Day 42: Friday, May 1, 2009: Today was really fun! We all got to sleep late. My family was really tired after the time change. Today, we decided to stay in Nice and explore the old city. We started by walking to the top of the mountain where we could see the whole city. There used to be an old military fort there that protected the port but it was destroyed by Louis XVI. There is also an artificial waterfall.
Today, my friends arrived. They called and said that they were going to the beach. Even though the beach is rocky, there was excellent weather and they got to lie out. After we were done at the mountain, we walked down and met my friends on the beach so my family could meet them. I changed my clothes and stayed with them on the beach while my family found a grocery store; our hotel room has a kitchenette with a fridge, hotplates, and a sink.
After a couple of hours, we all went back to our rooms to change and get ready for dinner. We all ate together. It was really fun. I had a Nicoise Salad and it was excellent! After dinner, we ot the best ice cream known to Nice – Finacchio. After that, we went back to the hotel to enjoy some wine before my friends and I went out for another drink.
Day 43: Saturday, May 2, 2009: Today, we went to Monte-Carlo, Monaco! It was really excellent! We woke up and took the TER train to Monaco. We got there just in time to see the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace of Monaco. Monaco is a principality of France, meaning that the citizens have dual citizenship. Basically, they are French and have a Prince of Monaco and the President of France.
After we saw the changing of the guard, we were able to see the view of the port. There are so many huge yachts! Money is everything in Monte-Carlo; I loved it! We saw a huge yacht with a helicopter parked on the stern and a Rolls Royce parked right on the dock – this is the life!
So we walked to the harbor and took a ferryboat to the other side where we were able to walk up and see the famous Casino of Monte-Carlo. Naturally, when in Monte-Carlo, one has to gamble a little bit. And so I did. We all did except for my mom. Outside the Casino, there are so many nice Mercedes, Porches, BMWs, Bentleys, Mazaraettis, etc.
We had a light lunch and went looking in a few stores on our way back to the train station. We went in Zara, but I didn’t find anything that I had to have. We took the TER back to Nice and met up with my friends to go to dinner again. Afterwards, we had excellent ice cream again. It was a really fun day!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Day 41
Day 41: Thursday, April 30, 2009: Today was my first day in Nice, France, with my family! But first, I had class. We are scheduled to have two hours of class, then a four-hour break, then two more hours of class. So I bought a train ticket to leave during the break at 12:15 p.m. So then Christophe decided that we were just going to have one long four-hour class. Because everyone loves that!
The class was creative writing. We began at school and went on another walk of the city. We wrote down everything that we heard, saw, smelled, tasted, and felt. We were then going to use this and write a poem. We ended at the hill of the Palace of the Popes to write. I only had about 15 minutes to write before I had to leave to walk back to my house and get ready and go to the train station. Bernard drove me there after insisting that I eat a ham sandwich.
At the train station, I expected that he would just drop me off and go. I know how to take the train. He was really nice and carried one of my bags for me and waited on the voie until the train arrived. Then I found my seat and began working on the four-hour ride there. I did some grammar homework and read a little. I didn’t want to write in my journal because I would need the dictionary and then people would not think that I was French. I hate being pegged as an American anytime I go somewhere because people don’t understand that I am studying here, they just assume that I am a tourist.
So then I arrived in Nice. The views from the train along the ride were excellent! The sea is so blue! I love the Cote d’Azur! I waited at the train station for my Mom, aunt, and Mamaw because they were flying into Milan, Italy and taking the train to Nice. The train arriving from Milan was only half an hour after I arrived and I figured that they were on that so I waited. The train arrived an hour and fifteen minutes late without my family. So then I waited for the next trains from Italy; nothing. I waited for three hours before deciding that I was done and I walked to the hotel.
The hotel was recommended by the program director. It doesn’t have a website and people only know of it by word of mouth. I got a room for us four for 100E a night. It was across the street from the beach! That is an excellent for that type of location in Old Town Nice. If anyone ever goes there, let me know and I will pass along the hotel info. The hotel is more than 100 years old and the rooms could use a little TLC but it was excellent nonetheless.
Well the woman at the hotel didn’t even take my name of credit card info when I called to make my reservation. It is that laid back. I also reserved a room for three of my friends – Melissa, Lance, and Meghan – who were also going to Nice for the weekend. They are arriving tomorrow. Tomorrow is May Day so there are no classes!
So I finally get to the hotel and I tell the nice old woman owner that my family’s train was late and I wanted to wait for them here. She gave me the room without paying. I also explained that I was studying in Avignon and from that point on she spoke French with me and didn’t treat me like an American tourist. I unpacked a little and decided that I wasn’t going to sit in a hotel and wait for them to arrive since they hadn’t even called me. So I left and walked along the beach. I walked all the way to the point by the port and sat to watch the sunset. Just then, the woman at the hotel called and told me that my family had arrived!
