Mad for Madrid!!!!

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Okay... I am so sorry to say, I have no pictures....my camera broke two weeks ago in France and I have had no time to get it checked out, but I wanted to say a quick little something about what is going on now.....

Well, I spent 20 some days in France. The first two weeks in Toulouse....a great city, that is actually the third largest in France, but it felt so quaint and charming. I liked it. I spent may hours along the tree lined banks of the canals stetching and writng in my journal. It was realtively windy , but I invited the breeze to mask the heat of the sun. On most of my days off, I tried to use the lap top and find free WI- FI connection. Aggravating at times, but the few times that I was able to connect I briefly emailed. Toulouse was a window to a new part of France that was far from the busy, irratiablity that I found in Paris. I was glad to have witnessed the laid back college lifestyle that Toulouse had to offer. I was even able to befriend a few students, although, the only time that I was able to go out was with the freinds of my nanny mom´s sister, Elen. She is about 50 and divorced, but I happened to get invited for drinks with her, her divorced husband.... they an unusal relationship now...odd..but it works for them...hmmm... and thier much older companions. Imagine, a twenty four year old, with a handfull of French men, all over the age of fifty, with extremely thickk accents and equally asthick mostache´s. It was quite humerous. One guy, was the excact image of Albert Einstien, with his crazy hair. Haha!

After I said goodbye to Una and her children, I had exactly two hours to myself before, heading out to Arles, which is located further southeast of France. Its actually, the home of the cafe that Vincent Van Gogh, made famous in his paintings. I sadly never had an opportnity to visit the city of Arles, as I was stuck in the beautiful chataeu, that comprized of 11 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, a guest house, swimming pool, and typical a french fountain and gardens. Pictures soon I promise! The home, even came complete with a live in maid and landscaper, and gardener! It was amazng to see people live in such an extravagant lifestyle. And they considered themselves modest and ¨comfortable¨. I guess so , compared to other households in France. But I was definitely impressed!

Dinners were also such a grand event. There are always at five courses and for the most part I enjoyed the meal. I never had so much Foie Gras..its okay..I ate it out of politeness, but I would rather not, I´m with PETA, lets just do away with it all together....it´s forced feed goose liver...anyway, I always opted for the salad, my birthday is coming up, so you know.....;)

So, anyway, They didn´t end up needing me for so long, their trip to Italy was cancelled due to poor planning...which I didn´t expect, but living with them for that short time, I realized she was much too scattered, disorganized and uncommunicative with me, that it is best to not be in that situation. Actaully, I wasnt evén paid for the whole time I was there, but what do you do..I really didn´t want to leave on bad terms and I figured, now I know for next time. I actually didn´t pre plan things out myself. I should have asked about pay specifically and not assume that we were at an understanding, even if I wasn´t going to work for them the whole three weeks.. its just that most of the familes I work for have been so generous and considerate, so I ¨assumed¨ they would be as well...oh well...... I had enough money to live off of from the previous nanny job. So I left, got in last night ,and now back home.

After one of the scariest plane rides I have even been on in my life, I touched down in the dry desert of Madrid, and believe it or not, I felt like I was really home. I have such peace about the next few months. My new apt, the new roomies that are sooo fun, new clients for work and spainsh academies for a new language. I am very content to say the least!. An my birthday!!!.... 25...crazy..i will literally be in my mid twenties.... what??? We´re going to have a masquerade party with some freinds as well as a housewarming party too! There is just so much to celebrate!

I am so apologetic about the missing pictures, but now that I am here, I could try to get the camera fixed.... in the mean time, I have one of those crappy disposible ones and I will have to get it on a disk or something to put some fun picutres on the internet....and you´ll have to bear with this boring blog...

Anyway.........Yeah, for new beginnings!

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