Now, where did I leave off...? That's right - going to Normandy with the family. I can now successfully say that I survived taking the train by myself and only with one tiny-weeny-ittty-bitty meltdown that was thankfully stopped before it really got rolling by the info desk attendant. In my defense, my train wasn't listed on the big screen with all the other ones and since I can't read minds yet, I didn't know where to find it.
So off to Bayeaux I went and lo and behold, yet again, I can't pack to save my life. I brought for a weekend: TOMS, black flats, leggings, one short-sleeve dress top and my trench coat. And really what I should have brought was UnderArmor top and bottom, boots, wool socks, sweaters and jeans. If that is indication to my poor packing skills and how the weather turned out, I'm not sure what else is.
First night in Bayeaux (we stayed at Chateau de Sully), had dinner at La Rapière and it was AMAZING.
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| Tarte aux Pomme at La Rapière |
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| View from my room at Chateau de Sully |
Saturday we had an all day tour, including the American Cemetary, Omaha & Utah beaches, a lot of the country side, Église St-Marie and the Airborne Museum. Honestly, in my opinion, there was too much driving around the countryside to see small monuments (which was really cool, don't get me wrong), but I would have much preferred more time at the Cemetary and Omaha beach (plus, Utah beach wasn't as cool, and really, it was just a beach: some sand, wet, windy, the ocean). But, the big point/reminder here is back to what I was (or wasn't wearing) - by the end of the day, my TOMS were sopping wet (hell, by the time we got on the bus they were wet), I was cold and hungry and sick of being wet and having to put up and then down and then up again my bright red umbrella. So, I was very glad to return to the hotel and it's sauna and finally get warm again. So, heads up if you travel to Normandy, bring lots of layers, the correct shoes, spare socks and just be ready to be wet and cold.
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| Dad & I near Omaha Beach |
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| Omaha Beach |
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| American Cemetery |
Sunday, we were up early to head back to Paris. I was dropped off at the train station and came back to get ready to go to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - the biggest race in Europe outside of the Dubai World Cup. It was a lot of fun and would love to get back to see some more horse racing.
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| Katerina & I at Longchamp Racecourse |
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| Winners of l'Arc de Triomphe: Solemia & P. Olivier |
Monday morning, meet up with the family again for brunch and then went to l'Arc de Triomphe and climbed to the top - thankfully it wasn't as many stairs as Sacré Coeur so wasn't as scary either. After that we wandered down les Champs d'Elysées, Rue de Rivoli and Rue de St. Honoré. I successfully booked my fall break flights for Morocco!!! And then finished off the night with dinner at an amazing italian joint (where we had eaten once already) - Il Suppli. I highly recommend it.
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| View down spiral staircase in l'Arc de Triomphe |
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| Eiffel Tower in distance from l'Arc de Triomphe |
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| Mounted Patrol along Champs d'Elyssées |
So, since the big weekend has been wrapped up. I feel like I don't really need to delve into details of school and what I do every single day when I'm not updating this blog, so I'm just going to hit on the key points.
Wednesday, the ISA group had a tour at the Mosque and then tea and pastries afterwards. The Mosque was beautiful, the tea was wonderful and the pastries were oh-so-sweet.
Friday morning came really early after my late Thursday night, so a nap was required after class was done at noon. And then I meet up with a few friends and we went and had baguettes and wine next to the Seine. You really can't get more Parisian than that! It was a wonderful night and had lots of fun and good laughs. We have decided that it needs to happen more often, because honestly it is relatively cheap and worth the laughs and memories!
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| Notre-Dame from the Seine at night |
The best of America drifts to Paris. The American in Paris is the best American. It is more fun for an intelligent person to live in an intelligent country. France has the only two things toward which we drift as we grow older—intelligence and good manners.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
We'll always have Paris. - Casablanca
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