Back in Paris - August 6, 2009

Howdy! Just a quick note. Since my last post, I've been to Brive-la-Gaillarde, Les Eyzies de Tayac, Marseilles, Avignon, and Nice. All of which were absolutely beautiful. Last night I took the night train from Nice to Paris and arrived in Paris @ 7:46 this morning. I don't know why, but I can sleep on every other train in France, but last night I just couldn't seem to sleep on the night train....bizarre. Well, my paid internet acces is running out. Time to go explore Paris I guess. See you soon. I can't believe, only 4 more days.

Hi Guys!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to touch base and let you know that I haven't forgotten about you. I haven't had great access to the internet lately, so I haven't been able to post. But don't worry, I'm writing everything down and at some point I'll be able to post it all for you. Just to give you a quick update..... since my last post, I've been to Nantes, St.Nazaire, Carnac, Quiberon, Belle Ile en Mer, Brest, St Malo, Mont St Michel, Caen, the D-Day beaches, Rouen, Amiens, Reims, Strasbourg, Colmar, Geneva, Annecy, Lyon, Nimes, Chamonix, Annecy (for the Tour de France time trials), Clermont Ferrand, and today I'm in Le Puy en Velay. Today I climbed to the top of 2 different extinct volcanoes. On the top of one is the Chappelle de St Michel, and on the top of the other is a humongous statue of Notre Dame de France. Part of me was a little scared that I wouldn't be able to make it all the way to the top. It was 268 steps to reach the Chappelle and even more than that to the top of the other. BUT I totally did it, and it was much easier than I had imagined. I must say, I am quite proud of myself at this moment.

Tomorrow I leave to go to Brive la Gaillarde for 2 nights. While I am there I will be exploring prehistoric cave art in the caves of Lascaux, along with several other prehistoric sites.

Well I have to go get a train ticket now, so I'll have to chatter at you later. Miss y'all!

Gabrielle

Three Hours in Angers—June 20, 2009

On the way to Nantes, I stopped in Angers for a few hours. When I was in college, I spent my sophomore year abroad studying French in Angers. The program was called CIDEF (Centre International d’Etudes Francaises) at the Universite Catholique de l’Ouest. It was an excellent program. I would recommend it to anyone. We studied French language, Conversation, French history, French literature, Art history, and Music. It was very interdisciplinary, for example… when we studied the Renaissance, we studied, the history, literature, , art, and music of the Renaissance. It was the first time that I truly understood the interconnectedness (is that a word?) of it all—instead of just memorizing a jumble of random facts.
I returned to Angers with the intention of revisiting some of my old haunts, and finishing some unfinished business. You see, even though I lived right down the road from the chateau and passed it several times a day, I never went inside and I never saw the medieval tapestries displayed at the museum within. I always regretted that. So, this visit, it was top on my list.
First of all, BOY HAS ANGERS CHANGED in the last 18 years! Well, I guess it would, huh? For starters, there’s a whole new train station—big and clean and covered in glass windows. AND, most importantly, there was a baggage area with lockers, so I didn’t have to lug my backpack all over town. That was definitely a relief.
I stepped out of the train station and didn’t recognize a darn thing. Luckily, I had a map. I found the right road and headed directly for the chateau. The chateau still looked the same, but everything around it was completely different. The roads were wider and some buildings had been cleared. There was a new traffic circle with a new monument in the middle of it. AND, the most surprising change was that our favorite café, across from the chateau was now replaced by a humongous Tourist Bureau. What!?! Oh la la! That was a blow to my sweet memories of sitting at night across from an illuminated castle having a drink with friends. Oh well, I still have my memories.
While I was at the chateau, they did a little medieval theatrical show. I walked around the caslte a bit, then I went to see the tapestries. They were beautiful, amazing, and huge. I can’t even imagine how much work went into creating them. The tapestries tell the story of the Apocalypse. They are over 700 years old and very delicate. They are kept behind glass in a very dimly lit, but very large L-shaped room. I took some pictures, but please keep in mind that flashes are definitely not allowed.
After the tapestry museum, I left the chateau and made my way through the winding streets until I got to a street that I actually recognized—Rue St. Aubin, the pedestrian shopping street…. Although most of the stores and restaurants had changed. I remembered that at the end of the street was another favorite café—Varietes. So, I walked up the street and—lo and behold—IT WAS STILL THERE! Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to stop in though. I walked a little further, but everything had changed. I looked down at the time. Uh oh1 I only had 20 minutes left to catch my train. SO... I hauled tush back to the train station, got my bags from the locker, and remarkably still managed to catch my train. And on to Nantes we go!

One Night in Quiet Little Tours

When I got back from my chateau tour, I fixed myself the rest of my veggies and sat down in the common room to eat. There were 2 guys there from Africa that I had already met, but this time there other people there too - Hannah (from Australia), Anna (from Spain), and Steven(from Wales). Hannah and Anna (and the two guys from Africa)are reproductive scientists working in Tours. Steven was doing a bike tour through Europe. (Yes, I'm kinda jealous.) We got to talking...and laughing....and decided to continue the fun,by going out to have a drink at a local cafe. Actually where we went was a square full of cafes, bars, brasseries, and restaurants. It was definitely THE place to be in Tours. We had a blast; we had dessert; we had a drink, or two....OK maybe more... and we laughed at everything. We teased Hannah about the waiter boy on the corner. Hannah tried repeatedly to convince me (and Steven) to stay another day (but I couldn't because I was already behind schedule).BUT.... It was definitely the best time I had had since arriving in France. Here you see a picture of me, Hannah, and in the elevator. We laughing because Anna was trying to take a picture of us and the elevator closed in her face. (Picture to be added soon.) Big shout out to my peeps in Tours! Miss you guys! - GAB

Tours the Sequel - June 18-19

Tours—the sequel - June 18-19
The next day I took a whirlwind tour of 5 chateaux: Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry, Clos-Luce, Amboise, and Chenonceau. The tour was divided into 2 parts (morning and afternoon) and consisted of 6 or 7 tourists (Canadian, Australian, British, Russian, Columbian, and of course American) in a yellow minivan with a chauffeur. He would drive us right up to the entrance, then come with us to buy the tickets to make sure that we got our group discount. We left @ 9:30am and arrived first at Azay-le-Rideau. Azay-le-Rideau is built right in the middle of a lake. It was built in 1515 by Gilles Berthelot, a former Treasurer of France, though he was soon accused of corruption and fled the country leaving his wife alone with an unfinished chateau. After that the chateau changed hands several times before finally becoming property of the state in 1905. Inside the chateau was an exhibit dedicated to the mythological tale of Psyche and Cupid.
The next chateau was Villandry. Built in 1536 by Jean le Breton, Finance Minister to Francois Ier, (who also supervised the construction of Chambord), Villandry is most known for its gardens. In fact, most people choose only to see the gardens, like me. The gardens are amazing geometric and architectural masterpieces. There are ornamental gardens, water gardens, herb gardens, vegetable gardens, a sun garden, woods, and a labyrinth. After seeing all of the gardens, it was nice to just sit on a bench and relax in the peace of the gardens. After a short lunch break (a sandwich in the Tours train station) we continued to Clos-Luce, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life. In 1516 at the age of 64, Leonardo was invited to join the French court at Amboise. He was given Cos-Luce and a salary of 700 gold crowns. He spent his time there painting, drawing, designing, and teaching. The chateau is filled with DaVinci’s thoughts and quotes, art and designs, machines and inventions.