So then I walked back and met them. It was really nice to see them after six weeks in France. They freshened up and then we found a place to eat since no one had yet. We had Italian. I had my Mom try Pastis with me. It was a good day besides that wait at the train station but what can you do.
The class was creative writing. We began at school and went on another walk of the city. We wrote down everything that we heard, saw, smelled, tasted, and felt. We were then going to use this and write a poem. We ended at the hill of the Palace of the Popes to write. I only had about 15 minutes to write before I had to leave to walk back to my house and get ready and go to the train station. Bernard drove me there after insisting that I eat a ham sandwich.
At the train station, I expected that he would just drop me off and go. I know how to take the train. He was really nice and carried one of my bags for me and waited on the voie until the train arrived. Then I found my seat and began working on the four-hour ride there. I did some grammar homework and read a little. I didn’t want to write in my journal because I would need the dictionary and then people would not think that I was French. I hate being pegged as an American anytime I go somewhere because people don’t understand that I am studying here, they just assume that I am a tourist.
So then I arrived in Nice. The views from the train along the ride were excellent! The sea is so blue! I love the Cote d’Azur! I waited at the train station for my Mom, aunt, and Mamaw because they were flying into Milan, Italy and taking the train to Nice. The train arriving from Milan was only half an hour after I arrived and I figured that they were on that so I waited. The train arrived an hour and fifteen minutes late without my family. So then I waited for the next trains from Italy; nothing. I waited for three hours before deciding that I was done and I walked to the hotel.
The hotel was recommended by the program director. It doesn’t have a website and people only know of it by word of mouth. I got a room for us four for 100E a night. It was across the street from the beach! That is an excellent for that type of location in Old Town Nice. If anyone ever goes there, let me know and I will pass along the hotel info. The hotel is more than 100 years old and the rooms could use a little TLC but it was excellent nonetheless.
Well the woman at the hotel didn’t even take my name of credit card info when I called to make my reservation. It is that laid back. I also reserved a room for three of my friends – Melissa, Lance, and Meghan – who were also going to Nice for the weekend. They are arriving tomorrow. Tomorrow is May Day so there are no classes!
So I finally get to the hotel and I tell the nice old woman owner that my family’s train was late and I wanted to wait for them here. She gave me the room without paying. I also explained that I was studying in Avignon and from that point on she spoke French with me and didn’t treat me like an American tourist. I unpacked a little and decided that I wasn’t going to sit in a hotel and wait for them to arrive since they hadn’t even called me. So I left and walked along the beach. I walked all the way to the point by the port and sat to watch the sunset. Just then, the woman at the hotel called and told me that my family had arrived!
So then I walked back and met them. It was really nice to see them after six weeks in France. They freshened up and then we found a place to eat since no one had yet. We had Italian. I had my Mom try Pastis with me. It was a good day besides that wait at the train station but what can you do.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Day 37, 38, 39, 40
Day 37: Sunday, April 26, 2009: Today was really fun, even though it rained a little. The Zemmits told John and me that we could invite friends to go to L’Isle Sur Sorges. I brought Lance; John didn’t bring anyone. The five of us drove in their car.
At L’Isle Sur Sorges, we went antiquing. It was really interesting. Lance and I found Picasso and Matisse drawings; if I wanted to spend 2000E, I could’ve owned a Picasso. Maybe next time. We must have seen two million euro-worth of antiques (probably like $3 million USD).
Then we ate at a patisserie where Jacqueline knows the owner. She cuts her hair. I had a pizza and tarte aux fruits. It was excellent. Since it was only like 1 p.m., we weren’t really ready to go home and Bernard asked us if we wanted to go to Fountain de Vaucluse so we went.
It was really cool. It’s a little town on this river. But the river has no source; divers descended 300 meters and still couldn’t find the source. It begins at the base of a mountain. The water is crystal clear and there are rapids as it flows through the town. Later, we saw the old paper mills in town. After that, we returned home. The Zemmits dropped Lance off at his street then we drove home. I took a quick nap before dinner. After dinner, we watched the news and I had homework to do. It was a really fun day.
Day 38: Monday, April 27, 2009: Today, I got to sleep late because it was Monday! I had class at 12:45 p.m. so I ate lunch in the sun on the terrace. In class, we got back our last grammar test; I was satisfied with my grade.
After class, I went to Casino with Melissa. I bought really thin sliced ham that I imagined was bacon because I miss bacon. We went to her house and made lunch. I grilled my ham/bacon and made a sandwich; it could have been a BLT but I forgot to buy LT… oh well. It was still good. After lunch, Lance met us and we all went shopping. Melissa wanted a new bathing suit for the weekend and Lance and I went to Zara. We both bought a shirt and jeans. I really like Zara and we need one in Ohio!
