I'm at Bekki's exchange student Anais's house right now and it's roughly one o'clock in the morning on Friday morning (very early). We had a lovely party-type thing tonight and tomorrow ( or today ) Friday is our final day here.
In the morning I'll be heading into Paris to meet Alexandra and get a chance to meet her family!
After spending the afternoon with my long lost friend, I'll say a sad good-bye (preparation for the inevitably painful au revoir to France) and then return to Maurecourt to quickly faire la valise et après I'll head into Paris with Jean, Catherine, Thierry, Eliza, and her exchange student to see Paris at night and to watch the aura of the Eiffel Tower and its lights.
Today it was very warm in Paris. Slightly sunburned on my face, chest, and a definite flip flop tan appearing. We started the morning at the Musée d'Orsay where the paintings spoke to me in a way no painting ever has before. I'd love to be able to describe my quickening heart and the all-encapsulating awe, but unfortunately it's a little late for descriptive words to be coming forth from my fuzzy, exhausted, French/English brain. The Monets captivated me and I had a much better time than I'd had at the Louvre several days prior.
From the Musée d'Orsay we took the subway underneath the Seine to the base of Montmartre where, in order to escape the métro station, we climbed approximately seven to eight flights of stairs - there was an ascenseur or elevator option, however.
We climbed the steps up to Sacre Coeur and then split for lunch. I had brought the pita that I'd bought while in Le Marais, hoping to go to a small market and purchase something to eat it with, but there were only touristy cafés so I sucked it up and spent the 4,50 Euro on a baguette sandwhich.
We walked around the ever-colorful Montmartre afterwards, attempting to evade the pushy portrait-painters elbowing each other for a chance to sketch our portraits. We made several purchases in the kitchey souvenir shops and then I treated myself to ice cream for the first time since we've arrived in France.
I got one boule of Toblerone ice cream and one boule of "cocco" or coconut. It was absolutely delicious and was worth the nearly five dollars.
I won't post again before I return to Amherst, but I can't wait to see all of you and thanks so much for keeping up with our adventures these past three weeks.
Please stay posted for the slideshow that will inevitably follow with my photos - which now number over 5000 - a record, even for me.
Bisous,
SRL
P.S. Some funny lines from tonight:
Bekki: Does putting choue at the end of a name imply affection?
David: Yes, it means cabbage!*
*While choue does in fact translate to cabbage, it is used more often as a diminutive to express that someone is "cute" or "sweet."
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Vite
Super quick.
Tuesday - La Tour Eiffel in the morning, except it was freezing in Paris. Prob close to 45 degrees in Paris with a huge wind at the top of the monument. From there we headed to Le Marais, the Jewish quarter of Paris which was just lovely as I got to have chicken curry in a pita bc it was all kosher!! the falafel was amazing too ( i tried some other people's) but I had to get the chicken because surprisingly, i was missing meat just a bit.
Today - out to the Loire Valley to visit the chateaus, Amboise and Chenonceau. Very beautiful, but I'm a little castled out and will be thrilled to head to the Musée d'Orsay tomorrow morning and to then visit Sacré Coeur and tour around Montmartre.
Friday I hope to hang with Alexandra in the morning - it's another jour ferié or holiday, so there's no school/work and then in the evening will go into Paris with my family to watch the Eiffel Tower being lit up. So lovely! I can't wait. There's a chance this will be my last time writing from here. If that's so, thanks for reading, I hope you're doing well and I can't wait to see all of you when I return. Or, as the case may be, when I return to France this summer!
In that sense, leaving is not as bittersweet because I know that I'll have the chance to spend the night with Alexandra this summer and that I'll be cruising through Paris on the métro and will get to see the Tour de France in person as well as see Lyd!! I'll just have to get through a month and a half of school, 3 AP tests, ACTs, SATs, Ronnie's graduation (fingers crossed), a fabulous but hectic concert, prom, and perhaps several other challenges/pleasures.
A tout à l'heure,
Sash
Tuesday - La Tour Eiffel in the morning, except it was freezing in Paris. Prob close to 45 degrees in Paris with a huge wind at the top of the monument. From there we headed to Le Marais, the Jewish quarter of Paris which was just lovely as I got to have chicken curry in a pita bc it was all kosher!! the falafel was amazing too ( i tried some other people's) but I had to get the chicken because surprisingly, i was missing meat just a bit.