Outside are gardens and studios where school children can come to learn about art, dance, and design. There were at least 150 kids there that day (which made it a little difficult to take pictures.
From there we went to Amboise, where Leonardo was buried in the chateau’s chapel in 1519. It was also the location of the first Order of French Knights, l’Ordre de St Michel, in 1469. The chateau is architecturally incredible and still has impeccably preserved period furniture (and some replicas, I’m sure). It was beautiful...check out the pictures.
The last chateau was Chenonceau, which was the most impressive chateau of the day. It was home to kings like Francois I and Louis XIV and queens like Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. Chenonceau is actually built across a river. The part of the chateau that stretches across the river is a grand ball room on the first floor and a museum on the second floor. The rest of the chateau served as the family’s residence, including the black bedroom on the 3rd floor where Louise of Lorraine retreated after her husband Henri III was assassinated. Always dressed in white, the protocol for royal mourning, she surrounded herself by nuns and spent her days in prayer and meditation. She earned the nickname “the White Queen.”
After the last chateau, the driver brought us to a CAVE (wine cellar/producer) for a wine tasting. It was an actual cave dug into the side of the mountain, though impeccably designed inside. We first took a tour of the lower caves were they stored the wine for aging. Then we tasted 3 different wines produced there. They were very good.
Finally, we returned to the train station about 7pm and I walked back to the hostel, eager to dine on the rest of my vegetables. They were almost as good as the wine. But, that wasn’t the end of the night…..

TOURS—June 17-18, 2009

I arrived in Tours late in the afternoon and I was so tired that I splurged for a taxi to the hostel. I’m glad that I did because it’s a good mile and a half to two miles from the train station. On the way there, we passed a whole slew of media trucks. I asked the taxi driver what was going on and he told me that they were trying a very famous case in tours. A mother killed 3 of her children shortly after birth: she burned one and put the other two in the freezer. The verdict was to be announce the next day. I watched the news… she was found guilty and sentenced to 8 more years in jail.
I arrived at the hostel, signed in and got my room key. The hostel also serves as a dorm for the universities across the street. My room is on the 4th floor and is pretty standard: bed, dresser, closet, desk, chair. The restrooms and showers are down the hall, but I have my own room. I called my parents as I do every night to let them know that I’m safe. Then I was soooooo tired that I went to bed @ 8pm and slept until 7 the next morning. My room is across from the kitchen which is a pretty hopping place
In the evening, so I had to wear my earplugs to sleep. Fortunately, they lock the kitchen at 11pm.
The next morning I woke up @ 7am and went downstairs for my typical free hostel breakfast. Then, I asked about a washeteria. I had worn the same pair of pants 3 days in a row and was desperately in need of a Laundromat. Afterwards, I felt like singing “CLEAN CLOTHES, CLEAN CLOTHES, I HAVE CLEAN CLOTHES!” I returned to the dorm, took a shower, and put on my nice clean clothes. I addressed a few postcards, then headed out to see the world.

A COMEDY OF ERRORS (though not very funny at the time)

Whenever you ask someone how long it takes to walk somewhere in France, the answer is always the same…. “un petit quart d’heure” (a short 15 minutes). That’s how long I was told it would take to walk to the train station. I wanted totake a tour of 3 chateaux that left @ 1:45. So, I gave myself a half hour to get there. I left the dorm @ 1:15 and arrived at the train station @ 1:50 (15 min., eh?). I missed the bus (error #1). I was walking so fast to get there that I missed the curb and twisted my ankle (error #2). I did have a plan B. I could take a train to Chinon to see the chateau, which was not included on any of the tours. I waited in line to buy a ticket, and by the time I got, I had only 9 minutes to board the train. (Plenty of time...lol.) As I’m approaching the train, the conductor blows the whistle and closes the doors. WHAT!?! I still have 7 minutes. I wave my arms and shout “ATTENDEZ!” Then I rush forward….my ankle gives way again, and you guessed it….I fell flat on my face (error #3). A female conductor asked if I was OK. I said “Oui, mais c’est mon train!’ She asked again if I was OK. I again answered “Yes, but that’s my train!” I picked myself up (luckily, I wasn’t wearing my big backpack) and found a button to open the train door. I found a place to sit, checked myself over, no major damage. Then, you know what… that darn train didn’t leave for another 5 minutes and several people boarded after I did (error #4).
Chinon is a sweet little town and the chateau is located on a cliff, high above the city (and, of course, about as far away from the train station as you can get.) I walk about 1 1/2 miles to a giant elevator which takes you up the side of the cliff, then another 3/4 mile to the chateau. The chateau of Chinon is where Jeanne d’Arc met with Charles VII to petition an army to fight in Orleans. Because the chateau was under construction ( to restore it to its former beauty), I had to enter the chateau through an underground passage (through the moat) that kings used to leave discreetly to visit their mistresses. Shame, shame, shame! (but COOL!) From the secret passage you enter one of the towers of the outer wall, then you climb the stairs to reach the upper level and the royal residence itself. Unfortunately, the royal residence was inaccessible because of construction. Still, it was surreal to know that I was walking in the footsteps of Jeanne d’Arc.
On the way back to the train station, I passed an outdoor market with clothes, jewelry, plants, etc. I bought a new shirt and a pair of pants. I needed a new pair of pants, because that morning, I had mistakenly put a pair of pants in the super hot laundromat dryers that should be line dried. They are still wearable, but the lining is kind of “crunchy” now (error #5).
Across from the train station in Chinon was a farmer’s market—VEGETABLES! I took advantage of the opportunity. I bought 6 tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 2 big carrots, 4 bananas, strawberries, cheese, and a mixture of dried fruits and nuts—NO BREAD! I couldn’t wait to get back to the hostel and eat a bread free, nutritious meal. I must say—it was absolutely delicious. BON APPETIT!

A Little More Blois

I completely forgot to mention that when I got back from the chateau, I went to the Museum of the French Resistance in Blois. Blois played an important role in the French Resistance because of its proximity to the the line of demarcation (the Cher river) between occupied and unoccupied France during World War II. Citizens rode bikes to deliver messages and supplies back and forth across the line of demarcation. One quote in the museum saiys that if you didn't ride a bike, you weren't part of the Resistance.If caught, members of the French Resistance were killed or places in deportation (concentration) camps and were subject to the same horrible fate as the Jews.
So many cities in France and Europe were completely destroyed during the war, and so many people killed. And we're still fighting wars? I ask myself everyday, WHY? I wish I knew the answer.

