PARIS!!!!

Alrighty, here's the big update on our weekend.

Thursday- Train from Bulle to Paris was hilarious. The three of us must have been super overtired or something, because it was one of those "everything is funny" times. We played cards, chatted, and basically just annoyed everyone around us. It was fabulous.

Met up with Caitlyn's sister (Corey) and cousin (Leigh) in the train station. Got on the metro with the directions the hostel gave us, and soon realized they were wrong... this was going to prove interesting. We got off at one stop and decided to get dinner. McDonald's was the closest place that was open... oh well. The directions said to walk along the canal for 5 min until we reached the end. Walked down the canal for a good 15 or 20 min, with no end of the canal in sight. Found a map, and figured out that we walked the WRONG WAY. We were not pleased. Oh, did I mention it was raining? Yea, it was. Found the closest metro, went a couple stops, and finally made it to the hostel.

Checked in, found out we would have to switch rooms each night... aka check in and out each day (obnoxious) but oh well. Got to our room and found we were sharing with 3 guys. No problem, we knew it would be an 8 person mixed room. They were nice enough. There was a bar downstaris with 10% off for guests so we were toooootally there. Almost everyone there was American! It was very strange to know the language that people were speaking around you. Then we found out that there were about 50 students from Regent's in London there for the weekend... a majority of them UNH students. SOOOO weird to see people who I recognized from home. Anyway, had a couple drinks then went to bed.

Friday- Got up and had breakfast at the hostel, which was cornflakes, bread, and orange juice. Whoo. Carrie, Katie, and Ashley were arriving later, so the 5 of us went off to see some sights. When we got out of the metro in the city, it was absolutely breathtaking. All I could keep saying was, "Oh my GOD we're in PARIS!!!". Walked around there until we found Notre Dame. Went inside to look around, then people wanted to go to the top. 400something steps.... ew. There was a long line so luckily that deterred my group. We bought a boat pass for two days which stopped at about 10 places along the river. So you get a ride and a view. It was great. We took the boat from Notre Dame down to the Eiffel Tower. Now THAT was incredible. It was hard to comprehend that we were actually there, looking at a structure that is one of the most well recognized in the entire world. Very cool. Took all sorts of pictures and walked around the bottom.

Next we decided to get lunch before going up to the top. Found a fun cafe about 2 blocks away. Delicious lunch, a little shopping, then back in line to go up the tower. You take an elevator which is similar to a funnnnicular to the 2nd level, then get off and wait another 45 min to take the SCARIEST ELEVATOR EVER to the top. I put myself in the corner and closed my eyes until we were there. The view was amazing. It was a tad cloudy, but you could still see for miles. After hanging out up there for a bit, we headed back down. By the time we reached the bottom, it was around 5. We had planned to meet up with Carrie, Katie, and Ashley at 6 at the Louvre, so we started walking there. After about 20 min of walking, we realized that it was much further than expected. Hopped on the metro for the rest of the way. Seeing Carrie and Katie (i didn't really know Ashley all that well before this weekend) was so necessary. An excellent reunion. Caitlyn, Elyse, Corey, and Leigh wanted to go shopping, so the rest of us went into the Louvre because it was free to students at that time. Saw the Mona Lisa (cool, but overrated) and some other famous things. Lots of fun. Met back up with the others at 8 to go back to the hostel.

Checked back in, this time we were in a 8 person with 2 guys and a girl. They were all singles. The bar also had food, so we went down there for dinner. Met up with the guys we had shared a room with the night before and some other people. The night was fairly warm, so we all got drinks and hung out outside. It was really nice.

Saturday- Up for another thrilling breakfast. Caitlyn, Corey, and Leigh wanted to see museums, so they went off. Carrie, Katie, Ashley, Elyse, and I headed up to the Champs Elysees to walk around. We walked that street loving the window shopping. Got to the Arc de Triomphe and took loads of pictures. It was sunny and beautiful, so we sat there for almost an hour people watching. Ohhhh there are some interesting people in Paris. Definately had a good time decided the dynamics of groups and where everyone was from.

Then we walked down the other side of the Champs Elysees and then over to the river. We were looking for some type of grocery store to buy lunch. Finally we asked someone and they directed us to this great store and market. Bought lunch and headed to the Eiffel Tower for a picnic. Very delicious and very fun! Katie and Ashley hadn't gone up to the top of the tower, so they stayed there to go up. Carrie, Elyse and I headed towards the Latin Quarter, which is near the Notre Dame. That was so cool. The streets were much smaller and filled with places to eat. We found a crepe stand that we had to stop at. Elyse and I got crepes, and Carrie went across the street to get gelato. We were all very satisfied. After walking around for a while, we found a lot of bars having happy hour. Clearly, we were interested. Found a nice one where we sat right next to the sidewalk. The happy hour drinks were Tequila Sunrises.... delicious. Katie and Ashley met up with us, so we all stayed for a while to have more drinks. We were going to go to Moulin Rouge, but it started pouuuuring. That was then out of the picture.

