tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32766871988308507352024-03-14T07:25:54.419-07:00Claire, en FranceThe adventures of Claire in Montpellier, France!Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-67229856716074059132008-04-26T10:31:00.000-07:002008-04-26T10:33:19.603-07:00Day 2: Messe, maisons, and la pluieD'abord, je vais commencer d’écrire un peu en français pour que ceux qui parlent le français puissent suivre mes blogs. Alors, si jamais vous voyez des fautes (d’orthographe ou de grammaire), corrigez-moi s’il vous plaît !<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">First of all, I am going to start writing a bit in French so that those who speak French can also follow my posts. So, if you ever see mistakes (in spelling or grammar), please correct me!</span><br /><br />Le deuxième jour au Pays-Basque était le dimanche, donc je suis allée à une messe Basque dans le matin avec Dominique. La messe était la moitié en français et la moitié en basque. C’était intéressant d’entendre la langue basque... elle est pas du tout comme les langues romanes ! Après, j’ai fait un petit tour en ville et j’ai pris quelques photos des maisons typiques basques. Des maisons basques sont toutes blanches, avec des volets rouges, et des bords en pierre. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The second day in Pays-Basque was a Sunday, so I went to a Basque mass in the morning with Dominique. The mass was half in French and half in Basque. It was interesting to hear the Basque language… it is not at all like the romance languages! Afterwards, I took a quick spin in the village and I took some pictures of the typical Basque houses. Basque houses are all white, with red shutters and stone edges.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT_LSdV1oT0cGlMvGLssH5lIRJwUObwVMpSzACLg_ctQD_p_mxVi-zlhoPBq-FTver39_7CruCeSk60dDvNnxgcV31PYXS_64jE5iZhwdclaz5YvCf11zG3KhdeSKwUgx130eGGZLcmI/s1600-h/P4129562_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT_LSdV1oT0cGlMvGLssH5lIRJwUObwVMpSzACLg_ctQD_p_mxVi-zlhoPBq-FTver39_7CruCeSk60dDvNnxgcV31PYXS_64jE5iZhwdclaz5YvCf11zG3KhdeSKwUgx130eGGZLcmI/s400/P4129562_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193232999527479650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkypmu_8wlJAvVIVsgF4mlBRoQg-tvrOLPbMmW4dJCrpDpw9rNsA-YNs-UEmJB3NoqJZsBDuc-H1afr06mg1G_iypt_Opt66WhP1GXswP5tlylTfL4EYjseOWq2LmjpadIJKdvkds_IHY/s1600-h/P4129564_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkypmu_8wlJAvVIVsgF4mlBRoQg-tvrOLPbMmW4dJCrpDpw9rNsA-YNs-UEmJB3NoqJZsBDuc-H1afr06mg1G_iypt_Opt66WhP1GXswP5tlylTfL4EYjseOWq2LmjpadIJKdvkds_IHY/s400/P4129564_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193233862815906194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPDcWx4j0MqIDT1wuGB58wnhAZMTVaM9jmZLx30HYOGL_TSjlbOAyU4jHPntOe0jaW_wP60pnL5QW8VzNLtAxMQsVPnQq_18G4joGhyphenhyphenRCw7H1EHH4XN0glMapEhBl6JDLcbzSx-J2w4M/s1600-h/P4129555_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPDcWx4j0MqIDT1wuGB58wnhAZMTVaM9jmZLx30HYOGL_TSjlbOAyU4jHPntOe0jaW_wP60pnL5QW8VzNLtAxMQsVPnQq_18G4joGhyphenhyphenRCw7H1EHH4XN0glMapEhBl6JDLcbzSx-J2w4M/s400/P4129555_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193233381779569026" /></a><br />Elles sont vieilles aussi... cette maison était construit en 1570! <br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />They are also old… this house was built in 1570!</span><br /><br />Après le déjeuner, on est allé se ballader, mais d’abord, j’ai couru (et Dominique a pris des photos...).<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">After lunch, we went hiking, but first I went for a run (and Dominique took pictures…).</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYtZlWnhkzEA4qOydxJj-97SryhezuH5tyG0Y2dQW3N-Hr3VpCuBVM58J32IVZoiufzHQ777Su2V1thvgOO9P9NALJRVmcwj-vbaSUeiTntghuTA3fJ9uW-ZW-0PBiuFt3Zhyphenhyphen6GxRybY/s1600-h/P4129569_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYtZlWnhkzEA4qOydxJj-97SryhezuH5tyG0Y2dQW3N-Hr3VpCuBVM58J32IVZoiufzHQ777Su2V1thvgOO9P9NALJRVmcwj-vbaSUeiTntghuTA3fJ9uW-ZW-0PBiuFt3Zhyphenhyphen6GxRybY/s400/P4129569_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193234906492959138" /></a><br /><br />La course était tellement belle… même si il a plu un peau !<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The run was really beautiful, even if it rained a bit !</span><br /><br />Pendant notre ballade, on a vu plein des animaux…<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">On the hike, we saw lots of animals...</span><br /><br />Des moutons,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASF4yOo9WEiUM1R-lbGixqKiaJthkVbCZSpbHGLtCwc9PQaVmtdF8wauGut8EOOdZJo_Ej6rSjPOUppTF3ysp48gKMgHPAEcggHH6P-ZCzNaagHh3syLZuZ-S7E2suEiCzJuTZe78U3g/s1600-h/P4129568_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASF4yOo9WEiUM1R-lbGixqKiaJthkVbCZSpbHGLtCwc9PQaVmtdF8wauGut8EOOdZJo_Ej6rSjPOUppTF3ysp48gKMgHPAEcggHH6P-ZCzNaagHh3syLZuZ-S7E2suEiCzJuTZe78U3g/s400/P4129568_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193236899357784498" /></a><br />Des chevaux,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu6B3hKly4WxUL93oNE6JwgNncaBO7w8U4lzs3neRHhXWazmwj7lnx3VA3LL1qOxhUFBmCjsydxCYObRXzSGWsqLxc2jxGymYNmBVsrPZuZAx4IeWHKUpn-FA3g4at8ERomxF_ai12tU/s1600-h/P4129576_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwu6B3hKly4WxUL93oNE6JwgNncaBO7w8U4lzs3neRHhXWazmwj7lnx3VA3LL1qOxhUFBmCjsydxCYObRXzSGWsqLxc2jxGymYNmBVsrPZuZAx4IeWHKUpn-FA3g4at8ERomxF_ai12tU/s400/P4129576_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193236912242686402" /></a><br />Et des cheveux ! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE7f6BohDxuBJ1s5_Xk576wFbTAwb5AuRh7t-TcfID09agQYTaqO9thlFObg9w4M7zMxc5Nfq7G6N7r1ATsx2vIHUGRHjNKHRROkuUuX1e3HJmpb7_30yTfdM5pYZMh7D28brlbkAdSA/s1600-h/P4129575_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE7f6BohDxuBJ1s5_Xk576wFbTAwb5AuRh7t-TcfID09agQYTaqO9thlFObg9w4M7zMxc5Nfq7G6N7r1ATsx2vIHUGRHjNKHRROkuUuX1e3HJmpb7_30yTfdM5pYZMh7D28brlbkAdSA/s400/P4129575_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193236920832621010" /></a><br />(Alice n’avait pas un elastic, alors elle a inventé une jolie coiffeur !) <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The hike ended up a bit soggily- it rained and then hailed and then rained… We were very happy to reach the car at the end! <br /><br />More soon…</span>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-83153134153395511832008-04-22T01:15:00.000-07:002008-04-22T02:32:25.048-07:00Pays BasqueThe Pays Basque (in English the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Basque_Country">"Northern Basque Country"</a>) is the southwestern part of France, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region. The Basque people are an ancient people who live in this region of France, and in the neighboring region in Spain. They speak their own language, Basque, though most of them speak French or Spanish as well. Basque nationalism is very strong, particularly in Spain, and the Basque people have long wanted to become their own independent nation. You can read more stuff about them on Wikipedia if you are interested!<br /><br />The area is famously green because it rains a ton there (though we actually didn’t have that much rain), and there are a lot of farms. Basque specialties include peppers (slightly spicy and delicious), goat cheese, a specific type of horses called Potyioks (not sure about spelling), and a very distinct and ancient architectural style (you will see later in pictures). They also eat their cheese with jelly, (cherry or pepper flavored) which no other French people do. I found it delicious though!<br /><br />We stayed with Monique, a friend of the family. Pascale, my host mom, has known Monique since she was a little girl growing up in Paris, because she was a teacher of Pascale’s brother, and a friend of the family. Monique has a lovely house in Ustaritz, a village outside of Bayonne, and has three cats that she adores. She is also an excellent chef, and loves wine- she has her own wine ‘cave’ with temperature control and everything. We drank at least one type of wine every night, and some nights two- one with the appetizer and one with the main meal. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Day 1: Bayonne, La Rhune, and Spain</span><br /><br />Our first day in Pays-Basque was action packed. In the morning I went with my host dad for a quick tour of Bayonne, a very lovely town (about 40,000 people live there) close to the Atlantic coast. Bayonne is extremely close to two other towns: Anglet and Biarritz, and together they are called “le Bab” by locals. I visited Biarritz later in the week, but Bayonne proved to be my favorite of the two. So we went for a quick spin, French style: a bit of window shopping, to the cathedral, to the market, and a stop for a cup of tea, as it was a bit chilly. <br /><br />Here is a bad picture of the outside of the cathedral of Bayonne<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXTBvrFpSAWaum5TOy1RcqqP5ycYVubcoLnI_IGYAjlN9n4ZJneoFq2BhCZaMHEEWu6qf2kvb8nLvSCPo5SKmLBdsRrhTmQ00vW0xSoK83FE8VEV8Y2bv0ruqte60BSWjXldkWEVJ92Y/s1600-h/P4119508_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXTBvrFpSAWaum5TOy1RcqqP5ycYVubcoLnI_IGYAjlN9n4ZJneoFq2BhCZaMHEEWu6qf2kvb8nLvSCPo5SKmLBdsRrhTmQ00vW0xSoK83FE8VEV8Y2bv0ruqte60BSWjXldkWEVJ92Y/s400/P4119508_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191991096848939106" /></a><br />And the inside (it is gothic style)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wc07aMKhINXxMh3jTOXORVgP2hRS2KLT386BNKOy3zdSvQHr18D3a4E6v5cuReKzlgpy3FwcrUyshXjNtBzgl8pB4QTUQHU9ynItoWe6OylXM9wXJ7t9tz3M5s4zA6GdmGVhsM6NOTQ/s1600-h/P4119494_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wc07aMKhINXxMh3jTOXORVgP2hRS2KLT386BNKOy3zdSvQHr18D3a4E6v5cuReKzlgpy3FwcrUyshXjNtBzgl8pB4QTUQHU9ynItoWe6OylXM9wXJ7t9tz3M5s4zA6GdmGVhsM6NOTQ/s400/P4119494_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191991105438873714" /></a><br />The town of Bayonne is famous for two things: ham, and chocolate. Bayonne ham (jambon Bayonne) is one of the two types of ham you find all over France. Below, a charcuturie (a kind of butcher shop) with Bayonne ham hanging from the ceiling. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU3xTfm3qMsu13GPq_dUugbw4BJPoFxOZ3Mt1bdpw0_B8FrBGiltre3FgfINPFOQr6vTEWlmaYdLEb9ZIYjVtiloZuC_2HZQJjz2kfRZCzBM1LWGh-t7M6FQFxxxoRNu8I96rUbo5RiM/s1600-h/P4119498_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU3xTfm3qMsu13GPq_dUugbw4BJPoFxOZ3Mt1bdpw0_B8FrBGiltre3FgfINPFOQr6vTEWlmaYdLEb9ZIYjVtiloZuC_2HZQJjz2kfRZCzBM1LWGh-t7M6FQFxxxoRNu8I96rUbo5RiM/s400/P4119498_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191991114028808322" /></a><br />They slice it up first though; you don’t just gnaw on it like that! <br /><br />Here, one of the streets of Bayonne, with a cozy little bar to the left.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QB_2mP6k8rjla8x5yO9LYrqZ8t__UwFNQ0G3D574uf2es4fcyz8Y1H0vatSUWAFOZnsuyn8MPvujINhLwrQAU-v36vayZmYYuVXrfRkOqznAwc8TTTGld1M6RT7ODKUNltFgLKJiyyM/s1600-h/P4119499_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QB_2mP6k8rjla8x5yO9LYrqZ8t__UwFNQ0G3D574uf2es4fcyz8Y1H0vatSUWAFOZnsuyn8MPvujINhLwrQAU-v36vayZmYYuVXrfRkOqznAwc8TTTGld1M6RT7ODKUNltFgLKJiyyM/s400/P4119499_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191991118323775634" /></a><br />Then we went to the big indoor market where there are stands that sell everything from fish to vegetables to local specialties to…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwx634JWzLKXL23m9zmSLJFAoKENSKsNgG502pb12LFcKWagkZHpv9UwPq_IsDocbNV2F9ufeyaHLPRk6tScFr9EDxeVOPL3yRGVxGvutUT8y01NuSXcEO4GKT_8azku-Fg8hSt6pz4c/s1600-h/P4119505_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwx634JWzLKXL23m9zmSLJFAoKENSKsNgG502pb12LFcKWagkZHpv9UwPq_IsDocbNV2F9ufeyaHLPRk6tScFr9EDxeVOPL3yRGVxGvutUT8y01NuSXcEO4GKT_8azku-Fg8hSt6pz4c/s400/P4119505_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191991126913710242" /></a><br />Fromage!! This is just a small collection, too. To the left there are goat cheeses (<span style="font-style:italic;">fromage du chevre</span>), the round light ones as well as the darker ones in front. There is also some <span style="font-style:italic;">Rocmadour</span> to the middle far left, which is a cow cheese that is very creamy, and a favorite of my youngest host sister Alice. The orangey-yellow one in the middle is <span style="font-style:italic;">Langres</span>, which I tried in Paris and found delicious. There are some I don’t know, but the one in the very back middle, with the grayish outside and light inside is <span style="font-style:italic;">St. Nectare</span>, a fairly common cow cheese that I eat often and like a lot. And then of course, to the right towards the back, the small round white cheese with a sign on top is the beloved <span style="font-style:italic;">Camembert</span>, which we always have in the fridge, and which I eat nearly every day. It is a bit like <span style="font-style:italic;">Brie</span>, but milder, and oh so creamy (note: French brie is not at all like the Brie you find in the US, because the milk is not pasteurized, so it is much stronger!). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXY720VUV-yQoO772W-aZyCx6CPEdCI3rvOxsiXiY0xb9uAEGGvPMqADzJ-S07XuNPKTXwBahbeMgX4WszdqZPT0mnfAvWG47U6-gEVflUEugccEK01BN9U1rpDurKnYfTb-Ca26fvbEg/s1600-h/P4119507_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXY720VUV-yQoO772W-aZyCx6CPEdCI3rvOxsiXiY0xb9uAEGGvPMqADzJ-S07XuNPKTXwBahbeMgX4WszdqZPT0mnfAvWG47U6-gEVflUEugccEK01BN9U1rpDurKnYfTb-Ca26fvbEg/s400/P4119507_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191993493440690354" /></a><br />Here is more of the same stall, the Camembert is to the left, and towards the front there is a nice <span style="font-style:italic;">Brie</span>. This is only half of a Brie too… they are huge! Obviously you don’t buy a whole one (unless you really like Brie), you buy sliced parts of it. Then there is some feta, some butter and lots of meat.<br /><br />Bayonne has a very pretty architectural theme, and it is also right on the Nive River, as you can see here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudv0et_j_nK4FEhiB86mWKra01ga0t3uEd99mSn6muSw5aDZnhSwt7ZEOq8YvnIWZ1nDFoI3Oe93OWKtMepsI7c8UclCHoiasVYthAhcmApFGdfv_In1nyi-tN5iD-zpHdcQsfU9GciA/s1600-h/P4119503_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudv0et_j_nK4FEhiB86mWKra01ga0t3uEd99mSn6muSw5aDZnhSwt7ZEOq8YvnIWZ1nDFoI3Oe93OWKtMepsI7c8UclCHoiasVYthAhcmApFGdfv_In1nyi-tN5iD-zpHdcQsfU9GciA/s400/P4119503_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191993502030624962" /></a><br />We returned to chez Monique for lunch, and she made us Axoa, a typical Basque meal. It consists of ground meat with peppers and other vegetables. I only learned after I ate it (and it was delicious) that the meat was actually ground veal (which I swore I would never eat)! I guess it was a “when in France” moment… <br /><br />Anyway, that afternoon, as it was not raining, we went for a hike (my host dad is truly a hiking fanatic). We ended up climbing ‘La Rhune,’ a peak nearby. It was a bit tough, but the view from the top was excellent. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4C8DDdhkhOQ_GyjDWRUJYYsolXOR7m8YiJFyUdhEwHamIxBo0O5Ams-hrLDFeKgvWvBq4Y_M21CEFVca5dL3aTeZpdLSTIbZ1uLZNix-RoKaOIiJpVeEcX5Vaq_avpf83Ip6i9FkUJo/s1600-h/P4119518_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4C8DDdhkhOQ_GyjDWRUJYYsolXOR7m8YiJFyUdhEwHamIxBo0O5Ams-hrLDFeKgvWvBq4Y_M21CEFVca5dL3aTeZpdLSTIbZ1uLZNix-RoKaOIiJpVeEcX5Vaq_avpf83Ip6i9FkUJo/s400/P4119518_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191993506325592274" /></a><br />Alice (to the left) was a bit tired… Behind us is the Atlantic coast, including Biarritz. <br /><br />The mountain is just on the border of France and Spain, so at the top, we actually crossed into Spain. There was a little French restaurant/shop on the French side and a little Spanish restaurant/shop on the Spanish side. We went into the Spanish one and my host parents practiced their Spanish, while we bought yummy treats like Toblerone and nougat. Then I noticed, hanging from the ceiling this cool and extremely out of context bag, from my future university!