Blogs from Le Havre, Upper Normandy, France, Europe

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Europe » France » Upper Normandy » Le Havre February 11th 2015

I woke up a little early today, and realised that with the time difference, there isn't really a decent time where I'm awake and out of school, and everyone back home is awake or, out of school. Skype hasn't been working because of a mic issue... If anyone knows any tricks for Skype on macs, please let me know. School was only 1h today, because of the organization of Alison's classes and exams this week. We had history; It's interesting the way students act around their teachers here. As you enter the class, you just sit, and write down what the teacher says. That's it, No questions, no discussions, no explanations. I've always heard people say that France's school system is so advanced, that the material is much harder and that the students are learning more ... read more

Europe » France » Upper Normandy » Le Havre February 10th 2015

As we arrived at Alison's house, I realized how remote it was. It's a little farm property, something you might see behind elk lake. She has a few chickens and geese and three goats. Her backyard is half Christmas tree farm, half paddocks for the 4 horses: 2 ponies and 1 rescue that is just boarding with her, and her own mare. Apparently, I'll be able to ride eventually, which should be interesting :) I didn't really understand when Alison told me she was preparing my room for me. I thought maybe she was cleaning it or something, which would have been amazing, but, I realize now that she was actually renovating part of the house where I would be staying. So, my room is beautiful! It's all newly painted, and accented with lilac colours. Just ... read more

Europe » France » Upper Normandy » Le Havre February 10th 2015

HII! I'm finally connected to good wifi after two days in Paris. I'm currently in Normandy with my exchange family. They picked me up from the hotel in Paris this morning, and we drove 2 hours north into Le Havre. It's hard to switch between english and french. I'm finding myself starting to type in english and switching to french. Valerie (my host mom) reminds me of my own mom, which is nice, but also makes me a bit homesick... even though it's my first day. 2 days ago, We arrived in Paris after a redeye flight from Toronto, and dived straight into sightseeing. We were 2 hours late on our flight, so we had to skip the Notre-Dame, and we went straight to Flunch (which is a cafeteria style restaurant with pretty decent french food). ... read more

Europe » France » Upper Normandy » Le Havre July 11th 2013

What a funny day we have had today! Docked at 7.00.a.m. off straight away to car hire place in terminal - 5 of us renting a car - but guy didn't turn up til 8.00a.m. John said that would be right these frogs don't give a shit about anyone but themselves. Got our Nissan Duke to head down to Normanby and Honfleur on the way back. Car OK but GPS we had to hire for 15 Euro didnt stick to the window and the volume wouldn't work - so back into hire place - to get money back - John fuming! So Greg helped navigate giving John the verbal instructions - only got off the wrong spot twice - had to pay a couple of tolls that we need not have had to but thems the ... read more
NORMANBY
Normanby
HONFLEUR

Europe » France » Upper Normandy » Le Havre May 20th 2011

Bonne jour from Le Harve France, where the time is an hour earlier than when you went to sleep last night. But we are comparatively young and can adjust quickly. Speaking of young, Happy (real) Birthday to Janet. We celebrated it on the ship a week ago but today is her real birthday. We did that because today is the last full day on the ship and we had a lot of things to get done today. Thanks to Ray and Mary Gillespie (one of our dinner-mates) who had excess Internet Minutes and made them available to us. When they get back home they can look at the blog and read about the remainder of our trip. Maybe someday we will run across them on another cruise – they are really nice people. This morning was ... read more
Statues to be Repaired
Tomb of Richard the Lion Hearted
Stained Glass Window

Europe » France » Upper Normandy » Le Havre November 10th 2010

About to start another working day. Yesterday was full of awe and revelation. M. Houellebecq's win in the Prix Goncourt took no one by surprise but did generate a lot of sales for the book. Gilles highly recommend that I read Purge by Sofi Oksanen which has just been translated into French and is set in Estonia during and after WW2.I'll have to see if it has been published in English. The French seem to have an even greater penchant for Scandanavian authors than the English speaking world. I am also discovering that there are quite a few works by local authors. I spent yesterday morning in large format literature. The wall of Le Pleiade titles is rather striking and I even got to witness someone buying one! These are the beautiful sleeved leather bound editions, ... read more

Europe » France » Upper Normandy » Le Havre November 9th 2010

Yesterday, Monday, I spent my first full day as guest bookseller at La Galerne bookshop in Le Havre. This large bookshop over two levels offers a wide range of books across many different themes. I spent the morning in bandes dessinees and the afternoon in essais/beaux livres. There are BDs in many genres from historical and realist to BDs for young girls and children. Among the ones for young girls was one that celebrated shopping! I don't think that I will be ordering that one for Language International. Pascal runs the department was very warm and welcoming. He was happy to show me his favourites which again gave me another perspective on the genre. The strangest one so far (or should that be, most obscure?)is the BD that mocks wine critic Robert Parker. The essais/beaux livres ... read more

Europe » France » Upper Normandy » Le Havre November 8th 2010

Wet Sundays in Le Havre are very quiet. We are the only people in the hotel today. A market set up below on Sunday morning so we had a look around that. Had to tell myself that I cannot buy kitchenware - it is too heavy and I know that I will be bringing back quite a few books, already having accumulated a few (gifts and purchases). It rained most of the day. We had a walk around the market and then had an excellent goulash soup for lunch. We walked to the tourist bureau after lunch which is opposite the waterfront and then went to an exhibitiion of maritime paintings and ephemera by Roger Chapelet. This was a lovely exhibition and a talk was given on the technique of gouache - the medium favoured by ... read more

Europe » France » Upper Normandy » Le Havre September 14th 2009

Departure Date minus 1. I've just started this blog and am unfamiliar with how it works. Anyway the idea is to record a holiday that Jane and I are taking in France. The mode of transport being the Big Bad Chev (my Chevrolet Camaro, the hero of the Big Drive Home in 2002), back to doing what it does best: long distrance cruising. The plan is to take the ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre and stay the first night in Honfleur. Then travel to Carnac in Brittany to look at prehistoric standing stones and dolmens: comparing them with the ones we've enjoyed locating and visiting in West Wales (but without the accompanying pagan rituals). Afterwards the plan is more flexible, heading south via La Rochelle to look at the cave paintings at Lascaux in the ... read more

Europe » France » Upper Normandy » Le Havre August 4th 2009

Tuesday August 4th What a difference a Channel makes The weather pattern really does look like it has changed but the forecast too for France was for fine weather so summer is officially declared back on track for the BBA. It is only a short distance to Dover and the Sea France ferry to Calais but we wanted to get there in plenty of time to locate where the ferry sailed from and because we anticipate there will be some customs and emigration forms to be completed on our departure from UK soil. Breakfast has been a bonus when it has been part of the tarrif and cooked for us but we dreaded the thought of the hotel buffet which we thought would be on offer considering the dinner was buffet.Sure enough it was a buffet.So ... read more
The famous White Cliffs of Dover
Steaming off Calais beach,France




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