

Anyway. A lot has been going on since I last wrote. I’ve seen pretty much all the major things there is to see in Paris at this point (with the exception to Moulin Rouge. we were going to go on Denisse’s birthday, but the cover charge is 100 bucks per person…and of course, you have to make a reservation pretty far in advance :/). This sure is a beautiful city, but I’ve been told that its outside the city that you wanna see when you visit France. So, we went to Loire the last couple of days. Everything is so rich and authentic and real. haha I don’t know. Its just unbelievable how different Loire is from Paris. Loire is like the real France and Paris is just this Americanized version. Plus, Paris is pretty much made up tourists anyway. You go outside of it, and you suddenly see what you want to see.

We went crazy visiting some chateauxs (castles) while in Loire. I’m pretty sure I found the chateaux that had to have been the inspiration to the castle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (and if you know me…you know how much I love B&B) and unfortunately I have no pics of it cause my camera died as soon as we pulled up. I was upset, but a few friends said they would share theirs. If I ever get married…that would be a pretty ideal place. And our tour guide said that it wasn’t that expensive of a wedding to have either. Its pretty cheap to stay there! But haha we’ll see.

Yesterday (our last day in Loire) we went to a wine tasting. I was told it was going to be the only one we do while we are in Paris so I made sure I paid close attention. I’m bringing three bottles home of this very dry sparkling wine. It was pretty delicious when we tasted it, so of course, I’m happy with my purchase. So far…that is the only souvenir I’ve bought. For some reason, I can’t bring myself to buy things here. I just keep telling myself…no something cooler will come along…I just know it. I’m sure all the souvenir shopping will be left for the last day and I may end up buying things I don’t even like that much, but hopefully not.

So, I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this yet on here, but man oh man does Paris party late. Sometimes we don’t get home until 6 am after a night of being out. Its insane. People just keeping going…and it doesn’t matter what day of the week it is either. Do people work here?! The other night I didn’t even bother going to sleep cause we had to be on a bus by 7 am. Needless to say, that turned out to be quite an exhausting day. Nevertheless, it has been a ton of fun. I know I’m trying to have as much fun as possible while I’m here and if it means enriching myself in the culture by staying out until 6….so be it. Good thing is that I’m getting a break from it the next 3 or 4 days. We have a paper due Wednesday and a final on Thursday for the art and architecture course. So pretty much everyone is staying in every night to do well on them. By the end of Thursday, our three-day weekend will start and everyone will be going out of the country. I’m going to Amsterdam with Christine and possibly Chang and Eric too. We were indeed supposed to have gone last weekend, but it didn’t happen due to my poor planning. I’m really excited. It will be a nice break from the rest of the group. I really do like them all but sometimes its hard to handle them. Sometimes I just want them all to mellow out a little….everybody here can be kind of hyper and crazy. The only person I can say is actually as mellow as me…maybe more so is Eric. But the guy is such a lone-rider. He goes off on his own a lot…which I don’t have a problem with…I just get a little jealous. If I were to do that….I’d be kidnapped and sold like in the movie Taken. hahah Not really though.

…..but really. hah

Anyway, I’m enjoying myself….going along with the ride. Working…but not working too hard (some of the students literally stay in every night studying….why!? You’re in Paris! HELLO>!>). There is still a lot more for me to write about….the food, my host family, the friends I’ve made that are locals, drama, Fete de la Musique (best night I’ve had here so far), etc etc etc.

I love you all and miss you so much! Its the half way point (eeek!).