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1MtBICqxfhn1cdH2Yx6iYHLIPttagYOuDihtvwUL1v8CxEGoIlgzFt3t3hdat4K3kfoaQ_mqTp5J3PXtIBuCtCOM_LThMbiCO7Jv5uCCb8xUZynGMBH7S4omexgA4ZLgcykxkLU19ng/s1600-h/P4119520_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1MtBICqxfhn1cdH2Yx6iYHLIPttagYOuDihtvwUL1v8CxEGoIlgzFt3t3hdat4K3kfoaQ_mqTp5J3PXtIBuCtCOM_LThMbiCO7Jv5uCCb8xUZynGMBH7S4omexgA4ZLgcykxkLU19ng/s400/P4119520_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191993510620559586" /></a><br />Here is a picture of me at the top, and behind me is Spain!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKPA96ebn1Xd5NNQh3tWAwaM8DPeEH4_GXO6cKo7v8duFVR5Rdf-uRKWmvarJTb6B7oSqhyphenhyphen_oEHYZgVgoDaCjM0mbd7ZNbWGrvrPhUkxejWLDSg-0YF6H9hMl6POtFTh8ULoVufP9hig/s1600-h/P4119522_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKPA96ebn1Xd5NNQh3tWAwaM8DPeEH4_GXO6cKo7v8duFVR5Rdf-uRKWmvarJTb6B7oSqhyphenhyphen_oEHYZgVgoDaCjM0mbd7ZNbWGrvrPhUkxejWLDSg-0YF6H9hMl6POtFTh8ULoVufP9hig/s400/P4119522_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191993519210494194" /></a><br />Here I am with Alice, after she has regained some energy from a Toblerone bar! She is 12, and very funny. She loves reading, and even brings books on our hikes sometimes so she can read when we stop for lunch!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-K5X6aPxoecOH_BJBR8UjwCFjXJ0DSaf35XpIRp9z6jYS2EynjtpJFnT7tYlv4FDewtuMYV_qw7u53grLCYidcUqMmmVi0eg-vv3EqHvTMtbY34geWAIgsFJF4LdXEZY3u7TU_e62cCs/s1600-h/P4119525_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-K5X6aPxoecOH_BJBR8UjwCFjXJ0DSaf35XpIRp9z6jYS2EynjtpJFnT7tYlv4FDewtuMYV_qw7u53grLCYidcUqMmmVi0eg-vv3EqHvTMtbY34geWAIgsFJF4LdXEZY3u7TU_e62cCs/s400/P4119525_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191997333141453058" /></a><br />While we were eating, some roaming Potioks came up to us to chat, and we befriended them. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGKniOqrGo9MH17Nn0dWGCLTC4yuJwYAMT8vVsBPX1MAa3g3_rj6rrH4cwmnvVv7er9DqM_VckFgEfzpKmUoZNBJuv_pKIkOr2bjqqtnbdf4SPTB0K0IfPZNPOJMZ3SeBbN8ONzXieZw/s1600-h/P4119527_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGKniOqrGo9MH17Nn0dWGCLTC4yuJwYAMT8vVsBPX1MAa3g3_rj6rrH4cwmnvVv7er9DqM_VckFgEfzpKmUoZNBJuv_pKIkOr2bjqqtnbdf4SPTB0K0IfPZNPOJMZ3SeBbN8ONzXieZw/s400/P4119527_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191997341731387666" /></a><br />Then we realized that they were just hungry (I have nougat in my hand)!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-WzRzMAbUoy87Mp53uOnN7qszfJ-6A_r7mpZXB2xk2wiWZeU_3cNql0EriXlBZPVq1wO1K4KUzVRP5i3_pOSGRq9Za5KBcshmhmYem8-KecU4BvWVydqgs_tLF2trKGTOIZpZKXvocc/s1600-h/P4119530_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-WzRzMAbUoy87Mp53uOnN7qszfJ-6A_r7mpZXB2xk2wiWZeU_3cNql0EriXlBZPVq1wO1K4KUzVRP5i3_pOSGRq9Za5KBcshmhmYem8-KecU4BvWVydqgs_tLF2trKGTOIZpZKXvocc/s400/P4119530_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191997350321322274" /></a><br />Here are a couple shots of the landscape<br /><br />Spanish:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJoqvjh1V504SCz6wPnrgc2tzPxaKlrSO-eG8RhAbzTEz6NJx3q185UA01T-QWdxanBcKltCIN8oIIA87n6w4VHsSTGoveENqoTd2gL9ubW4-sq_7bKPzTGfEp0H654gpus_d6u7h3bY/s1600-h/P4119536_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJoqvjh1V504SCz6wPnrgc2tzPxaKlrSO-eG8RhAbzTEz6NJx3q185UA01T-QWdxanBcKltCIN8oIIA87n6w4VHsSTGoveENqoTd2gL9ubW4-sq_7bKPzTGfEp0H654gpus_d6u7h3bY/s400/P4119536_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191997354616289586" /></a><br />And French:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUuE_oxdj1f-mqiQVIHto6a1xwmZ0pMTnbfN9Kf_dq2kn7sBj0kNB_kn5_Ry9m4RH-9f-PVepTVALduhb9HbqEp4LGGVW1uYjQkRbiZl_bvkekeeMU0bdhOHumT5AigcQ2pPupeVtk2Q/s1600-h/P4119538_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUuE_oxdj1f-mqiQVIHto6a1xwmZ0pMTnbfN9Kf_dq2kn7sBj0kNB_kn5_Ry9m4RH-9f-PVepTVALduhb9HbqEp4LGGVW1uYjQkRbiZl_bvkekeeMU0bdhOHumT5AigcQ2pPupeVtk2Q/s400/P4119538_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191997363206224194" /></a><br />The city below to the right is San Sebastian (Spanish, obviously), which we visited later in the week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5fqHL4VROvD7KJUf0wr2kjnXbbl9-s5MlesFsSkWsbNWw47oO64Zt3VZyXtYKAP2PEBHeuQq1weGO5Rp_rGNiVIOnRlnitH4EjGusIxo1z7gz-e6UFYwGP3JSCe4yCqSFP8ZD-4vo6Y/s1600-h/P4119537_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5fqHL4VROvD7KJUf0wr2kjnXbbl9-s5MlesFsSkWsbNWw47oO64Zt3VZyXtYKAP2PEBHeuQq1weGO5Rp_rGNiVIOnRlnitH4EjGusIxo1z7gz-e6UFYwGP3JSCe4yCqSFP8ZD-4vo6Y/s400/P4119537_01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191998222199683410" /></a><br />Then we came down from the mountain and went back to Monique’s house for dinner!<br /><br />(More about the rest of the trip soon…)Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-16248886138432112282008-04-02T07:16:00.000-07:002008-04-02T08:58:22.000-07:00La ferme!!This post will be a bit brief, because I am going to a play with the family tonight, but I haven't written in ages, so I felt I should update you all. I am doing well, continuing to make progress in my French, also running and cooking, and doing all that good stuff. In two weeks we have our spring break for two weeks and I am going with the family to the Pays Basque (South Western France, near the border of Spain) for a week. I will take pictures for you all! <br /><br />So for Easter weekend I went with my host family to a farm (la ferme Baume-Rousse) that their friends own. At the farm they raise sheep and make cheese from the milk. The cheese is delicious and the farm was great. People can actually go and stay there (like at Dwight's beet farm!!), and it is really quaint. <a href="http://www.lafermedebaumerousse.net/">Here is the site</a>, English translation can be found in the top left corner (British flag icon), but it's a bit funky! It snowed while we were there, which was very cozy. And they had endless amounts of animals: sheep, cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, dogs, cats, geese, etc. many of which just wandered around the yard! So here are my pictures then...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeAX1YYYcRv68suinJ0U4DQVkwKK437zWGDqp63EyROxd-LxogG-Bi-fXRwhEMt_DnjAF2uSUVX2eK_7DszyViZA8921lzVtXDvRy3yTHVbIxJFFHDloEtyVlICSwKzlBJ1knRefNvU8/s1600-h/P3220101.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeAX1YYYcRv68suinJ0U4DQVkwKK437zWGDqp63EyROxd-LxogG-Bi-fXRwhEMt_DnjAF2uSUVX2eK_7DszyViZA8921lzVtXDvRy3yTHVbIxJFFHDloEtyVlICSwKzlBJ1knRefNvU8/s400/P3220101.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184670419883218338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish70Bs2Q-wyyOo-6_CF2f7I3loc__W_MiGJITJBpOtOXZ6MpRnLSWEbsnwcg1ZHHIkbdj-hdXh5zpyi3SajisIPaEK8n2bi461cYnBRij8_hmpWnuewoImu4keqSJOlf6NeE6WxsQX9c/s1600-h/P3220102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish70Bs2Q-wyyOo-6_CF2f7I3loc__W_MiGJITJBpOtOXZ6MpRnLSWEbsnwcg1ZHHIkbdj-hdXh5zpyi3SajisIPaEK8n2bi461cYnBRij8_hmpWnuewoImu4keqSJOlf6NeE6WxsQX9c/s400/P3220102.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184672249539286450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyH9Xvq8vMjT4vwVC07K0R7OhU7DWYcsLqq3tbBDm3S7Bc9bZB252C6G-P4P_PrTZXqf70Y49dvL67B9A5hm4szOBr_gCb39tqQYeuW_iU69IZlEw3VeUK_E_ZL0raXF3M1oAW67xkYk/s1600-h/P3220105.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyH9Xvq8vMjT4vwVC07K0R7OhU7DWYcsLqq3tbBDm3S7Bc9bZB252C6G-P4P_PrTZXqf70Y49dvL67B9A5hm4szOBr_gCb39tqQYeuW_iU69IZlEw3VeUK_E_ZL0raXF3M1oAW67xkYk/s400/P3220105.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184672253834253762" /></a><br />Here the sheep are eating, while on the other side of the wooden thing, they are being milked. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01oTuQYP_nlPeLe4XIMKdbSkmwG6Y4Ei5NXO38qt9DZ8dQX_WiR8tBJbMMmmcAsfkcLqTvuPrw86CgewWV2uAqLzxIetfp5uNlTMycWjpmTF5TFhaeXEodtYDRXB2Nyx6og95OAn9ICw/s1600-h/P3220109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01oTuQYP_nlPeLe4XIMKdbSkmwG6Y4Ei5NXO38qt9DZ8dQX_WiR8tBJbMMmmcAsfkcLqTvuPrw86CgewWV2uAqLzxIetfp5uNlTMycWjpmTF5TFhaeXEodtYDRXB2Nyx6og95OAn9ICw/s400/P3220109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184672271014122962" /></a><br />They were very cute, and kept licking my hands...