Series Finale- Paris et Merci

Happy Friday all!

Last time we talked I was in Lyon, basking in its sunshine. We spent one more day in Lyon and we went to the Musée des Beaux-Arts. While it's obviously hard to follow the Louvre, I enjoyed seeing some different works such as Monet and Picasso as well as some more modern art. And, being a student, I once again got in gratuit (freeeeee!).

We then took the world's longest train ride back to Tours, where I introduced my mom to where I've lived for the past four months. We went to a few of my favourite restaurants such as La Tosca and Fuxia (Italian, yum!), Mamie Bigoude (an adorable crêpe restaurant) and some of my favourite patisseries for some éclairs, quiche, pain au chocolat, etc! But we did more than eat. We did a petit "Tour de Tours" and I showed her the Cathédrale St. Gatien, la Loire, the Tanneurs campus and Place Plum, of course. For the full Tourraine experience, il faut qu'on voit un château! While there are so many more I want to see, I took her to Chenonceau, because it is probably the most iconic of the Loire Valley. While we experienced some more typical Tourraine weather, it was still an enjoyable New Years Day. On the 31st we went to Ballan-Miré to see my French family, and I was so excited for my mother to meet them because Jeanne and Yann are the sweetest people. We had a lovely evening talking over rooibos tea and pineapple flan and we gave them a small gift of all things Canadian (since their house is like a museum of so many different cultures and places that they have been to).

On Wednesday we headed to Paris again and spent Thursday touring around with my mom's friend who is from France. We walked through the Jardins de Luxembourg where the French Sénat is located, through several amazing stores such as Hermès (€900 scarves!!), and Le Bon Marché (the épicierie, or grocery part, was mouthwateringly delicious). We covered a lot of ground yesterday, and my feet/legs/etc are feeling it today! Today was also an action-packed day; we saw the Musée d'Orsay this morning which I really enjoyed! There were walls of impressionist art by painters such as Van Gogh, Monet, Sisley and Renoir, which I far prefer to the older, biblical paintings of Madonna and baby, angels, etc, which seem so frequent. We went by the Eiffel Tower for old-time sake before heading up to la Défense and then Montmartre/Sacré Coeur. I would best describe the latter as a Niagara Falls-esque tourist trap as the area was covered in junky retailers, sketchy Eiffel Tower sellers, and throngs of people. The church, meanwhile, would have had a beautiful view of the city had it not been overcast but it was definitely worth the visit to see what it was all about.

Before making our exit, we stopped in the latin quarter for gelato. I know I've blogged about this before, but if you ever get the chance to try Amorino gelato it is an experience like no other (being a connoisseur of gelato, I would know ;). For dinner (yes, after the dessert), we had raclette, also delicious. The set-up was a little different than I've had before, but we melted our comté cheese and spread it over potatoes, prosciutto and bread. The prosciutto gave the dish a nice savoury flavour.

After that was our biggest challenge yet: getting to Charles de Gaulle Airport. Somewhere along the way, we reached a total of 4 full-size suitcases (sadly not a typo), and anyone who has ever traveled the Paris metro can tell you it is not handicap/stroller/luggage friendly. So after hauling more than my body weight around Paris, I can assure you that I have learned my lesson and forever longer will travel light.

And unfortunately for our purposes here, that is where the story ends. I thank you for reading my blog, I have so much enjoyed writing it and sharing my experiences, of which I am so thankful for each and every one. It has been an incredible four months, it has truly flown so fast and I've definitely acquired a taste for what is out there in the world. So au revoir, and à bientôt, I hope. Exchange isn't a year in your life, it is a life in a year!

Z <3

Various Travels through France & Switzerland

Bonjour mes amis!

 

It’s been a few days since my last post and so much has happened!

Carrying on from my last update, from Paris we caught our train to Strasbourg in Alsace, eastern France.  I had wanted to go there since my grandmother sent me a postcard of Strasbourg before I left for France, as she been there before. Strasbourg is also renowned for having one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, something, as you have surely learned from my blog, is one of my favourite things!

…And it did not disappoint! The markets were dispersed throughout the city, each one a wonderland of enticing delicacies, artisanry and copious quantities of vin chaud. I tried the white variety for the first time, and it was simply delicious! Unlike the markets in Paris and Tours, the one in Strasbourg was home to very different merchandise, noticeably influenced by the city’s proximity to the German border.

…which we traversed on our second day! I wanted to at least say I’ve been to Germany, even though discovering the country has been bumped up to the top of my revised bucket list (next time!). On Christmas Day, the city was more quiet, and we hopped over the border to Kehl (a quite small town) and back over. We then wandered through the old city where all the adorable German-style buildings are located.

Strasbourg was a charming city, and the Christmas market definitely made the trip worthwhile. From there, we traveled, again by train, into Switzerland. Personally, it felt important for me to visit the Alsace region and Switzerland, as they are the homelands of many of my ancestors. After visiting these incredibly gorgeous landscapes, I’m rather sorry they had to flee the Plague or religious persecution or whatever the reason was because I would love to live among the mountains and rivers! Yet, it was exciting to be in a German speaking region, something entirely foreign to me! At least some of my German friends in Tours have given me a few words to roll with.

