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Lydia and Ruth-Ann
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Le troisieme jour
Today our highlight was Chateau Versailles. We took the metro and the RER(train) and navigated our way around Paris and the surrounding area like pros. Our trip there was fairly uneventful. Getting off the RER at the station nearest the Chateau, we followed the crowds to the magnificent enterance.
The sight was breathtaking! It was larger and more beautiful than I had ever imagined. As we made our way inside I was filled with awe. The interior was even more ornate and richly decorated that the outside. As we walked through the many halls and rooms, so many history lessons and stories came to me. THIS was where these people actually walked, and ate and slept. We saw the secret door in Marie Antoinette's bedroom, through which she could access the kings bedroom, and though which she fled during the revolution. We saw the hall of mirrors, and the peace and war rooms that flank it. We saw many many rooms with all sorts of different colour schemes, some were red or green or yellow or gold or silver...
The artwork on the ceilings in the various rooms was surreal. The work involved to paint all thoses ceilings must have been tremendous! The sculptures in each of the rooms were also very impressive. It was interesting to note that in the king's bedroom there was a bust of the king on the mantlepiece, and in the queen's room there was a bust of the queen. For me, it was wonderful to see the face of the inhabitant in his/her room.
As we came out of the back of the main Chateau and looked over the grounds. We thought, yes it was amazing, but we both had an overwhelming urge to drink MILK!!! Since landing in France we have had a little water, and tons of french coffee -which is amazing, by the way- and even some wine, but no milk... We wanted Canadian food. after 3 days :( at the end of the day we found a: ...MACDONALDS! and we were very self controlled and only ordered drinks.
The grounds were quite impressive, despite the fact that winter is fast approaching. We took a walk through the grounds on our way to Trianon. We stopped for lunch at a little stand by le Grand Canal and ordered food in our very best French.
Ruth-Ann is getting quite good at the whole French thing. First she figures out what she wants, then she second guesses herself. Then when she's finally figured out what shes gonna ask for, she turns to me and asks either: 'Can you order for me...?' or 'How do you say...?' But yes, our French is definately improving, and we're both getting better at trying to speak it, regardless of the fact we know we are making a total fool of ourselves.
We also went to le Grand Trianon and le Petit Trianon. These 2 smaller chateaux were used as 'his and her' residences for various reigning couples, the most famous being Marie Antoinette and her husband, Louis XVI.
After stopping off at Macdonalds, we took the RER and metro back to Richard and Elora's. For Ruth-Ann the trip was very eventful. First, she managed to manipulate the train/metro system so that she didnt need to pay for her ride home. ...and second, her wallet was stolen. Any donations to her worthy cause would be greatfully accepted.
The return trip was also very amusing. So it seems that, in Paris, it is common custom to make out with your significant other, where ever and when ever possible. This provides us with ample opportunity to smirk, roll our eyes and giggle... However, on the train ride home we saw a totally different and very much more amusing couple. They both came on to the RER and sat in seats opposite each other. She wanted HIM to sit beside HER, and he didnt want to move but wanted HER to come and sit beside HIM. So they sat there, each patting the seat they wanted the other to move to. She threw a hissy fit and kicked his seat. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her forward and kissed her and she got all pout-y. Yes, it was mushy and totally immature, but very entertaining after a long day :)
That evening we went to the Champs Elysees for the third time. This time we had a purpose... to find Ruth-Ann a new, and more secure, purse. We found one and had a very good time shopping. The highlight, though, was probably the troupe of breakdancers that we stumbled on. They were quite good and provided a more up beat form of amusement... and may I add this was like at ten o'clock at night!
The sight was breathtaking! It was larger and more beautiful than I had ever imagined. As we made our way inside I was filled with awe. The interior was even more ornate and richly decorated that the outside. As we walked through the many halls and rooms, so many history lessons and stories came to me. THIS was where these people actually walked, and ate and slept. We saw the secret door in Marie Antoinette's bedroom, through which she could access the kings bedroom, and though which she fled during the revolution. We saw the hall of mirrors, and the peace and war rooms that flank it. We saw many many rooms with all sorts of different colour schemes, some were red or green or yellow or gold or silver...
The artwork on the ceilings in the various rooms was surreal. The work involved to paint all thoses ceilings must have been tremendous! The sculptures in each of the rooms were also very impressive. It was interesting to note that in the king's bedroom there was a bust of the king on the mantlepiece, and in the queen's room there was a bust of the queen. For me, it was wonderful to see the face of the inhabitant in his/her room.
As we came out of the back of the main Chateau and looked over the grounds. We thought, yes it was amazing, but we both had an overwhelming urge to drink MILK!!! Since landing in France we have had a little water, and tons of french coffee -which is amazing, by the way- and even some wine, but no milk... We wanted Canadian food. after 3 days :( at the end of the day we found a: ...MACDONALDS! and we were very self controlled and only ordered drinks.