June 16-17, 2009 - Blois
Upon arrival in Blois, I walked the half a mile or so up the hill to the Office de Tourisme which was across the street from the chateau. I inquired about a hostel, but found out that it was located about 20 km out of town and that I’d have to take a bus to go back and forth. So, instead I had them help me find a cheap hotel near the center of town. I can tell you now that cheap certainly does not equal glamorous. I had my own bathroom with a shower, commode, and sink. The bed and mattress were kind of old and saggy. I had a window…. that opened on to a staircase!?! Strange! Some how I knew that this hotel did not have wi-fi. I didn’t even bother to ask. I could barely get phone service, much less internet. I spent most of the evening watching a Doris Day movie in French and addressing post cards.
At 10 pm I headed back to the chateau for a sound and light show (Sons et Lumieres). It was very awesome. We sat inside the courtyard of the chateau on the cobblestones. Not only did they project murals on the walls of the chateau, but they also played music and told the history of the chateau. Basically, the chateau is comprised of 4 chateaux, because each of the 4 kings who lived there had to add a new wing to the chateau, each in a different style. The chateau was one of the places Jeanne d’Arc stopped to pray on her way to Chinon. AND, the chateau was once host to many poetry contests. After the show, I walked back to the hotel, and tried to go to sleep. Unfortunately, the walls were very thin and I could hear every word of the woman next door. Thank goodness I brought ear plugs. Bonne nuit.
The next morning, I got up and took a bus tour of a couple of the chateaux around Blois. I went to Cheverny, which is a beautiful castle, still inhabited by a descendants of royalty. They have over a hundred hounds there for hunting, I suppose. They also have a carriage house, gardens, a park, and boats. They are very, very picky about their grass. DO NOT WALK ON TTHE GRASS. No, I didn’t walk on the grass, but there were signs posted everywhere the said “Respectez la Pelouse!” After Cheverny the bus went to Chambord. My train was leaving soon and I have already been to Chambord. So, I did not get off the bus there…. Sorry guys! =0(
When I got back to Blois, I went to they hotel to get my things. Then I went to the post office to mail some more things home, mostly books and brochures I had collected for my classroom. Then I walked with all my stuff back up to the train station and took a train to Tours. See you in Tours!

June 16, 2009 - Orleans Redeemed (Day 2)

The next day I got up early. I checked out of the hotel and left my bags in the baggage room of the hotel. First I went to “La Maison de Jeanne d’Arc” (Joan of Arc’s house)which is a very old roman style cross timber house. In side is a small museum dedicated to who else….Jeanne d’Arc. From there I went to the cathedral. I wanted to take more pictures, but absent-mindedly, I forot my SD card in my netbook. So, I was limited by the memory on my camera. I took a few pictures of the cathedral, then I went to the park behind the cathedral. Today was the first day of the Orleans Jazz Festival and everyday there are show at noon and at night. Since I was leaving that afternoon, I went to the noon show. It was fun, very jazzy. They even played some funny, quirky, avant-garde kind of pieces. I took some sound bites for you….but, later had to erase them because I had no more memory. After the concert, I went to the Office de Tourisme and the Musee des Beaux Arts (Museum of Fine Arts). The display of art was very eclectic. You would have a room or a wall full of Renaissance paintings, then right in the middle would be some random modern art piece. It was just a little disconcerting somehow, but cool at the same time.
After that, I rushed back to the hotel, grabbed my bags, and walked back to the train station to catch my train to Blois. Au revoir.

June 14-15, 2009 - Orleans (Day 1)

I must say that when I first arrived in Orleans, I wasn't impressed. The area around the train station seemed dark and dismal and there wasn't a taxi to be found. I found a very nice chain hotel not far from the station and checked-in for 2 nights or so I thought. I went upstairs and took a nice cool bath in my pretty tub. Then after spending a good few minutes trying to figure out how to turn on the TV, I snuggled up in my nice, comfy bed and watched TV until I fell asleep.
The next morning, I slept until 9am, then decided to do a little work on my blo while I had internet access. At 12:15, I get a phone call..."Il est midi et quart et nous avons besoin de notre chambre." ("It's 12:15 and we need the room.") WHAT!?! But I asked for 2 nights. He said that was impossible because they were booked solid for tonight. I reiterated that I had requested 2 nights and that the woman who checked me in had said nothing about being "complet." He assured me that he would find me another hotel room, and indeed he did. The hotel was a chain and they had a room at a slightly discounted price down the road. SO, I had to quickly pack up my things - no time for another bath =0( - and walk a half a mile or so down the road. The new room was similar, but no bathtub - DARN!
That afternoon I explored the town a little. I tried to find a grocery store or a washeteria, but alas I found none. Since I arrived in France, my diet has consisted mostly of bread - bread for breakfast and some type of sandwich for lunch or dinner. I generally eat 2 meals a day. Anyway, my body is craving vegetables and fruits, but they are proving difficult to find. So instead, I bought a SANDWICH (imagine that) and ate at a cafe at La Place du Martroi (Martyr Square) across from the Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc) statue. In 1429, Joan of Arc, dressed as a male soldier, went to Chinon to petition Charles VII for an army to fight the English in Orleans. They won and it was the turning point of the Hundred Year's War. Eventually, France won back all of the lands that had been occupied by England. For that reason Joan of Arc, though burned at the stake for heresy, is considered as a saint and a national heroine of France, and especially a heroine of Orleans.
During that first outing into Orleans, my first perception was that the people in Orleans were not as warm and welcoming as they had been in Chartres or Chateaudun. I said "Bonsoir" to a woman I passed in the street ( standard southern girl courtesy.) She replied "On se connait?" ("Do we know each other?) I said "Non?" And then she was like "No really, do we know each other?". I didn't realize that in Orleans, I have to know you to greet you. The warmest conversations I had on that first outing were with the two (Bob Marleyesque) African guys who were flirting with me at the cafe, and the dirty (both literally and figuratively) old man who asked me to marry him on the way back to the hotel. After I turned him down, he offered to give me a massage. Yeah - I THINK NOT!!!!!

Day 2 - to follow shortly....=0)

Sunday, June 14th - Chateaudun (corrected - sorry for all the typos...oops! I can spell, I just can't type...lol)

At 2:45 I took the bus to Chateaudun. Chateaudun is a tiny little town... cute and welcoming, but tiny. It is definitely full of history. There was , of course, no baggage storage at the train station... so I had to walk almost 2 miles (45 min.) uphill (both ways?) to the chateau. When I got there, a very nice lady in the gift shop offered to hold my bags behing the counter. Needless to say, I was extremely grateful. I believe my exact words were, "Vous ne pouvez pas imaginer comment vous m'avez aide." (You cannot imagine how much you've helped me.) Although, my head was silently screaming YES, YES, YES, I would love to leave my bags here. The nice lady also took a picture of me in front of the castle.
The castle dates back to the middle ages. It has a small chapel, a beautiful indoor/outdoor winding staircase, a tower whose walls are 4 meters thick, a dungeon, an underground prison, and a garden filled with plants and herbs from the middle ages. In the middle ages, people believed in the 4 humours (or elements) and that to be physically well, there had to be a balance between the humours. When a person was unbalanced, foods and herbs were used to rebalance them. Likewise, in the kitchen, foods and herbs were used according to the 4 seasons to maintain a healthy balance.
After visiting the castle, I bought some books on the middle ages to use in my French III classes. Then I loaded myself back up and began the long trek back to the train station, I stopped at a bakery along the way and bought 2 bottles of water and a loaf of French bread, for lunch and dinner. I got back to the train station with about 20 minutes to spare before the bus to Orleans. The weather was beautiful all day and as I waited for my bus, I realized that I had actually gotten sunbuned. I guess I'll have to use some of of that sunscreen I bought especially for this trip. Upon arriving in Orleans, I quickly found a hotel room near the train station. It was a little more than I would like to pay, but it was late and it was close. I was exhausted from the days adventures and I took a long bath, watched a lttle TV, and SLEPT like a baby.

