Sunday, April 6, 2008
Back to School
Today was my last day of a two week vacation. I managed to do a lot during that time. My boyfriend, Lukas, came here for five days and we spent our time going to the movies, finding good places to eat, and hanging out by the lake. I went to Kim's friend's house in France and slept over there, and did a bit of shopping in Geneva, but not too much because everything is so expensive. I acted as a background character in someones senior project movie, and thankfully did not have to say anything. Also, I saw Maryse, a friend of my family, who lives in Geneva, and she showed me a few different areas of the city I had not been to before, as well as an adorable chocolaterie where we got very good hot chocolates. Last night I went to Kim's father's house in France for the first time, and slept there, surrounded by hundreds of books and photographs. We had gone to a movie earlier that night, called Disco, which I didn't like very much, but I guess I didn't catch most of the humor. It was about three 40-year-old men in a disco competition, so just imagine the costumes. Tomorrow I will go back to school, where we will have math as our main lesson again, but with a different teacher. The class here isn't very good at math, so I think we will actually be working on our multiplication tables, which is a little embarrassing, but good for me I guess, because saying them in French will be practice for me. Well, I'll get to see what it's like tomorrow.
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Hi Ally,
I want you to have a wonderful time in Paris. Mer tells me that you have been studying your map and feel ready to go. Esther suggests getting a book of ten metro tickets - ask for 'un carnet' - it should cost you 11,10 Euros. Please try to see the rue Mouffetard - it's a lively market street in the 5eme not far from the Jardin du Luxembourg. It's actually between the Jardin des plantes and the Luxembourg Garden. The metro stop is Place Monge. When you are getting on to the metro, you have to know which direction you want to go. They are identified by the last stop, so just take your time and make sure your stop falls somewhere between where you are and the final stop on that line. You'll figure it out - and if you don't, you just get off and get on the next train going back the other way. It is going to be exciting to be in Paris on your own. It's a great city for walking and for sitting outdoors at cafes, so I hope you get some good weather. Don't forget to try a lot of different food. If you smell some extremely tasty sausage at a stall on the street, try it - It is likely merguez (sp?) and it's good. Also, if you are visiting Notre Dame, be sure to go to the other (western) end of the Ile de la Cite - toward the Pont Neuf. This is my favorite bridge in the city. It connects the two banks and the island. At the place where you can walk into the island, there is the Place Dauphine. It's worth taking a walk around. There is a very nice stationer there with beautiful pens and notebooks. At the very tip of the island is the Vert Gallant, an equestrian statue of King Henri IV - the one who converted to Catholicism because "Paris is worth a Mass." On either bank at that part of the river, you will find beaucoups bouqinistes - booksellers with little stalls all along the quai. They have great little trinkets and postcards - some which are new and kitschy, but others which are flea-market style. The re is so much to see - check out some of the little passages - they are like indoor malls, but not terrible, that have been built in between the streets. They are literally called Passage de suchandsuch. Get in touch with Eugenie when you arrive and try to meet up. I hear her French is no joke. Okay, I love you. Take care of yourself. Don't sleep too much. Get a cheap alarm clock if you don't have one. And eat good food. If you order pizza-ask for an egg on top of yours. Bye, sweetie. Tell me all about it and take pictures. Matthew
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