The Valley of the Kings

Thursday (when I was 21 and one day) we went to the Loire Valley. Our first day wasn't too thrilling. We started with an almost-all-day excursion to Blois. Blois. Even the name sounds like Blah. We did have a nice little lunch, then we went to the first chateau. It was pretty cold, and cloudy, and there weren't any gardens. There was a nifty staircase. Claim to fame? This is where the Duc de Guise was assassinated. Yay for holy wars. Fun things: I watched Ever After a little while ago, and this is where Francois 1er lived along with his son Henry II (the characters in Ever After). I got pictures of their busts, and for some reason they don't look a thing like the people in the movie! Then we went to Tours to check into our hotel (more like a hostel really). I liked that it was in Tours because that is where Aramis's lover is exiled in The Three Musketeers. We went and ate at a restaurant in honor of mon anniversaire. I had salmon - and it was divine. And we watched Taken - the movie about the girl who is kidnapped in Paris. Wow. Dumb movie.
Day 2! This day was much more exciting, we woke up and headed out to Chinon. On the way, we passed Sleeping Beauty's castle!! Unfortunately our director didn't think this one deserved a tour. I have other ideas, but I will save them for myself. Then we had an hour-long history lesson inside one of the towers of Chinon about the history of England and France and Joan of Arc. This was especially hard to bear (my attention span shortens after ever tour) because it was BEAUTIFUL out and we were stuck in a medieval tower. But we were finally released! This was a very castle-like chateau. With towers and ruins underneath, and defense things. All that jazz. It felt like a castle. And did I mention how beautiful it was?! I even took off my coat AND rolled up my sleeves. Plus afterward we went into the little village and got a pastry (Abraham LOVES taking pictures with me btw).
After Chinon we went to... Da da da dahh! Chenonceau! The ONLY one I have heard about prior and have been in love with for quite some time! It is so beautiful! It was sadly under some restoration and they were planting the garden, so that was offlimits, but it was still gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful. Not only is the chateau beautiful, but it has a whole little farm that is also very pretty. And a VERY difficult maze (the hedge is about 5 feet tall so you can look over it). And I just love water. And! They actually had fires in the fireplaces inside the castle. It was fantastic. I bought a Loire Valley Chateau book. Chenonceau is on the cover. Favorite moment? When James started singing "Little town, full of little people" when we saw the little farm. He is from South Carolina and has a wonderful accent that is very clear when he sings Disney songs. After Chenonceau we went back to Tours and got Kabobs: I love Kabobs.
Day 3! Woke up this morning and picked up some lunch items at the store to have a picnic at Cheverny. This one reminded me of the great house in The Duchess, especially with all the dogs. We had a tour - apparently the Count and Countess still live their with their children. Then, due to poor planning we had to leave. We didn't even get to tour the grounds. I was very saddened, considering it is the best kept grounds in the Loire. And it has a lovely Orangerie and the hunting trophies room! But alas, we missed it all. That was also where they hid the Mona Lisa during WWII. It is the only place in France where "Release the hounds" is a viable threat.
After our very short visit to Cheverny, we went to Chambord. If I wanted to live in the most ostentatious house I could find and just feel superior to everyone everyday of my life, I would live in Chambord. It has 3 mouts. Three. It is amazingly beautiful and has something like 282 chimneys. It was remarkable. In the Spring/Summer/Fall you can rent boats and bikes and cruise around. I think it will open up for that in like a week. We were not so fortunate. But it was still beautiful. James practiced his creeper face, and we all had a swell time. After that (also a very short trip! I don't know why there were so short, we left at 3. That is not exactly a full day) we went back to Paris. Which has lost some of its charm after seeing the beautiful countryside and grand chateaux.