Today - out to the Loire Valley to visit the chateaus, Amboise and Chenonceau. Very beautiful, but I'm a little castled out and will be thrilled to head to the Musée d'Orsay tomorrow morning and to then visit Sacré Coeur and tour around Montmartre.
Friday I hope to hang with Alexandra in the morning - it's another jour ferié or holiday, so there's no school/work and then in the evening will go into Paris with my family to watch the Eiffel Tower being lit up. So lovely! I can't wait. There's a chance this will be my last time writing from here. If that's so, thanks for reading, I hope you're doing well and I can't wait to see all of you when I return. Or, as the case may be, when I return to France this summer!
In that sense, leaving is not as bittersweet because I know that I'll have the chance to spend the night with Alexandra this summer and that I'll be cruising through Paris on the métro and will get to see the Tour de France in person as well as see Lyd!! I'll just have to get through a month and a half of school, 3 AP tests, ACTs, SATs, Ronnie's graduation (fingers crossed), a fabulous but hectic concert, prom, and perhaps several other challenges/pleasures.
A tout à l'heure,
Sash
Monday, May 4, 2009
5,000 Calories & the Most Expensive Hot Chocolate I've Ever Seen
Eating has been amazing here, to say the least. Amazing tastes, amazing foods, amazingly high prices, amazing appearance, and amazingly large numbers of calories!
For example, I'll recount to you my day's eating.
Breakfast Two pieces of some type of gingerbready thing that Catherine had made, tea, an orange, and soy yogurt with meusli.
Lunch A sandwich "chaud" at Pomme de Pain (Pinecone) on the Champs-Elysées. The sandwhich was fresh mozarella, lettuce, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and olive tapenade on an exquisitely amazing baguette. Then a granola bar and an applesauce.
And then we arrive at the second part of my title.
Maison du Chocolat. Roberta had told me that it was necessary that I go to the aforementioned eatery and order a chocolat chaud or hot chocolate. So this is exactly what Katie, Hilary, Becca, Andrea, and I did this afternoon. We first had to ask several people on the Champs-Elysées where it was, but finally we found it and thank God we did because I can safely say that we all were in a euphoric stupor solely upon entering the store/ café. Becca, Hilary, and Andrea ordered the more milk chocolate chocolat chaud while I ordered the "Caracas" which, as the waitress described it, was plus fort or stronger. Katie got a little 100g container of chocolat noir glace. So, I guess it is necessary to mention that the chocolat chauds cost us 6,70 Euros apiece. But they were worth it. I mean, who wouldn't pay over 10 dollars for liquid chocolate. They came in little white capuccino mugs with an olive tray type dish full of whipped cream with cocoa powder on top.
Upon the first dip of my spoon into my mug, I was instantly amazed by the viscosity of the liquid. Truthfully, the only way I can describe it is by comparing it to melted chocolate. The liquid stuck to the spoon. When in the mouth, the liquid tasted as though I had just eaten a chocolate bar and had left some in my mouth to melt.
David, Roberta's son, had warned me about his experience at Maison du Chocolat and how when he had left, he had a headache and couldn't see straight as a result of the near-pure cacao. I had smiled when he told me, only half-believing his surely exaggerated tale. But it was true. Becca and Hilary felt the chocolate first and so therefore didn't finish their chocolat chauds. This was lucky for me and Andrea, as she finished Hilary's and I scarfed down Becca's, all the while trying not to start jumping up and down from the sheer goodness of the chocolate.
Becca, Katie, and I all made small purchases and as we walked out of the café and headed down the Champs-Elysées to meet the rest of the group, I was worried my head would burst, as the pressure behind my eyes seemed to be building. I had a stupid smile on my face which I wasn't able to wipe off and walking straight seemed to be a bit of a struggle.
It was true, I was drugged. So no matter that I spent over 10 dollars on a hot chocolate, and no matter that I probably ingested over 1000 calories in one mugful, it was absolutely, positively, 100% worth it.
