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Published: July 13th 2006
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Oh my I can't even remember all that happened in the past few days. I know a few days ago Mélanie, Garance's sister, took me around and I got to see Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur, L'arc du triomphe and the Champs-Elysées. We had a good time chatting and walking around. It was very quite and peaceful despite the many tourists. Having a French person really helps me feel like I'm on the inside instead of just watching the façade of Paris race by me. We had icecream which everyone seems to be having everyday because it is so darn hottttttttt here. Anywho, that night we started Gone With the Wind, Garance, Mélanie, and I before we all became really tired and called it a night.
The next day I went with Garance to the dentist because she was having her first cavity drilled and I read The Fountain Head which is positively holding me captive. What a crazy book! I love it. After that we went to her mother's store and I went out for food. It was such bad quality because the French barrier was off that garance went out and told the vendor off for taking advantage
Arc de Triomphe
forgive spelling of my foreigness. Too cute. I love her.
After that I did some important research on the trains and how to use my Eurail pass so I could start exploring outside Paris. I love it, but I need to expand my horizans. This is a backpacking trip after all. So I went to the Gare where they were of no help and I returned to Garance from whence we decided to watch a movie at the theatre. Don't see Tideland. It's........very disturbing. The only amusing part was that I was the only one laughing at some points because it was in English with French subtitles and they didnt get the subtleties. And after that, we saw Scarlett get dumped by Rhett, serves that wench right.
And today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to Normandie---->Caen. I woke up really early to catch the train but I couldn't find my purse and I woke Garance up!!! I know I have elephant feet daddy so shhhhhhh!! When I finally found it I was late and had to hurry out to the Métro. Luckily the gare I needed to get to was a straight shot on ligne 3. I sat on the Métro watching the
faces of people sleepier than me yawn, pick their noses when they thought no one was looking, and rub life into sleeping limbs. When I got to the gare I had a bit of trouble figuring out what to do but as it turns out (after 3 conversations in French) all I had to do was find my train and get on.
OH MY GOD!!!! First time on such a neat train. I had a 1st class compartment all to myself and I was acting like such a child. Taking pictures of the scenery, myself, my passport, singing, dancing around. You name it. I definitely didn't get much reading done. A friendly French young man popped his head in to say hello. I guess I was still smiling because he asked me why. Hehe. Anyway, got to Caen, used my mad language skills to get a plan of the city and some directions.
First thing I did after that: shop. Sales and outside Paris = cheap. I bought gifts for all the important people save the boys. You're harder to shop for than girls Espinosa men. Sorry. Then I explored a cathedral and a castle. A CASTLE. I
don't know about you, but we don't have castles in the middle of my city. With the gorgeous weather, wild flowers and lush lawns the place was breathtaking. Let's just say I parked my butt and definitely read for a while under a tree.
Then I decided to go to the Memorial. I took the wrong direction on the bus and ended up going all around the city but I figure its a good thing. I was marveling at the sights out the window the entire time. When I got to the museum I bought an overpriced ticket and explored history. It told of the Allied Powers, D-day, the Holocaust, the Cold War and personal stories from the US, France, Germany and more. It was neat but depressing. The best part of that was I met an American couple who couldn't find the cafeteria and englisted my French skills. Hehe. I was a translator for ONCE. The man kept making stupid Miami jokes but I forgive him because he boosted my ego. hehe.
The gardens were the best part of the museum. I spent forever out there and only left when I had to head back to Paris.
Needless to say I'm exhausted. But it was well worth it. Now that I know how this train pass works you can bet I'm going to use it more.
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ashlita
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i always wanted to see a castle.