Our train stopped in Basel (or Bâle) before our first destination in the beautiful country that is Switzerland, which was Zürich (how I love the umlaut on the name!). We ended up walking down to Lake Zürich when a boat happened to be loading up with passengers. Knowing nothing of the tour, we hopped aboard a four-hour cruise of the lake. What a great idea! I was incredibly excited because one of the tasks on my bucket list was to see the Alps, and see the Alps I did! We had a beautiful and relaxing afternoon at sea, touring the lake and taking in the scenery.

By Thursday we were headed to Genève (Geneva). Unfortunately, we ran into a spell of miserable weather (some good Tours-style torrential downpour), and our view of the Swiss countryside was clouded. My mother assured me that it was astoundingly picturesque and I used my imagination as best I could but I caught glimpses of some incredible sights. We passed through Bern and Lausanne and coming through the latter around Lake Geneva was a sight to be seen; rugged, snow-peaked mountains that plunged into the vast waters of Lake Geneva. It reminded me of the lake in Harry Potter, with tremendously more impressive, almost breathtakingly fantastical mountains. That night we kept to indoor activities, and high on my list, authentic Swiss fondue! I have never tasted anything quite as delightful as real Swiss fondue.

Yesterday morning we went into town to check out Geneva properly and sat by the waterside, looking out at the lake and mountains in the distance. By then, it was time to move on and return to France, on an overcrowded train chugging along through the hills to the city of Lyon. We will stay here until tomorrow when we will be returning to Tours. But today we enjoyed a busy day under beautiful open skies! I can’t express my excitement at seeing a canopy of blue skies with not a drop of rain (I can’t exactly recall the last time I saw the sun outright). We made it our mission to head to the top of the city, and wisely, we took the funicular up. At the top is the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and two amphitheatres created by the Romans over 2,000 years ago! I can’t imagine how the Romans got to the summit of Lyon or why, for that matter, but their work was so impressive! It was unlike anything I had ever seen.

So there you have it, Christmas Vacation update, part 2!

Until next time,

Z <3 

Paris is Always a Good Idea

Welcome to the first installment of my amazing Christmas adventure!

I have borrowed today's title from the timeless Audrey Hepburn, and it's true! Paris is just...magical!

Shakespeare & Co.

The first part of our Christmas vacation of epic proportions was a  2 ½ day séjour in Paris. I took the train from Tours to Gare d’Austerlitz and my mom flew from Toronto, to New York, to Reykjavík, to Paris and by pure coincidence we ended up at our hotel in the Latin Quarter at the exact same time! We spent Friday afternoon walking around and stumbled across the Sorbonne, the Panthéon and Notre Dame. We also found the exact stairs on which Owen Wilson’s character sat in Midnight In Paris! (a very cute movie if you haven't already seen it). For dinner we indulged in a glorious pot of cheese fondue, which was absolutely delicious, and Amorino gelato (the same as we had in Amboise, incredible!), which we in fact ate before our dinner. Life is too short to eat dessert last!

Hall of Mirrors, Château de Versailles!

Saturday morning we took the metro to the Château de Versailles just outside Paris. This was a dream come true and something I have always wanted to see! I have seen plenty of castles during my time abroad but never one as spectacular and ornate as Versailles; pictures cannot do it justice. The chapel was astounding and the Hall of Mirrors was everything I thought it would be. All that glitters is gold! However, we didn’t go too much around the grounds since it’s a dreary time of year (read: no flowers, copious amounts of drizzle). The best part was that it was absolutely free (for me)! So long as you flash your French student card (and passport, if required), you can get into all the museums free of charge, which is fabulous.

In the afternoon we strolled along the Boulevard Haussmann into the shopping district, where the giant Galeries Lafayette is located. All the hustle and bustle reminded me a bit of being at Times Square in NYC. I also can't say I've ever seen a department store so massive.

Sunday morning we went into the Panthéon which was much more than I thought it would be! It’s a massive and beautiful building and the crypts below are seemingly endless. A number of celebrities of French history rest there such as Pierre and Marie Curie, Voltaire, Emile Zola and Victor Hugo.

Later that morning we went to the Musée de Louvre (which, in addition to the Panthéon, was also free for me!). We, of course, saw the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo but I was really most impressed by the the Louvre Palace, itself, which is massive. I can’t imagine what someone ever did with that many rooms! It is difficult to appreciate all the art on the walls when the building itself is a masterpiece.

