Un Weekend dans le Froid

Thursday afternoon I boarded the train again. I think that SNCF (France's national train company) should give me some kind of discount. So I boarded the train and made the 5 hour trip to Metz, where I met Sophie, (who was the assistant in my French class in year 12). It was lovely to see her again.

Friday morning I took the train (which this time only took 10 minutes) and I arrived in Germany. It was COLLLLLLDDDD. I was wearing tights, 3 pairs of socks, a woollen skirt, knee-high boots, a long sleeved top, wool jumper, wool cardigan, wool scarf, hat and my huge woollen coat. I still had goose bumps. I'm trying to climatise... it's not easy for an Australian girl like me to adapt to European winters in December... in spite of my pastyness. I stocked up on warm socks from H&M, bought some cosmetics (which are significantly cheaper in Germany), practised my survival German and walked around the little Christmas market that was set up in Saarbrucken.

Sophie and I later watched a movie (a children's animation, titled 'A Monster in Paris', which was cute - and in the evening I helped her correct work from her English class (she's now an English teacher at a local high school). We laughed a lot while doing this, and thought I'd post one of the student's papers (this is a year 12 class). Their English is shocking... Sophie started teaching them a week ago and is panicked already about their final exams which will take place in March.

The real question: The girl finally reveals her identity. Imagine the conversation she has with him when she says who she is

           ~ The student's paper ~

The girl finally reveals her identity. Imagine the conversité she say him who she is.

Why want you was who I'am?

Because when your chat with a one personne I like know her identity

Ok, it's so good. My name is Brook you are satisfait?

Yes...good.

Why? You are know

Oh yes, the university of Mariland three years before her say?

Oh!!! No is impossible you is Brook Chase?

Yes!! It's me (funny, funny)

It's been a long time, I very happy the see.

Me too. You are no change, it's incroyable.

Neither do you.

What are you become?

I'am is teacher of language and you?

I'am headmaster of the compagny

Waou you have good job.

Thank you Brook, anyways, I'am happy the have to see.

Oh!! Is very nice mme too.

Good bye Brook

Good bye et good lucks.

Saturday was the highlight of my time away. We drove to Strasbourg, a beautiful Alsatian city with a river running through (so small that it's like a little canal). For those who don't know, Strasbourg is the Christmas capital of....the world it seems. The streets are full of little Christmas stalls, smells of cinnamon, nutmeg and everything else that tastes like Christmas waft through the freezing air.... And there are colours of red, green and gold everywhere. There's even a street where the Christmas decorations were designed by Swarovski. The place is Christmas heaven. The day was spent wondering through this.....well, wonderland and gazing at the beautiful cathedral too. It was Christmas holiday perfect, complete with an outdoor ice-rink.

Sophie had booked lunch for us at the best Alsatian restaurant (which was completely booked out) and there we ate good, heavy, wintery local food. Brotwurst, potatoes and sauerkraut. It was actually pretty good and helped us to heat up a little bit from the cold. Lunch was followed by a boat cruise along the river.

When the sun set and the cold, winter darkness crept in (at 4:30 pm of course), Strasbourg underwent a transformation and somehow became even more magical. We bought some gingerbread and drove back home... The perfect ending to a perfectly Christmassy day...

On Sunday we went to Le Centre Pompidou in Metz, which is a contemporary art museum. It was interesting to see the exhibition that was on. It was very original. There were a lot of sculptures, lights and mirrors. I quote that I liked from it was "To go straight ahead is scary, to go back is embarrassing."

I then went to the station to start the 5 and a half hour journey back home... And now I'm in Lyon, writing an analysis of a text by Lévi-Strauss in French. A small sacrifice for the amazing things I'm doing in Europe. Needless to say, I am SOOOOO excited for the Christmas break. 

Take care, missed ones.

La Lyonnaise Va Au Parc

I'm back! It's been a while, I admit. This morning was my first oral presentation in French, the dreaded 'exposé', which was in my French class for foreign students. My teacher seemed impressed enough, so I was thrilled that the first articles that I found on Islam and the Suburbs online, doing a simple google search seemed like the right ones!

After a quick lunch with a friend, Laura (also from Melbourne) in Vieux Lyon at a quirky pub/café, I strolled along the cobble stone streets in my new Italian leather boots with numb hands shoved deep in my pockets and was happy that there was a little bit of sun in spite of the cold. I walked along past the cathedral, past all of the lynonnais 'bouchons' (which are small brasseries) and then over the bridge to the centre of town. I then had one of those 'I LIVE IN FRANCE!!! THAT  IS SO COOL!!!!' moments, did a lap around the town square and took the metro home.