We waited for Melissa and saw some of our other friends. After that, I went home and had dinner. After dinner, we watched the news and I read Fanny by Marcel Pagnol for class.
Day 39: Tuesday, April 28, 2009: Nothing significant happened today that I can remember.
Day 40: Wednesday, April 29, 2009: Today was not fun. Apparently it is impossible for the program director to coordinate class times with the profs and the university. Thus, our classes we cut short because the building was closing. Before class, I went to the internet café with Melissa to print our papers for writing class tomorrow. After class, we had dinner and watched the news.
Then, I had to do some homework and pack for the weekend. I am leaving tomorrow for a long weekend with my Mom, Aunt Holly, and Mamaw in Nice, France! So I packed for the weekend then I packed a bag for my Mom to take back home of stuff that I no longer need – like my North Face jacket.
At about 11 p.m., Lance called me and asked if I wanted to play cards with him, Kelby, Meghan, and her roommate Erin. I went there and we played Hearts. I can’t remember ever playing before so it was new to me. Maybe I did okay?
At L’Isle Sur Sorges, we went antiquing. It was really interesting. Lance and I found Picasso and Matisse drawings; if I wanted to spend 2000E, I could’ve owned a Picasso. Maybe next time. We must have seen two million euro-worth of antiques (probably like $3 million USD).
Then we ate at a patisserie where Jacqueline knows the owner. She cuts her hair. I had a pizza and tarte aux fruits. It was excellent. Since it was only like 1 p.m., we weren’t really ready to go home and Bernard asked us if we wanted to go to Fountain de Vaucluse so we went.
It was really cool. It’s a little town on this river. But the river has no source; divers descended 300 meters and still couldn’t find the source. It begins at the base of a mountain. The water is crystal clear and there are rapids as it flows through the town. Later, we saw the old paper mills in town. After that, we returned home. The Zemmits dropped Lance off at his street then we drove home. I took a quick nap before dinner. After dinner, we watched the news and I had homework to do. It was a really fun day.
Day 38: Monday, April 27, 2009: Today, I got to sleep late because it was Monday! I had class at 12:45 p.m. so I ate lunch in the sun on the terrace. In class, we got back our last grammar test; I was satisfied with my grade.
After class, I went to Casino with Melissa. I bought really thin sliced ham that I imagined was bacon because I miss bacon. We went to her house and made lunch. I grilled my ham/bacon and made a sandwich; it could have been a BLT but I forgot to buy LT… oh well. It was still good. After lunch, Lance met us and we all went shopping. Melissa wanted a new bathing suit for the weekend and Lance and I went to Zara. We both bought a shirt and jeans. I really like Zara and we need one in Ohio!
We waited for Melissa and saw some of our other friends. After that, I went home and had dinner. After dinner, we watched the news and I read Fanny by Marcel Pagnol for class.
Day 39: Tuesday, April 28, 2009: Nothing significant happened today that I can remember.
Day 40: Wednesday, April 29, 2009: Today was not fun. Apparently it is impossible for the program director to coordinate class times with the profs and the university. Thus, our classes we cut short because the building was closing. Before class, I went to the internet café with Melissa to print our papers for writing class tomorrow. After class, we had dinner and watched the news.
Then, I had to do some homework and pack for the weekend. I am leaving tomorrow for a long weekend with my Mom, Aunt Holly, and Mamaw in Nice, France! So I packed for the weekend then I packed a bag for my Mom to take back home of stuff that I no longer need – like my North Face jacket.
At about 11 p.m., Lance called me and asked if I wanted to play cards with him, Kelby, Meghan, and her roommate Erin. I went there and we played Hearts. I can’t remember ever playing before so it was new to me. Maybe I did okay?
day 35 & 36
Day 35: Friday, April 24, 2009: Today in history class, we had a walking tour of the city. It was really fun and interesting but everyone forgot that it was today so a lot of people had computers and heavy bags. We did that for two hours. Afterwards, I went to the university library and wrote my film review that was due at 5 p.m. that day. It only had to be a page so it was pretty easy.
Then we had literature class. The professor is so bizarre and the topics are really obscure. So then it was time for dinner. I went home and found that I had received a package from my Mommy! It was Easter candy from Graeter’s – a Cincinnati favorite. I had two chocolate bunnies and a dozen assorted eggs. I ate one bunny then and decided that I would share the eggs with my family and then I could talk more about Cincinnati. Jacqueline even looked it up in an atlas!
