Sunday, April 17, 2011

UK Adventure! Off to an almost good start...

(written sort of in real time...?)

Day 1 Saturday, April 16th 2011 12:05pm

“You mean England and the US aren't the same thing?”

This coming from an 11-year-old mademoiselle on my way to Paris, who also just finished singing me “Proud Mary” in English. She has an iPhone in one hand and a nose piercing, and looks astonished to learn that these two places are in fact two places.

I then embark upon perhaps the first geography lesson of my life, explaining how there are 50 states, and THAT'S why I can't know all the film makers in Hollywood and see the Statue of Liberty at the same time because it's kinda big over there.

She's quickly bored and goes back to texting a friend, and I'm left staring out the windows feeling 100 years old and completely disconnected from her generation.

In 30 minutes I'll be in Paris, and if I survive the metro, I will leave for London to arrive at 8:30pm for 3 days of royal fun. Then I'm off to Scotland for 8 days of rugged, green adventures.

3 months of travel, coming right up!

Bisous,

Katie



2pm same day

I survived the metro!

Granted, I called a friend to verify my first move so the rest weren't compromised, but it could not have gone more smoothly. I dare say I'm getting used to the Paris metro.

On the other hand, I might as well have gotten lost seeing as I've been sitting on this curb here for almost three hours... The bus to London is late, and I made friends with two American girls (studying in Scotland) who are doing virtually nothing but complaining. This is what the last two hours sounds like.

Girl 1 - “Okay, seriously, it's like, 2:05, the bus should've been here 5 minutes ago...”

Girl 2 - “I know right? Like, what's going on? This is ridiculous.”

5 minutes later...

Girl 1 – (huffing and puffing) “Like, what the hell?! What is this? Where is this stupid bus?

Girl 2 - “I hate this, this is so stupid, why can't they just be on time?”
15 minutes later...

Girl 1 - “I swear to God I'm going to flip out, I'm seriously about to go nuts.”

Girl 2 – “I can't wait til we get to London and we can complain to someone.”

Two hours later and they literally have not stopped complaining.
Note to self: Sit far, far away from them on bus...

Talk to you soon!

Katie

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Walking through winter

(First, this is not a poem, just a new format.)

Let's back up to a time where I learned to get along with snow, and even play nicely.

The first snow came at night.


And I woke up to this.


I went outside to my favorite local hike, and walked through this.


I rediscovered all the same hills I had climbed when it was summer and fall.
It felt like a completely different place with all kinds of new magic.


We took the return path downtown, only to discover they had put up lights and opened the Christmas market.



Winter in France.
 When I discovered hot, spiced wine for the first time.
Frozen from my hike with snow lightly falling
clothes drenched and hair tangled, 
a woman singing and dancing and playing an accordian in the background,
that was cool, and never had I had a more satisfying beverage.

Winter!!
Where I squeeled with delight at all the little wooden Christmas booths
selling hand-made goods, jewelry, pottery,
homemade jams and other foods,
toys and other knick knacks that you don't really need.
Vendors frying sausages and others grilling waffles,
the air was so thick with smells it's a memory in itself.
So much maaaaagic.

--

Let's move onto the Festival of Lights in Lyon.
Where I learned that even a winter coat might not be enough.

Walking through the streets to and from each spectacle.


A slightly-gaudy/awkward fountain that lit up and made sounds you might hear in the woods...


A very cool 3D show on a big old building.
 The face contorted in all sorts of goofy ways to equally goofy music.


Crossing the bridge to go back to our friends' place for the evening.


Waking up to a slightly gray, chilly day. Let's walk around anyway!


A view of Lyon from the top of the city.


The Bastille... 




Not much to say because I can't remember much about it,
but it was pretty.

--

Let's take a trip to a slightly smaller town - Ornans.
A tiny village nestled between cozy little hills with the characteristic river cutting through it.

We'll start our tour by crossing the tiny bridge toward the town's church.


We'll stop and enjoy the fantastic view of houses on water.


Found the path - let's climb the hill.


Time to sit down on a snow-covered bench and enjoy a mug of hot tea while taking in the view.


A close-up of the town "center"


And of course, you can go hardly anywhere without the Virgin Mary being there to greet you
(seriously, she's on the top of an extraordinary number of hills, homes, etc)


Love and miss you all,
Katie