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfutJ7cVADeOV9ZHqSPAOU7tVaZU_cWZ0_hEI4uG7OAv9CPJ93_wFrAcn5kyineDLksFYWMoNGsrgYOcKwU7-Pv0KGL26rFtwURq0f-JxOa9YvtWVSUM-_gautq4RKybsyA5BZ_SEiLw/s1600-h/P3220115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfutJ7cVADeOV9ZHqSPAOU7tVaZU_cWZ0_hEI4uG7OAv9CPJ93_wFrAcn5kyineDLksFYWMoNGsrgYOcKwU7-Pv0KGL26rFtwURq0f-JxOa9YvtWVSUM-_gautq4RKybsyA5BZ_SEiLw/s400/P3220115.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184672275309090274" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhH535gcytzR03Tcv3RD1WbF8vVYRFF8NMEJ5UTApHX-6EaLuJTYNf32-mK3_23T5kh6ikGZl288HclgenF6KZ9cg1uKAyymp-KE_g9_hJTBBeqIdr2uXFLMgFb_506zXLDq_kOeMc78/s1600-h/P3220119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhH535gcytzR03Tcv3RD1WbF8vVYRFF8NMEJ5UTApHX-6EaLuJTYNf32-mK3_23T5kh6ikGZl288HclgenF6KZ9cg1uKAyymp-KE_g9_hJTBBeqIdr2uXFLMgFb_506zXLDq_kOeMc78/s400/P3220119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184674856584435186" /></a><br /> "Huh??"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoH9wpfonwrrRDbAziUAlWyy4yeN90Ep7DzX-LRG3nYrGujaxJaW_M8tbuwwZ74qsrLx5Dnm6_eFQk8lnV5NKwEnCQXIPyJLenZmAMv8-hPR1KLKjiOayfGlOEA-nLZjCm0pIUR__GRGk/s1600-h/P3220122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoH9wpfonwrrRDbAziUAlWyy4yeN90Ep7DzX-LRG3nYrGujaxJaW_M8tbuwwZ74qsrLx5Dnm6_eFQk8lnV5NKwEnCQXIPyJLenZmAMv8-hPR1KLKjiOayfGlOEA-nLZjCm0pIUR__GRGk/s400/P3220122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184674860879402498" /></a><br />To the left is the yurt-like structure they have for events and guests (people can rent it for retreats, classes, etc.). To the right is one of the lodgings people can rent, covered in solar panels because they are cool hippies like that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYR2jFWpCSEJn2JMQQc40LdJFkWuHzjzbESvXeB-U9m4TQWh1twCuNQtxAFFhSy31LKNupeflbvqk_8IzJukwd3musRLKyKY5xwimCd7y9ZDcgoR-cJN8VNAmrhyIt_1DT-hPjD3s7on4/s1600-h/P3220124.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYR2jFWpCSEJn2JMQQc40LdJFkWuHzjzbESvXeB-U9m4TQWh1twCuNQtxAFFhSy31LKNupeflbvqk_8IzJukwd3musRLKyKY5xwimCd7y9ZDcgoR-cJN8VNAmrhyIt_1DT-hPjD3s7on4/s400/P3220124.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184674869469337106" /></a><br />Cats chowing down while it snows lightly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuWhERYEWbvwpfiedyiN1wosjugiqZiVQDGXCNhGSYhQqWhnKW0_dPBqOK34UQ_zMX2mec0sARnune3tPXeOD9v12rOkgC7y7vq866wWQafTZyqJ0sqhH9Db6Pt087TURfFsF3AlJrCo/s1600-h/P3220125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuWhERYEWbvwpfiedyiN1wosjugiqZiVQDGXCNhGSYhQqWhnKW0_dPBqOK34UQ_zMX2mec0sARnune3tPXeOD9v12rOkgC7y7vq866wWQafTZyqJ0sqhH9Db6Pt087TURfFsF3AlJrCo/s400/P3220125.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184674873764304418" /></a><br />The ram. He gets a lot of action (if you know what I mean)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrx2gcIfeJEqPu3eUcY5-YG4KknYCBndKW4vA5CueiH01YlvBi9b0eA-7NeDEJpPsvF2RYrQMpisK7omY9JgQKwNcFLj9wctv5Z_KJd-YrKO555XF9S41oe4Dc4zRppbccDoQhGcXYHfM/s1600-h/P3220128.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrx2gcIfeJEqPu3eUcY5-YG4KknYCBndKW4vA5CueiH01YlvBi9b0eA-7NeDEJpPsvF2RYrQMpisK7omY9JgQKwNcFLj9wctv5Z_KJd-YrKO555XF9S41oe4Dc4zRppbccDoQhGcXYHfM/s400/P3220128.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184674878059271730" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafQr1k7F6ELZVq3Z5YtuG6Kqof4aZ94HtVctdTHN-Y1P_CDw5r-hAHTlIn-iU1zlNzxlKpMlAQ1ClHLvHexCMrXoT2_R1XmR2U6f9f1A4w5xPDE0L5Eua4uWYPpngZDEwZWK6RDVHv0A/s1600-h/P3230133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafQr1k7F6ELZVq3Z5YtuG6Kqof4aZ94HtVctdTHN-Y1P_CDw5r-hAHTlIn-iU1zlNzxlKpMlAQ1ClHLvHexCMrXoT2_R1XmR2U6f9f1A4w5xPDE0L5Eua4uWYPpngZDEwZWK6RDVHv0A/s400/P3230133.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184676437132400226" /></a><br />My canine buddy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fb3aUhz_IGxHqZHBGWuztbReFdTCVrxu-Ob5TDygL53WNVm3IkaNHRQ_BfhPBP4S_CbKjTNLmSVy4RcndnIMdVJpruuNJVe0aVHV0tQJOpCF6b_0lBTM3RQ0E2NvWeqg0B4TOEnCgIw/s1600-h/P3230134.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fb3aUhz_IGxHqZHBGWuztbReFdTCVrxu-Ob5TDygL53WNVm3IkaNHRQ_BfhPBP4S_CbKjTNLmSVy4RcndnIMdVJpruuNJVe0aVHV0tQJOpCF6b_0lBTM3RQ0E2NvWeqg0B4TOEnCgIw/s400/P3230134.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184676419952531010" /></a><br />View of the house/barn from one of the fields.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhi8FZpIARtWFSLwB31FBDWVTf7vIRaYfHpXo97g4wR9DzAJqscwUu1BWR8VhLckFe99CqK7HX6A-G_3C2rmf1vP_oxsZFWizpz89AlrEvMZr0NJFPhyppkV7-70igIWTDxe97188z-Q/s1600-h/P3230136.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhi8FZpIARtWFSLwB31FBDWVTf7vIRaYfHpXo97g4wR9DzAJqscwUu1BWR8VhLckFe99CqK7HX6A-G_3C2rmf1vP_oxsZFWizpz89AlrEvMZr0NJFPhyppkV7-70igIWTDxe97188z-Q/s400/P3230136.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184676428542465618" /></a><br />Serenity.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-72732029015668377422008-03-18T06:59:00.000-07:002008-03-18T08:55:04.621-07:00Paris, je t'aime toujoursWell, sorry it took me a while to get this second part up, folks. It's been so sunny and nice in Montpellier lately, I've been spending a lot of time outside; running, hiking with the family, and walking whenever possible. I am also still cooking, and I made latkes last night for the family. I wanted to make matzoh ball soup as well, but I couldn't find matzoh meal anywhere, despite it being right before Passover. Jewish influence in France isn't particularly strong... But the Rouquettes liked the latkes, and we ate them with crème fraîche (sour cream) and compote de pommes (applesauce) just like at Hannukah. Yum! Today I only had one hour of school because most of my professors are on strike (how very French). So I went to my math class and then came home and went on a run, played a bit of guitar, read the newspaper, etc. It was rather luxurious.<br /> <br />But anyway, here are the rest of my adventures in Paris...<br /><br />So the day after Notre Dame (see previous post), we started with a ride on a bateau mouche ('fly boat'... they are tourist-ey boat rides on the Seine). It was nice, even though it was a bit foggy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFgQapNaSLQoE9aShPp51yO1ykJIEfw6esgvzsb0GT9j2bZcHXzyySHYE24gi9YCus8bfGGc8b_myKPy6Ki05sK6TB23Y-a0iCKQGbtISTFVsq3Jd_HOZwsHot2xsAj1jPewIEeatH28/s1600-h/P2240064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFgQapNaSLQoE9aShPp51yO1ykJIEfw6esgvzsb0GT9j2bZcHXzyySHYE24gi9YCus8bfGGc8b_myKPy6Ki05sK6TB23Y-a0iCKQGbtISTFVsq3Jd_HOZwsHot2xsAj1jPewIEeatH28/s400/P2240064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179084799794143794" border="0"></a><br />Here is la Louvre + some tourists.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP0dKoFXXAFHbICNV6Gcs_G9FJN2SYeJOgwU4lZKzg6CMCmMD5r82IPXUzBXxzda1M3M6Az8zaKYRIDBC8d8m4aWo2CLQgYiWl8U5CfGxMM9UqIfNIH9cxUHUE2Qx-AsCZI7A2Cw-3mM/s1600-h/P2240066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP0dKoFXXAFHbICNV6Gcs_G9FJN2SYeJOgwU4lZKzg6CMCmMD5r82IPXUzBXxzda1M3M6Az8zaKYRIDBC8d8m4aWo2CLQgYiWl8U5CfGxMM9UqIfNIH9cxUHUE2Qx-AsCZI7A2Cw-3mM/s400/P2240066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179084812679045698" border="0"></a><br />Notre Dame...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP3Hdu8SL-a1rPjKHbWPhJreJRlF9LUIjjes6VTrPfwQeITqdNsYYvO3p_5DGuL7WaQ8kjwSEVQHlupXLv4VPbbQpggSy84QLMEBYtL1IYZ1cKc-pd0UfFGAhKw5XHtnkeIAo1gUBRWo/s1600-h/P2240067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP3Hdu8SL-a1rPjKHbWPhJreJRlF9LUIjjes6VTrPfwQeITqdNsYYvO3p_5DGuL7WaQ8kjwSEVQHlupXLv4VPbbQpggSy84QLMEBYtL1IYZ1cKc-pd0UfFGAhKw5XHtnkeIAo1gUBRWo/s400/P2240067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179084821268980306" border="0"></a><br />The side of Notre Dame.