Its really quite silly that I've been in France for over a month and haven't been to Monaco yet. It is only a fifty minute train ride away. So when me and my friend Uuljan were at the pool the other day and this nice British couple offered us free tickets to go the Monaco Yacht show this weekend we figured it would be a great opportunity. We left Antibes around 1 and got into the train station just a little before 2. As soon as we got off the train it was clear we weren't in Kansas anymore. Nice and Antibes are beautiful but Monaco is like a dream, not quite real. The harbor was right there as we got off the train and so we mosied on down to the docks, got our passes and headed on in. The wealth around us was incredible. We went into some of the trade show halls and it was filled with this and that to put on your yacht. Bedding and china and bathroom hardware and carpet you name it. You could even buy an island inside. Crazy. We only hit up a few of those halls as the main attraction, the yachts, are what we really came for. I have never seen anything like even one of these boats and then here was an entire harbor filled with boats, yachts, houses on water or whatever you would call this gorgeous monstrosities. I thought of Nick during the whole thing because while I was impressed a true boat lover would probably be in heaven.
After the Yacht show we hiked up a beautiful road (Monaco is very hilly...kinda like an extreme San Fran) towards the Casino and the Opera. Both were very gorgeous. We went inside the Casino but it was very quiet and filled with some serious gamblers. Not like I've seen Vegas portrayed in the US. Outside of the Monte Carlo were more signs of wealth than I've ever seen. Rolls Royce's (wow that is a big car), Bentleys and more BMW's and Mercede's than you can shake a stick at. The stores around it were Cartier, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari ( you get the idea). We then met up with a boy Uuljan (my friend I was with) had met a week ago. He lives in Monaco and helped us take the bus to the Royal Palace (Palais Princier). It wouldn't have been a far walk from the harbor but it was basically up a mountain side. The palace wasn't much to look at. Very old style, pretty but not ornate. However the views were incredible. You could see all of Monaco (not saying much as it could fit inside Central Park) and all the harbor. Gorgeous! After the Palace we went to the Cathedrale de L'immaculee-Conception. Once again the outside was pretty but nothing crazy, however the inside holds the tombs of the Royal Family (the Grimaldi's) including Princess Grace's tomb. Her tomb, as well as her husbands has fresh flowers all over them. The Palace and the Cathedrale make up the tiny portion of what is left of medieval Monaco. After walking around we walked down the mountain/hill and went to dinner. It was this place called Stars N' Bars that was in my tour book and they had a lot of American dishes.
After a long day we took a very hot and smelly train home. An incredible day, and something I'm really glad I got the chance to see!
For my Monaco Pictures click on this Link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2031568&id=1236060363&l=dd5d64e342
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
picture links!
because loading pictures takes forever with my very slow computer I am going to post the links to my facebook albums so you can peruse them at your leisure.
Rome Day Pictures
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030892&id=1236060363&l=3a43a4df52
Rome Night pictures
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030540&id=1236060363&l=f3d0dfd0a5
Nice Pictures
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030856&id=1236060363&l=60e2b6facb
Antibes (where I live)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029674&id=1236060363&l=f2658c02ad
Rome Day Pictures
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030892&id=1236060363&l=3a43a4df52
Rome Night pictures
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030540&id=1236060363&l=f3d0dfd0a5
Nice Pictures
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030856&id=1236060363&l=60e2b6facb
Antibes (where I live)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029674&id=1236060363&l=f2658c02ad
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
ROMA!
