Sleep is for Squares

Made it to Paris - actually, should say that I made it on my own to my apartment from the hotel. Been quite busy since then. Lots to do between unpacking and settling into the apartment, grocery shopping, going through orientation, doing some sight seeing and then trying to sleep at night. If there's one thing I have learned about Paris, besides that walking a lot is very common, is that at night, people are still up making noise that seems to reverberate throughout the apartment. So as everyone knows, I love my sleep. Like a lot. And I usually sleep the whole night through without even moving, but that is so not the case anymore - I will say it has gotten better - but the first few nights, every single noise woke me/prevented me from actually falling asleep. And in typical Caitlin-fashion, as soon as that alarm clock goes off, sleep just so happens to be quite easy to come by. So, the remedy for that solution was easy: sleep in on Thursday!!!! So went to bed early and slept most of the night and morning and didn't get up until 1pm. Finally feel really well rested.

But, I'm guessing you guys don't just want to hear about my triumphs and failures surrounding my sleeping habits. So, in other news - registered for classes at the Catho. Actually, I first had to retake a written test - I was given a subject (are electronic books marking the end of paperbacks?) and told to write a mini persuasion essay in 15mins. And then I had to partake in an oral exam - they really should have just sat me down to talk and not called it an exam because the minute I entered the room, all the french I thought I knew disappeared and all I could say was "C'était bon. J'ai beaucoup aimé. Oh, c'était très belle." {It was good. I really liked it. It was very pretty.} And that basically resulted in me dropping down a level - so from Intermediate 3, I went down to Intermediate 2. It's alright though, I still get to take the fun classes that I signed up for: French films & songs, French art from the Enlightenment to Impressionism and French Fashion. So I can't really blame myself nor complain about it. But, can I place some blame on lack of sleep?!?!?!?! Sure, why not.

Well, today's adventure includes Montmatre and tomorrow's Versailles. But for the time being pictures!

PS Quick note on the boat ride down the Seine on les Bateaux-Mouches - last time I was in Paris (Jan 2000) we did this and it was freezing and sleeting!! Yet, this time, it was overcast and windy, but loads warmer and dryer than when I had done it before. A much better experience if I may say so.

Boat Ride down the Seine

Did I mention I live right by the Eiffel Tour?!

Notre Dame

Paris, Je T'aime

Finally made it to Paris! Have been very busy - lots of shopping and lots and lots of walking!! Mom and I are staying at a quaint hotel right off the Seine and very close to Notre Dame - so easy walking to many different sights and lots of shopping. First night here, we found a very cute pub on this old cobbled street - funny story, we walked all over the neighborhood tonight trying to find it, asked several different times for directions and when we finally gave up, and had decided that it had to be either a)magical, b)made-up by our very tired minds or c)very well hidden, it showed up right across the street from where we were standing! Visited the ISA office today for a brief orientation, then walked to the Catho via the Luxembourg Gardens  and then decided to walk to my apartment complex. Which turned out to be a VERY long walk and the decision that the metro is the most definite way to travel, especially since the metro stop is basically a block from my apartment. All along the ways of our various walks today, Mom and I did a bunch of shopping and plan on doing more tomorrow. Also walked to the Eiffel Tour, then on to the Place de Concord and the Rue de Rivoli and went to the Louvre. At the Louvre, decided to not do the touristy galleries and instead went and walked through the Flemish, Dutch & French ones - so some of the artists' works we saw included Van Dyke, Reuben and Rembrandt. Our nights back at the hotel have been full of British TV shows from antiques to comedy. Hopefully more shopping tomorrow, as well as on and off the metro and then I'm on my own!! And if there is anything I have learned so far, it is that walking is the main theme for every occasion.

Effiel Tower

1600s Dutch Painting

Nutella crepe 

Salzburg Wrap Up, including the Sound of Music

Sunday morning saw both Mom and I well rested and ready to tackle Salzburg. As we wandered around downtown Salzburg, we found ourselves at the Cathedral and walked in right as mass was starting and even though we might not have understood everything, we still managed to follow along pretty well. Next, we watched as many of the church members lined up and marched around the square and surrounding streets - many traditional clothing and even a band! We later found out that Sunday was a big festival day for the fall harvest. We had lunch at the Cafe Sacher, where we had the world famous, Sacher-Torte, which was delicious. Then as we made our way to the pick up point for the Sound of Music Tour, we walked through the Mirabel Gardens - very pretty, and included the fountain and stairs where "Doe a Deer" was filmed! The Sound of Music Tour was a blast - lots of singing and wonderful sightseeing. Mom and I stopped at a quaint cafe at the last stop of the tour in Mondsee, right outside of the wedding chapel, where we split an apple strudel. Later that night, as luck would have it, we turned on the TV and caught the Sound of Music at the exact point we had left off the night before! So it was a nice evening of watching an all-time favorite movie, while singing along and looking for & catching all the Salzburg points of interest. As promised, pictures are included.

Salzburg Cathedral with horse fountain

PONIES!

World-famous Sacher-Torte

Gazebo from "The Sound of Music" - 16 going on 17

Lake & back of Von Trapp house 

Lake Mondsee with cable cars

Wedding chapel from "The Sound of Music"

apple strudel

Walkin' in Circles in Salzburg

Made it to Europe! Landed in Munich and took the train to Salzburg. Walked for like, forever, first in the correct direction, and then back tracked in the wrong direction, and then back tracked in the first (& correct) direction until we finally made it to our hotel, Hotel Mozart. After spending the majority of yesterday in the air (yay for actually sleeping on the plane!), a good chunk of today in the train, and then walking while dragging our suitcases, it felt wonderful to finally sit down, relax and enjoy a Trumer Pills, a local beer. Heading out later to an old-traditional "Gast-haus" for dinner and then early to bed, because tomorrow is the Sound of Music tour!!!!!!!!! I'm sure it will be a hoot, especially when Mom and I start singing along. Stay tuned for pictures.