21 Things

Wednesday was my birthday. It had a few rough patches (3 hour lecture anyone?) and some awesome times (3 pastries and a banana split). But now I am 21! And I wanted to share 21 things that I am grateful for and love:
1. I'm grateful for my Family - my mom gave me the funniest birthday present. I was literally laughing out loud.
2. My Friends - I got a surprise gift of Peggle!!
3. The Church - I would be so lost and lonely here without it.
4. Pastries - Especially Mille Feuille Fraisiers, absolutely delicious
5. Traveling! - I love that I get to travel around! It's so much fun.
6. Books - I typically prefer a good book over social events. I've never pulled an all-nighter doing homework, I have been staying up all night frequently since I was about 8 to read books.
7. Skype and e-mail - I'm glad I get to stay in touch with all my friends and family! I love the random e-mails I get from my mom.
8. My dad's really lame jokes!
9. Tyler, he was a big part of my life, and really helped me experience and understand things differently.
10. iPods - long trips without them are tough, and I feel that life deserves an excellent soundtrack.
11. The ability to walk: This sounds silly, but wow! What a blessing! I love going for walks, and seeing things, and climbing stairs, and being so independent.
12. Humor - Another weird one, but as Elizabeth Bennett puts it, "I dearly love to laugh" (that's in the movie, probably not the book). I love everyone who can make me laugh, and I enjoy smiling to myself when I remember something funny or see something amusing.
13. Dinner Parties - or just going out to dinner. I like to eat and socialize, especially at the same time.
14. Movies - Few things in life can't be solved by praying, watching a movie or reading a book. Watching a movie is typically the easiest, plus then you can get lots of fun quotes.
15. Hot showers - I have had a blessed, blessed life full of hot showers and long soaks in the tub. Each time this is disrupted, it has been cause for an emotional breakdown on my part. I simply cannot cope or function without them.
16. Picnics! - I love to have picnics! They are the most fun ever!
17. Flowers - I wrote a small paragraph in French once about how flowers are so nice because even if you are deaf you can still see them. They are so cheerful. Now that flowers are popping up all over the place, my life is transformed.
18. Cameras - I got a digital camera for my graduation from my dearest aunt. Yesterday I discovered it has a 'self-portrait' setting, chanegd my life. But seriously, I love taking pictures of all the places I go! I'm always afraid I won't remember everything, and I worry that one day I'll wake up and think I never did anything. But at least I'll always have pictures, and if I forget, I can fill in the blanks with my imagination.
19. Sushine - It's hard for me to live very long without sunshine. When it is glumy (surprisingly often in Paris) I can get sad. I can't describe how amazing sunshine feels on my skin. The way it just warms me up inside and out. A favorite past time of mine is just laying in the sun.
20. Wavy hair - I do NOT have wavy hair. I have straight hair. If I curl it, it will stay for about 12 minutes. I have OFTEN tried to get wavilicious hair. I see things in magazines and online and I try every single one of them. Recently I tried the one for theLacoste runway models. I messed it up. The result was a fro. Luckily I love those too!
21. I can go to VEGAS now!!
I still can't believe I'm 21. I still think 21 is soo old. And yet here I am. 21. Twenty one. Vingt et un. In Paris. It's a tradition in my family to turn 21 abroad, so naturally I picked Paris. :)
These are random birthday pictures btw.

Twofer Saturday!

It might even be a threefer. Because I usually blog all the time, and I haven't because I keep getting too lazy to load the pictures from my camera to my computer. So now I am full of stories.
But first things first: We are finally starting our travels. So we went to Rouen on Wednesday for Art Class. What is Rouen? I was also puzzled as to why this random city in the boondocks was exciting. But it was great. There are about, oh 5 cathedrals there. Why? I don't really know. But they are like 3 blocks from each other, and they are all massive. And there is also a museum, where art was captured and then never returned (I found that highly amusing). So there was Flemish painting and still lives, and Dutch painting (not my favorites) and our art teacher dwelled on them for like 8 years. Then she was like ok, we have 10 minutes left, let's go upstairs really quick to look at one last painting. What did we walk PAST to get to the other painting?! Galleries and galleries of impressionists and lots of Monets etc. We just PASSED it. Like it wasn't important (Note: impressionist is my favorite art along with marble sculpture). Then we left! We just left! We didn't even get to linger. I was so sad. :(
To ease my saddness we had a lovely lunch - the region is famous for its use of butter and creams. Delicious. However, to aggrivate my anger, the art teacher sat next to me and made fun of us to the waiter in French, like I couldn't understand her. Ironically, she was sitting by people who all spoke French, annoying. But other than the unpleasantries of class, it was lovely. We also saw the tower where Joan of Arc was kept prisoner and where her stake was, as well as the Church of Joanne d'Arc, and the bridge where her ashes were thrown (and her heart, which did not burn oddly enough).

Secondly, my mother received a gift of a beautiful silk scarf. She gave it to me as a gift to go to France with. I was very excited to have it, and I kept it in its little box until a little while ago. I took it out and tried to put it on. Problem. It's a big square. So I can't put it neatly around my neck. In fact, I have no idea how to wear it. I brought it to dinner tonight to try to get some ideas on my scarf. What to do with it? Everyone had a turn. Some people suggested it was actually a hairscarf. I have no idea what it is really. I decided to admit my unrefinement and I'm taking it to the store tomorrow to ask them how to wear it. But in the meantime, I took these fun ideas of how to wear it. Shawl, CAPE (that was my idea), and mini-scarf.
I will save the thirdly for the next time. But I will add that I had my iTunes on shuffle and suddenly My Humps came on. I did not even know that I had that on my computer. Shout out to Aunt Karen!!!!

