http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Auvergne/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , France , Auvergne en-us Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:01:34 BST Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:01:34 BST If I haven't previously mentioned I've been living in a restaurant for the last one month and six days. In a tribute to my friend the chef this week I decided to put up some pictures of the fine cuisine I've enjoyed recently. I know it's a bit odd to take pictures of food before you eat it but look at the pictures and you'll understand. Before you get mad and tell me it's not fair that I'm eati http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Moulins/blog-330471.html So today on the eve of my one month anniversary of being in France I've decided to do something special. Okay it's not that special. Basically I'm just going to share some of my newly acquired wisdom with you. All of what follows has been of course learned during my last 30 days in France. If you are going to be staying in a foreign country for an extended period of time in the near future I http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Moulins/blog-327920.html So I am here in ClermontFerrand. It is a beautiful city surrounded by a chain of dormant volcanos. I am couchsurfing at a guy named Ali's flat. It is pretty sweet like an oversized bachelor. Anywyas after 4 days in France living amongst these wondeous people I can safely say that I can generalize here.Almost eveything you've ever heard about the French is true they are fast pushy crazy dri http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Clermont-Ferrand/blog-327774.html So this past weekend I was in Prigueux France. I know I know that's pretty awesome. I was there for my first district Rotary meeting in France. For those of you who don't know what that is I recommend you ask around until someone gives you a believable answer because it would take far too long for me to explain in writing. I had a great time meeting all of the students who are in my area this http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Moulins/blog-323982.html Sunday August 10thBugs flatlands and isolation. These were our first impressions of the countryside of Auvergne. We had initially planned to stay three nights at La Platriere but after waking up on Sunday morning and taking stock of our surroundings we resolved to press onward to Paris a day early that is Monday morning. A call to our Paris hotel ensured that we were cleared for an early http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/blog-312293.html Sunday August 9thThis blog is short and sweet but our day was neverending. We said our goodbyes to Jacque at Eze and by 1030 we hit the road to Auvergne. We knew that the trip from Eze to Auvergne was going to be the long drive of our European vacation but little did we know how long. The mileage was calculated to be about 750 kilometers so we knew that it was going to be at least 67 hours. http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/blog-312226.html We decided this beautiful sunny morning having no set agenda for the day to head back to PuydeDome region and visit ClermontFerrand. It was quite an interesting visit because we had no idea what to look for or even where to go. Heading to the centre ville is always a good idea but maybe not always a good idea in a big city with lots of traffic We did okay though. As we were entering the http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Clermont-Ferrand/blog-300153.html June 25 26 2008AUVERGNE REGION FranceOur journey from Geneva took us across a small mountain range through some very beautiful countryside to ClermontFerrand. We were pleasantly surprised. This is a very nice city known as the geographic center of France. The city is in some very nice farmland and crops of all kinds are grown here.We took our usual ldquowalk aboutrdquo from our hotel to http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Clermont-Ferrand/blog-292917.html Friday 16th MayOver breakfast Marion explained Owen's deprivations of the night before in somewhat less heartrending tone than he employed to our hostess. She was incredibly embarrassed and sincerely contrite apologising over and over again. In the end she cut our bill by a third effectively not charging for the forgotten one.We decided we didn't want to brave the dogvisited city streets a http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Clermont-Ferrand/blog-286967.html This past month I went skiing in Massif Central in France which is right in the middle of the country. Its a beautiful region in France that is known for its skiing of course and its volcanoes...dormant volcanoes So there's volcanoes and mountains and is beautiful Its also known for its cheese. Like every region here there are certain types of cheeses that are found in Massif Central. T http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/blog-253327.html I as in ClermontFerrand Michelin Capital pop. 140000 nightlife pop 8 for the 3rd EGEE User Forum basically when all of the people who are actually using the technology get together explain how they are using it and outline progress and issues. There were some interesting demos there as well. I chaired the session of Finance and Multimedia on the first day and gave a summary presentati http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Clermont-Ferrand/blog-248889.html This entry is dedicated to my French studies hosted by ESCClermont Ferrand Graduate School of Management. The school is truly international hosting students from over 20 countries and supporting the travels of many other students to over 90 countries around the world. Professor David Marker a native Kansian is our advisor for our studies and he has been spectacular. He received me at the ai http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Clermont-Ferrand/blog-240018.html SALUT family friends and travelers I have arrived in ClermontFerrand after a disastrousfree flight. The weather in Clermont is surprisingly fair especially compared to the harsh winter storms that Columbia has been experiencing two full inches of snow. I live fifteen minutes from school so I make the daily trek on foot or bicycle which gives me a great morning workout time to gather my http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Clermont-Ferrand/blog-239942.html Dordogne MarketsOne of the joys for us is to visit the local markets that abound in France. The colours the smells the sounds all gently assault you as you wander with the locals. There is also a sense of participating in a custom and commercial enterprise that has flourished for centuries. Living in a gite has allowed us to buy foods and prepare them in our own kitchen.We love the idea of shop http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/blog-211226.html