The grounds were quite impressive, despite the fact that winter is fast approaching. We took a walk through the grounds on our way to Trianon. We stopped for lunch at a little stand by le Grand Canal and ordered food in our very best French.
Ruth-Ann is getting quite good at the whole French thing. First she figures out what she wants, then she second guesses herself. Then when she's finally figured out what shes gonna ask for, she turns to me and asks either: 'Can you order for me...?' or 'How do you say...?' But yes, our French is definately improving, and we're both getting better at trying to speak it, regardless of the fact we know we are making a total fool of ourselves.
We also went to le Grand Trianon and le Petit Trianon. These 2 smaller chateaux were used as 'his and her' residences for various reigning couples, the most famous being Marie Antoinette and her husband, Louis XVI.
After stopping off at Macdonalds, we took the RER and metro back to Richard and Elora's. For Ruth-Ann the trip was very eventful. First, she managed to manipulate the train/metro system so that she didnt need to pay for her ride home. ...and second, her wallet was stolen. Any donations to her worthy cause would be greatfully accepted.
The return trip was also very amusing. So it seems that, in Paris, it is common custom to make out with your significant other, where ever and when ever possible. This provides us with ample opportunity to smirk, roll our eyes and giggle... However, on the train ride home we saw a totally different and very much more amusing couple. They both came on to the RER and sat in seats opposite each other. She wanted HIM to sit beside HER, and he didnt want to move but wanted HER to come and sit beside HIM. So they sat there, each patting the seat they wanted the other to move to. She threw a hissy fit and kicked his seat. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her forward and kissed her and she got all pout-y. Yes, it was mushy and totally immature, but very entertaining after a long day :)
That evening we went to the Champs Elysees for the third time. This time we had a purpose... to find Ruth-Ann a new, and more secure, purse. We found one and had a very good time shopping. The highlight, though, was probably the troupe of breakdancers that we stumbled on. They were quite good and provided a more up beat form of amusement... and may I add this was like at ten o'clock at night!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
le premier jour
We have arrived!!!! after a long and rather uneventful flight we landed in Paris at 9:45 local time. What a crazy feeling, finally in this strange land that we've been talking about for soooooooo long. Lydia is fantastic at french, and even better at translating everything for me... and pretty good at reading the english signs as well. We made our way through the airport to the train station, where the hard part began... how to ask for tickets in french, ok we'll try it in English, turns out everyone here speaks it pretty decent, so i've already given up the whole bonjour/merci thing, much to Richards horror (apparently if you think you're cool enough to be in their country you have to speak the language). Who said metro systems were hard to get around in? Other than almost leaving my luggage on the opposite side of the door two times in a row, and then following a random refugee into a train car (assuming he knew where he was going) we made our way around pretty well!! At about 12:30 we arrived at an adorable little flat somewhere in the city and would you believe it... in that flat there were two even more adorable little girls waiting for "aunt Ruth-Ann" and her friend! The little gals are so much fun and full of energy, its so nice to see them again!
Lydia and I decided then that it was about time that we figured out the city... so we walked, and walked... and walked, as long as we followed the seinne we knew we couldn't get lost. Paris is a beautiful city, full of history and culture! I probably annoyed Lydia alot today with my loud exclamations of delight at every car, tree, boat, bike, scooter, hobo, street musician, cobble stone, and much more. ( But Lydia... CAN YOU BELIEVE ITS REAL????) Anyway we walked to the Notre Dame Cathedral, i definitely wasn't expecting it to be that big, its HUGE. When you walk in there are people milling about everywhere, some (like us) just to look and some devout catholics there reciting the rosary out loud, or sitting in a confessional. the atmosphere is extremely hushed and it almost feels like you're in a dream or something. We had to pay a little extra, but we were able to see the relics, including the robes that Napoleon the 3rd wore during his coronation... ( I think thats how the story went). It was altogether an unforgettable experience!
When in Paris do as the parisians do... we bought crepes... mmmm delicious they make them right in front of you and you choose the topping, I had Nutella, they have ginormous jars of it here, soo yum:) We took all the little back streets home, and found all sorts of little back alleys jam packed with cars and pedestrians. It started to hail during the walk but scarves are a big thing here so we wrapped our heads up, and were nice and toasty the whole way. (it was FREEEZING)! Drivers here are crazy, cars come with a front and a back bumper for a reason... to help parallel park. When you hit the vehicle you know you have to go the other way... until you hit it that way, then you go the previous way again... until you're parked. It was pretty entertaining to watch!
mmmk that's about all for now.
au revoir!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
EUROPE...!!!
So today Ruth-Ann and I are flying off to Europe. We are hoping to update this blog with what we're doing, and with pics, on a regular basis. Sooooo stay tuned......
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