Despite the fact that my school keeps telling everyone that they can’t leave the country until a 3 resident permit procedure is complete (I am only here 3 and a half months) I decided to go to Rome this weekend. The EU regulations is that they don’t check passports within the continental EU (aka be careful when traveling to Ireland/England) so I was pretty sure I was ok. I left with my roommate for Rome on Friday morning. Our flight was only forty five minutes and we landed in Rome! I then left my roommate and took a cab to Hannah’s (my very good friend from AU) apartment. She lives with five other girls in a huge apartment compared to mine. It was her birthday weekend so I figured it would be a good time to go visit her. I arrived by 1 pm and within an hour Hannah, her friends and I were going into downtown Rome. Hannah’s apartment was in Trastevere so it was only a fifteen minute Tram ride. Hannah wanted to go shopping but all the shopping was around amazing things such as the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps. So amazing how all of these hugely historical sites are just strewn about the city with restaurants and stores in between. For lunch I had delicious gnocchi with tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella and for dinner Hannah made delicious chicken and pasta with homemade tomato sauce. Of course I also had gelato, I chose chocolate and hazelnut (my favorite gelato flavor…along with white chocolate). At night we went to piazza del campo (I think that’s what it was…Hannah kept calling it the Campo) where there were many bars etc. That is where we rang in Hannah’s birthday at midnight. We met mostly fellow American students studying abroad. Some students from Cornell and Temple University. We got home pretty late that night and so the next morning was for sleeping in,
The next day we went out and about shopping again. The great thing about Rome is that while Hannah and her friends were shopping I could poke into churches right next door that had been around since the 11th century. This might have been my favorite part, just the fact that these pieces of history were right next to major shopping districts! Lunch was delicious, just a simple tomato sauce with spaghetti. Yummy. For dinner Hannah made some more pasta and tomato sauce with ground beef and pancetta. SO DELICIOUS. I am going to try and repeat what she made. At night we went out to this Irish pub called Scholars. We walked in and I immediately saw that it was filled with Notre Dame students. They were all watching the ND vs Michigan game that was on the television. I even met someone who knew Nick! It was good because the bar was filled with American, English and Irish people, so no creepy Italian men. There was live music and the Scottish singer sang all these great songs and it was a great way to end Hannah’s bday!
Next morning was a tough one because I woke up at 7:45 after only 3 and a half hours of sleep to go see the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. After walking awhile I arrived at the beautiful Vatican and was able to explore inside. It was so amazing. Words cannot describe it. However, because it was Sunday the Sistine Chapel was closed. After going to the Vatican, Kacie (my roommate) and I got breakfast and then I went back to Hannah’s apartment to sleep for awhile (it was raining and I was tired). Around 2 or 3 when it stopped raining I went out to explore the Colosseum, Forum and the Pallantino. I did not go inside but explored it pretty well around the perimeter. Dinner that night I met my friend Ammaar (a friend from Camp IF who is also studying in Rome) for dinner. We met at a small local place right near Hannah’s apartment. This place is far from the center of Rome so was probably the most authentic place we had been to. It was the best pasta I have ever eaten. It was pasta with tomato sauce and eggplant and a little bit of cheese on top. The pasta was perfectly al dente. Sososo good. Ammaar got a salmon pizza which was also delicious. Then I went back to Hannah’s and almost immediately fell asleep.
My final morning in Rome I went back to the Vatican and went to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. I did not have all day to spend there (my flight was at 5 and I needed to be on the train to the airport at 2). The line was very long and I had no idea how big that place is! I rushed through a lot of it trying to get to the Chapel. It was worth the wait though and even though I rushed through most of the museum it was unbelievably beautiful. On my way back I got some fresh pizza, just tomatoes and mozzarella and they folded it into a sandwich for me so I could eat it while walking the long walk back to Hannah’s. I made it to the train just fine and even though the airport was huge and confusing I made it back into Nice without a problem.
Overall the best weekend of my life I would have to say. We’ll see if any other weekend this semester can give it a run for its money.
The next day we went out and about shopping again. The great thing about Rome is that while Hannah and her friends were shopping I could poke into churches right next door that had been around since the 11th century. This might have been my favorite part, just the fact that these pieces of history were right next to major shopping districts! Lunch was delicious, just a simple tomato sauce with spaghetti. Yummy. For dinner Hannah made some more pasta and tomato sauce with ground beef and pancetta. SO DELICIOUS. I am going to try and repeat what she made. At night we went out to this Irish pub called Scholars. We walked in and I immediately saw that it was filled with Notre Dame students. They were all watching the ND vs Michigan game that was on the television. I even met someone who knew Nick! It was good because the bar was filled with American, English and Irish people, so no creepy Italian men. There was live music and the Scottish singer sang all these great songs and it was a great way to end Hannah’s bday!