June 14, 2009 - Chartres, Day 2

June 14, 2009 - Chartres to Chateaudun
The light show was incredible. Huge projectors cast moving murals onto over 20 buildings in Chartres. There are historic figures and events, dancers, poetry, modern art, religious art, etc. The art is constantly moving and the color constantly changing. “Le Petit Train” is like riding a bumpy roller coaster up and down the tiny cobbled streets of the city. After the show, I walked around the city some more. I tried to take pictures of the light show, but I’m not sure how they will turn out. Then I walked 1 1/2 miles back to the hostel, showered, and went to sleep sometime around 2am. Bonne nuit.
Today, I woke up at 7am, ate my free breakfast, and began my 2+ mile walk to the train station. The plan was to lock up my backpack in a baggage locker, the go to the mass at 9:15. Guess what…. no baggage lockers….lol. Soooo, I hailed a taxi to bring me and my backpack to the church since I had already walked for an hour. The mass had just started. It was nice, but I must admit that I was just a little disappointed. Admit it, when you here Gregorian mass, what do you expect… MONKS, right?... Me too. Alas, there were no monks, just a small choir of 10 or so townsfolk. The chanting was in French and Latin. I was able to remember enough Latin to follow along at least. It has been nearly 20 years since I took Latin in college. After the mass I was going to take theday tour on “le petit train” but the cute little old French tourist started lining up an hour before departure time. I decided I didn’t want to fight for a place on the train.
So, I went to a nearby café, had a nice lunch, and wrote some postcards. At 1pm I went back to the train station to catch a bus to Chateaudun then continue on to Orleans. Tell you about it later.

June 13, 2009 - Chartres, Day 1

June 13, 2009 - Paris to Chartres
This morning I woke up early, got dressed, and got all my things together. Then I went downstairs for my free breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast consists of croissants, French bread, ham, boiled eggs, cereal, milk, orange juice, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. There’s also butter, jelly, and “La vache qui rit” cheese. I ate my breakfast, then made myself a ham and cheese sandwich and wrapped it up for lunch. I grabbed my bags, paid my bill, then went to the post office to mail back all of my bike stuff. It wasn’t cheap, but it was less expensive than I expected.
From the post office, I walked across the street to the Gare de l’Est train station and took metro #4 to the Gare Montparnasse train station. The train to Chartres was only 13 euros and took about an hour.
The backpack is definitely easier to travel with. Today I carried it from 10am-12:30 pm and 1:30-4:30. The hardest part was probably walking the mile and a half (some uphill) to the hostel. BUT all in all—it wasn’t too bad. I just think of it as exercise.
Upon arriving in Chartres, I bought a ticket to go to Chateaudun tomorrow afternoon. Then I walked a half mile or so to the Office de Tourisme. I have learned that the tourist bureau has a list of all of the hotels and hostels in town and their prices. They will even call ahead and make reservations for you. However, the hostel office was closed until 3pm, so I had to wear my backpack to the cathedral and follow the guided tour (in French, of course) still carrying the backpack.
The Chartres cathedral is huge and amazing. 172 stained glass windows, gothic architecture and carvings, flying buttresses, huge towers in different styles, and my favorite, a labyrinth laid into the floor with black marble. I wish I had arrived yesterday


Because on Fridays, they move all the chairs and you can actually walk the labyrinth. Oh well. Instead, tomorrow there is a Gregorian mass at 9:15. I have always loved Gregorian chanting, so I’m going to listen.
After the guided tour, I went back to the tourist office and they called the hostel for me. Then I walked the mile and a half to the hostel, claimed my bed, and locked up my bags. I connected to wi-fi, checked my email, called my folks, rested a few minutes, then began the walk back to town. To get back to the cathedral, you can either walk up some very steep streets, or climb about 150 steps. I chose the streets. (I had walked down the stairs earlier and knew what I was in for. I think the stairs might have been easier. I’ll try them tomorrow morning. After all that, I got back too late for the museum, and it will be closed tomorrow.
At the moment, I am sitting in a café, next to the cathedral, having an after dinner coffee, and listening to the bells of the cathedral and the organ music escaping from within.
It’s 9:30 now and the sun is just beginning to set behind the buildings. Blackbirds dance and play in the blue skies and the white feathering of clouds are changing their plumes to shades of pink and purple. The temperature has dropped from the 70’s to the 60’s. It is very beautiful and pleasant indeed. I have decided that I like Chartres very much. It is quaint and peaceful, which is a drastic change from the hurried, harried, crowded, cluttered atmosphere of Paris. I could live here.
I don’t know if I can explain the feeling of being in the presence, of buildings which are 500-1000 years old: the juxtaposition of the present and the past, and knowing that 500 years from now, long after I have become “food for worms”, someone will be in this same spot, admiring these same buildings.

At 10:30, there will be a light show where light murals will be projected on all of the historic buildings and monuments of Chartres. I am taking “Le Petit Train” to take the tour, since I will have already walked 5-6 miles (most with a backpack) at the end of the day. I’ll tell you how it went tomorrow.

GOOD THINGS IN PARIS!!!!

I did see some wonderful things in Paris AND I will return to Paris at the end of my trip to do some things I didn't have a chance to do yet.
Wednesday, I saw the St. Sulpice cathedrale. If you have seen the DaVinci code it's the church were the blond monk pounded a hole in the floor to get the gray Job box, then killed the nun. =0(
I did see the rose line going through the middle of the church and I took a picture of the cement plaque in the floor marking the rose line. I did not see the little gold circles though. It is a beautiful cathedral, typical of gothic architecture.
Then, I went to the Jardins du Luxembourg next to the Palais du Luxembourg. I walked around the gardens, rested for a little while, and took some pictures of the statues, and the little old men playing chess and boules in the park. Next door was the Musee du Luxembourg andthey were having a special exhibit of the art of Lippi and Renaissance art. I tried to take some pictures, but the guard "tsk"ed me and wagged his finger at me. Afterward, I walked through the Latin Quarter, a very happening place. I visited the cathedral of St. Severin and took more pictures, of course. Then almost by accident I ended up at the Cathedral of NOTRE DAME. I went in and they were having mass. The singing and organ music were so beautiful that I decided to sit down and attend the mass. Meanwhile, thousands of tourists were wandering around the cathedral watching and taking pictures. I must admit, I took some pictures, too. =0) I wanted to visit the crypts, but they were already closed for the night...maybe when I come back in August.
Last night, I walked around the neighborhood near my hotel. It is a very busy and popular area with lots of little shops, parks, cafes, bars, and restaurants. I stopped at a restaurant called Pizzeria Alberto and had a delicious pizza (la cremiere) with an alfredo type sauce and ham and mushrooms AND the best tiramisu I have ever tasted in my life. (I brought half of the pizza back to the hotel for a midnight snack...literally.) The bars and cafes across from my hotel are very happening. There is live music and the crowds are singing (badly) and screaming and banging drums and blowing whistles and racing motorcycles.(There are more motorcycles and scooters than there are carsin Paris.) They start around 10pm and go until the wee morning hours. They sound like thet're having a great time, but I'm on the 5th floor and I have to wear earplugs to sleep.
Speaking of sleep, it's after 12:30 am and I need to get some sleep, so I will be ready to travel tomorrow.
Bonne nuit tout le monde. Gros Bisous!!!!!

