Europe in Photos: France

Part Duex of Lillie's excellent adventures in Europe.

Amiens: We took a bus to France and they didn't even check our passports. I understand this sort of thing is pretty lax in Europe. So I don't have a stamp for France (although I have one for Germany as I was in the country for only 4 hours) We stopped in Amiens! I ordered a sandwich in French (végétarien avec fromage), had my first kinder egg, and learned that there is more than one Notre Dame. The picture on the bottom middle is a *replica* of John the Baptist skull. They had in caged in so we thought it was the real thing; alas, twas not. The cathedral has these amazing floors all through out. Cathedrals are one of my favorite things about Europe. Speaking in general, Europe is probably my favorite place because of the history. Things that were hundreds of years older than my country are still around and still holding out their purpose. It's very surreal. We played Uno on the way there and on the way to Paris AND I WRECKED EVERYBODY.

 Paris: It's been a life-long dream to go to Paris. All this time I have thought that New York City was my city, but when I visited Paris everything felt right. Being in Paris made me feel like I was home. Cliche as it sounds, it's exactly how I felt. I didn't want to be anywhere but there. I call Paris the Golden City because everything is golden. The way the sunset hits the Sine is golden and beautiful. Paris wasn't all pastry and sunshine. It's actually scary at times. There are loads of sketchy people selling you things (they are harmless really) but it feels like you will mysteriously get taken or robbed. I felt like this most in Montmartre because there were people searching the crowd and waiting for prey. Montmartre was actually one of my favorite parts of the city. My favorite restaurant on the whole trip was there; I tried escargot and had the most heavenly dessert. Breakfast in Paris was probably the best overall, though Bruges had a lot working for it. Our hotel room had a leaking toilet. I notified someone about it before we left to explore the city for the first day, but when we got back the bathroom was completely flooded. Our hotel was less than a block away from this AMAZING place where we ordered banana and nutella crepes at least 3 times.

We visited Versailles one day, which has always been on my bucket list since I saw Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. To be honest, the move gives you a much better view of the palace than the tour does. I felt claustrophobic and basically wanted to die the whole time. I was pushed and shoved by many a asian tourist during that time. Side note: if you know how to say Pardon, oui, non, Je suis végétarien, and excusez-moi, you are golden in french speaking nations as a tourist. You literally need to know nothing else.

 I knew a few phrases here and there and I can read key words, but I don't have very extensive french vocabulary.The photo on the top left corner is a rack of naughty french themed condoms. It because a very juvenile joke with my group to say "Eat my Baguette." I think we found them so hilarious because they were EVERYWHERE. I'm sure most of my classmates don't even know where to get condoms in America, so it was interesting to see them everywhere. We also saw a condom vending machine in Amiens. Holler at your safe sex practices France. Also, the photo in middle bottom is me. At Versailles. You can tell I was just overwhelmed with culture.

 

I don't drink. It's just never been something I wanted to partake in. But, when you are told the drinking  age is much lower in Europe and French wine is included in your dinner ON THE EIFFEL TOWER, you sure as hell want to partake in that. Alas, the group from my school was not allowed. A hilarious side note: the school group from California evidently got wasted on multiple occasions and their wack job, french teacher let them roam around Paris ALONE while intoxicated. Class act. So, because we were not allowed wine, we got free drinks. I grew particularly fond of European Fanta, it's kind of the best stuff ever. It's the drink below. The meal at the Eiffel tower was pretty good, but not exactly remarkable. They did have excellent mashed potatoes and the dessert was the best part.  I can't believe I missed the best part of this experience though. It deserves it's own paragraph.

Earlier in the day, we had spent a few hours in the Louvre. It was the only thing on the schedule for the day for the entire group. We were then able to split off and do our own thing. Because none of the other groups wanted the tour guide we got Mariam. She had to take someone back to the hotel room, so we were instructed to go across the bridge to the Musee D'orsay, which was on our list of things we wanted to do. Once we got there we realized that we had to pay to go to the Museum and we didn't want to rush through, so my group and I walked around to some shops, found a free war museum, and waited till our guide was going to meet up with us. We waited for over an hour for the guide at the front of the Musee D'orsay. Our guide NEVER CAME. We tried to call her but she never answered. So, my teacher had to figure out how to get to the Champs Elysees on a bus. It was hectic, and we eventually got there but we had very limited time because we had to get back to our hotel at a certain time 

 

Being able to visit France was amazing. Every second, I felt myself falling in love with the this gorgeous, golden city of Paris. Hopefully I will be able to recount another adventure in Paris soon.

Europe in Photos: Belgium

How dare I have the audacity to go to Europe and not share photos from my trip on my blog.

In short: it was f*ckng great.

The trip consisted of two days in Belgium, three days in France, and two days in Switzerland. I got sick, spoke french, and ate ungodly sums of french bread. The only thing I would have changed about my trip was its length. So now, straight from my iPhone, is a collection of photos of things, people, and food. Along with them, loads of excellent stories. 

Belgium

To be honest, I didn't think I'd like Belgium much. The group hit the ground running after a 7 hour flight from DC to Brussels. I'm pretty sure first thing I did there was have a Belgian wafel (heaven), Belgian frites, and get yelled at in french to push in a chair (lucky to have known what "Chaise" means.) I saw the peeing baby of Brussels (truly iconic) and visited my first European cathedral (St. Michael and St. Gudula) The cathedral had a really cool front area, but all the trees where painted white. Overall, rockin place though, it is slightly hard to appreciate fully due to extreme jet lag. 

