A Quick Trip to Brussels

  Okay, so last post about traveling for a bit, I promise to tell you some crap about Paris soon!  Anyways, J and I went to Brussels (Belgium) for a quick weekend trip.  We actually took a bus there!  The bus was quite nice and took a bit less than 5 hours for us to get there; it's also much cheaper than the train.  The best part about the ride was the free Wifi!  You would think there would be free wifi everywhere these days, but it sometimes seems hard to come by here in Europe.  For example, when you take the train to Brussels, which costs more than double the bus, you have to pay for the wifi!  Jerks.  Another cost saving tip for traveling in Europe is to stay at an Ibis.  They are always running specials and are usually the cheaper option to begin with anyway.  The rooms are usually pretty sparse, but J and I don't travel with the intent to spend much time in the hotel room.  We just need a place to crash, and Ibis fits the bill (and they are clean, which is a big plus).  Beware, though, when looking for a cheap place to stay as the places that are super, to-good-to-be-true cheap, usually have a couple catches, like no elevator when you are on the 8th floor or shared toilets (no thanks).   Anyways, we made it there safe and sound.

Beautiful old building in the town square.

  Brussels is a very small city, just as is the country - Belgium.  J and I were nearly able to walk around the entire city center in just one day.  We spent our time seeing the architecture, monuments, and parks.  We used geocaching as our guide!  There are a bunch of caches hidden all over Europe and Brussels was no exception.  So, first, what the hell is geocaching?  Check out this link to explore, but the short story is it is a game of sorts using GPS to find hidden "treasures".  Usually, the treasures are just a logbook to sign, but the caches almost always take you to a place of interest when searching for them in cities.  I think we saw all the major tourist spots in Brussels, along with some more rare locations, just by searching out caches.  We even did a small pub crawl through geocaching clues.

My first cache found in Brussels :)

  Truth be told, the popular thing to do in Brussels seemed to be beer drinking.  J and I were surprised by the amount of American hipsters hanging out there.  English was widely spoken throughout the city by all types of businesses (French and Dutch are the official languages).  So, it is an easy city for  mono-lingual Americans to navigate.  There are tons of good beer to sample, and we definitely tried our fair share.  It's weird that a country bordering France produces such variable and high-quality beer.  To try to find any of it in Paris (without breaking the bank) is impossible!  Oh yeah, the beer was cheap there too!  All of Brussels was very affordable.  Then again, anytime we leave Paris, J and I are amazed at how cheap everything is... perspective I guess. Also, "pee" themed artwork is really popular in Brussels.  The most popular tourist destination is probably the Manneken Pis.

Manneken Pis

And for a little gender equality, Jeanneke Pis.

And, what's a European city without some "You're a peeing" graffiti.  I'm hilarious! 

  It was a fun weekend and a nice getaway from Paris.  I wouldn't really recommend spending a whole lot of time in Brussels unless you are just traveling for good beer, but I'm sure there is a lot more to explore in Belgium.  It's also a great city for geocaching if that floats your boat, it does mine!  J and I are actually looking forward to taking more weekend trips to explore all the different cultures at our doorstep.  You all should come join us!! 

Sunset in Brussels.

Roaming in Rome

  Look, I'm posting!  Ha!  And you people didn't believe I would.  So, I though since my last post was something recent I will make this next one a catch up of sorts.  Many of you may already know, but J and I went to Rome this past fall.  We actually went in October for our ten year anniversary.  I never imagined that we would be spending it Rome, but it was incredible and I am sure glad we had the opportunity.

  So, if you watch for deals and don't mind no frill flying, one can actually travel through Europe fairly inexpensively.  It also means that for the most part you are waking up and godly hours and running to multiple transportation systems to get there, but hey, you GET there!  So, the trip to Rome started just like that, waking up before the butt crack of down so we could run to the metro to grab the first train of the morning in order to get to the bus that takes you to the airport with enough time to get patted down and hop on (hahahahaha)!  This trip actually starts my streak of pat downs, I think I'm going on 5 now, whoop!

  To properly explain, let me take you back before October.  J, some visitors, and I were at a French flea market and I was lucky enough to snag an old school Iron Maiden shirt for 50 centimes.  Needless to say, it is my favorite shirt and I wear it everywhere.  So, of course I wore on the plane that day.  Well, turns out the guy controlling the traffic through the metal detector was a huge, HUGE Iron Maiden fan.  He was busy listing every song and record to me.  Me, on the other hand, have like zero Iron Maiden knowledge, so I let him do the talking.  So, in his excitement he fails to adequately control my moving through the metal detector inadvertently waiving me through when I clearly should not have gone.  At least that's what the woman on the other side was saying as she gave the "I know you are a terrorist now" stare.  So, pat down commences.  She evidently was not a fan of Iron Maiden.   I was surprised I didn't make it on some type of list that day because I was also carrying a dangerous weapon in my purse, a corkscrew (in France you never leave home without it).  But, before you know it we are on the plane and on our way to Rome.