Fantasy vs. Reality/Success vs. Failure

Wednesday evening, after my last blog entry, it started to rain (and rain, and rain, and oh yeah rain.) It is very diificult to manoeuver a bicycle and an umbrella at the same time. I finally made it to the RER train which took me to the Gare du Nord, which was the closest stop to my hostel. I asked about paying to store my bike in baggage claim, but they said no. There were several shady characters around so I decided not to lock up my bike outside. I walked the bike in the rain several blocks to the Gare de l'Est and again asked about paying to leave my bike. Again they said no. Outside the train station, but inside the gates were about a hundred bikes chained up. It was well lit, and there were police around, so I decided to leave my bike there because it was too far to go in the rain to my hostel. I locked it up with my super thick and expensive new chain, then caught the metro to my hostel.
The next morning I check out of the hostel. I wasn't feeling well, probably from walking in the rain the night before... so, I decided to kind of take the day off and treat myself to a real hotel. I checked on my bike, it was perfectly fine. I wanted to stay at the hotel at the train station, but they were booked. So I went to the tourist bureau and they found me a hotel nearby... with a bathtub and a double bed. Ahhhhh!!!! =0)
To make a long story longer..... when I went to check on my bike this morning.... you guessed it.... it was GONE....STOLEN!!!! Au revoir, Monsieur Velo! =0(

You know, I had this FANTASY about biking around France this summer, then REALITY slapped me in the face.... several times in fact. And, I realized that the fantasy was not going to happen... at least not the way I had envisioned. I did a reality check,and what I realized was that this journey was not just about riding a bicycle around France. It was about seeing new places, experiencing new things, learning about the culture, history, art, people, etc. of France, AND practicing my French. The reality is that I don't need a bike to do any of those things.

So here we go with plan B. (Because I am nothing if not flexible.) I went to the Latin Quarter today and bought a backpack. Then I got together almost everything bike related to ship back to the states tomorrow. Tomorrow morning I will leave Paris and BACKPACK through France for the next 57 days. When I get to an area where I would really like to bike around the countryside, like the Loire Valley, I will rent a bike for the day. Then I can return it at the end of the day and not worry about someone stealing it or bringing it on the train. It will be more expensive to travel this way, BUT if I budget myself, I can still make it happen. The first stop on my backpaking adventure will be Chartres and its infamous cathedral.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY: The thieves may have SUCCEEDED in stealing my bicycle, BUT they have FAILED to ruin my journey. Au contraire, if anything, they have succeeded only in strengthening my resolve and determination to make this the best trip possible. LA GROSSE TOURNEE DE FRANCE will LIVE ON!!!!! =0)

June 10th - Wandering around Paris

Hi guys! I'm in an Italian restaurant near the St. Suplice cathedral (from the DaVinci code) and the Palais du Luxembourg. Ivisited the cathedrale and a Renaissance Art exhibition at the Musee du Luxembourg. I tried to take pictures in the museum, but the man guarding the exhibitionscoldedn me. I picked up my bike today. It cost 138 euros for the repairs and a new seat and chain. I actually rode my bike in Paris.... ALONE! That was an adventure especially when you don't know where you're going. I'll have to ride it again later to get to the train station. I'm hoping that riding will be more enjoyable outside of Paris. Either way, I am realizing that this voyage is going to be more difficult than I could have ever even have imagined. We'll see how it goes.

THE HOSTEL

June 10, 2009
THE HOSTEL
I am staying in a hostel here in Paris—l’Auberge de Jeunesse Jules Ferry. It’s a little small and antiquated, but cute in it’s own way. I am in a double room which I am sharing with a 22 year old French girl from Mulhouse, near Strasbourg. Her name is Emilie and she is here in Paris to go to 2 concerts—Social Distortion and UME@6. Today she is camping out at the concert hall to make sure she gets a spot up front at the concert. Crazy young people….lol. She is very cool and very funny. Last year she worked as a teacher’s assistant at an English high school in Suffolk, so her English is excellent. Together we speak Franglais—half English, half French. Her parents are from Martinique, but she was born in France.
Our room has bunk beds, a sink, 2 chairs, and a small table. It may not be pretty, but it’s comfortable enough, especially for 20 euros a night. The staircase is a small and spiral with murals painted on the walls. The restrooms are… INTERESTING….=0) Thereare 2 showers and 2 toilettes to share between 6-7 rooms on a flooor. There are both guys and girls sharing the restrooms. My room is on the 2e etage or 3rd floor. Downstairs is a little living room area and a kitchen/dining room where we eat breakfast.
Across the street is a park and there are lots of shops and cafes all around. It’s nice.

June 9, 2009 - Le Musee d'Orsay

June 9, 2009
Today I woke up @ 7am (even tough I didn’t go to bed until after 1 am). I ate breakfast downstairs in the hostel; it comes with the room. We had applesauce, bread (of course) with jelly and butter, orange juice, and your choice of coffee, hot chocolat, or hot tea. After breakfast I went back to the bike shop to see if my bike was still there. It was (kind of). Someone did try very hard to steal it. They had managed to get off one of the chains; but, in trying to take of the second chain, they did more daqmage to the handlebars and brakes, bent the front tire, ruined the locking mechanism on the chain, AND broke my cushy, comfy seat that I had special ordered for this trip. NOOOOO, NOT MY SEAT!!!! =0(
Anyway, the bike is in the shop. I can’t wait to see how much that will cost. We’ll see tomorrow.
After the bike shop, I went to Bon Marche to buy a towel. I forgot that in a hostel you have to bring your own towel. ( I had to more or less drip dry last night...lol.) I found the perfect towel… thin, absorbent, and fast drying for 11 euros.
While riding the metro this morning, I realized that the bike shop was only 2 metro stops from the Musee d’Orsay. Soooo, I went to the Musee d’Orsay, which is a mostly modern art museum here in Paris. I had to wait in line for a half an hour, but it was definitely worth it. I am very glad that I bought an umbrella on the way there because it did start to rain again. THew museum has 5 levels and each area is dedicated to a different style of art: realism, classicalism, romanticism, ingrism, fauvism, pointillism, other various –ism’s, and on level 5 (my favorite) impressionism. There were tons of paintings by Renoir, Monet, Manet, Degas, Pissarro, Morrisot, Gaugin, etc. It was incredibly awesome, I bought a book to bring back to show you all. All in all, I spent 3-4 hours in the museum. Then I went back to the hostel to rest a little because my feet hurt from all the walking.