Dinner Both of my French mothers have decided that since I'm not eating meat while I'm here, fish is the next best thing and they must feed it to me constantly. Therefore, tonight, I had salmon lasagna - what an experience. That too probably had over 1000 calories in it. And after dinner, I was forced ( or shall I say strongly encouraged ) to try Rochefort, a very smelly, slightly moldy, very strong French cheese. It was quite unappetizing but they kept telling me that I had to take a large piece because it was so good. Not wanting to be rude, I cut off the corner of the block, tried not to gag as I swallowed it with the help of my bread and my mineral water, and as soon as the taste was out of my mouth, I reached for the chèvre and fig cheese which I so loved on Saturday lunch. Thierry asked if I wanted anything else and I politely told him, "Non, merci", all the while wanting to scream, "J'ai trop mangé!!!" But which I know is slightly rude, and so I kept it to myself.
After dinner, Catherine asked if I wanted to run tommorow. I agreed, wondering if perhaps she, too, has noticed my not-so-obvious-anymore weight gain.
For example, I'll recount to you my day's eating.
Breakfast Two pieces of some type of gingerbready thing that Catherine had made, tea, an orange, and soy yogurt with meusli.
Lunch A sandwich "chaud" at Pomme de Pain (Pinecone) on the Champs-Elysées. The sandwhich was fresh mozarella, lettuce, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and olive tapenade on an exquisitely amazing baguette. Then a granola bar and an applesauce.
And then we arrive at the second part of my title.
Maison du Chocolat. Roberta had told me that it was necessary that I go to the aforementioned eatery and order a chocolat chaud or hot chocolate. So this is exactly what Katie, Hilary, Becca, Andrea, and I did this afternoon. We first had to ask several people on the Champs-Elysées where it was, but finally we found it and thank God we did because I can safely say that we all were in a euphoric stupor solely upon entering the store/ café. Becca, Hilary, and Andrea ordered the more milk chocolate chocolat chaud while I ordered the "Caracas" which, as the waitress described it, was plus fort or stronger. Katie got a little 100g container of chocolat noir glace. So, I guess it is necessary to mention that the chocolat chauds cost us 6,70 Euros apiece. But they were worth it. I mean, who wouldn't pay over 10 dollars for liquid chocolate. They came in little white capuccino mugs with an olive tray type dish full of whipped cream with cocoa powder on top.
Upon the first dip of my spoon into my mug, I was instantly amazed by the viscosity of the liquid. Truthfully, the only way I can describe it is by comparing it to melted chocolate. The liquid stuck to the spoon. When in the mouth, the liquid tasted as though I had just eaten a chocolate bar and had left some in my mouth to melt.
David, Roberta's son, had warned me about his experience at Maison du Chocolat and how when he had left, he had a headache and couldn't see straight as a result of the near-pure cacao. I had smiled when he told me, only half-believing his surely exaggerated tale. But it was true. Becca and Hilary felt the chocolate first and so therefore didn't finish their chocolat chauds. This was lucky for me and Andrea, as she finished Hilary's and I scarfed down Becca's, all the while trying not to start jumping up and down from the sheer goodness of the chocolate.
Becca, Katie, and I all made small purchases and as we walked out of the café and headed down the Champs-Elysées to meet the rest of the group, I was worried my head would burst, as the pressure behind my eyes seemed to be building. I had a stupid smile on my face which I wasn't able to wipe off and walking straight seemed to be a bit of a struggle.
It was true, I was drugged. So no matter that I spent over 10 dollars on a hot chocolate, and no matter that I probably ingested over 1000 calories in one mugful, it was absolutely, positively, 100% worth it.
Dinner Both of my French mothers have decided that since I'm not eating meat while I'm here, fish is the next best thing and they must feed it to me constantly. Therefore, tonight, I had salmon lasagna - what an experience. That too probably had over 1000 calories in it. And after dinner, I was forced ( or shall I say strongly encouraged ) to try Rochefort, a very smelly, slightly moldy, very strong French cheese. It was quite unappetizing but they kept telling me that I had to take a large piece because it was so good. Not wanting to be rude, I cut off the corner of the block, tried not to gag as I swallowed it with the help of my bread and my mineral water, and as soon as the taste was out of my mouth, I reached for the chèvre and fig cheese which I so loved on Saturday lunch. Thierry asked if I wanted anything else and I politely told him, "Non, merci", all the while wanting to scream, "J'ai trop mangé!!!" But which I know is slightly rude, and so I kept it to myself.