We then headed back to the hostel to hang out for the night. After realizing we didn't have dinner, we found out the kitchen at the bar was closed. So we walked down the street and found a great little pizza place. Exactly what we needed. That night we were sharing a room with all sorts of random people; it was a 10 person room. As I was getting things out to go to bed, I realized that my alarm clock and iPod were missing. I remembered exactly where I left them in my last room, and knew someone else had taken them. Very depressing :( I checked with reception that night and the next morning, and with housekeeping. But nothing. I freaked out a little, but it's ok... they both can be replaced.

Sunday- Packed up all our stuff and headed to the train station. Corey and Leigh had left early to get their flight. We put our bags in lockers and walked around that area to find lunch. We must have walked for almost 40 minutes before deciding. It was worth it, though. Very good food, not too expensive (for Paris). Then we had to say goodbye to Carrie, Katie, and Ashley. Got our train back to Bulle... and now here we are!

Next adventure is Prague and Budapest. We leave Sunday for Prague, then an overnight train Tuesday-Wednesday to Budapest. Flight back Friday. Stay at the Geneva airport for a night, then back on Saturday. Mom and Dad come this week, so I'll get to see them when we get back!!! I can't waaaait for that.

Back to homework.

.love and chocolate.

Sounds and smells

Ok ok ok, you'll get a Paris update. But I'm currently (well, not right this second) working on a paper for my leadership class, so once that's done the details will be up.

I just had a thought that I wanted to write down. I was thinking about things that I miss from home, and other than the obvious family, friends, and food I miss the smells and sounds. Like, weird smells and sounds. Here are some examples:

Smells:
- My car
- Laundry at home
- Panache when we're making cookies (and hopefully not burning them)
- My backyard
- Barnum and Bailey (don't judge)
- My bed
- Maine

Sounds:
- Rachael blowing her nose
- The sound that my porch makes when you step onto it from the kitchen door
- "The funeral is about to being...."
- Dan's laugh
- Being able to tell if it's mom, dad, or lynn who is coming up the basement stairs just from how they walk
- Barnum and Bailey (I'm a little obsessed with them)
- The stove in H6 when you first turn it on

Ok I think I'm going crazy. But I've officially been out of the states for 2 months! Can't believe it. Back to the leadership paper.

.love and chocolate.

Gossip Glion

Well, we have come to find out that people here like to talk. A lot. About other people. It's getting a little tiring for the three of us to hear new stories that are completely FALSE about us each day. I talked to mom, dad, and Lynn on... Sunday I think, and they said that these people are just bored. With only 350 students, no hockey team to watch, not much of a town, and three new american girls here, they don't have anything better to do than talk about us. But I say, damn it! Get a hobby!

But in the good news department.... WE'RE GOING TO PARIS TODAY!!!!! We're meeting Caitlyn's sister and cousin there tonight, then 3 other UNH girls are going tomorrow! It's going to be an amazing weekend away from all the crap going on here. Then one week of classes, then break! Prague and Budapest are on the docket, then meeting up with mom and dad! Can't wait for that. Be back on Sunday/Monday with updates about the weekend and picturessss!!!!

.love and chocolate.

Happy March!

Can't believe it, but it is already Marzo (like my spanish?). Since my last post, really not much has happened. Turned in 3 projects last week, and now we get to begin on the second part that most of them have. Thrilling.

Plans for our 4 weeks off are coming along slowly. Started off as going to Egypt. Now it might be Greece, Ireland, and around Eastern Europe... who knows where we'll end up. Mom and Dad come at the end of this month, so I'll spend about a week with them toodling around Switzerland. It will be nice to not have to plan my activities for a few days. Oh! It snowed yesterday! And again today! The snow here is quite different from at home. I can't really explain it, but it's a heavier, wetter snow. I know everyone at home is pretty sick of snow by this point, but the UNH girls were very excited. Most other people are complaining about the cold - whimps.

I've been watching all the updates about the primaries in the past few days. Apparently that's what everyone here wants to talk to us about, so I have to keep myself informed. Go Obama!

Next weekend we're going to Paris. It will be Elyse, Caitlyn, her sister and cousin, and I meeting up with some other UNHers. Carrie, who I met in Geneva in January, Katie, who's abroad in London, and I think some other girls. I can't wait! It'll be a great weekend away, filled with crepes and the Eiffel Tower. Ohhhh there will be pictures.

Time to do something productive... like cruise YouTube.

.love and chocolate.