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-uNPStkc5nGu_bRg3vGLdn26CNQ7Wmut_Qo8Dqnc3RBVu2pAbKLqTtvhRNoK-ZHGUosA-RCuNSpKjQK4OZZDmRTgAKVGi29uyQHxk36HLiix3CvM1kZl_69tYpqfg425I9EsDNCSrLM/s1600-h/P2240068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-uNPStkc5nGu_bRg3vGLdn26CNQ7Wmut_Qo8Dqnc3RBVu2pAbKLqTtvhRNoK-ZHGUosA-RCuNSpKjQK4OZZDmRTgAKVGi29uyQHxk36HLiix3CvM1kZl_69tYpqfg425I9EsDNCSrLM/s400/P2240068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179084825563947618" border="0"></a><br />The sister of the Statue of Liberty- it's a lot smaller than ours!<br /><br />After the boat ride, we went to l'Arc de Triomphe and then the Champs-Élysées. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXbsOyieZesoo7wZ8YL8kjzEkZdYdXDIyfyz6arUMys-Hp1C4IIJdyKhZM7IlPegxDn6SbEUn70cYthsC6nHBW3QiUR2O2jHBpXw-9K1cq9EPJ2nShB0yTTaXe4_nLcJtDo1EqIQ0jUU/s1600-h/P2240069.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXbsOyieZesoo7wZ8YL8kjzEkZdYdXDIyfyz6arUMys-Hp1C4IIJdyKhZM7IlPegxDn6SbEUn70cYthsC6nHBW3QiUR2O2jHBpXw-9K1cq9EPJ2nShB0yTTaXe4_nLcJtDo1EqIQ0jUU/s400/P2240069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179085903600738930" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTOTOfO_BiMtdoprkV7zOVuO71JAPn8UXDatxXrsXs5AicBz0AzaF4Xbja2NWdtLSfj9wvjLqU_O7V5-VoHkphHKvFFvTaprzAw3OP9bb-HrFM4GvZ1OPFcgcseRUjUQyPu_xDVjGyU0/s1600-h/P2240073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTOTOfO_BiMtdoprkV7zOVuO71JAPn8UXDatxXrsXs5AicBz0AzaF4Xbja2NWdtLSfj9wvjLqU_O7V5-VoHkphHKvFFvTaprzAw3OP9bb-HrFM4GvZ1OPFcgcseRUjUQyPu_xDVjGyU0/s400/P2240073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179085907895706242" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEHMBEb5FXpQyA5aG7sADEajmFs2L9mPHwTrpSvftWUMOFMeXyPfKGSWE8qcF-flgZOZOrKFMbvuqFTEc1xkyiEjO_eM-ySKms_PfROLNXtOWf63PTc4EYTgxIekAM1bgviK_Ug71Jrg/s1600-h/P2240070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEHMBEb5FXpQyA5aG7sADEajmFs2L9mPHwTrpSvftWUMOFMeXyPfKGSWE8qcF-flgZOZOrKFMbvuqFTEc1xkyiEjO_eM-ySKms_PfROLNXtOWf63PTc4EYTgxIekAM1bgviK_Ug71Jrg/s400/P2240070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179085912190673554" border="0"></a><br />This is a terrible picture, but voilà les Champs-Élysées!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvkdMn3I19mdZfccNNemZAfBVJoGFlZQZFZw9opgsUmivTJw2aMGYcbffPEGnDV2mX7K4LQ7G0Ig8eqgp8NsQSLzsLGJyhFyIyrB_12d6oqfgqLLo3Z8bIYuLFgbvv6KSchOcNzYYAfg/s1600-h/P2240077.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvkdMn3I19mdZfccNNemZAfBVJoGFlZQZFZw9opgsUmivTJw2aMGYcbffPEGnDV2mX7K4LQ7G0Ig8eqgp8NsQSLzsLGJyhFyIyrB_12d6oqfgqLLo3Z8bIYuLFgbvv6KSchOcNzYYAfg/s400/P2240077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179089348164510370" border="0"></a><br />Next we went to the famed department store "La Samaritaine" where I took this lovely photo from the roof.<br /><br />And to top off the day, we went to another lovely site, which some of you may know...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzIdV4ZHYCcQ-kzCLRHUujF0zIVT4MefDcbJw1ZdDobbyX30urUaPsp7AMU7zGvFINROfUuOl4im_C5erODK3MF247XsFM_NjUl5TIKBJxed0sG8X3D3JJdEzqN2D6lFhrSxYW3BWPE0/s1600-h/P2240081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzIdV4ZHYCcQ-kzCLRHUujF0zIVT4MefDcbJw1ZdDobbyX30urUaPsp7AMU7zGvFINROfUuOl4im_C5erODK3MF247XsFM_NjUl5TIKBJxed0sG8X3D3JJdEzqN2D6lFhrSxYW3BWPE0/s400/P2240081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179089352459477682" border="0"></a><br /><br />I took a few videos from the top (well not the very top, it was closed, but the second level anyway).<br /><br />Here you can just barely see Notre Dame (it's the one to the left that is further away). Also, you can hear my host mom talking a little bit too, haha (something about "les grand-parents de Dominique").<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ewj7EvGR5uE"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ewj7EvGR5uE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><br />Here you can see l'Arc de Triomphe and the Seine.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_EjSuiOzMDQ&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_EjSuiOzMDQ&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />And this is just magnificent...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/H3HbSHVeRTE"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/H3HbSHVeRTE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><br />She does that every hour for 10 minutes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5YTH47XkfJC7Ba49Eqi_VRxwuAEqToUg2NznJlV1ydh30Mx9QiSmOOZpiNMp6MmZqtRVOOlWEKdPhwSnjRAiew4-NQKraoeLAm4LwW39nR4smJ6aIGgHDNjz9OG3VXbkjqNmcPLe00A/s1600-h/P2250094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5YTH47XkfJC7Ba49Eqi_VRxwuAEqToUg2NznJlV1ydh30Mx9QiSmOOZpiNMp6MmZqtRVOOlWEKdPhwSnjRAiew4-NQKraoeLAm4LwW39nR4smJ6aIGgHDNjz9OG3VXbkjqNmcPLe00A/s400/P2250094.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179099999683404482" /></a><br />Elle est pas mal, quand même... <br /><br />The next day I forgot to bring my camera, but we went to la maison de Victor Hugo, which is located in the <span style="font-style:italic;">place des Vosges</span>. It is the oldest square in Paris, and my favorite... all the buildings are of the same 17th century style, and in the middle there is a nice little park with a statue of Louis XIII. Here's are a couple photos which I did not take:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/PlaceVosges_PavillonReine.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/PlaceVosges_PavillonReine.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Place_des_Vosges.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Place_des_Vosges.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Place_des_Vosges%2C_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Place_des_Vosges%2C_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fr/b/b1/Statue_place_des_vosges.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fr/b/b1/Statue_place_des_vosges.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Paris-place-des-vosges.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Paris-place-des-vosges.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It was rainy that day, so we walked around a bit, and finished early.<br /><br />The next and final day we went to the château de Versailles, but of course my camera died about 5 minutes after we got inside. I only got these two pictures of the chapel. The rest you can look up on Google images yourselves!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7VMMZiA71NCcQ9KvW1Hezb-3Rq2Ckn1WyLdbCe8y_z-lC-Nzs6jUqSHHrvZFvrscX2D_uG7eji3Y5FfwuCOm_uu-otraUgqmR1c-igco2XYhLn2SlpSVddaUx0JYRUWhFAzydDPoieQ/s1600-h/P2260096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7VMMZiA71NCcQ9KvW1Hezb-3Rq2Ckn1WyLdbCe8y_z-lC-Nzs6jUqSHHrvZFvrscX2D_uG7eji3Y5FfwuCOm_uu-otraUgqmR1c-igco2XYhLn2SlpSVddaUx0JYRUWhFAzydDPoieQ/s400/P2260096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179101898058949330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXFYPYWyn7IK-EO8mmJRW4v4aNPkNMCPkCIp2XK0O4jSPmnmT8F2l5wN6vplBcNoGUfLXY17g2-rnnnuZ166dkLxliG6mK6wKTMsrotEpXCejHg90uh7FoRinshbWJEiEdPOANaO6LzM/s1600-h/P2260097.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXFYPYWyn7IK-EO8mmJRW4v4aNPkNMCPkCIp2XK0O4jSPmnmT8F2l5wN6vplBcNoGUfLXY17g2-rnnnuZ166dkLxliG6mK6wKTMsrotEpXCejHg90uh7FoRinshbWJEiEdPOANaO6LzM/s400/P2260097.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179101910943851234" /></a><br /><br />It was really magnificent though, especially the grounds, which we explored for almost 4 hours!<br /><br />And the next day, it was back in the car for 7 hours to Montpellier. I had a grand time, but want to return soon and explore some more. So I hope that has given you all a feeling for my adventures in Paris, and sorry again that it was a long time in coming. I'm just busy, you know, learning French, eating cheese, exploring Montpellier, etc.<br /><br />Bisous, <br /><br />ClaireClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-85726074611011328312008-03-07T08:11:00.000-08:002008-03-07T09:23:43.846-08:00Paris, je t'aime...Sorry for the cheesy title, but it is very applicable to this post. So I had a lovely stay in Paris for 5 days. The weather was nice, except for one day when it rained, and we hit up all the usual places. My camera ran out of battery at one point, and I forgot it on other days (I am generally not a very avid photographer...), so some of these pictures are from Google Images (sorry Kevin). Anyway, without further ado, here is the first part of my Paris photo essay!