From there we walked through the Tuileries to the Place de la Concorde and up the Champs d’Elysées, upon which there was a splendid Christmas market. We stopped for some refreshments- vin chaud, sausage and a Nutella crêpe before trekking up to the l’Arc de Triomphe, where we stayed briefly to let the sight sink in. We headed up towards the Eiffel Tower and went all the way to the top! Surprisingly the wait wasn’t too long (maybe an hour fifteen total) and the view was unbelievable- I now understand why Paris is called the City of Lights- the lights went on for miles, the city is endless. I’ve been up both the CN Tower in Toronto and the Empire State Building in NYC and I’d say the summit of the Eiffel Tower just might be my favourite. It is certainly worth going up- all the way up- there is no view quite like it! From the ground you really don’t appreciate how tall of a structure it really is, I was actually a tad frightened to look down.  If that all sounds like a lot to do in one day, it was! We walked the entire route as well, which was over eleven kilometers on foot!

Paris is an astounding place to be in the days before Christmas. Paris is captivating and dynamic, everything you think it ought to be. Fortunately for me, we will be taking one last whirlwind trip through the City of Love at the end of our vacation, but alas, not yet! There is still so much to see! 

So there you have it, Christmas adventure part one, stay tuned for Strasbourg & Switzerland!

Z <3

Take A Hike!

Yann, moi, et Jeanne :)

Bonjour tout le monde!

I've become quite aware that this blog has become a "what-I-did-this-week-end" sort of deal, but nonetheless, this is likely my last one, as I will be on Christmas vacation in 5 days & counting! Until then, I have three exams & I have to continue to pack up & clean the apartment, so this week is going to be incredibly busy. And you thought I just sat around and ate bread & cheese all day- ha!

Our hiking group!

There hasn't been too much of any particular importance this week as I've largely been studying (yes, occasionally we do that here). Last night Chelsea, Maarja & Stephanie (who also goes to Laurier) and I went for a last supper together. Unfortunately our preferred restaurant, Fuxia, was fermé (bienvenue à la France) but we went to La Scala and had some pasta. Afterwards, since the Marché de Noël unfortunately closed at 8, we went back to Le Univers and had a chocolat chaud and crème brûlée, because we could. The evening was a well-deserved reprieve from studying but I will definitely miss these ladies!

Today, bright and early on a Sunday morning, my French family picked me up to go hiking at Azay-Le-Rideau. They are part of a group that hikes together once a month. The first thing I noticed was that everyone was wearing a Santa hat! Jeanne handed one to me and said: "Voici votre chapeau de Père Noël- c'est obligatore" (Here is your Santa hat, you must wear it!). One particular lady had a hat that sang and danced (she was also adorned in tinsel and Christmas ornaments- LOL). We started off with a little snack of the most incredible hot chocolate I've ever tasted (it was so rich and creamy) and a sugar speckled brioche. We then hiked for 3 hours for 11 kilometres through all sorts of terrain (but mostly mud, lots of mud or boue). We came across 2 adorable and friendly donkeys and also saw several houses that were built into stone walls. We had a beautiful morning for a promenade and fortunately the rain held out until we got home. Now I've had plenty of exercise and my mind is clear, so I haven't any reason why I shouldn't get some productive studying in this afternoon (perhaps after a short siesta).

So au revoir for now, I might do one more post when I'm home from my Christmas break extravaganza to Strasbourg, Zurich, Geneva, Lyon and Paris! :)

Z <3

P.S. I apologize for how messy this blog looks! Blogger is being difficult *sigh* :(

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Happy Sunday everyone :) 

So last night I took a trip to the local Christmas Market. If you're North American, or just culturally oblivious like I am, you may be wondering "what exactly is a Christmas Market?" (side note: a quick Wikipedia search confirmed that we apparently have a “Christkindl” market in Kitchener, but I doubt it is as magical as the European experience J). Well, my friends, I think the best way to describe it is Santa's Workshop for Muggles. If you've ever seen my favourite Christmas movie, Elf, you will remember the scene where Buddy decorates the Gimbel's department store at lightening speed over night. Well that’s how I feel about Tours, because one day- BAM!- it’s Christmas!

The entire city of Tours is adorned with Christmas lights and there’s a giant Christmas tree in front of city hall. There is also a huge ferris wheel about 500 feet from the Tanneurs campus! The actual market starts at city hall and makes its way up to the gare (train station). Each vendor has its own little cabin which sells everything from crêpes, chocolats and macarons to hats, jewelry and art. We stopped to enjoy a French specialty of vin chaud. Translated directly, this means “hot wine” which didn't sound terrible appealing until I learned that it is mulled wine, much like we would drink apple cider. It is made from red wine and spices and is absolutely delicious! The entire atmosphere is very festive and just what I needed to get in the Christmas spirit (the absence of snow is throwing off my internal calendar).

vanilla bourbon crème brûlée- incredible!

I’m glad I got a taste of Christmas markets because my mom & I will be spending Christmas in Strasbourg, France, which is reputed to have one of the best Christmas markets in all of Europe. So until then, I will be counting down on my delicious Kinder Advent Calendar until she gets here! 

Z <3 

I can't decide whether I should buy this hat
36€ but so cute!