So after dinner, the four of us each got to choose an egg for desert. After dinner was over, I had to leave because I was meeting Melissa to walk to Place d’Horlodge where everyone else was meeting to go to the movies. We saw Coco avant Chanel in this one-screen theatre that used to be a church. It was really cool. The movie was really good; Coco Chanel is played by Audrey Toutou. She was in Amelie. The movie was in French without subtitles. It was a little difficult to understand the actors at times but I understood the movie and the story. I want it to come to America but I don’t know if it will be as big as it is here. Ten people went to the theatre.
Afterwards, six of us went to Red Sky – one of our favorite bars. We had a table outside and decided not to stay out too late because we had an excursion the next day and we had to wake up early to meet for the bus.
Day 36: Saturday, April 25, 2009: Today we had another group excursion. We went to Bories, Gordes, and Roussillion. We met the bus by the university at 9 a.m. The first stop was Bories. First, we waited in the parking lot for half an hour while we waited for them to open. Great planning here. We knew that this would be boring. It is a village where every house is built of rocks. It was restored in the 1970s to look as it did when it was built in the 4th century or something. Seeing one house built with rocks is okay but to see an entire village is a little much. We walked through it pretty quickly.
So then we went to Gordes. It was really cool. The bus let us off at an overlook where we took lots of pictures. Then we walked to the village. It was really hilly and there were really cool old houses. Gordes is for old, rich people. When we got to the village, we had time to walk around. It was cool but there wasn’t really anything to do.
Then we went to this Ocre reserve thing. Ocre is a red powder found only in France that is used in paints and dyes. The tour was a little interesting but it was in English, I speak French; I’ve been in France for six weeks; give me the tour in French. We all put the powder all over our hands and faces and it looked like we had fake tans.
So then we went to Roussillion. It was probably my favorite part of the day. We went to this National Park that we had to pay for; it should have been included in the excursion. The dirt was red and there were sandstone cliffs. It was really cool. After that, we had ice cream at a really unique place. I had lavender flavor.
So then it was back on the bus to return to Avignon. I took a little nap. Then we were home and I continued my nap until dinner time. After dinner, I played cards at Lance’s with him, Kelby, and Meghan.
(Google Bories, Gordes, Roussillion, Ocre)
Then we had literature class. The professor is so bizarre and the topics are really obscure. So then it was time for dinner. I went home and found that I had received a package from my Mommy! It was Easter candy from Graeter’s – a Cincinnati favorite. I had two chocolate bunnies and a dozen assorted eggs. I ate one bunny then and decided that I would share the eggs with my family and then I could talk more about Cincinnati. Jacqueline even looked it up in an atlas!
So after dinner, the four of us each got to choose an egg for desert. After dinner was over, I had to leave because I was meeting Melissa to walk to Place d’Horlodge where everyone else was meeting to go to the movies. We saw Coco avant Chanel in this one-screen theatre that used to be a church. It was really cool. The movie was really good; Coco Chanel is played by Audrey Toutou. She was in Amelie. The movie was in French without subtitles. It was a little difficult to understand the actors at times but I understood the movie and the story. I want it to come to America but I don’t know if it will be as big as it is here. Ten people went to the theatre.
Afterwards, six of us went to Red Sky – one of our favorite bars. We had a table outside and decided not to stay out too late because we had an excursion the next day and we had to wake up early to meet for the bus.
Day 36: Saturday, April 25, 2009: Today we had another group excursion. We went to Bories, Gordes, and Roussillion. We met the bus by the university at 9 a.m. The first stop was Bories. First, we waited in the parking lot for half an hour while we waited for them to open. Great planning here. We knew that this would be boring. It is a village where every house is built of rocks. It was restored in the 1970s to look as it did when it was built in the 4th century or something. Seeing one house built with rocks is okay but to see an entire village is a little much. We walked through it pretty quickly.
So then we went to Gordes. It was really cool. The bus let us off at an overlook where we took lots of pictures. Then we walked to the village. It was really hilly and there were really cool old houses. Gordes is for old, rich people. When we got to the village, we had time to walk around. It was cool but there wasn’t really anything to do.
Then we went to this Ocre reserve thing. Ocre is a red powder found only in France that is used in paints and dyes. The tour was a little interesting but it was in English, I speak French; I’ve been in France for six weeks; give me the tour in French. We all put the powder all over our hands and faces and it looked like we had fake tans.
So then we went to Roussillion. It was probably my favorite part of the day. We went to this National Park that we had to pay for; it should have been included in the excursion. The dirt was red and there were sandstone cliffs. It was really cool. After that, we had ice cream at a really unique place. I had lavender flavor.
So then it was back on the bus to return to Avignon. I took a little nap. Then we were home and I continued my nap until dinner time. After dinner, I played cards at Lance’s with him, Kelby, and Meghan.
(Google Bories, Gordes, Roussillion, Ocre)
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