Paris: Day 1

Waking up early Wednesday morning for Paris was almost like a dream. I hadnt got much sleep because of the anticipation and the wind was blowing crazily outside. It was 5:25 am and we had to get ready to leave! We bared the strong Mistral winds and made it down to the cafe for breakfast. Then hopped on the bus for our hour ride to Avignon. We got to the TGV station to wait for our high speed train. Once it came we had three minutes to board 50 people. We got our seats and enjoyed the French countryside on our three hour journey to the city of lights.We arrived at Gare de Lyon and walked to our hotel, trying to take it all in. We arrived at Hotel Home Latin, in the Latin quarter between the Pantheon and Notre Dame!
Lara, Michael, and I took a walk over to Notre Dame stood on the medallion outside, then went to look at the interior. I then walked up to the Pantheon and got a feel for our neighborhood.
We met back at the hotel and a group of us walked 45 minutes to Pere Lachaise, the cemetery where a lot of famous people including Chopin, Jim Morrison, and Oscar Wilde are buried. The fall leaves were everywhere and it was a great walk, even though our first two days there were a bit rainy.
We stopped for cafe au lait, a crepe, and then later Megan, Lexi and I walked around to find a good dinner place and ended up eating at a Tunisian restaurant. It was really good! Our first day in Paris was a success.

Paris Paris Paris!

So we leave for Paris at 6:30 am! I'm all packed and ready for an amazing 5 day trip filled to the brim with wonderful things to do. I wont be able to update until I am back, but I will make sure to come back with lots to share. Lacoste has gotten colder and even a little wet today, Paris wont be much better, but that wont stop us from enjoying everything we can! Until I return!!

A weekend in Madrid!!

We did it! We made it to Madrid and back, and for the most part it was really great! It started out not so great... we were supposed to go to a fieldtrip to Glanum, then leave from there to get to Avignon. We had 10 minutes to eat breakfast and get down to the bus, everyone was a few minutes late and by the time we got to clear off our plates and make it down the hill, the bus passed 8 of us and we were left in Lacoste! It wasnt too nice because they could have easily stopped for one second to open the door, but instead we were left wondering how we would make it to Madrid... Lara and I wound up having to take a 65 euro taxi to Avignon, but atleast our taxi driver was entertaining. She talked non stop about loving Obama, hating Bush and Paris Hilton and talking about Thanksgiving. On the way there we passed a line of farming tractors on their way to protest in Avignon. We had enough time to explore Avignon's main street of shops and see the Pope's Palace. We then activated our Eurail passes for our future trips, and hopped on the train to Montpellier, then Barcelona, then finally Madrid! The sun set and we arrived in Madrid and to our interesting hostel around 1 am.
After a rough night of sleep we woke up early and headed to the Royal Palace. It is similar to Versailles and very beautiful. I got a few illegal pictures of the interior, it was really stunning.
We then walked through the city to Plaza Mayor. Its a huge plaza with restaurants, artists, and that day, Spanish Dancers. It was so festive. We found ourselves some squid sandwiches, literally, and sat down with the locals for Bocadillos de Calamares.Afterwards we found an amazing pastry shop, La Mallorguina, which we went to all three days for the best cafe con leche and a treat.
We adventured around the Sol area where there are lots of shops and beautiful and expensive clothing.
After all that we went to Retiro park for a siesta and to kill some time until we could get in free to the Museo del Prado. Afterwards we headed out for tapas, paella, and a few fun drinks.
Day 2 started by going to a crowded flea market. On the way we stopped for churros con chocolat, a local favorite. They were yummy of course, anything dipped in chocolate is. After the market we of course stopped by our place for a cafe then took the metro to the Templo de Debod, an Egyptian monument with beautiful gardens and architecture along the way.We then headed over to Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, which houses many Picasso and Dali pieces, including Picasso's impressive Guernica. Again we siesta-d in Retiro park and explored the rose gardens.Our last night in Madrid we spent around the Plaza Mayor and Sol area, a very happening area. We went to three different places for tapas and drinks, and ended up at a bar/restaurant we liked the night before for yummy strawberry daiquiris.Our last night in the hostel was.. interesting. We woke up the next morning, checked out, and headed to the airport. We got a taxi back to Lacoste from Marseille and our taxi total for the weekend wound up being 190 euros split between the two of us, ouch. It wasnt ideal, but it was definitely worth it because we had a great weekend and really enjoyed Madrid. Now the excitement keeps going as we prepare for Paris in two days! Things are speeding up and are not going to slow down until I am back in Perkasie in 5 weeks.

I just got busy!

All of a sudden its 10 pm and I leave at 8 am for a fieldtrip to Glanum then to Avignon to start our travels to Madrid! I have been crocheting for so many hours that I have run out of time! This morning Lara and I went to see about making reservations for our train to Madrid, and its a good thing we did cause Helene spoke to a French man who had to "pull some strings" to get us our seats on the trains we needed. We should arrive in Madrid tomorrow around midnight, make our way to our hostel, and then explore the heck out of Madrid. Cant wait! We have become so into researching our travels, and after spending many hours today creating a complete itinerary for my mom when she comes here and we travel to Italy, I think I should become a part time travel agent. And a realtor, cause Im good at finding subletters.