After dinner, Catherine asked if I wanted to run tommorow. I agreed, wondering if perhaps she, too, has noticed my not-so-obvious-anymore weight gain.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Trois Jours à Paris
First of all: things are going fabulously here and I'm thoroughly enjoying my family.
Second: This is highly abbreviated as I feel very rude staying on their computer for a long time.
Thursday: headed into Paris in the morning. We got off at the Opera and walked towards the Seine through les Jardins des Tuilleries and then to the Louvre where we got to see IM Pei's pyramid and then we cross the Seine and walked along the Quais and then headed onto Ile de la Cité where we visited Notre Dame and then strolled around the Latin Quarter for the afternoon.
Friday: Premier Mai!!! Or Labor Day in the rest of the world besides the US. I was given Lilys of the Valley from the parents as is the tradition and then the mom and I did an RBT around Conflons (RBT= Run Bike Tandem) and it was lovely to see every shop closed except for the flower shops. Came back to the house, quick shower, and then we headed to La Gare to meet Alexandra! It was so fabulous seeing her. It felt just like old times. We talked the whole way into Paris. We got off of the Metro at L'Arc de Triomphe and walked down the whole Champs-Elysées to Place de la Concorde and then across the Seine where we wandered in the Quartier Latin for over 3 hours. We visited the Jardin de Louxembourg and walked around the Sorbonne.
As Labor Day is a huge day for Socialists and Sarcozy is not exactly what you'd call a Socialist, there was a HUGE manifestation in Paris which we had to dodge several times.
Alexandra dropped me off at the Gare de Conflons where I came home, changed, and then we headed to Romain's house. He lives in a mansion which I will have to explain in greater detail later. Let's just say that our soirée was held in the dance studio/night club that they have in their basement. We slept over - I slept on the floor in Becca's room while Becca, Cassie, and Hillary slept on the bed.
Saturday: Came home, showered, and headed to Versailles with Luke and Cassie! It was just fabulous. Everything was beautiful. Luke has lost his camera so I've been letting him use mine because I know how upset he is. Between the two of us, we managed to take upwards of 300 photos! The gardens were lovely.
Tomorrow we're off to EuroDisney... hmm
I prob won't write again until Monday night, as I don't like to use their computer too often.
Bisous
Second: This is highly abbreviated as I feel very rude staying on their computer for a long time.
Thursday: headed into Paris in the morning. We got off at the Opera and walked towards the Seine through les Jardins des Tuilleries and then to the Louvre where we got to see IM Pei's pyramid and then we cross the Seine and walked along the Quais and then headed onto Ile de la Cité where we visited Notre Dame and then strolled around the Latin Quarter for the afternoon.
Friday: Premier Mai!!! Or Labor Day in the rest of the world besides the US. I was given Lilys of the Valley from the parents as is the tradition and then the mom and I did an RBT around Conflons (RBT= Run Bike Tandem) and it was lovely to see every shop closed except for the flower shops. Came back to the house, quick shower, and then we headed to La Gare to meet Alexandra! It was so fabulous seeing her. It felt just like old times. We talked the whole way into Paris. We got off of the Metro at L'Arc de Triomphe and walked down the whole Champs-Elysées to Place de la Concorde and then across the Seine where we wandered in the Quartier Latin for over 3 hours. We visited the Jardin de Louxembourg and walked around the Sorbonne.
As Labor Day is a huge day for Socialists and Sarcozy is not exactly what you'd call a Socialist, there was a HUGE manifestation in Paris which we had to dodge several times.
Alexandra dropped me off at the Gare de Conflons where I came home, changed, and then we headed to Romain's house. He lives in a mansion which I will have to explain in greater detail later. Let's just say that our soirée was held in the dance studio/night club that they have in their basement. We slept over - I slept on the floor in Becca's room while Becca, Cassie, and Hillary slept on the bed.
Saturday: Came home, showered, and headed to Versailles with Luke and Cassie! It was just fabulous. Everything was beautiful. Luke has lost his camera so I've been letting him use mine because I know how upset he is. Between the two of us, we managed to take upwards of 300 photos! The gardens were lovely.
Tomorrow we're off to EuroDisney... hmm
I prob won't write again until Monday night, as I don't like to use their computer too often.
Bisous
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