  Rome is an ah-mazing city. It doesn't take much meandering around the city to get a feel for how truly old this city is.  Old isn't even an accurate statement, Paris is old, but Rome is ancient!  There are ruins from hundreds and thousands of years ago.  Every once in a while you come across where they have dug up a bit of the city only to have unearthed a remnants of another city below.  I told J I bet global warming is in part due to the fact that we are so much closer to the sun now than people so many years ago.  I'm sure you'll be hearing breaking studies on this very theory soon enough.  Take note who you heard it from first!

Some unearthed part of a building near the Forum.

  Rome is a small city and easy to walk, but nearly all the roads and sidewalks are cobblestone which made for sore feet at the end of the day.  I ended up blowing up the pair of shoes I brought, they made a weird squeaking sound for the rest of the trip which J seemed to really enjoy. 

Cobblestone.

  Since we were there just for a long weekend we made sure to hit up all the major attractions.  We saw the Colosseum (pro-tip: skip the tour and don't get suckered into one at the last minute, you'll probably just end up ditching it), the Forum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, a good dose of churches, and a bunch of Roman architecture. We did get a tour for the Vatican  and it turned out well worth it.  We were super lucky as our tour consisted of J and I and one other American our age on a European tour.  It turns out his next stop was Paris, so I got a chance to show him around a bit while he was there.  It's crazy making random friends all over the world, but there just seem to be so many chances here! 

Trevi fountain - It's said if you trow in a coin then you are guarnteed to return.  We threw one in!

Not sure this needs a caption...

St. Peter's Basilica, this place was MASSIVE!

  We also found some time to hop on a train and head a bit south to the beach.  We went to the city of Anzio.  Even though it was October and the beach business was essentially closed, the water was plenty warm for our Ohio weathered bodies.  It was actually really cool to swim in the Mediterranean.  I'm pretty sure it would take a lot of effort to drown there, I could barely dunk my head under the salted water.  Where we were swimming was not only the home to Nero's villa way back when, but also a sight of an American beach invasion during WWII.  There is an American Cemetery in Anzio also, but we didn't have time this trip to visit it.  It would have been nice to have spent a bit more time in this town, it was somewhat off the beaten path, especially with the it being past the beach season.  We did stop for lunch and had some amazing super cheap pizza by the slice. 

  I really could go on for longer about Rome, it really is an incredible city with a great vibe.  We liked it so much that we are planning on returning to explore more of Italy this fall.  I can't wait for the trip and hopefully I'll blog about it in a more timely manner than this trip!  Hold your breath!

Happy travels, L

Bonne Année

  Happy New Year people!  So, I know my blog has turned into a sad desert of emptiness.  Good news though, I have made a new year's resolution to make this forgotten tumbleweed into something near awesome.  I can't go all the way for complete awesomeness yet because that would just be too much pressure.  In the upcoming weeks I hope to fill in some of that wide open space that fell blank, so there won't be a lot of timeline continuity to start.  Pretty sure all you hungry hoards can deal with that though.  To start I thought I would share about J and I's mini-vacation to the Austrian Alps.

  We left for Munich on the day after Christmas.  Because we are crazy, we had to get up at 3am after staying up way too late on Christmas with some friends and family.  After the bus, train, plane ordeal we finally made it to Munich around 8am.  Here our Russian friend, who invited us along on this ski trip in the first place, picked us up.  At this point all I want is a nap, but our friend had maybe a better idea.  Right off he says "I advise that you not delay in drinking a beer".   Weeeelll, twist my arm.   So, this will be my new way to greet people visiting J and I in Paris.  I might take it up a notch with some wine.

A quick pit stop in Munich.  Here we are watching the Glockenspiel in action.

  Our Russian friends had been to this area for skiing before and they had booked us at a little out of the way mom and pop hotel in Austria.  This place was crazy adorable.  The owner shook all our hands as he greeted us in.  They also have an restaurant that cooks fresh caught trout for dinner.  It waaas amazing.  Well, except for the bones in the fish, I'm horrible at picking those things out...I'm slightly convinced there is still one caught in the back of my throat.  Anyways, the hotel was located near several different ski resorts and off we went!