Londres

So on Wednesday I woke up had breakfast (Nutella on toast, what else?) bought a pastry and went to Gare Paris Nord, got my passport stamped 4 times (why? Not sure) and headed to LONDON! This is my first trip to Europe, so everything is new and exciting for me. :) The train wasn't very crowded, we commandeered some additional seats and played some games together. Upon arrival we took our first trip in the London Underground, which is warmer than the Paris Metro fyi. Then we arrived at my very first HOSTEL. No room service, no maid service, no bath tub, no towels provided, no phone in our room, no elevator. We were indeed roughing it, we even got put on the 6th floor! Then we went to The London Eye (BORING!) and Les Mis (Wonderful!). All in all: I learned how to play Canasta, ate fish and chips and mushy peas at 2 different pubs, met two large and very polite Corona bottles, rode my first public bus (double decker), got lost twelve times, and saw/toured: St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, London Bridge, Globe theater, Kensington Gardens and Palace, the Orangerie (which made me feel like Mr. Darcy was about to walk up to me), Hyde Park (where there were 3 BYU London students walking around), Notting Hill, Piccadilly Square, Trafalgar Square, the Peter Pan scultpure, Diana Memorial Fountain and took phone booth pictures.

Forgetful

Sometimes, when it's midnight, and I still have 30 pages of Contemporary France to finish up before 10 am class the next morning and the wind is howling outside threatening to tear the building down and my pants are hanging up on the radiator in the hopes that they will someday dry, I think, "Aw, this is no fun!" (side note: has anyone ever tried to understand French Politics? Whoa! I always tried to simplify American politics because they could get a little complex. Oh my gosh! I don't know how the French keep track of these things AND ours!!)
Anyways, sometimes I forget. Then I wake up in the morning, eat a baguette, go to class, walk outside and remember. Ha ha! I'm in Paris!! And my birthday is coming up! YAY!
Today for instance: After class I went home to drop off my books. Then I looked up some stuff about London (because oh yea, I'm going on vacation for a few days). Then went down to the Latin quarter. I walked around on this fun map they gave us. I saw some fancy patisseries (Macarons for 80 euros per kilo), Saint-Sulpice (where they have several signs explaining that Dan Brown is NOT a historian of any sorts and everything he says about the church is absolutely incorrect), and to finish my tour I bumped into a cute little neighborhood. Irish pubs abound, Yves-Saint-Laurent, Cartier, Guess, Dior, and of course: Les Deux Magots.
On my way home (ok it was actually about 10 metro stops out of my way, but really) I stopped off at a new patisserie I have been wanting to go to for a fraisier. Then I stopped off at the boulangerie on my street for a demi-baguette. As I sat down to my lunch I thought, "Could this get any better?"

Typical

A typical day in Paris.

Not My Finer Moments

So I just wanted to share a few adventures I have been on and their consequences.
1. Saturday morning we wanted to have a group breakfast. So I hauled myself over to the 7th and bought some eggs to pitch in. We mainly had crepes. I felt like I was about to explode. I had all kinds of crepes. Nutella, Banana, Sugar, Raspberry, Strawberry, Whipped cream. It was great. Then it started snowing like a blizzard so no one wanted to leave. Finally, it stopped and 4 of us went for a walk to get some 'real food' and just to get some fresh air. While out and about I saw a patisserie, and there were eclairs for less than 2 euros. They were out of conventional flavors, but there was one lonely pink one. Eclaire a la rose. It sounded so cute and tasty. I asked about her, and she was half off! YES! I brought her home to devour. I took my first bite, expecting tasty goodness to ensue. It was like eating perfume. It was literally Rose flavored. Gross.
Moral of the story: maybe I should try eating real food.