<br /><br />The first day we went to Montmartre, which is probably my favorite neighborhood in all of Paris (the quaint part, not the rowdier part down by Pigalle...). It was a hub for artists (of the likes of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Edgar Degas, and even Langston Hughes) in the late 1800s and the early-ish 1900s.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Steinlein-chatnoir.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Steinlein-chatnoir.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Home to the famous restaurant <span style="font-style:italic;">Le Chat Noir</span>, where Erik Satie played the piano. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Renoir21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Renoir21.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Also home to the <span style="font-style:italic;">Moulin de la Galette</span>, another famous restaurant, and the setting for a Renoir painting that I adore...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBULn_MLzL_JU7MOoZRGpOSKwl076fymw-yYHofn0xfgmTt0bU4KMR2a6K0d89EKAGBXCWgqpYWzRoksAvrCfp6gR5hbb7FlMgsJxog10TJH6jLsS9cbbez2rx1NVdxV_BSJ3RNLyq8s/s1600-h/P2220031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBULn_MLzL_JU7MOoZRGpOSKwl076fymw-yYHofn0xfgmTt0bU4KMR2a6K0d89EKAGBXCWgqpYWzRoksAvrCfp6gR5hbb7FlMgsJxog10TJH6jLsS9cbbez2rx1NVdxV_BSJ3RNLyq8s/s400/P2220031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175039443112485218" /></a><br />This is the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur at Montmartre. You can see the white dome from all over Paris, because it is on the top of a hill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGqCNJUaKYh8uGBGHM3ZmB7a157waWJSwDOgral5ck5zlDEQfnd39CwoNqdq8RhNQWlk6d6TMpaBEHP9Zy_dB3Mfd9HnJn7aQH8yVPXzw06ObeCqMcoy4fE2p_kfNTXHjy9X_ndu5nLo/s1600-h/P2220033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGqCNJUaKYh8uGBGHM3ZmB7a157waWJSwDOgral5ck5zlDEQfnd39CwoNqdq8RhNQWlk6d6TMpaBEHP9Zy_dB3Mfd9HnJn7aQH8yVPXzw06ObeCqMcoy4fE2p_kfNTXHjy9X_ndu5nLo/s400/P2220033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175044146101674354" /></a><br />The other side of the Basilica.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLY6mDHHD5vtl-EqFrjcyUjZBBjdhm6noVdnJn-wygn2K3_borDvqg5YADBVJcrhE_WNDFGn8yLCZ5aMG-pqC48YQQoa1MWh3khedrmJQxVHO_xGc3yA4rFtg2Nxffm5pAE4N4m_sjko/s1600-h/P2220036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLY6mDHHD5vtl-EqFrjcyUjZBBjdhm6noVdnJn-wygn2K3_borDvqg5YADBVJcrhE_WNDFGn8yLCZ5aMG-pqC48YQQoa1MWh3khedrmJQxVHO_xGc3yA4rFtg2Nxffm5pAE4N4m_sjko/s400/P2220036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175045035159904642" /></a><br />The view of Paris from outside the Basilica (hint, think Amelie...)<br /><br />The next day we went to the Louvre, and saw the classics...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeILE5Iu6q8XNjtcUNqL4gPWA_Hc94w4NWwF8GsNL6h3HwcuuOerf-0i_fkmE7JCV07X2MpSd90kS92NxQ6N_VjIcnD86LF7pDXv5Jw6gTCdumKXvLyvH5EOOVXAPavLtHwofNqcDYjyU/s1600-h/P2230038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeILE5Iu6q8XNjtcUNqL4gPWA_Hc94w4NWwF8GsNL6h3HwcuuOerf-0i_fkmE7JCV07X2MpSd90kS92NxQ6N_VjIcnD86LF7pDXv5Jw6gTCdumKXvLyvH5EOOVXAPavLtHwofNqcDYjyU/s400/P2230038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175046018707415442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3EA9CtErGXJJ663jECevcrrRKs2mFMKPe-qt5gOnS-oO_cfGNjXzBXFfPX7VkDKJ_ZfkKGG04Wppkj_akQbsJWUSz6YMUIcwkq7HqK6qldm9uJleEDJ7t20oRtu74UQe6sHgTm2_bnU/s1600-h/P2230040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3EA9CtErGXJJ663jECevcrrRKs2mFMKPe-qt5gOnS-oO_cfGNjXzBXFfPX7VkDKJ_ZfkKGG04Wppkj_akQbsJWUSz6YMUIcwkq7HqK6qldm9uJleEDJ7t20oRtu74UQe6sHgTm2_bnU/s400/P2230040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175046027297350050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzR4EE__FUhAnqH8t5-yE7pIVXsJ9BSsH0vNAD6UwBSKkYIFMeqxLEjUVKTFF_-JIVuk8hcjgmK9WLCHjPvbHu0BTzctfa3UeFrPc9NgZAoPLOfUAXiy70FsIMj9axod7sHrJ1Fis1pc/s1600-h/P2230044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzR4EE__FUhAnqH8t5-yE7pIVXsJ9BSsH0vNAD6UwBSKkYIFMeqxLEjUVKTFF_-JIVuk8hcjgmK9WLCHjPvbHu0BTzctfa3UeFrPc9NgZAoPLOfUAXiy70FsIMj9axod7sHrJ1Fis1pc/s400/P2230044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175046031592317362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhshWFQBHfEXZg9bPhLbfy5bIuhESFk0T-j4SH5B5z1ctxm2Bd9m6YmdgPVNYz4GmSK1Qv70m0eMx1bj45xOEbRWmGdJRRhZojZfkvahcZLBqcXuySa_92KIqimdepAoHgcsr8cR-V_1E/s1600-h/P2230041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhshWFQBHfEXZg9bPhLbfy5bIuhESFk0T-j4SH5B5z1ctxm2Bd9m6YmdgPVNYz4GmSK1Qv70m0eMx1bj45xOEbRWmGdJRRhZojZfkvahcZLBqcXuySa_92KIqimdepAoHgcsr8cR-V_1E/s400/P2230041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175046761736757698" /></a><br />As well as cool ancient paintings of Saint Francis!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gCI8v95I2tqXW9Er9CvAqLWNDMDTsAEV1ow2WmnyHqsyctwB5-KgjJKB6S8iU_jCVWcagOdHwv2fdLjhTcWC3npo4QOlc8C5vgCCVdOxoAw_JChFUj3es65-TZjgf9QQRdLIqVPHZCc/s1600-h/P2230048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gCI8v95I2tqXW9Er9CvAqLWNDMDTsAEV1ow2WmnyHqsyctwB5-KgjJKB6S8iU_jCVWcagOdHwv2fdLjhTcWC3npo4QOlc8C5vgCCVdOxoAw_JChFUj3es65-TZjgf9QQRdLIqVPHZCc/s400/P2230048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175048269270278610" /></a><br />Later we went to the glorious Notre Dame (it was also a beautiful day). Unfortunately Quasimodo was under the weather, so I didn't get to meet him...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknYpH3BBGZ6A8RiK0ukkG8ngBlhVBpk-uhLYMD3_H1K0rD5fiHJDcsCimRjfHV4bLol5I86pg2yA5szx9pgvqy92TSsH7arPSOfs391QK9mhLUqJ-aQwzx9Q-PrTvw0VzeI9fumXnRiA/s1600-h/P2230049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknYpH3BBGZ6A8RiK0ukkG8ngBlhVBpk-uhLYMD3_H1K0rD5fiHJDcsCimRjfHV4bLol5I86pg2yA5szx9pgvqy92TSsH7arPSOfs391QK9mhLUqJ-aQwzx9Q-PrTvw0VzeI9fumXnRiA/s400/P2230049.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175048282155180514" /></a><br />This is the view of Paris from the top of Notre Dame.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8aU3TzHCDmNaf0Eopv-LF-T2253cjJhGCBgoVZaL5t8shmjLTuAuBxPcSUal5QxpoDZJgiy1I-s4GBwBj7oxr4H7fb9GM53oZObqoQmjXxywqEME2rEkVV28u9t2poMNQc98E9irSAA/s1600-h/P2230051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8aU3TzHCDmNaf0Eopv-LF-T2253cjJhGCBgoVZaL5t8shmjLTuAuBxPcSUal5QxpoDZJgiy1I-s4GBwBj7oxr4H7fb9GM53oZObqoQmjXxywqEME2rEkVV28u9t2poMNQc98E9irSAA/s400/P2230051.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175048290745115122" /></a><br />Here, a cool gargoyle, and you can just barely see Montmartre and the Basilica off in the distance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHVrhrZVDqbAYEwAhKo6yuqa_5qZ52SLqkovYJNQdj0DE2Vdlmlabrq1IwyYC_Q9zpG6GbPv0Ymxp8ji338eMVpjeePg_l5yd6Rr3XqMFOc-zZkUsgYjZrrmX4Bv9xnLX_7IJ9NFI3eo/s1600-h/P2230057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHVrhrZVDqbAYEwAhKo6yuqa_5qZ52SLqkovYJNQdj0DE2Vdlmlabrq1IwyYC_Q9zpG6GbPv0Ymxp8ji338eMVpjeePg_l5yd6Rr3XqMFOc-zZkUsgYjZrrmX4Bv9xnLX_7IJ9NFI3eo/s400/P2230057.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175049720969224706" /></a><br />The inside of Notre Dame.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDGPy_o2foar_9LEyPkrnRdzMVJBVB_gLMELSoFXt1M391LfeGwy3oA5RBICkmJfGJrVqwd0a4w3mHvQr8lbqa33jbImo_zp5D1gfjNtuoAy-mIwFzEMR1Ti-mlisv0rZI5Gipbbzcv0/s1600-h/P2230059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDGPy_o2foar_9LEyPkrnRdzMVJBVB_gLMELSoFXt1M391LfeGwy3oA5RBICkmJfGJrVqwd0a4w3mHvQr8lbqa33jbImo_zp5D1gfjNtuoAy-mIwFzEMR1Ti-mlisv0rZI5Gipbbzcv0/s400/P2230059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175049729559159314" /></a><br />Please excuse my terrible pictures... