http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Charitos/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Charitos en-us Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:13:05 UTC Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:13:05 UTC How do you get from sea level to the highest point in the Alps Easy miss your train to Nimes. So the plan was to head to Provence Thursday afternoon friday class was cancelled. Wednesday we went to town and made our reservations for the high speed TGV train to Nimes. We had it written on a piece of paper checked it on the lady's computer screen to confirm our reservation. Well on the tr http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Chamonix/blog-292357.html Saturday morning we caught the RER train out to Versailles 20 minute trip. Arrived in the town by 9 it's an easy 5 minute walk to the chatuea it's pretty hard to miss. It's big really big. It's a grand entrance into the complex the buildings standing over you extending in all directions. We toured the king and queen's state apartments and all the various rooms accompanying those for e http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/-le-de-France/Versailles/blog-288097.html Once again we had great weather for the weekend. James study abroad student just got here last week and I caught the 1300 train to Paris from Rouen just made it by a few minutes. Picked up the Paris museum pass and headed to the d'Orsay home of the main impressionist paintings which is the main attraction. It's a relatively new museum 1986 built within an old train station that was to http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/-le-de-France/Paris/blog-288079.html We left Bagnoles by 0800 surprisingly everyone was ready. We stopped for breakfast around 9 just stopped in a village on the road. Grabbed some croisants then went to a bar to get some coffee. We tried to take the backroads up to the coast but we eventually ended up on the super highway. After a few detours through the outskirts of Caen and near St. Mere Eglise didn't make it all the way http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Lower-Normandy/Arromanches-les-Bains/blog-286196.html Our road trip started saturday morning. We rented a car from Hertz outside the train station. The guy there was really helpful and we ended up being able to get a 7 person van originally we had two reservations for small cars. They wanted 35 eurosday for a young driver charge but luckily Evelina is 25. We barely made it out of the tiny parking garage without harm and we were quickly on o http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Lower-Normandy/Mont-Saint-Michel/blog-285858.html Today is sweden's nation day so let's break out a smorgasbord of celebration Apparently it's not a big deal in Sweden so we'll settle with going into town tonight and maybe some pastry at lunch.We are planning on going to the DDay beaches this weekend along with mount saint michelle. Today is the 64th anniversary of the landings. There are a few celebrations going on in Bayeux this weeken http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Rouen/blog-284348.html I wasnrsquot sure what to expect in Paris but I think it was everything I thought and more. Itrsquos definitely a different culture than here in Rouen but thatrsquos like saying New York City is different than Ithaca. There is tons to do and see you could spend two weeks there and never run out of things to do. Itrsquos big but very manageable. The metro is fast and efficient. Fro http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/-le-de-France/Paris/blog-283224.html The hookah bar was very interesting. The atmosphere is quite relaxing plush benches that are low to the ground with pillows surrounding a few tables in the middle. A big lsquosheetrsquo silk billows down from the ceiling producing an upside down arch. And they had some music on. There were a number of these rooms tucked away in the corners. Definitely a middle eastern feel to the p http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Rouen/blog-283217.html The sun finally came out yesterday first time since I got into Rouen. The weather is nice high 60's but it has been raining a lot. Our lab flooded yesterday some pump broke and water came in from the ceiling it was a big mess. I went shopping for the first time the other day there is a place like wal mart that is close. A baguette costs 0.32 euro and I bought a bottle of wine for 1.08 http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Rouen/blog-281392.html Well I made it to Rouen just fine as you all know. The ride up was nice rolling hills with wheat and corn. All the fields have scarecrows in them and the ones that didn039t had crows in them. Lots of little towns and villages about 5 or so km apart. They are all quaint with very old buildings and windy streets. Every one has a steeple. The farmers live right on the edge of town they ar http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Rouen/blog-280771.html Tomorrow is the big day off to France. Hopefully the weather cooperates I don't need any more delays. Feel free to post questions and feedback on here we can treat it like email. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Nebraska/Lincoln/blog-279734.html