tinytraveltales

Annency Last week (Yes, it's been that long since I wrote my last entry), the university had organized an excursion to Annency, a small town with a gorgeous lake surrounded by the Alphes, located 2 hours from Lyon. Although I must admit that the lake and the mountains surrounding it were absolutely stunning, I was slightly disappointed by the town itself, which was packed with tourists and tourist shops...not my favorite thing in the world. The part of Annency that is closest to the lake is filled with lovely old building and bridges, giving it a very romantic view. But then again, if you walk 5 streets further you see the normal part of Annency, which is not that interesting really. As I had enough of the pretty but typically touristy parts of town, I climbed ... read more

After trying to keep up a blog myself, I think I now understand why all the people I know who keep a blog have massive pauses in their blogwriting...there's simply always too much going on! Meanwhile, my big which-level-course-should-I-do-dillemma has been solved, with me deciding to stay in the class I'm in. I must admit, there are classes where I wonder why on earth I wanted to learn French, since the grammar is just horrible. Fortunately though, I am starting to understand more and more. By now, I have even done some first exams, and did pretty well on them! :) But, before writing more about the present, I think I have some catching up to do on the past 10 days... In these days, I have been visiting Vieux Lyon, the old part of Lyon. ... read more

I'm back again and will be practicing my multitasking skills by writing this blog and cooking at the same time! So, to come back where I left off, after I had managed to get to Lyon by train the 26th, I had to continue my journey with bus that brought me to the address I was supposed to be at. Now, where I was expecting a mere apartment building in a suburban neighborhood, I was actually at a full grown campus location with lots of buildings and confusing roads. After dragging my suitcase and backpack around the entire campus, a nice English speaking student (HALLELUJAH!) showed me where I had to arrange all the paperwork and I finally could get into my room. My room and campus Fortunately, I have a room of my own with ... read more

So, the 26th, which was yesterday (or actually, the day before yesterday since it's past midnight by now), I arrived in lyon. This was quite an interesting journey, as it involved getting up at 6 in the morning and accidentally missing my train since I hadn't looked at the ticket and thought the guy making my reservation made one for a later train (Note to self, ALWAYS check not only that you have your tickets but also what is on them!). The good thing was that I got to travel first class later on in the TGV, which was awesome (so spacious!!!). Another time, I'll write more about getting to my room in a studenthousing complex and how I'm doing there, but for now I'm too tired and I just wanna sleep :) We shall meet ... read more

So, I know I haven't been writing for a couple days, but I'll try to do some to get back on track. The 23nd, after an exhausting flight (delays, an hour waiting for the rental car and a blocked highway), it was wedding day. After getting up way too early to get ready and having breakfast outside in the warm french sun (with the very awesome view of the sea), we went to a lovely little church on a hill in Eze where the wedding ceremony would be held. The outside of the church was not that spectacular, yet the inside was. It was full of wonderful fresco's (and uncomfortable church benches, I would later discover). On the to the church, which was quite a climb on heels, we walked on a apparently medieval road with ... read more