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A5fId_7znyLKXALIyY34D8yAAJgtmnoug8q71DZxfqSyFLnkOrpEOy-U5XUMxreaVgUzHaiGjT9o9Pe0e6iWk-K2F32oIEnNad_z-jPOVnMxaUbSR2UdENd5rJa3Tjv9JieEBfSOqIY/s1600-h/P2230060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A5fId_7znyLKXALIyY34D8yAAJgtmnoug8q71DZxfqSyFLnkOrpEOy-U5XUMxreaVgUzHaiGjT9o9Pe0e6iWk-K2F32oIEnNad_z-jPOVnMxaUbSR2UdENd5rJa3Tjv9JieEBfSOqIY/s400/P2230060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175049871293080098" /></a><br />A sweet organ, that someone was actually playing when I was in there.<br /><br />Ok, well I am going to leave off there, but hopefully that has wet your appetites, and I will follow up with more Paris goodness soon!<br /><br />Ciao (French people say this all the time!),<br /><br />ClaireClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-23438587643890675332008-02-21T09:36:00.000-08:002008-02-21T10:23:24.842-08:00Carcassonne and off to Paris!Hello all,<br /><br />On Sunday (dimanche), I went with the family to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne">Carcassonne</a>, an ancient fortified city west of Montpellier. It was amazing! The whole town is surrounded by giant walls (thus the fortified factor), and we walked all the way around it. Then we went in, and it was so quaint (I hesitate to use the word, because for me it evokes images of cottages and picket fences, but oh well). All the roads were cobblestone and rather narrow and the buildings were all clearly very old and mostly made of stone (but inside were restaurants and tourist shops and apartments and all that). We took a tour of the castle led by this funny ogre like guy who made lots of jokes (I understood about 25% of them, but everyone else was laughing...). We had a little picnic and then some tea and walked around a bit more and then left. It was overall a very nice day, but it was also very cold and windy, and I didn't wear my warmest coat, so I now have a bit of a cold. No worries though, as we are on holiday for two weeks anyway!<br /><br />So here are some pictures then...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQp3Ko00e6wFukGyHbeybu7hzjbl_sVYI-zHlVEOcHn4VJp6QtBCZ1hrmal-x3W_6e_hBzjWAqhGcRsw40DX33A-AQWF4YyI3r4GTTBjLwJx9lKkeai_FUxS44tbSCF_i8laaSPLpX3A/s1600-h/P2150005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQp3Ko00e6wFukGyHbeybu7hzjbl_sVYI-zHlVEOcHn4VJp6QtBCZ1hrmal-x3W_6e_hBzjWAqhGcRsw40DX33A-AQWF4YyI3r4GTTBjLwJx9lKkeai_FUxS44tbSCF_i8laaSPLpX3A/s400/P2150005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169498235472869378" /></a><br />This is me with my two host sisters Marie (left) and Alice (right) in front of the city (and next to an excellent merry-go-round, I might add).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMGsj7uFRKbU_3cWYxBAdWT5em7SfrUCuLg4Au3dox1v3EcfHvJxEbMRDSNhwG-lN9FpYIeQ9m3nxwGW-qy1aHFobsX5fjNlepssmN5z0nF501piDYHxGGf2-XTGFw7FZocG4Cf1wVNg/s1600-h/P2150011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMGsj7uFRKbU_3cWYxBAdWT5em7SfrUCuLg4Au3dox1v3EcfHvJxEbMRDSNhwG-lN9FpYIeQ9m3nxwGW-qy1aHFobsX5fjNlepssmN5z0nF501piDYHxGGf2-XTGFw7FZocG4Cf1wVNg/s400/P2150011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169498828178356242" /></a><br />Main entrance to the city.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunzfDxnL8WN3iKxVX2BnvzCyWOslCb0BFiGfmSm4OpCFuispHnq9nxzwijaFlpiDdcyoq0fCmlp83LsK7AFlea2zAwqr3pTaeo2qOKxE6nG-k-zJ5QxonhjBKrKmme0a7eVz003Nbx7s/s1600-h/P2150012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunzfDxnL8WN3iKxVX2BnvzCyWOslCb0BFiGfmSm4OpCFuispHnq9nxzwijaFlpiDdcyoq0fCmlp83LsK7AFlea2zAwqr3pTaeo2qOKxE6nG-k-zJ5QxonhjBKrKmme0a7eVz003Nbx7s/s400/P2150012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169499605567436834" /></a><br />To the left is the outer wall around the city, then the path in the middle, and the city is to the right, behind that wall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg0s4N3BdBn1Nfe2mloFKZ4e2OYvg3DXymJAlhDFFQtxXBqiPu9yirtPpSDEk1ETVmZ_SD4EtGR_rB_R1aVgOjJXEseJYrpwkv2iT43GrVTApdKKJAhBiKizFtY7DCigqcJ2uc7l2GWs/s1600-h/P2150025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg0s4N3BdBn1Nfe2mloFKZ4e2OYvg3DXymJAlhDFFQtxXBqiPu9yirtPpSDEk1ETVmZ_SD4EtGR_rB_R1aVgOjJXEseJYrpwkv2iT43GrVTApdKKJAhBiKizFtY7DCigqcJ2uc7l2GWs/s400/P2150025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169500065128937522" /></a><br />A view from the castle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WE2Ru0mvCQVMCpnd97nEH9cuXvXqBHheGl8RrK0rTHcfgou0FeYUUp_Hf4f1txPSl2Ekm1EfxsLnpJvgROkGNdnRB6AxBa1uPjSF0yWTC0wR8v0lA8yFqZvMI3ihkm2T_I6pKFP4JrI/s1600-h/P2150029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WE2Ru0mvCQVMCpnd97nEH9cuXvXqBHheGl8RrK0rTHcfgou0FeYUUp_Hf4f1txPSl2Ekm1EfxsLnpJvgROkGNdnRB6AxBa1uPjSF0yWTC0wR8v0lA8yFqZvMI3ihkm2T_I6pKFP4JrI/s400/P2150029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169500537575340098" /></a><br />Stained glass in the cathedral.<br /><br />So I think that's it! Since then I have been sick, so I've just been laying around and reading a lot. Right now, in French, I am reading <span style="font-style:italic;">L'etudiant etranger</span> and in English I am reading <span style="font-style:italic;">Crime and Punishment</span>. Tomorrow I leave for Paris for 6 days with my host mom and two of my sisters (my host dad has work and my other host sister has school). We are hitting up all the usual sites... Notre Dame, the Louvre, Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, etc. so expect a big juicy blog posting after that!<br /><br />Affecteusement,<br /><br />ClaireClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-90323511142253759762008-02-11T07:00:00.000-08:002008-02-11T07:01:11.818-08:00P.S.I changed my colors around a bit- what do you think? I find it easier to read...Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-3102931145368632232008-02-11T05:58:00.000-08:002008-02-12T09:48:12.418-08:00Where in the world is Claire Woodard?Bonjour all, and sorry I've been a terrible correspondant lately. I hope to make up for it now with some juicy facts about my life in France (ok, maybe not juicy...)!<br /><br />So life has been good here in Montpellier (except for the occasional and inevitable waves of homesickness). My French is getting better and better, and I no longer feel lost all the time. I have gotten to a level where I can usually understand most of what people are saying, but the problem arises when I try to say something back... I am getting better though. <br /><br />So here is a quick summary of the things I have been up to:<br /><br />- Running <br /> There are tons of nice little streets to run on around my house, plus a giant park nearby, and then the Montpellier Zoo is nearby too, and it is free and very big, so I run there and try not to feel too depressed by the caged animals...<br /><br />- Cooking<br /> Well, I've only made one meal so far (recipe <a href="http://food.realsimple.com/realsimple/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1699545">here</a>; it's very easy), but I think it was a hit. I am going to try baking soon, but it is confusing for me to use the oven because it is in Celsius...<br /><br />- Guitar<br /> I have been playing a bit of guitar here, and went to a lesson with my host sister Marie last week, which was fun. We learned a song by Amos Lee (I hadn't heard him, but he's very James Blunt-ey... not exactly my style, but no worries, I'm a music snob anyway!). The guitar I am using is Dominique's (my host dad) old guitar, and it's pretty ghetto (going higher than the 12th fret doesn't work too well), but it's fun nonetheless.<br /><br />- Bandes Dessinées<br /> Aka comic books. Everyone here is really into comic books, and there are ones for kids, teens, and adults. They're really cool- my favorite series is Lucky Luke (not sure if they have been translated into English or not, but they are about the "Wild West," in the grand ole USA), and of course, Tin Tin is great too.