June 8, 2009 - Une soiree sauve

June 8, 2009
Une soiree sauvee.
After finally making it to my hostel, I took a long nap (I was soooo exhausted and frustrated.) from about 2:30-5:30. Then, I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself. I got dressed and took the metro/RER to the Eiffel Tower to ride the Bateaux Parisiens one of many boat tours on the Seine River). I bought a croquet monsieur and a bottle of water off the street and ate while I was waiting for the metro. It was the first thing I had eaten since 6am on the airplane. The metro at 7pm is soooo crowded. I felt like a sardine, but at least I found a seat, most did not. To my surprise, when I exited from the metro, it was pouring rain. It was not raining when I entered the metro, but it was when I exited. By the time I made it to the boats and the Eiffel Tower, I was soaked. Luckily the tour boats are enclosed in glass—good for rain, bad for pictures. ( Please forgive my blurry, spotty pictures...lol.) The bateau was definitely the turning point in my day. I found myself remembering how beautiful and charming Paris could be. I started to relax and enjoy. After the baot ride, I went to the gift shop and bought 50 postcards to send to my students. Then I took a few pictures of the Eiffel Tower before heading back to the hostel. I an impressed that I remember how to maneuver the metro after more than 15 years. Before going to the hostel, I decided to really enjoy the French way of life and I am ,at this moment, sitting in a café (Café Republique) eating quiche and French bread, and drinking hot chocolate. I have to keep reminding myself to slow down, to savor the moment, to enjoy life. The only thing I wish is that I had someone to share my birthday with today. It is a little lonely spending my birthday by myself. Well back to the hostel… it’s almost midnight after all. Bonne nuit, tout le monde!

June 8, 2009 - Happy Birthday to me!

June 8, 2009
Bienvenue à Paris or Happy Birthday to Me!
Well, I’m in Paris. I wish I could say that my arrival was wonderful and glamorous, but it wasn’t. The flight was fine, no problems at all. I got all my luggage, then found somewhere to sit down and reassemble my bike. As I started to reassemble, I realized that my bike was broken. Something was not right with the handle bars and the brakes were broken. (I am sooooo glad that I paid a professional to pack my bike for me…. Can you hear the sarcasm in my voice...lol.) I decided to take it right away to the brake shop. I walked the bike all the way to the opposite end of the airport, then took a train to as near to the bike shop as I could get (which wasn’t very close at all). Then I walked the bike about 2 miles to the bike shop…. Only to discover that they were closed on Mondays. AAARRRGGGHHH!!! I actually left the bike chained (with two chains) near the entrance of the bike shop. Hopefully, no one will steal it before tomorrow. I took all of the bags off the bike, then took the metro over to the Place de la Republique. I was so tired by that point that I paid for a taxi to drive me the last mile with all those bags.
What and incredibly long trip! I left for the airport at 11am Sunday morning and here it is 2:30 pm Monday afternoon and I just got up to my room. I am soooo tired. I think I am going to take a little nap then do something fun this evening. Tell you all about it later…. =0)

June 7, 2009 - LIVE, LIVE, LIVE!

June 7, 2009
Well, here I am sitting on an airplane waiting to take off. It’s 3:01 CST (10:01 in Paris, Paris is 7 hours ahead.) I am pleasantly relieved. I had a huge fear that the seats were going to be too small for me and that the airline was going to force me to buy a second seat and/or wait for another flight. BUT, no one even mentioned buying another seat, and the seats are larger than I remembered, and the seat belts longer than I remembered. I was also worried about checking my bike, but that went off without a hitch as well. A skycab worker met us at the truck. We unloaded the bike box right onto the cart, added the saddlebags, then he rolled me right up to the special services counter. I didn’t even have to wait in line. Security went relatively well also. A word to the wise: Take laptops out of bags before sending them through the scanner. Well, we’ve finished taxiing and here we go. We’re taking off. I love the feeling of taking off in an airplane. It’s such a rush, so exhilarating. The sudden burst of speed as you go racing down the runway, building to the moment when the wheels finally lift off the ground. Then climbing, climbing, till buildings, people, responsibilities are but a memory. You enter a cotton cloudy world where anything is possible and all goals are attainable. I want so badly to be successful at my venture. Of course I’m afraid and nervous, maybe even a little petrified and terrified. BUT, I am NOT going to let my fear keep me from trying, succeeding , and LIVING. Several quotes and thoughts have been going through my head in the last couple of days:
1. We should work to LIVE, but for the last 15 years or so, I have been living to work. I want to LIVE.
2. “LIVE, LIVE, LIVE! Life is a banquet and most poor bastard are starving to death.” - Auntie Mame.
3. Jeffrey Chen, Valedictorian, DHS—”You deserve to reach for your dream. You deserve to be successful.
I do deserve to reach for my dreams. I deserve to be successful. I deserve to be thin. I deserve to be happy. I deserve to LIVE!!!!

The Final Countdown

Only 21 days left until I leave for France, I can hardly believe it. I still have soo much that needs to be done before I leave. Of course I still have to diet and train. I also need to make sure I have all the necessary tools for my bike, adjust the angle of my new bike seat, attach the frame that holds my saddlebags and panniers. I need to figure out how I am going to fit every thing I need into the bags on my bike. I need to attach the odometer to my bike and set up my pedometer. I need to go to continental and get a box for my bike. I need to have my journal pages copied and made into a book, and finish my agenda book with maps and directions from town to town as well as a wish list of sites to see. I need to have my t-shirts made too. Al of this is in addition to writing reviews and final exams, grading papers and planning lessons, and cleaning house. I am going to be one very busy little bee for the next 21 days. I'll keep you posted. =0)

Flickr: Your Photostream

Here is the link to access all my photos of "La Grosse Tournee de France".
I leave June 7th for Paris....I can't wait!

Flickr: Your Photostream

Training for Real

Since I found out that I did indeed recieve my grant, I have definitely stepped up my training. This past week I was able to cycle over 16 miles in 45 minutes and today I walked 6 miles to and through Oyster Creek park. Boy am I sore! I soaked in the tub for an hour afterward. I can't wait to see how I feel tomorrow morning...lol. Oh well, I must go prepare my salad for lunch. Toodles!

GAB

OMG - I GOT THE GRANT!

OMG - I GOT THE GRANT!

OMG,OMG, OMG, I GOT THE GRANT!!!!

Oh my goodness! I am so incredibly stoked! I just found out that I did in fact receive the grant. I am all a twitter with excitement, a bubbling ball of hyperactivity, at 11:00 pm no less. I can't wait now to get into the gym and step up my training, as well as iron out all of the final details of my itinerary. I am so incredibly grateful to receive this life-altering opportunity.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Fund for Teachers, and thank you, Mr. Mendoza for your article on chron.com.

MERCI BEAUCOUP! MUCHAS GRACIAS! DANKE SCHON!

MERCI MILLE FOIS! ( Thanks a thousand times!)

J'adore ma vie! (I love my life!)