Hi everyone I just writing update because it's been along time. Everything has been a bit busyand a little hectic with school starting exams already and travel planning I'm thinking Lyon Budapest etc.The weather is wonderful sunny and beautiful 15C everyday I have been eating French foods cheeses wines and pork pork pork Anyways I should have new photos and new adventures t http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Vichy/blog-131769.html Here are the photos of ClermontFerrand I took on Christmas Eve but forgot about until now Enjoy http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Clermont-Ferrand/blog-124101.html So this is a photo update I know there have been a lot but I have been occupied with these photos for a lllllllooooonnngggg time. I have dedicated upwards of 60 hours to trying to get these photos up and they are coming along.A few notes on the Morocco photos1 Photos are courtesy of me of course but also Ludo Kouider and Antoine from the trip.2 Some how the photos from Marrakech ended u http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Vichy/blog-122839.html So after leaving the amazing city of Paris. We drove along to Fountainbleau and to see one of the many palaces made famous during Napolean's reign. It was set amongst some amazing gardens and was a great way to start the day.We then made our way through the central part of France before reaching our destination an old chateau for 2 more nights accommodation. It is set in the Beaujolais wine reg http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/blog-114616.html So I figured that it was about time to put some more pictures up here so here are some random pictures from the last three months.... http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Vichy/blog-110309.html Music has been the fabric that binds my trip abroad in a beautiful mosaic. Anyone over here will tell you I can't function without my ipod and on a mild and rainy day in Vichy it provides the necessary colour to my life. I have been listening to the Counting Crows for the last couple days and I have been loving it. Thanks to Ludo I've also been listening to A LOT of house music which is great http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Vichy/blog-108292.html I was listening to that song the other day while making up my Christmas cards. I haven't been writing here i know but I have been very busy. Last week I moved to my new apartment in Vieux Vichy. I had a successful fundraising event for a group called SIDAction AIDS awareness week. And as it is the end of term Ive had tons of school work group meetings etc. I also had some friendship issue http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Vichy/blog-108027.html For those who have never taken one of the numerous trains in France or for that matter Western Europe the experience can be very difficult to explain but I have wanted to try for some time and here it goes. I have now taken the train from Vichy into Clermont Ferrandmany times and yet I still find myself captivated by the emeraldgreen rolling fields the dense dark forests and the dots of wh http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Vichy/blog-108021.html So on Friday I made a sudden move. A cute little french studio with a large balcony in Vieux Vichy is now mine. Equiped with a court yard and a short walk through the Parc des Celestins it is perfect once I figure out how to cover the awful wall paper. http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Vichy/blog-106484.html I felt it was about time I dug into Vichy's not so pleasant past. Most people outside France would not think of Vichy as Napoleon's second home nor would they no luch about it's magnificent spas and celestins. No Vichy has a darker reputation one which is never visible today in the town. In fact despite living in the shadow of the hotel de ville the center of these events Vichy France has le http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Vichy/blog-104977.html Old Entry I forgot to publish from Nov 14It is now 130 am on Monday morning and I am sitting at my computer listening to the sweet sound Yann Tiersen on my new speakers Yes my heroic friend boyfriend not only cooks and shows me France but he also sets up speakers so I can listen to music in my room There was the amusement park LaLille that turned the Dark Clermont into a bright city of lig http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Moulins/blog-104965.html To put this entry in context I am sitting in what should be my room but it currently has no food in it and there are assorted piles of laundry strewn around the floor and furniture. Yes the student's week can do that to you and I'm sure I'm not alone in this abysmal state. I should try to conquer it and get things back in order but I need to charge my Ipod before I can function. The Soiree http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Clermont-Ferrand/blog-104678.html Ok so for those who think a year abroad is all fun in games here's an update for youSince returning to Vichy I have done nothing but work Between group meetings for any of the four projects I have currently preparing my 20 minute French presentation student council meetings and my French test I haven't spent five minutes in peace My room has become a total mess I'm only in here to eat http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Vichy/blog-101374.html SO I have been back in France for five days and they have been anything but boring. The night I arrived back in Vichy I got an invite and headed out to ClermontFerrand. ClermontFd is the largest city in my area and is nestled in the volcanic mountains that make the quarried stone black strong and light. Clermont is also the home of Michelin the tire manufacturer. Well I figured I would wo http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Clermont-Ferrand/blog-100607.html There are three words in French that have the root word bouche. Why I am thinking this in the middle of a terribly important dinner I don't know. But here goes my thought process anyways.Bouche means mouth. I'm trying to focus on my companions' mouths and trying harder to figure out their accent. Bouche now that one is a little touchy. Literally it means a mouthful but as I sit with a mou http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Moulins/blog-96985.html Autumn swept unnoticed into Vichy silently creeping when I was busy preparing my trips and madly finishing my homework. Do the leaves change colour here I asked Ludo on day. What do you mean I mean well in Canada the leaves turn colour in autumn. First their tips turn a yellow and brown. Then the veins turn bright yellow and one day you look up and your are surrounded by a sea of red http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/France/Auvergne/Vichy/blog-96085.html