<br /><br />- Eating<br /> Good lord, the food here is good. I know that's what people always say about France, but I had no idea. The <a href="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portail:Fromage">cheese</a> (fromage) is amazing, and there are literally hundreds of different types. So far my favorites are goat cheese and camembert (similar to Brie, but more creamy). I also tried <a href="http://www.roquefort-societe.com/anglais/index.html">Roquefort</a> cheese the other day, which is Dominique's favorite, and very good (though very strong as well). Then there are the baguettes, which are obviously amazing, as well as delicious desserts, many of which involve chestnuts (which I love). Last night Pascale made soufflées, which were delicious and last Sunday we made crêpes, which were magnificent. I had one with eggs, one with cheese and spinch and one with nutella. Speaking of nutella, it is everywhere. Pascale buys a giant tub of it every week and it all gets eaten up. They also eat tons of fruits and veggies here, and there are bananas, apples, pears, and tangerines in the house at all times. I am in hog heaven (see pictures). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.fromages-xavier.com/images/fromage-roquefort.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.fromages-xavier.com/images/fromage-roquefort.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Roquefort cheese... I told you it was intense.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/1544/11652168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/1544/11652168.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Camembert is the staple cheese in the French diet, and is very good on bread, cooked with vegetables, or in crêpes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://frenchfriedamerican.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/11430859.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://frenchfriedamerican.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/11430859.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Another staple of the French diet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lapetitemaisonjaune.com/images/octobre%202007/marron2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.lapetitemaisonjaune.com/images/octobre%202007/marron2.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />One of my favorite hazelnut products. I put a glob of it in plain yogurt and eat it for dessert- yum!<br /><br />Anyway, I think that's it for now. I really will try to put some pictures up on here that I took (not just ones of food...) soon, but as of now my internet is still not working, so I will see what I can do about importing the images. Sorry it's been such a long time, and I will write again much sooner! <br /><br />À tout à l'heure (talk to you later),<br /><br />ClaireClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-24695332770355884222008-01-30T09:03:00.000-08:002008-01-30T09:55:35.772-08:00Salût!<br /><br />Sorry it has been a while, but I will now fill you in about my experiences thus far in France! My classes are interesting, but I only understand about 20% of what is going on (the pages of my French dictionary are very worn already...) My classes include SES (sciences economiques and sociales), which is my "major," Math (mostly algebra), Spanish (which is impossible for me...), French literature (which is also rather difficult), English (which is very fun- the professor has me read for the class), science, history/geography (which is my favorite because I can understand the most), and I think that's it. The schedule is crazy- we have different classes for different lengths of time every day, and a certain class isn't always in the same room! But my class mates are really nice and we have all the same classes together (because we are all in the same major- there are other majors too, like science, literature, and business). Also the food in the cafeteria is pretty classy- a meal includes fruit, cheese, an appetizer, a main plate with vegetables, a dessert, and, of course, bread.<br /><br />So that's school, and other than that my home life (at chez Rouquette) is very nice. I have been running every day and there is a park very close where I can run. The family is very nice- I hang out Marie (the 16 year old) a lot in school, though she is in a different class than me, and Alice (the 13 year old) and I play board games together and watch TV sometimes. Ariane (the 19 year old) is not home much because she has school all the time, but she is very nice as well. Pascale (my host mom) is very sweet and she explains everything to me, from cuss words to puns. Daniel (my 20 year old brother) has come over for dinner once and he and his girlfriend are very nice and energetic, but he doesn't live here as he is in college. And Dominique (my host dad) is in Bénin right now, so I have yet to meet him (he comes back next week). <br /><br />Right now I am using the Rouquettes' computer, which is why I haven't been able to write until now, but I will get my wireless running when Dominique returns and then I will be able to use my computer and post pictures!<br /><br />Well I am off to dinner now, but I will try to write again within the week!<br /><br />ClaireClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-35413780868472643492008-01-27T09:41:00.000-08:002008-01-27T09:44:00.641-08:00à MontpellierBonjour! <br /><br />I just wanted to write a quick note to say I am in Montpellier now, with the Rouquettes, and am doing very well. I have to go have dinner now though, but I will write more tommorrow after my first day at school!<br /><br />Bissous (kisses),<br /><br />ClaireClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-48271788587682252802008-01-22T18:05:00.000-08:002008-01-22T18:11:59.464-08:00My high school graduationHere is a video from my mock high school graduation ceremony which took place on Sun. January 13th...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N2x-SASsb2s&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N2x-SASsb2s&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276687198830850735.post-73814823460657080272007-12-25T21:28:00.000-08:002007-12-25T23:47:41.929-08:00Voyage infoBonjour, friends and family!<br /><br />Just a bit of info about my trip, I will be going to Montpellier, which is in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France (see below).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmWJBBdZBjZVXcxz1KhRKCwbw7dwErlb0iiYNIxAXTJtc9lAYANLmNxXPdx6GNGcJP-SqH90ViXLbCFTpvlIn9vCe9eUKXLJrZCrflX94DGC7_SbUSQLZtXY-XQqlwSw855iQRVy_4Z4/s1600-h/france-languedoc-roussillon.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmWJBBdZBjZVXcxz1KhRKCwbw7dwErlb0iiYNIxAXTJtc9lAYANLmNxXPdx6GNGcJP-SqH90ViXLbCFTpvlIn9vCe9eUKXLJrZCrflX94DGC7_SbUSQLZtXY-XQqlwSw855iQRVy_4Z4/s320/france-languedoc-roussillon.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148175586664917090" /></a><br /><br />It is on the Mediterranean Sea, and has a climate rather similar to that of Santa Barbara (for better or worse). I am leaving for New York on Jan. 23 (after I graduate from high school on the 18th!) and then to Paris on the 24th. Then I hang out in Paris for a few days for orientation-type stuff and then off to Montpellier on the TGV!<br /><br />Below are a couple of pictures of Montpellier. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/i/uk/tr/tg/lp/6c/500x500_6c462f7374eb59506817d83fbadc62d6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/i/uk/tr/tg/lp/6c/500x500_6c462f7374eb59506817d83fbadc62d6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.taxi-camargue.com/english/Montpellier_fichiers/montpellier3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.taxi-camargue.com/english/Montpellier_fichiers/montpellier3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sudfrance.info/resources/Montpellier.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.sudfrance.info/resources/Montpellier.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.indigoguide.com/france/montpellier.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.indigoguide.com/france/montpellier.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />A bientot, (until later)<br /><br />Claire<br /><br />PS. Do you like the colors? I was going for something French flag-ish...Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14366299757350175080noreply@blogger.com2