2. Sometimes I get discouraged because I speak French poorly. The French talk very quietly and I can never hear them, especially in church. I have to sit in the front row. It hurts my feelings. Then to augment the situation, everyone I hang out with speaks English. It's troublesome. So I try to eavesdrop whenever possible. Mainly it's in grocery stores where it is quiet. Last night I was on the Metro with James, Brooke and Aly. I was sitting there, and it was quiet, and I overhear this delicious morsel: "Des bons chaussettes, oui, ils sont trop genials. Et seulement 30 euros! Absolutement bien". Realizing the glory of this conversation I quickly turn to James. Is that man really talking about his socks?! (James is the French teacher and getting his masters in French. If anyone could confirm or deny a report it's him). No! he says, that would be stupid. So he pauses to 'tell me what they are really saying'. "Oh. My. Gosh." He says as the man then proceeds to point to his feet and demonstrate how his socks fit. Yes, he is in fact talking about his socks. They come in a variety of colors, they fit so well, they are amazing. I laughed for 5 minutes.
Moral of the story: Eavesdropping is my favorite thing about speaking French.

3. I bought postcards to send to my family and friends. I only bought 4 stamps because I wasn't sure how many postcards I was going to send. On my first postal adventure, everything went fine. I had a nice lady, I spoke French, she understood, I got my stamps. So I waltz into La Poste, and over to the counter. Think to myself: I need 6 international stamps. Je voudrais six timbres international, s'il vous plait.
A man comes up to me, and asks me what I need.
Six stamps.
Enveloppes?
No, they are postcards.
Well you can buy the prestamped enveloppes.
I don't need enveloppes.
Yes, but they are cheaper to buy them.
Really? They are cheaper? That's odd.
Well they come in a 12 pack for 9 euros.
Oh, well I guess that is cheaper, I will take the pack I guess.
He then proceeds to show me that the postcards fit inside and it's less expensive. I was annoyed at the extra work, but I was saving like 2 euros. OR WAS I!? The pack was only 10 enveloppes! He lied to me! So it was MORE expensive and MORE of a hassle.
Moral of the story: Just get what you need, and don't go to La Poste near the Eiffel Tower. Or just stick to Pastries. Yes, that counter-acts my first moral.

Whiskers on Kittens and Warm Woolen Mittens

I just wanted to list a few of my favorite things:

• You really can't walk more than 2 blocks without hitting a Boulangerie ou Patisserie.
• Every 5 feet is a National Monument.
• When someone asks me for directions in French, and I can give them, and they understand me.
• It's my birthday month!!!!!!!!!
• I walked down my street once and bumped into Chanel and Dior.
• You can buy really cheap books at flea markets.
  
• When me and my host family chat up a storm over random topics.
• I can watch The Office!! Thanks Dan!!
• iPods (not French but absolutely everyone listens to them on the Metro)

This is where the Phantom of the Opera lives. And for really bad seats for students, it's only 6 euros. And there really is a lake underneath it, albeit a small one.

This is what I see getting off the Metro. This is my neighborhood. It's so pretty.

The Louvre. Where I have a free pass and really long boring classes.

My absolute favorite pastry. I could eat 4 a day. Every day. And I would die, but I would die a happy woman.

I love cute little streets and towns. This is Chartres. So pleasant. Everything closes at lunch time.
I saw this in the Metro and almost had a heart attack I was so excited. There was a train in the way, so I stopped to wait so I could get a clear view. Everyone thought I was crazy, but when the train moved, they all realized it was worth it.
I bought this belt. And it's like 12 sizes too big. Sad day.
My favorite statue. It's all the way up at La Defense (it gives La Defense it's name)

Chartres

Since Paris has been beautiful and sunny the past few days, we wanted to get out of here! So, we got up early and headed for the train station.
It was my very first time on a train. And I was very excited. As luck would have it, our train was canceled or something (have you ever tried listening to train station announcements in a foreign language? Tricky I tell you) so we had to get on another train. But we eventually got there and guess what? It was cold.
I was really excited once we got off the train because there, beneath my very feet, was a mosaic of a sea shell. Most people don't know/care about the Chemin de Saint-Jacques, but it's something I have a strong desire to do someday. I made Grant take a picture. He gave me the funnest look. A mix between 'What on earth do you care about this shell for?' and 'Are you really about to lay on the ground?'
The Cathedral was amazing, there was lots of stained glass. Our tourguide was amazing, and impressed we knew some biblical stories, (spoiler alert: Jesus was a Jew) his name was Malcolm Miller. Apparently he is also very famous. Yay for him.
Then for an added bonus, we thought we would climb up this fun looking tower. It looked so fun. I mean who doesn't love medieval towers? And they were such spacious stairs!! They could fit a whole skinny person! And it was so short to the top. Only 300 stairs!
Yea, my legs are still sore and angry with me.
Sadly I am now sick. I think it had something to do with the toddlers who were here last week (and revisited today) who were also sick. Now I am sniffley and gross. It makes me sad.