http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , France , Centre en-us Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:35:16 +0000 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:35:16 +0000 Continued...I peeled back to the right just in time to miss a speeding black Renault. I looked around and everything was still except for water pouring from above. No other cars from either direction. That was enough for me.It wasn't safe to continue. Why did I have to be here in DECEMBER Obviously it's my own stupid fault for undertaking this at all let alone doing it in winter. So when the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Nogent-le-Rotrou/blog-459832.html I was only about 40 kilometers from my destination. After hours in Parisian traffic I finally broke loose on a wet and darkening day. Though I'd intended to take the smaller country roads when I saw the freeway in my direction I tightened up my ropes and bit my lip.I filled up my tank at the midsized town of Chartres around 430pm and the wind was picking up. Filling up with my luggage isn't http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Chartres/blog-458909.html BONSOIR A TOUSI'm so sorry it's been over a week since I last wrote Things are mellowing down a bit for me right now and I didn't want to be saying the same things all the time in my blogs. So I figured I'd wait to update you all on the past week and a half before ToussaintLet's see where to begin... Jackie came to visit me last weekend She's placed in Creteil paris suburb and th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-447615.html BonsoirFirst I'd like to say a BIG thank you for the birthday wishes and comments. It makes my day to read a little piece of home. I had to write today because somethings were just too good to wait until next weekI woke up this mornng with so many birthday wishes and skype voicemails that made me feel so unbelievably happy and loved. After a few tears of joy I got ready for my http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-445034.html Bonsoir a tousHow are you all I haven't been hearing from you lately and it makes me sad Not that I'm looking for comments about what I've written...but I do miss hearing about you and how you are I get homesick sometimes and it's nice to see messages from home. It keeps me going. Everything is great still in beautiful Tours I can't believe it's the middle of October already http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-444462.html Bonsoir a tousAfter rereading some of my blogs I realized that the things that stick out the most in my head don't come across as the most pleasant I just wanted to write to stress how truly happy I am here. No they don't shower often but that's because they don't like to waste water. The French way of living is very natural and green. I've learned to not waste as much and the importance http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-442143.html Irsquove already been here for a month Itrsquos going fast.I finally skipped town to get a feel of what else the Touraine has to offer. And itrsquos very generous I must say. It really is the perfect home base to visit the copious amounts of chateaux and jardins all within a short bus ridersquos complete with Whitney Houston and No Doubt soundtrack distance.I invited Xenrsquos acade http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Azay-Le-Rideau/blog-441835.html BONJOURI hope everyone is doing great I'm finally feeling more comfortable here in Tours. I've met all my students and figured out my schedule while I'm here. Having a set routine each week will certainly help me deal with being away from home. I'm adjusting to being alone out here...but it's not easy. I miss going into town and seeing everyone and having class everyda http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-441222.html Dias 39 a 41 Uma viagem no TGV francs me levou at Tours a regio onde dezenas de castelos esto concentrados. A passagem foi carssima mas no existem muitas opes de transporte barato na Frana. nibus no so uma possibilidade para viagens um pouco mais longas. Somente se opta entre o caro TGV e o menos caro trem convencional. No havia trem convencional para Tours. Ficaria hospedado na c http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-440852.html In the late 19th century France claimed the territory of Vietnam a part of French Indochina. Thus began the tumultuous relationship between the two countries. It remained a French colony until Vietnam won its independence in 1954. The war was as bloody and unpopular as our own war was there a few years later. French influence in the country romanized the Vietnamese language and drastically improv http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-440427.html Yay for the Journes du patrimoine. For just one weekend many historical sites and other points of interest throughout Europe that are otherwise closed for the rest of the year are open to the public. Europe makes it a point to cultivate its inhabitants. Itrsquos a weekend to celebrate history and culture of a continent certainly not lacking either. And we tried to take full advantage. Tours is http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-440413.html Bonjour a tous Remember me Irsquom sorry I havenrsquot written an a whilehellipI havenrsquot had much internet at all this past week Needless to say this is going to be a long updateI canrsquot believe a month has gone by already and that Irsquom settled into my final location. Itrsquos unreal Leaving Besancon was hard. Not many people loved the city because it was so http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-440119.html ldquoA different language is a different vision of life.rdquo Frederico FelliniThis entry has been three years in the making.I minimally helped Velina prepare dinner tonight a fantastic moussaka with Bulgarian flare. We invited Alesya and Xen and agreed that we would carry on in English for the evening for their benefit. Alesya can get by but Xen struggles although he steals every mome http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-438019.html Well Irsquove got a full house now. Turns out Judith is alive and well. It still doesnrsquot explain the paranormal activity going on around here but at least I wonrsquot be the only one experiencing it now. The front desk staff showed up on Friday while I was in the middle of cleaning the mold out of the other refrigerator. Apparently I ldquodonrsquot have the right to be on the other http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-437274.html Today was the first day I was able to go out and wander around the city something I enjoy doing more than just about anything. Leave it to the French to lease gardens. Therersquos a giant green block and you can rent out space and grow whatever you want. I always attach a garden to the household but it becomes something more here in France especially in the city where greenspace is a luxury. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-437271.html My passion for exquisite cuisine has been reawakened. And Irsquom able to fully experience la gastronomie franaise since Irsquom no longer restricted by a nonexisting allergy to nuts Hello Muesli bakeries Nutella. Goodbye awkward interrogations with French chefs. And I have so much more time on my hands now that Irsquom not meticulously reading and translating ingredients labels. And t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-437266.html Everything Irsquove learned I have forgotten. Everything Irsquove forgotten feels just like new. M. Ward ldquoEyes on the PrizerdquoIrsquom falling in love all over again. Itrsquos the weather the food the fun of losing yourself the tranquility the nostalgia and at the same time the newness of it all. It truly is possible to start all over from scratch and become whoever you http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-435508.html The trip home was a much more moderate affair with speed limits observed. Patrick took some time to show me a couple of sites on the return journey. We stopped off at Chateaudun to look at this impressive building and surrounding town. The photos are more expansive than I can be.Next stop was Chartres where there seemed to be a festival on in the streets. The cathedral was in a paved pedestria http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Chartres/blog-434973.html The WeddingAs everyone knows there was a lot of preparation for this wedding hellip dress shoes bag and hellip a hat in hatbox that met Airbus overhead cabin storage requirements The wedding was in Brou not far from Chartres and a 1 hour drive from Paris. I was to get a lift with a member of the family Patrick who was also picking up 2 highschool students who had to go to school http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Chartres/blog-434805.html Irsquom currently living alone in a four bedroom apartment with no immediate neighbors on either side. Itrsquos like a fourperson version of my apartment in Thlme the floors and the doors are the same as well as the kitchenette and the fridge although I had to make a freezer door out of cardboard. Itrsquos even got all the familiar smells. But God was it a dump when I got here. Clea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Centre/Tours/blog-434484.html