Gabrielle

Linguistic Lollapalooza

On March 27th at 4:00 pm, Shannon and I will be presenting our workshop entitled "Linguistic Lollapalooza" at the Texas Foreign Language Association Conference in Waco, Texas. We also presented last October, but we were personally invited by the president of TFLA to present again. (I feel special.) THe workshop consists of games, activities, and songs that we can adapt for the classroom to make learning more fun.

Sometime this week I have to go to school and make copies of our presentation packet, then meet with Shannon to put them in the red folders. Oh yeah, I also need to buy and make labels for the folders. Boy, am I going to be busy this week.

GAB

Preparations for La Grosse Tournee

Last month I opened a savings account at a local credit union and started to stock-pile the $2000 I will need for the trip (if I get the grant of course.) It would take me at least 3 years to save enough to make the journey without the grant. I also filed my taxes and am looking forward to adding my tax refund to my savings account. I also checked my passport and realized that it would expire much sooner than I remembered. SOOOO, two weeks ago I applied to renew my passport. It should be coming in very soon.

I also have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to get a full physical. I'm still training, some days more than others. I still have a long way to go and am grateful that I still have two and half months before my proposed departure date.

I have also started to inventory my biking and walking wardrobe to determine what still needs to be purchased. I am also creating my own travel book with my schedule, travel route, maps, a list of sites, prices, hours of operation, train schedules, etc. I am also creating a special journal to record distance cycled, distance walked, travel times, calories burned, cities visited, sites seen, and my observations and thoughts, of course. If I do get the grant, I'm even going to have cycle shirts made with the "La Grosse Tournee de France" design on this page.

I have also just found a French meet-up group that meets once a week to have dinner and to practice speaking French. They also meet to see French films and go to French lectures. I will go to 2 lectures and 2 movies this week. (You gotta love spring break.)

I am also using this week to catch up on household chores and responsibilities so that when I go back to school, I won't have to worry about it. In addition, I am taking time this week to cook several healthful dishes that I am then packing into individual meals and freezing them. When I am teaching and training, I don't always have the time or energy to cook at the end of the day. This way, I will have healthful lunches and dinners that I can pull out of the freezer, instead of resorting to fast food. When I go back to school everything will be in place, which will make sticking to a workout schedule much easier.

WELL, I've still got a lot to accomplish this week. Chat again soon. Toodles!

GAB

Fish out of Water

Sometimes I feel like a fish out of water. I feel more natural in the water than out of it. Of course, water is relaxing and theraputic, but it is also freeing. I can do anything in the water. I am WONDERWOMAN in the water. All of the activities that are difficult and painful out of the water, are completely possible in the water. I can run, jump, flip, lift weights, etc. all in the water. I can swim for miles with no pain or blisters or obstacles. May be I should have been a mermaid...... I don''t know... I am rather fond of seafood....lol.

The Comfort of Fractions

I've noticed that while I am training, especially on the treadmill or stationary bike, I use fractions to motivate and comfort myself. Everytime I pass a small milestone, I convert it into a fraction. The self-talk in my head sounds like," OK, 1/10 down, 1/5, 1/4, 1/3, alright I'm half way there. Only 1/3 more, 1/4, 3/10, 1/5 - I can totally do this. 1/10, almost there, 1/20....YES, I did it." I don't know why I find such comfort in fractions. You'd think I were a math teacher instead of a French teacher, though I was always good at math. I think the fractions allow me to think in terms of what I have already accomplished versus what I still need to accomplish. I do know that fractions motivate me to keep going and never quit until I've completed the WHOLE.

Geography Photo Powerpoint

Yesterday after school I was inspired, and a I whipped up a 45 slide powerpoint presentation on the geography of France. (OK, so I might have gotten a little carried away.) I used it today and it was very effective. Seeing these geographical features is so much more interesting than just hearing about them. I'll wiil try to attach it to this blog. I hope it works. I.ve never done this kind of attachment before. Here we go!.... H:\La Géographie de France

La Geographie de la France

Today, I taught a geography lesson on France. Already, I was able to add several interesting tidbits to the lesson because of all of the research I've done over the last 3 months preparing to write my grant with FundforTeachers. However, I was so wishing that I had more information, and more importantly that I had pictures and visuals to show. I will try to find some pictures online for tomorrow, but can you imagine how much I could add if I actually were able to win a grant and go to France. OMG, I am soooo excited and nervous. I can't wait till March 31st. J'ai besoin de la bonne chance.

A plus tard!

Walking Training Schedule

This is the training schedule for the

walking portion of

La Grosse Tournee de France.

Cycling Training Schedule

This is the training schedule for the

cycling portion of

La Grosse Tournee de France.

Good day!

Today was a good day though I must admit that I did not make it to the gym this morning after working so late last night. All of my classes went very smoothly. I graded and input several assignments. I straightened my classroom. AND... after school the French Club met to make Valentine's cards for the retirement home. They turned out so nicely. Now, it's 4:30 pm and I'm off to the gym, and eventually home. Ahhhh, home!

Shopping for Success

Yesterday after school I went grocery shopping to get nutricious food for my training regime. I got lots of fruits and veggies (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, mangoes, clementines, squash, zucchini, spinach, and mushrooms.) I stocked up an canned goods, spices, and cooking supplies. Now, I just have to find time to cook. It certainly won't be today. I won't get home until 9pm tonight. Maybe tomorrow, though I also need to write 3 tests and grade several assignments before Friday. Progress reports are due again and we must include a test grade every 3 weeks. I have plenty of assignment grades, I just need a major grade. Oh well, it will all get done in due time.
I have to go for now...I have to teach an elementary French class from 5-6 pm, then speak to parents at the course selection fair from 7-9 pm. It is going to be a long night....Nitey-night!

Training Plan for February 2nd to February 8th, 2009

I will wake up at 3:30 am and be at the gym for 4:oo am. I will cycle on the stationary bike for 1 hour. (Don't forget padded bike shorts.) Then I will walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Stretch and cool down before getting ready for school.

After school, I will bike for another hour and walk for an hour. Afterward, I will alternate lifting weights (MWF) and swimming laps (ThSaSu). On Tuesday, I have to teach a class from 5-6pm and be at an open house at school from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. I would like to attend water aerobics classes on Thursday evening and Saturday morning.

Abbreviated Itinerary

Ever since I was a teenager, I have dreamed of biking and backpacking around France. Also, since I was a teenager, I have struggled with my weight. In fact, in the 15 years since I began teaching, I have gained nearly 100 pounds. After watching a documentary piece on the Discovery Health Channel, about a 400 lb. man who biked from California to Florida and lost over 100 lbs, I had a revelation. By making my dream of biking around France come true, I could also remedy my struggle with weight and my struggle with the history and literature portions of my upper-level courses. I began training immediately.

I have titled my voyage “ La Grosse Tournée de France” (The Grand Tour of France), playing off the « Tour de France » cycling race. I am also playing off the fact that the word grosse in French can mean heavy, or even fat, thus, including the weight loss aspect into the title. My “Grosse Tournée de France” will consist of 60 days of hiking and biking through France. I will bike an average of 20 to 40 miles per day from town to town. Upon arriving at each new town or historical site, I will find lodging and store my bicycle, if necessary. Then, I will walk or hike around the area to visit castles, cathedrals, museums, ruins, and other important historical venues. Along the way, I will collect informational brochures, realia, books, videos, CD’s, and materials for the classroom. At least once a week, I will mail home a package of the educational materials I have collected.