Me, looking into the abyss.

  That might be better said as of they went!  See, I am new to skiing, I only learned a few years ago and have had minimal experience since then.  Once we got up to the top of the mountain the idea of skiing down it grew more and more terrifying in my mind.  After finally pulling together some determination, J escorted me to the baby hill.  Here's where I truly flipped out, full on panic attack.  I couldn't even feel my knees under me.  It was a hot mess for sure.  So as soon as we reached the bottom I frantically ripped off my skis and decided a day drinking in the lodge sounded like a good idea. 

I picture from the top!  I made the trip with the help of ski lifts ;)

  Luckily for me, the trip wasn't all skiing.  We visited a swimming pool/sauna center in the mountains.  The swimming area was extremely cool.  They had an inside and outside portion.  Outside, there was a heated pool and extra heated jacuzzi portion.  Swimming and floating around with mountain peaks dotting the sky was truly an awesome experience.  The sauna, on the other hand, was a learning experience!  Zoinks!  Turns out J and I should have read up on the rules of sauna before we went...let's just say that now we know!  We also had the chance to walk around Munich a bit, eat tons of German and Austrian delicacies (shnitzel galore!),  and even made it to Neuschwanstein. It was a great trip and even though there were some language barriers with a few of our Russian friends we had a great time and got to meet some truly kind people.

J and I at Neuschwanstein.

  Well, I hope this starts to satiate my hungry followers out there!  I am aiming to post at least twice a month, but maybe more.  So, hopefully you will hear from me again soon!

~L

Remeberance

  The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity!  J and I were lucky enough to have a couple friends come and stay with us.  We didn't rest for a second and soaked in as much as Paris as we could together.  We were also lucky enough to make a trip out of the city to the Normandy area.  Since today is 9/11, I thought it would be a good time to share our experience at Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery and some Normandy cities. 

  Before 9/11 finding scars of war left on our country wasn't easy, not to say that there aren't any (Civil War battlefields come to mind).  It is completely different here in France.  You can't walk a few blocks and not come across bullet holes or evidence of shellings, mostly from WWII.  It's embedded in every town, reminders of the not so distance past and the sacrifice given by all.  Some towns were so damaged it is wondrous that any building was left standing at all.  In Caen (where we stayed the night), there was heavy damage, but the Chateau built in 1060 still stands.

Eglise Saint-Pierre in Caen that we visited in the early morning fog.

Le Chateau de Caen.

  After walking around Caen in the morning we drove to the Normandy Beaches.  It was a beautiful day for a walk on the beach.  The beach was so peaceful, at first glance there seems to be no reminders of D-Day. 

Omaha beach.

The hills behind the beach.  From here it looks like any other part of the landscape.

  As you walk up the hill pockets of the war left behind begin to appear.  Old carved out bunkers and leveled out pieces of land where heavy artillery stood still remain.  It's surreal to climb down into one of the bunkers and look out down the hill.  This is where machine guns fired relentlessly at the men on the beaches.  The terror and the anguish are nearly palpable, yet softened by the beautiful scenery.

View from a bunker.

 Truly the most powerful part of the experience was at the American Cemetery.  The Visitors Center, which was dedicated in 2007, was incredible.  There were so many personal stories of men (and a few women) who fought, died, and were true heroes.  The entire experience is beyond words on how it touches you and brings you in to that time.  If you are in France for any period of time, make this a priority.  The cemetery itself is beautifully laid out and landscaped meticulously.  It over looks the sea and there is a true sense of calm and peace there. 

~President Truman

  I feel like I should end with something profound or some piece of wisdom.  Truthfully, I have none, words don't really feel like enough when it comes to summing up an era of war.  Needless to say, I am thankful for all soldiers and volunteers, men and women, who stand up everyday and fight for the United States.  It was a privilege to be able to visit such sacred ground.

~L

Happy Belated Bastille Day!

  Some of you may know, but I had another flare or iritis.  Since this affects my eye and vision, blogging was put on the back burner.  I have been on the mend though and I am ready to get back into the swing of things!  First, big shout out to the French healthcare system that has given me superb care and has been relatively easy to navigate despite the language barrier. 
 
  Anyways, for the La Fête Nationale I was determined to watch the fireworks (feux d'artifice) on the Champs de Mars which is a length of grass (and other bits) that lay at the feet of the Eiffel Tower.  The fireworks are set off from behind the tower and also incorporate a laser light show installed on the tower as well.  So, you might imagine that the Champs de Mars is quite the popular place to go on Bastille Day.  J and I got there early to have a picnic and stake claim to a piece of grass.  Here are a few pictures to show the crowds grow:

Early in the afternoon.  Just a few peeps so far.