Next morning was a tough one because I woke up at 7:45 after only 3 and a half hours of sleep to go see the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. After walking awhile I arrived at the beautiful Vatican and was able to explore inside. It was so amazing. Words cannot describe it. However, because it was Sunday the Sistine Chapel was closed. After going to the Vatican, Kacie (my roommate) and I got breakfast and then I went back to Hannah’s apartment to sleep for awhile (it was raining and I was tired). Around 2 or 3 when it stopped raining I went out to explore the Colosseum, Forum and the Pallantino. I did not go inside but explored it pretty well around the perimeter. Dinner that night I met my friend Ammaar (a friend from Camp IF who is also studying in Rome) for dinner. We met at a small local place right near Hannah’s apartment. This place is far from the center of Rome so was probably the most authentic place we had been to. It was the best pasta I have ever eaten. It was pasta with tomato sauce and eggplant and a little bit of cheese on top. The pasta was perfectly al dente. Sososo good. Ammaar got a salmon pizza which was also delicious. Then I went back to Hannah’s and almost immediately fell asleep.
My final morning in Rome I went back to the Vatican and went to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. I did not have all day to spend there (my flight was at 5 and I needed to be on the train to the airport at 2). The line was very long and I had no idea how big that place is! I rushed through a lot of it trying to get to the Chapel. It was worth the wait though and even though I rushed through most of the museum it was unbelievably beautiful. On my way back I got some fresh pizza, just tomatoes and mozzarella and they folded it into a sandwich for me so I could eat it while walking the long walk back to Hannah’s. I made it to the train just fine and even though the airport was huge and confusing I made it back into Nice without a problem.
Overall the best weekend of my life I would have to say. We’ll see if any other weekend this semester can give it a run for its money.
The first few weeks
Antibes updates
Life here the first two weeks was like a giant vacation. I had one day of classes because the rest were cancelled because the teachers were still enjoying their own summer break. I spent multiple days here atop the rooftop pool reading or down by the beach. Let’s just say I no longer have my “arctic pallor”. The old town here is so cute. A ten-fifteen minute walk there is this old walled in city where most of the shops are as well as restaurants, bakeries, gelato stands and crepe places. Lots of regional products to buy which includes lavender, Provencal cloth, perfume (I am in the perfume making region of France and probably the world), olive wood products and baskets etc along with the more trendy modern shops. To celebrate our first night here my roommate and I went out to dinner and got delicious grilled lamb, escargot and crème brule. I don’t need to tell you that’s not how we will usually be eating. However, it is not expensive to eat deliciously here. I have been getting a baguette almost every day for less than a euro, eating peaches for breakfast, an avocado sandwich for lunch and making dinner or getting a sandwich down at the internet café (by sandwich I mean a delicious croque monsieur…google it if you don’t know what it is). The French mostly believe in shopping everyday for their food so I go to the little casino (brand name tiny supermarket) and get my fruit etc. Everything is so fresh here. Also I have been eating a ton of gelato. We are so close to Italy that this area has a strong Italian influence. After going to Italy this weekend and trying their gelato I can tell you that ours is comparable here in Antibes. Anyways enough about food although I will say one last thing….NUTELLAAAAAA. Its everywhere. I can’t let myself buy it anymore because I go through it too fast. But seriously. Nutella on everything from baguettes to crepes to bananas.