But anways, I will be taking lots of pictures this weekend and should have lots to update about when I get back, if I'm not able to update while I am there. But until then... have wonderful weekends!

An Eventful Day

Today started out with a package from home! Some post offices in France have been on strike, but it made it, almost in one piece... just a little torn up. My mom sent some things I had forgotten, and some Halloween goodies.
This afternoon the fibers girls once again piled into the vans and were off to another fieldtrip. We went back to Isle sur la Sorgue to visit a factory, and on the way something exciting happened... A 20 Euro bill flew into the river, and everyone wanted it. Calie couldnt reach it off the side, so after it made its way over the water fall, she decided she wanted it so badly that she would risk getting her cute outfit wet. She climbed down the bridge and onto the rocks as we guided her to where the bill was. Dodging ducks and cans, she waded in the water, but last minute took the plunge and came out 20 euros richer.It was quite the event, even some locals watched the crazy American as she soaked herself in the freezing Sorgue River. Worried that Pam would be upset, she hurried out, climbed back up to the road, and had to think how to make herself presentable, as we had yet to make it to our visit with the prestigious textile manufacturer Brun de Vian Tiran.A few of the girls had some clothing they could part with, so they ducked behind this sign and gave her a new outfit. We were then off to our visit!
We were able to spend time with one of the sons of Brun Textiles. Brun de Vian-Tiran is the leading French manufacturer of natural blankets and has been preserving its know-how over two centuries in an uninterrupted family tradition. Mr. Brun explained their process of turning natural fibers right off the animal into throws or scarves that can cost thousands of dollars. Its great because they do every step of the process in one factory, and they have been doing this for 201 years.We then made our way to Tissus Gregoire, an amazing and overwhelming fabric and notion store. They had more fabric than I had ever seen in one building, and enough buttons and trims to spend a day looking at. It was really great, I can only imagine what we will see in Paris.
This is what I came home with. I found boxes filled with button cards for a euro a card! I couldnt pass it up so of course I got 13. No big deal. Also got some other little goodies I could use, so I'm excited! Now I just have to use them!
Oh the potential of a beautiful stack of buttons... another good day in southern France.

Travel Plans

Today was a day of classes and a day of crocheting. I am really enjoying sitting and focusing my brain on patterns and numbers and repetition. It is working my mind in a different way that I think is going to benefit my creativity and my work. I will share what I have been working on when I have a little more done and pictures taken!

At the same time I cant help but to be excited about the travels I have coming up. This weekend Lara and I will be adventuring to Madrid, Spain. We are still working out the details, but are using our Eurail passes to get there by train, have our hostel booked, and a RyanAir flight back to Marseille. I am excited to explore that city and unlike Barcelona, will have someone that knows some Spanish with me at all times!

Then next Wednesday we leave for Paris! Pam has so many great things planned for us fibers girls. I think we are going to have opportunities to meet people in the field, visit amazing shops, and buy amazing supplies! I cannot wait. Also, we are there at the same time as FIAC (an exposition of contemporary art) which takes place the 22-25th and we get to be there for the excitement. As if Paris wasn't exciting enough. So lots to look forward to in the coming weeks!

a piece by Michael Scott which will be seen at FIAC

P.S. Check out this TED video. this boy I like just sent it to me and its really an inspiring story...

Lazy Day

Today was just a lazy day. and cold, and windy. Because of the mistral winds coming down from Siberia and over the Alps, they bring the cold but they clear the valley and you can see forever! It was a beautiful day nonetheless. I spent most of it crocheting and watching movies, in the library, on the terrace, (until my hands got too cold to continue) and then in my bed with a cappuccino by my side. I have a feeling after tomorrow the quarter is going to speed up and get super busy. So im gonna go back to my bed to crochet, and watch the third movie of the day. Night!

Midterms!?

The weekends over and we are about to start our fourth week in Lacoste, technically our midterm week! How crazy. Yesterday was spent doing work in the library because its starting to get chilly in Lacoste! There are Mistral winds that come down from Siberia and bring some chilly and windy weather to southern France. Hopefully the leaves will start to change soon, so I wont totally miss fall again this year! After dinner last night a bunch of us had a movie night and watched Twilight.. sorry, but not a fan. Before all that excitement my friend Janelle, dressed as a little girl with her little bow, fell down the stairs and this is what we found. Anytime she laughs she cries, but what a cute little girl she must have been!

This morning I went again to Isle sur la Sorgue for the antique market. Got some more pictures of books, pretty glass, and a weird goofy rocking horse! Of course sat down for a noisette and enjoyed some people watching before heading back to Lacoste.

I spent a little time crocheting with all my great new yarns from Apt, and chilled a little in the hammock we have hanging on our terrace.
After a chat with the boy, a great nap, and dinner, Lara and I made arrangements for Madrid! We will be in Madrid next Friday night until Monday afternoon, and then Wednesday we leave for Paris for 5 days with the whole group!! How exciting. I also got to chat with my mom and her friend Jamie who will be meeting us in Lacoste for our Vernissage and traveling with us in Italy! and then Laras mom will travel with us in Austria and Switzerland!! I am so excited for everything we have experienced so far, and what we still have left to see!