a Wonderful Visit to London

I spent the week in London, & it was one of the greatest trips I've taken.  Perhaps it was because I was able to speak English naturally (is that the correct word?), but it was a really nice time.  I'll tell you now, since I'm back in France, but I did travel alone this trip.

I left La Rochelle Monday afternoon - this was by far the smallest airport I've ever been to - one runway used for landing & take off, one baggage carousel, about 3 baggage check desks, one security line, & customs consisted of 2 men standing at the exit checking passports. I arrived in London 3:30 p.m. local time. England is one hour behind France, & the flight is just over an hour long so it was like I didn't even lose part of my day. I didn't fly into Heathrow so I wasn't right in the city upon landing; rather is was Stansted which is outside, Northeast of London. A family acquaintance currently living in London met me at the airport and saw that I arrived to my hotel. We had to take a train from the airport to Liverpool street (about 1 hour) and take the tube (the underground metro) to Notting Hill where I was staying (about 20 min). I checked into my hotel and we went to a pub close to my hotel. Had the famous 'Fish & Chips' for dinner. I met with him again Tuesday & saw SO MUCH that day. It felt like I saw the whole city of London.

 Westminster Abbey

 Big Ben

London Eye

Side of Big Ben along Thames River

St Paul's Cathedral

 Poor School Kids

Groups of school children EVERYWHERE.  All wear uniforms, & some wear these neon vests that I had to laugh about. 

 Rosetta Stone in British Museum

Piccadilly Circus

Buckingham Palace

Queen was home; all week actually.  Changing of the guard only occurs on odd even days during the off season - I did not see it. 

Wednesday, I spent the day alone.  But it was a good day alone.  There are so many people walking around London that you don't know what their story is, so it really wasn't a 'weird' thing.  In fact, I had a lot of people come up to ask me questions as to how to get places; then they realized I really wasn't a local.  I did a bus tour which I could get on and off anywhere it stopped.  I got on close to my hotel, and saw basically everything I saw Tuesday, but from the top of a bus giving my legs a rest.  I got off at Buckingham Palace and never got back on.  It was about 2:00 so I stopped for lunch, re-fueled & walked around the rest of the afternoon.  I debated seeing a show at night because while on the tour I saw so many.  But then I told myself I wouldn't; but everytime I'd get on the tube to go somewhere, I'd get off and walk around & somehow still manage to end up in the SAME area EVERYTIME - I figured it meant I was to see a show.  So it was about 6:00 & I bought a ticket to see 'The Lion King' at 7:30.  This was actually my first 'Broadway' show, if you will, that I saw.  I enjoyed it.  It let out about 10:00 which meant I had to find my way home.  London is a very safe city; in fact I never felt scared, even after being robbed, on the tube or walking around at night alone.  I of course couldn't find the tube station but saw a businessman walking so I asked him if he was going to it & of course he was so I followed. 

My tour bus

Police Escort

Wonder if it was the Queen?!  It was probably a political person or could've been someone royal - per the tour guide.

London Bridge

St Paul's Cathedral (again, but a better picture)

London Bridge

Buckingham Palace Guard

I need to do research on a few things.  One being why they were in gray & not red. 

Buckingham Palace

an Olympic countdown in Trafalgar Square

Lyceum Theatre

View from my seats; not bad.

This brings me to Thursday - my final day in London.  Wandered around again -  went to Madame Tusaud's wax museum.  & went on the London Eye.  By this time it was about 5:00 so I headed back towards my hotel.  I had to be up VERY early Friday morning.  So Thursday was kind of a low key day.  I walked around the area of my hotel for a little before getting myself dinner, but was back by 9. 

about as close as I got to meeting the Queen

& about as close as I'll get to meeting President Obama

my other current president (but hopefully not much longer): Nicolas Sarcozy

the London Eye

Holds up to 25 people per car.  Takes 30 minutes to go the complete way around & provides great views of the city. 

Friday morning - it was a rough one for me.  My flight left at 8 a.m.  The tube doesn't start until 5 a.m.  I had to take a taxi from my hotel to Liverpool street where the train is.  Taxi picked me up at 4:30.  The train is specifically for the airport, that goes to and from Liverpool Street to the Airport daily.  Got to the airport just around 6 and had long lines to wait in!  Good thing I got there early!  I am not a morning person whatsoever, 4 a.m. is just awful for me.  But I made it & enjoyed a relaxing day at home in the sun.