Bruges was a different story. I had actually never watched the movie with Colin Ferall before going to Bruges, but let me quote Ralph Fiennes in saying that "It's a f*cking fairy tale." I had never been to a canal city before. Bruges was simply amazing, except for the fact that I was sick one of the days with dehydration and a killer fever. It eventually broke but it took a few days to feel myself again. The main square of Bruges is just awesome, we spent a lot of time there. I don't have too many ridiculous stories from Bruges besides my friends taking a loose brick from the streets for me when I was sick in the hotel room. We also took a canal tour where our guide was hilarious "That building is used for retired politicians. Retired, not retarded."Bruges was just this place that almost didn't feel real. There were horse rides and a ridiculous amount of history. Loved it.

{5/12} The Update: More like the up-LATE

It's almost the end of my Junior year, which means a lot of things.

• For starters, I have my AP Us History exam on Wednesday. I need to score at least a 3 to get actual college credit, so that's sort of a big deal.
• I'm nearing the start of post season for track. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned that I came back. Well I'm back and going strong. It was the right decision to have left when i did and it was the right decision to come back. I've improved so much this year, region qualifying on Friday. My goal is to place in states. 
• I have my first Prom night on the 25th. my dress is fantastic (and so was the price.) I have no definite plans for the night, but the group I'm going with will figure out something. It's important to not make the Prom into anything that it's not. Basically, it's a night where I can get into a dress and dance my ass off. Anything after that is just a bonus.
• SAT on the June 1st. I'm sure I'll retake this but I'm pretty confident. I scored fairly well on my PSAT and that was with minimal studying, so I picked up an SAT book from the Mercy House. I'll start studying after the APUSH exam. This test is a very important part of getting into college. Yay.
• June 7th, I will no longer be an underclassman. And that is when I start my year long video project, documenting my senior year of high school. With this project, I will make a video a week just about my life.
• The Yearbook has to be finished. Oh Lord.
• A piece of really excited news that I was going to talk about originally is that I leave for Belgium, France, and Switzerland on June 10th for 9 days. Going over-seas is a dream of mine, especially going to Paris (as the readers of my blog would know.) Basically, my parents kick major ass. Their will be so many pictures and travel journals I'll post after the trip.
• A few days after I get back into the country, I'll be heading to Branson, Missouri for this extended family gathering of sorts. Basically, I get to stay in this nice lodge for a week, reading, updating my blog, and hanging in my eno. It should be a nice, relaxing time. Plus, this lodge they're renting is pretty big, meaning plenty of places for me to hide. :)

Though I feel I'll be relieved that the end of this school year will come to a close, I know it's just the beginning. 

Until next time,

Lillie

x

Paris, My Love.

"America is my country, but Paris is my hometown."

I have always had this weird, evangelical connection to Paris.

After much thought, I feel like my first exposure to Paris was through Disney's The Aristocats, as well as Rugrats in Paris. I also saw An American in Paris at the young age of 10 on my personal DVD player. I've always had this obsession with France. Growing up wanting to be a fashion designer, I was acutely aware that I would either be living in New York or Paris to fulfill my job. I went on to see films like Marie Antoinette, Amelie, and Ratatouille that furthered this dream of being in this place. Even Mary Kate and Ashley's  provided me with many fantasies of experiencing in Paris. I mean, who wouldn't want to become BFF's with a famous model and find cute, french flower delivering boyfriends? The thing about Paris is that it is so overwhelmingly the right color. I've seen pictures with the pastels and the worn gold paints of buildings older than my own country. I see Paris as the most inspirational city.

Found on garethrussellpopular.blogspot.com

What really inspired me to write this today was that I caught the last 45 minutes of Midnight in Paris, which I've wanted to see forever. As Owen Wilson wanders around the glorious city, the only thing I can think about is going to these same places and taking pictures or water coloring a subject, and buying macarons. At the same time wearing a similar ensemble Audrey Hepburn wears in Funny Face.

Found on untappedcities.com

Is it practical for my real dream in life to wander an old city, caring my camera and some pastel balloons? Who cares. I guess I can blame magazine cover stories and perfume ads by french designers for that fantasy.

Found on hangitontheline.blogspot.com

 I feel I would find the ultimate joy in sitting in a local out door cafe, eating pastries, as a people watch and sketch in a sketchbook. Paris seems to be the place where everything is beautiful and being alone to discover this beautiful world is accepted.

Found on baristamagazine.com

I took french for three years in High School. I was terrible and I barely passed French 3, but I still have dying respect for the language I will one day be fluent. I believe their is the guaranteed rule of thumb that every word looks or sounds beautiful in French. France is so naturally beautiful and graceful, it's just driving me out of my own country. 

 

I know that one day I am destined to visit this beautiful place. I will walk the streets and hear the water and soak up the fact that many before me came to Paris looking for the same feelings. Maybe my thoughts and ideas about Paris are wrong and unoriginal, but they are mine and I must hold on to them. One day Paris will be my home.

In the mean time, I shall thrive off of French books and films to keep my sanity. These are some a reccomend:

Movies:

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Ratatouille (2009)

Paris, je'taime (2006)

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Amelie (2001)

The Valet (2006)

My Best Friend (2010)

Les Miserables (2012)

Coco Before Chanel (2009)

Books:

Unfortunately, I have read a very limited amount of books set in Paris, and trust me, I 'm working on fixing that. I only have one book.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. 

Just do yourself a favor and read this book. As well as everything Stephanie Perkins writes. She is amazing. I'll probably re-read it soon, it's an absolutely amazing book and I could not recommend it enough.

Until next time

Lillie

x