Blogs from Île-de-France, France, Europe - page 460

March 12, 2006 Hello everyone, I haven’t updated my blog in a while but all is well with me. A few things that have recently happened to me: I discovered the Library at the University Paris VIII and now my need for a library to study in has finally been quenched. A life saver for two reasons: one because I can stay awake longer reading when I have other students to look at, and two because I can watch films there for free. My next discovery is my until now hidden love for éclairs, I now think about them almost every time I pass a patisserie - which is quite often. Third, I discovered the revolutionary spirit of French students. And this is actually what I want to discuss since the éclair subject is exhausted after ... read more

As you are likely to tell from the volume of beautiful photo’s that I managed to get, Paris is the most amazingly gorgeous city. The accommodation proved to be a slight mission after we realised that our booking for the “Peace and Love Hostel” (on which we had our hearts set based almost purely on the fabulous name) was for April rather than March. However we ended up booking into a Hotel close to the Gard du Nord which was where we arrived on the Eurostar. Did make it a little more expensive than I was expecting, but it was still pretty decently priced for a Hotel. George joined us the next day and we trudged out in the rather miserable weather to see the Eiffel tower. We went right to the top (and were surprised ... read more

Ca va? We are Eurostar virgins no more. Alison, Ver, Lucy K and I wined and dined our way by train from London Waterloo under the channel and arrived in the amazing city of Paris to meet up with Kate P (after an emergency dash back to our apartment by Ver who now realises that you need a passport to enter another country - even if you're not travelling by plane). Wow, what can I say, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, The Arc d'Triomphe, the Champs Elysees all lived up to our best expectations. The shoping district also got the thumbs up from Ver who now breezes around London in her swish Dorothy red heels. Very handy as Ver has now done away with the A-Z and relies solely on clicking her heels to get ... read more

“Paris holds the key to your heart…” Bonjour faithful readers, I apologize for my prolonged absence. After wireless stopped working in my house, I was forced to use the exceedingly slow computers at the Fund and I haven’t really been too motivated to maintain the journal entries. But, after my parents informed me that the entire extended family has been keeping tabs on my journeying, I figured it was about time for a renewal of the journal. Enjoy! I can’t believe how fast the weeks have passed. I’ve been soaking up every bit of Spain especially the “3 s’s”: sun, sangria, and, most important, SIESTA (yes, surprisingly, “school” or “studying” did not make the list…). My Spanish family is still wonderful and my “mom” has even promised to teach me how to cook. So far, I’ve ... read more

OK, here's another one to send your hair grey. (Man I'm going to regret being so honest with everybody one day! :P) It's 1:50am and I've just arrived at my Couch-Surfing destination for the next few days courtesy of a guy named Stephane. It's a great old shop that's been converted into a flat and it's completely decked out exclusively for couch-surfers! Including this computer and a FREE international phone!!??!?) Getting here, however proved to be more difficult than expected. After jumping a bus from the airport, which turned out to be a good 100k's away from Paris, I managed to mistake several power poles for the Eiffel Tower and a wheat silo for the Arc de Triomphe before actually getting into town. Once again being spat out onto the cold, wet streets of an unfamiliar ... read more