The weather in London couldn't have been more perfect.  Everyone I talked to said it's more gray & overcast than sunny - & it was sunny & 60 everyday I was there.  I was VERY thankful for that. 

I suppose I'll take the month of April off from traveling & actually go to school before Katie & Ashley's arrival at the end of the month for some more excursions!  Just to clarify, I haven't missed any class time from my travels (in case you were concerned).  April is a little more spent at school & no week long breaks - bummer - so hopefully will fly by as this is my final month here (in France that is...)

Happy Palm Sunday! Very non-religous here; wonder what Easter will be like! I'll be sure to let you know!

a Trip to the French Riviera

Believe it or not, I've been a LITTLE busy since I've returned from Nice. But I'll begin with sharing my experiences on that amazing trip.

I had left Saturday, St. Patrick's Day, evening from La Rochelle, changed trains in Bordeaux (which I had visited back in February) and took a 12 hour, overnight train ride to Nice. There were 3 of us traveling all togehter, but were meeting one there.  We arrived Sunday morning at 8 a.m. and began our day right away. We walked around Nice, sat on the beach, touched the Meditteranean for my first time, visited the market, climbed a lot of stairs & enjoyed the beautiful city.  We stayed in a hostel, about 3 blocks from the beach, for a very reasonable price.

 Arriving in Nice on the train, along the coast.

 Nice.

Spices at the Market.

 I eventually climbed up there.

 From 'up there'

 again, from 'up there'  View of the City Life

 Beach view from 'up there'

 In the Meditteranean for the first time. 

Nice at night. 

After a nice dinner Sunday night, we called it a day.  Monday we got up and adventured to Monaco - the 2nd smallest country nestled in the French Riviera.  Talk about fancy - this country was it.  A very inexpensive 30 minute train ride - 3 euro one way - but to one of the most beautiful places I've been to.  We walked around Monte Carlo, saw nothing but fancy cars - Rolls Royce, Ferrari's, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche - fancy people, fancy architectural buildings, & of course a beautiful beach.  We also walked to see Prince Albert's Castle & saw where Grace Kelly is buried.  & how could I forget the yachts?! There were a lot of them too!

Monte Carlo.

Some fancy Yachts.

Beautiful blue water and Green green grass.

Casino in Monte Carlo.

10 euro 'cover charge' to actually go in & play - I didn't dare.

Taken from Prince Albert's Home.

I've never been, but reminds me the Caribbean.

Prince Albert's Home.

He wasn't there.

Beach in Monte Carlo.

From the front step of the Casino $

Outside the Hotel de Paris.

We made our way back to Nice for 2 euro on the return train.  Walked around for a bit and enjoyed a nice dinner.  Dinner time isn't until at least 7 p.m. so you must occupy yourself until then.  But most eat between 8-9. 

Tuesday was departure day, but not until evening.  So we took another inexpensive train ride to Cannes.  This mean absolutely nothing to me, but the 2 girls I was with were of course impressed with the Film Festival that is held there.  I don't think I knew such a thing existed there.  But we walked around Cannes for the afternoon before returning to Nice to catch our train home that left at 8 p.m. 

We arrived in La Rochelle about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.  Unfortunately I was robbed 200 euro on my overnight train while I was sleeping, but the fool dropped his ID and was shortly caught by the police - I may or may not see that money in September (!) after he goes to court. 

My next class began Wednesday - the schedule of course changed within the time of our trip being planned, and I missed the morning session of it - though I don't think I really missed anything.  Made it to the afternoon session, and had it again Thursday morning & afternoon.  & now, what a surprise, another break.  Headed to London Monday-Friday & mostly looking forward to the English part of it. 

We changed our clocks this morning, so I am again 6 hours ahead of EST.  The weather has been nothing but beautiful here - 60's/70's & Sunny.  & everyday I find another reason why I am so glad I chose to live with a family & how fortunate I am to have received the family I did.  She just told me she will pick me up at the airport when I come home on Friday.  The airport in La Rochelle is very very small.  It's about a 20 minute drive from the house.  There is a bus to the airport which is how I'll get there tomorrow.  I have no set plans while in London - adventuring, seeing, & speaking as much as I can in 3 full days.  I will share my adventures when I return!

Hope you're enjoying your time - without me.  I'll be home in 7 weeks!

a Little more Interesting than Past posts

Suppose I have some new news to share with you.