My classes, the one day I had of them were very interesting. I have all my classes once a week for three hours. The first class I had was Corporate Finance. The teacher was this little English man who was very energetic and very funny. There were four AU students in the class and about 20 europeans. All the business classes are in English to prepare the European students for the very dominant English speaking business world. However, the European students were so rude! Falling asleep, having blatant conversations in front of the professor, facebooking and showing pictures to one another. By the end of the class it was just us four AU students even listening to the professor but this apparently is standard behavior in most of my classes. The next class, Production and Operations management was a bit better because there was about 10 AU students and 5 Europeans and the teacher wasn’t afraid to reprimand those being rude. However every one of the AU students, when sharing their stories about the day said the same thing…that in every class it was only the American students paying attention. Another culture shock for me. We shall see how the rest of my classes go when they finally start up. Pictures coming soon!
Life here the first two weeks was like a giant vacation. I had one day of classes because the rest were cancelled because the teachers were still enjoying their own summer break. I spent multiple days here atop the rooftop pool reading or down by the beach. Let’s just say I no longer have my “arctic pallor”. The old town here is so cute. A ten-fifteen minute walk there is this old walled in city where most of the shops are as well as restaurants, bakeries, gelato stands and crepe places. Lots of regional products to buy which includes lavender, Provencal cloth, perfume (I am in the perfume making region of France and probably the world), olive wood products and baskets etc along with the more trendy modern shops. To celebrate our first night here my roommate and I went out to dinner and got delicious grilled lamb, escargot and crème brule. I don’t need to tell you that’s not how we will usually be eating. However, it is not expensive to eat deliciously here. I have been getting a baguette almost every day for less than a euro, eating peaches for breakfast, an avocado sandwich for lunch and making dinner or getting a sandwich down at the internet café (by sandwich I mean a delicious croque monsieur…google it if you don’t know what it is). The French mostly believe in shopping everyday for their food so I go to the little casino (brand name tiny supermarket) and get my fruit etc. Everything is so fresh here. Also I have been eating a ton of gelato. We are so close to Italy that this area has a strong Italian influence. After going to Italy this weekend and trying their gelato I can tell you that ours is comparable here in Antibes. Anyways enough about food although I will say one last thing….NUTELLAAAAAA. Its everywhere. I can’t let myself buy it anymore because I go through it too fast. But seriously. Nutella on everything from baguettes to crepes to bananas.
My classes, the one day I had of them were very interesting. I have all my classes once a week for three hours. The first class I had was Corporate Finance. The teacher was this little English man who was very energetic and very funny. There were four AU students in the class and about 20 europeans. All the business classes are in English to prepare the European students for the very dominant English speaking business world. However, the European students were so rude! Falling asleep, having blatant conversations in front of the professor, facebooking and showing pictures to one another. By the end of the class it was just us four AU students even listening to the professor but this apparently is standard behavior in most of my classes. The next class, Production and Operations management was a bit better because there was about 10 AU students and 5 Europeans and the teacher wasn’t afraid to reprimand those being rude. However every one of the AU students, when sharing their stories about the day said the same thing…that in every class it was only the American students paying attention. Another culture shock for me. We shall see how the rest of my classes go when they finally start up. Pictures coming soon!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Some Pictures of Where I live
The hallway
The Kitchenette
My Roommate Kacie and the living space. Next post will be the town I live in...Antibes!
First Week in France
This first week has been interesting for sure. Arrived in Nice after a long but uneventful red eye flight and was picked up by a student at the French school I am attending. He picked up me and my friend, we both had two large suitcases that barely fit into the tiny european car. Everything is smaller here, first thing being the cars. We arrived at our apartment that is small but can fit the two of us. My roommate is from AU and I know her from the community service program we are both in. We spent the next two days getting to know the area. We live near a quaint old town and some of the most beautiful beaches you have ever seen. Bright blue water that is about 75 degrees. The next best thing after the beaches are the small gelaterias that are here. We are very close to Italy so there is a large italian influence here; pizza and the famous gelato are everyzhere. Sorry if this first post is a little off. I am using a French keyboard that has different letters etc than an English one. In addition to the delicious gelatto are the French bakeries that are on every corner. Baguettes, croissants and pain du chocolat here in France can not be compared to the baked goods at home. More to come later!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)