  As you can see, it was a beautiful day!  The picnic we put together and a day in the sun was a good time in itself. 

Here's J channeling his inner Baba!

 

Things are starting to fill up!

Oh, it's going to get even more crowded than this!

  As it got more and more crowded it eventually turned into standing room only.  The crowd was mostly friendly and never got pushy.  We had plopped down next to an Australian couple that have lived in France for several years now.  They were super nice and we shared our cheeses because that's a French thing to do. I would recommend making a pit stop to the port-a-pots before it gets too crowded though.  I had to leap tippy toed to get back to our spot when I made a last minute dash!  Also, as a warning, none of the markets near the Eiffel Tower are allowed to sell any booze on the 14th, so bring your own or buy some at a premium from the "entrepreneurs" roaming the champs.  I successfully bargained with a nice "business" man for a bottle of bubbly.  This was a pretty big achievement for me because not only was it in french, but I am horrible at haggling (a national pastime in France).

  The firework theme was "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (liberty, equality, brotherhood).  Now, here are some gratuitous firework shots, cue the oohing and aahing:

The French embracing their new gay marriage equality!

  The fireworks lasted forever, I thought it was the grand finale three separate times.  I could easily bore you with about a hundred more pictures!  I'll save it for a slideshow when I come visit the states.  I did find it amusing though that 80% of the music that accompanied the fireworks was American.  Including a piece of music that could only be more incongruous then hardcore gansta rap (which is played surprisingly often in the grocery stores), any guesses?  Try this.  HA!  Oh people of France, you make me smile!  Overall, it truly was quite a fantastic sight and beautiful night.  I feel really lucky that we were there and that I can share a little piece of it with you all. 

  Stayed tuned for more to come as I catch up on a back log of posts.
~ L

Bones

   Guess where we went??  Hint: See above picture. If you guessed the Catacombs you would be right.  A friend from school, J, and I visited the Catacombs this past week. It was quite an interesting tour and by Paris standards a pretty good value.  I should have taken a picture of the line, it really never ends!  We got there an hour before they opened and there was a small line already forming.  By the time they opened the line was already 3 hours long.  There were literally people being dropped of by the tour busload.  So, pro tip: get there early.

 The Catacombs basically came about because the rotting bodies in the sub-par cemeteries inside of Paris were infiltrating the water system and overflowing into unsuspecting basements around town.  So, they decided to haul 6 million remains to the old quarry system underground Paris.  At some point the workman decided to arrange the bones into interesting designs.

  Overall, it was a nice way to spend a morning, especially a hot one.  There were lots of steps and slippery paths, so I would recommend only for the sure-footed.  Also, according to the French warning sings, people with a "nervous disposition" should take caution and stay away!  I'm not exactly sure what that means and why, but it sounds so adorable.  The French really do have a way with words.
~L

Je parle francais?

  I guess an apology is due to all my loyal followers (you know, those related to me) for not posting more regularly these past few weeks.  Je suis vraiment desolée.  I guess I have been a little tied up having the French language crush my soul.  Seriously!  French is not an easy language.  I fumble and stumble, hum and haw, just to make a barely understandable sentence.  There are SIXTEEN vowels in french!  For those keeping count, that's 12 more than English (8 more if you consider the different sounds available to make).  Good gravy!  They all start sounding the same, but a mispronunciation is evidently very confusing to the french.  I really should get a necklace or sign of some sort that apologizes up front for my shotty language skills.  For my defense, I wouldn't really say I am that great at English. 

  Though, I must say I have learned beaucoup since starting at my school.  You should of heard me thoroughly destroy the language before I arrived.  I have also had the immense pleasure of meeting some truly great people who can relate to all the same things that I feel, frustrations mostly, but the good as well!  I never thought I would have such an international group of friends.  As I close up my time at school I thought I might show you some of the things we have been up to these past few months.

  My school is actually in a beautiful old building, go figure right?

  If you didn't catch on, I go to Alliance Française.  I'm taking the intensive classes, 4 hours each morning, Monday through Friday.  It's 100% in french and each of my teachers have been very helpful and help take the edge off learning by injecting some fun.  I still have lots more to learn, but I am going to take a break until the new year.  J and I have lots of upcoming traveling plans and I would miss too much school for my own good.  Of our few French friends they all seem to have faith that I will be communicating like a pro in no time.  Bets are on.