I ended my 2 week break last week with a bike ride (2 hours this time, she's killing me) on the island 'isle de rei' which I had visited when I first arrived.  The weather was much nicer this time around and I got to see so much more.  Leila, the daughter living in Paris, arrived Thursday and stayed for the weekend.  Thursday afternoon we all had lunch at my host mother's parents home.  It was a very nice home, very updated & well kept.  My host mother did grow up in this house, & is within walking distance from our home.  Thursday was also 'International Women's day'.  I honestly never heard of it until I came here - the US should celebrate that a little better...

The kids went to their father's for the weekend.  Saturday we didn't do much & Sunday we went for a nice walk along the beach. 

My mother left Monday morning for the week for work, and returns Saturday morning.  This is the longest she's been gone since I've been here & this is the week I needed her the most.  The kids come to the house everyday after school & go to their fathers around dinner time for the night, when she goes away.  I woke up Monday and decided to go into the city for a few hours - it was beautiful & I wasn't sitting at home - of course I had Monday off of school.  I left the city shortly after lunch time not feeling well.  Ines came home from school, & Moussa (who speaks NO english) shortly after from work - I took some medicine, but didn't do anything, but possibly made me feel worse.  I'd say it was the flu, as it's going around here - so they say. I wouldn't have gotten the full expereince if it didn't happen. (Case 1 I needed my mother) Unfortunately I missed Tuesday class, but I didn't miss anything, of course.

Wednesday I was back in swing.  This course is being taught by a professor from England and is a lot more enjoyable than my previous class - though I have to stay here at school until 9:45 p.m. tonight (!)  & have 2 Saturday's in April of it.  Crazy.  Moussa will come pick me up from school tonight.  (Case 2 I need my mother)  Last night, Thursday, I had a very nice evening with the assistant dean of the college of business at Shippensburg.  He arrived late Tuesday evening with his wife, visited the school Wednesday & met with 'important' people & met me last night.  Unfortunately they didn't spend much time in this beautiful city as they visited Poland & Prague before coming here, & currently are on their way home.  It was one of the best nights I've had here, my first beer I've had here (no wonder it was a good night) & it was with my dean; hm. I'm not to worry about credits transferring, it will happen.  He realized how unorgnized this school is & understood my problems a lot better.  He said though I'm not getting the best education, it's all about the experience I'm having - which is true.  I've learned so much since I'm here - about myself, other cultures, how to deal with change, the list could go on.  I called my mother once we ended dinner & she called Moussa to come pick me up - which is what she told me to do, I had planned on either walking or calling a taxi.  (Case 3 I needed her)

Tomorrow evening I'm taking an overnight train to Nice (in the French Riviera) until Tuesday evening with another overnight train and arriving home Wednesday morning.  'Class' for a few days then off to London for 5 days - then it's April - my final month here!

I forgot to mention - we did NOT change our clocks here yet.  I asked my mother about it Saturday night, & she looked at me funny.  Europe changes their clocks the last Sunday of March, while the US changes the 2nd Sunday of March.  And Europe 'falls behind' a week or 2 before the US, as we do it the first Sunday of November.  Did you know that Arizona is always on Standard time?  (I did a little research about Daylight Savings when I learned we didn't change yet.  Thought I should learn something while I'm here)

Hopefully I gave you a good read this time.  Have a good weekend & I will update after my trip to Nice!

my Break is Slowly coming to an End.

I wish I had something interesting to share with you, but I really have no new news. I've been enjoying these 2 weeks off - more than the whole month I had off when I first arrived.  The weather is beautiful & much more pleasant here.  Last week my mother had to leave again for a few days - so I was alone again with just my french speaking african, Moussa.  I'm UNDERSTANDING french a lot better, but I'm always at a loss for words - just don't know what to say or how to respond!

Ines stated the other day that she thinks english is the best language.  Her dream is to live in NY - I'm expecting a visitor in the near future.  She's very much into photography & forgot her camera today - so I gave her mine for the day - she clearly enjoyed it.

  Today I met my mother's parents, her brother & his daughter.  We went on a walk through open farmland for about 5 miles.

My dearest Mother.

It was an overall good, exhausting day. 

I have a few things to look forward to in my near future - my dean visits next week for 2 days, a weekend trip to Nice in the French Riviera for St Patrick's Day, & 5 days in London the last week of March (yet another week off from school). 

Back to class next week! Finally.  Never thought I'd be so upset about such a matter.  & I assure you that next week I will have pictures of my school - I'm busy right now...

Hope you're all having a good week!  Miss you all!