Last week I went to Le Parc de La Tête d'Or for the second time since I came here. You may remember it featured in a post published in August. The last time I went there I didn't really walk around though, as Chloé was eager for us to get some sun and read... so when I went back last week I was blown away by how beautiful it is and how much there is as well! Unfortunately last week I forgot my camera, so today when I went on my walk (yes, I am trying to walk some of the excess bread fat off), I tried to capture how alive and magnificent the park is...

And if you're tired of seeing  photographs of autumn leaves... I suggest you don't scroll down.

                                           I crunched through crunchy leaves...

I saw great animals...

Thought about buying some fairy floss...but kept walking

I saw children playing in the leaves and the autumn sun peeking through

  

Soaked up the atmosphere...

There were hungry ducks and setting suns at 4pm...

 

I thought about waltzing lonelily through the rose garden..

This lake is a 10 minute walk from my house...what have I been doing at home all this time?

I wasn't the only one marvelling at our beautiful autumn...

In Lyon we recycle our leaves and our doggies have their own 'doggie business' space at the park...only in France.

 So à la prochaine...tomorrow I am off to Metz to visit Sophie (an old French friend) and spend up big at the Christmas market (thank you Gran for the spending money). I'm excited ! (unfortunately the 4 and a half hour train trip isn't short enough to justify not studying...we all know why I'm really here and YES! I'm getting on that!)

Miss you guys.... it's cold here (don't let the sun make you think otherwise)

Alice


PS. The photos wouldn't sit straight. I tried to fix it... sorry.

Out of Focus

Photography is a shared interest in my immediate family. I studied it in high school and have maintained great interest... My sister was doing some dark room photography for a while, my dad collects photographs, has worked with one and my mother was accepted to the best photography course in Australia after she finished high school.....but turned down the offer as it was apparently 'too difficult' for women to become successful photographers back then. There you go!

So when Paris Photo came around (the world's most important photographic exhibition in Paris), my dad sent me. My trip to Paris this time was rushed, not very sanitary and extremely cold - but it was good. The exhibition was fantastic and I had a great time, even though I was solo.

I went to my friend Gladie's 20th birthday party on Saturday evening in the region of Savoie. It was really nice. It was a big family event and everyone was dancing and singing old French songs and doing dances I had no idea how to do...lots of photos and stories and fantastic food. A great night.

Here are some pictures. I have work to do!

- Alice

                                                          
                                                         Place de la Concorde

                              My friend Steve and I climbed the Eiffel Tower

                         Some of my favourite photographs from the exhibition

Remembrance Day event opposite Le Grand Palais (where Paris Photo was) and view from Le Jardin des Tuiléries

                                        The Champs Elysées on Remembrance Day

A Day in Foggy Denmark and then..the Palace of Versailles

I felt very relieved to fly back to Denmark after all my solo time - and it's always nice to be with family. Asger was a little sick, but had some play time too. He's gorgeous.

Monday afternoon I nearly missed the plane. Not because I was late to the airport... I'm always very careful and make sure that I have at least 2 and a half hours before my plane leaves. I somehow found myself going through passport control and thought this was strange....and then 5 minutes before boarding I realised that i was at gate D103 and not gate D03...slight issue which involved going back through passport control and then running to the right gate. Somehow I made it to the plane on time and then joined the lady next to me who was sobbing because she'd also nearly missed the plane and had had to run.

Anywayyy...I made it back to Paris and went to Chloé's apartment. The next day we went to the château de Versailles. It was just the most magnificent thing ever. Every room made me gasp as it was simply amazing...gold...marble...Italian paintings on the ceilings.. and then I was just more amazed with every other room that I went into. The gardens too were astonishing. I think that Chloé and I spent at least two hours walking around the gardens and we didn't want to leave, but had to so that I could catch my train back to Lyon in time....I don't think there's much else to say other than the autumn colours and the mist and sunset were wonderful. A perfect combination of the beauty of man made structure and nature's finery. Here are some pictures of the 300 I took. There are nearly 2500 rooms....

This video is of the Hall of Mirrors.

                                                            The Queen's bedroom

Patisserie in  Versailles? Marie Antoinette couldn't disagree

Sunset on a cold Autumn's day... this picture isn't edited....Versailles has maintained its splendour.


Back to Paris on Thursday for a photo exhibition....I'll write on Sunday!

Go frolic in the sunshine for me...I'm curled up next to the heater.