My tour will begin with three days in Paris, where I will visit a wide variety of museums, cathedrals, and monuments. I will also take 4 guided bike tours and 2 guided walking tours, in order to learn more about the history of the city and its impact on the culture. On the Paris Day and Night bike tours, I will learn the history of the major monuments in Paris, as well as the architecture used to build them. The Versailles bike tour will give me insight into the lives of Louis XIV, Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette and their courts. The bike tour to Monet’s Gardens will broaden my knowledge of the “Father of Impressionism” and the primary source of his inspiration, his garden. I am particularly looking forward to the World War II and French Revolution walking tours.

Days 4 through 6 encompass Chartres and its cathedral, Illiers-Combray (the summer home of author Marcel Proust), 12th century Châteaudun, and Orléans, the city saved by Joan of Arc during the Hundred Year’s War.

For the next seven days, I will explore the cities and châteaux (19) of the Loire Valley, including the Château of Chinon, where Joan of Arc solicited and army from King Charles.

Days 15 to 18 include cycling up the coast of Brittany and exploring the prehistoric sites of Vannes, Carnac, and Erdeven. Among these sites are the Musée d’Histoire et d’Archéologie and the Musée de Préhistoire.

On days 19 to 23, I will ride up the coast of Normandy, visiting the fortress St. Malo, Mont St. Michel, and the D-day beaches. At Arromanches beach, I will visit the D-day Museum and view a 306˚ circular cinema film entitled “The Price of Freedom.”

For the next seven days I will explore the cities of France, including: Rouen, where Joan of Arc was tried and burned at the stake; the Victor Hugo Museum in Villequiers; Amiens, the home of author Jules Verne; Reims; Nancy; and Strasbourg, which fell under German control during both World Wars.

Days 31 to 35 will find me cycling down the eastern border of France to cities like Colmar, Lyon, Annecy, and even Geneva, Switzerland, the headquarters of the United Nations.

The next 3 days will find me surrounded by hundreds of extinct volcanoes in Le Puy-en-Velay and Clermont-Ferrand. I will even visit a cathedral built 260 steps up a very tall and thin volcano. Then I will spend 3 days exploring the prehistoric cave paintings, shelters, and gorges of the Dordogne region.

The next city on my itinerary is Bergerac, home to Cyrano Savinien de Bergerac, a 17th century playwright who was himself the subject of a famous play by 19th century playwright Edmond Rostand. From there, I will travel to Bordeaux, St. Emilion (home to an underground cathedral carved from limestone by 9th century monks), Toulouse, and Carcassonne, a fortified city famous for withstanding a siege by Charlemagne.

On day 47, I will go to Sault in Provence to admire the lavender fields and to intercept the Tour de France, since it is one of the inspirations of my tour. Afterward, I will study the ancient Roman ruins and artifacts of Orange, Nîmes, Arles, and Avignon, which is also home to the French Papal Palace which housed seven popes from 1309 to 1377.

On days 53 to 57, I will discover the Mediterranean coast and the cities of Nice, Antibes, Cannes, St. Raphael, Aubagne (home of author Marcel Pagnol), and Marseilles. Château d’If, the castle from “the Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Man in the Iron Mask” by Alexander Dumas, is located in Marseilles.

Finally, I will take a ferry to La Corse, a French island in the Mediterranean, before returning to Paris. My last quest is to exploe the castle of Fontainebleau and to hike and bike through the forests which were the playground of kings and the inspiration of generations of authors and artists.

By the end of this voyage, I will have cycled nearly 1,500 miles and walked at least 250 miles. I will have visited numerous castles, cathedrals, and ruins. I will have toured 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I will have restored my fluency by speaking only French for 60 days. Finally, I will have become a better teacher and a thinner and healthier person.

An experiment in posting by cell phone.

This is a test. This is only a test. Had this been an actual blog entry it would have been much longer...lol.

Can you say STRESS?!?

Hey there! Anyone who claims that teaching is easy has certainly never spent much time in the front of the classrooom. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE teaching French. I should hope so since I have been doing it for 15 years. BUT, teaching is an incredible amount of work. It is the end of the 1st semester now and I have tons of tasks to accomplish in the next week. I have a bag full of tests and assignments to grade. I have to input all of those grades into the computer by Tuesday. I have to write 4 levels of semester exams, plus a writing prompt for each level. I have to administer the writing portion of the exam Monday and grade them all by Wednesday. Then I have to administer and grade the listening, reading, culture, and grammar sections of the exams. All of which must be entered into the computer, printed, and verified by Friday. AARRGGHH!!! If that weren't enough, the weekend after I have to plan the scope and sequence, lessons, activities, and materials for the next 9 weeks. I need an assistant.
Meanwhile I am trying to figure out where I can possibly fit in time to workout. I know that working out will give me more energy to accomplish all my other goals....but I'm sooooooo tired.

Thank Goodness it's Friday! or as we say in French C-A-C-V (Chic alors, c'est vendredi!) We even have a song to sing in praise of Friday.

C-A-C-V , C-A-C-V
La fin de semaine est arrive.
Deux jours de conge, pour s'amuser.
Chic alors, c'est vendredi!
C-A-C-V ..... HEUH!!!!

Yeah we sang that song twice last period...lol!

Oh well, time to pack up all of my work and head home... to work some more!
Have a great weekend!

Happy New Year! Happy New You! Happy New Me!

I actually decided to begin this journey in November, but work, family, and illness have interfered a little so far. But, here we are in the new year and it's time to get things rollin' for real.
Ever since I was a teenager I have dreamed of biking around France... just like the Tour de France, but with no competition. I was lucky enough to study in France for my junior year of college; but, there are so many things that I still want to see and explore.
Also, since I was a teenager, I have been obese. I weighed 200 lbs. at my college graduation and I now weigh 350lbs. as I begin this journey.
My plan is to bike around France for 60 days, traveling from town to town. I will ride 20-40 miles each morning to arrive at the new town. Then I will find lodging in a hostel or cheap hotel, store my bike, and spend the rest of the day exploring the town on foot. The next morning I will get up and start all over again. I estimate that by the end of my voyage I will have cycled at least 1500 miles and walked about 300 miles. Between the exercise and eating healthfully, I should be able to lose a great deal of weight.
Before I go, I need to train and to lose weight. My training plan consists of waking up at 3:30am, working out at the gym (24 hour fitness) from 4:00-5:30 am. Then I will shower, change, and go to work from 6:30-3:30. After school, I will go back to the gym and workout for another 2 hours. On nice days and on weekends, I will take my workout outside and walk in the park or take a long ride on my bike. My main forms of exercise will include the stationary bike, the treadmill, weights, water aerobics, and swimming. However, I will throw in a little variation from time to time just to keep things interesting.
Somewhere in there I still have to find time to plan lessons, teach, grade papers, etc.
WISH ME LUCK!