tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39053635584808360572024-03-13T22:31:24.210-07:00Ma Vie est Belleemma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-24826481460663120362012-06-20T07:19:00.001-07:002012-06-20T07:19:21.777-07:00sad endings, new beginnings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have officially been home for a little over a month and working on readjusting to life in the US of A. I had a super hard time leaving and knowing I was leaving a job, friends, an apartment, and a routine behind. As difficult as it was to come home, I had a lot to look forward to and it seems as though I launched into summer quickly. About 24 hours after I flew home, we drove up to upstate NY to see my sister graduate from Hobart and William Smith. The weather was dy-na-mite and it was nice to get some sun and spend time with my family. </div>
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Next up, mom and I took a little trip to NYC for a doctors' appointment ... and a little bit of fun. We got to go to Upright Citizens Brigade theater for an improv show, did some light shopping, and had a cupcake tasting test ... Magnolia Bakery won. I finished my stay with a visit with Allison on set of GIRLS which was beyond amazing.<br />
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I decided to use my time with no commitment or job wisely, and headed to Miami for doctor's appointments, physical therapy, and some intense heat and sun. I was there for two weeks learning as much as I could and working on getting back in shape after 8 months of wine and cheese ...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">found some dishware from brittany in the old<br />vizcaya mansion in miami! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">my friend lindsay came down to keep me company<br />for a few days.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">sunrise the morning we left.</span></td></tr>
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I miss Rennes everyday and I will never forget all of the people I met there and all of the amazing opportunities I had over the past two years. I'm excited to be home and to start new adventures so stay tuned in case they bring me overseas once again ...<br />
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Check out my latest blog post on MIUSA's website: http://www.miusablog.org/2012/06/returning-home-after-teaching-in-france-processing-past-adventures-and-preparing-for-new-ones/<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>rennes, tu me manques.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-33639131347624242172012-05-02T08:04:00.000-07:002012-05-02T08:04:10.465-07:00spring things.I can't believe the last time I wrote my family was here. It is May already! After a beautiful March, we had the worst weather in April - complete with daily rain, hail, wind, and the need to wear Uggs (like, what?). Finally yesterday, May Day, the sun came out and it did not disappoint. So I'm celebrating the sunshine by writing about all of the wonderful spring things that have been happening since my last post.<br />
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To start, France graced me with another long holiday and my friends and I took advantage of two weeks of vacation at the beginning of April. The first week I stayed in Rennes catching up on sleep and doing what you are supposed to do on vacation: nothing. We kicked off vacation with an amazing six hour long mimosa brunch complete with homemade bagels (thank you Kels and Steven) and hours of charades.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">quite the spread.</span></td></tr>
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I did take a day trip to Normandy with one of my colleagues to see the Les Haras Nationaux. I have to explain a bit because I think this is a weird concept for Americans, but yes, it is very similar to what we did in November: visiting a stud farm. It seems bizarre to explain what is basically visiting a historical, high class prostitution ring for horses, but France takes a lot of pride in their <i>haras </i>and they are always architecturally beautiful and historically very interesting. We visited the <i>haras </i>in Saint Lô. Built in the late 1800s the <i>haras </i>was used by Napoleon and after the bombing of Normandy during WWII, some of the buildings were reconstructed to be exactly as they were at that time. We went in the rain (surprise surprise) so we were the only ones to show up for the guided tour. We were able to poke around, ask questions, and most importantly meet the studs.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">where the manager of the <i>haras </i>used to live.</span></td></tr>
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That weekend we lost internet which came at a good time because I had plans to jet south to meet my friends Helen and Lindsay for the second week. (sidenote: it's week three without internet and I'm proving to myself going three weeks without compulsively checking email and watching online television <i>is</i> possible). I started by meeting Helen in Montpellier for a quick visit. Two days and two nights were met with lots of walking around, lots of wine, and lots of eating. Of course we couldn't visit the south without taking advantage of our favorite restaurant: L'Entrecote. I'm so glad this place doesn't exist in the US because I'm pretty sure I would turn into <i>steak-frites</i>. We only had one full day there which ended up being the only non rainy day so we spent it in the "park" which was more like an organic jungle playing cards, listening to music, drinking rosé and enjoying the sun. The next day we hopped the train to Toulouse to meet up with Lindsay and stay in Toulouse for a few days. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">red wine and secret steak sauce at l'êntrecote. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">beautiful skies.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">lazy day in the jungle.</span></td></tr>
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Despite <i>la pluie </i>for days and hours on end, we had such a nice time in Toulouse. Helen lives outside the city so she has visited before, and this was my third time staying with Lindsay, so we were really able to enjoy each other's company, catch up and just be on vacation. We cooked a lot, drank a lot of wine, played a lot of cards, went out and met Lindsay's friends, and I ended up staying an extra day so we could do a double hitter: Titanic 3D followed by Hunger Games. Quite possibly one of the best days we had. We also reenacted Budapest in that we found baths a bit outside of the city and took a bus to relax in the warm baths, sauna and hamamm for an afternoon. I got back late on a Sunday night to one last week of work.<br />
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We found this great buffet vietnamese place with an amazing menu including pho which is actually the best cure to a rainy afternoon:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ff53ncZiVfI/T6FGxhsMRVI/AAAAAAAABLE/hCYuBrlvFt0/s1600/IMG_2052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ff53ncZiVfI/T6FGxhsMRVI/AAAAAAAABLE/hCYuBrlvFt0/s320/IMG_2052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">goat cheese and fig tart with helen's homemade crust<br />from lindsay's farm? don't mind if we do.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vepDku3nFow/T6FG_JP_sfI/AAAAAAAABL8/Za474b2t-ds/s1600/IMG_2090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vepDku3nFow/T6FG_JP_sfI/AAAAAAAABL8/Za474b2t-ds/s320/IMG_2090.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">traditional southern sausage with ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">traditional southern cheese ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLEt9Gu0cvU/T6FHO94NLNI/AAAAAAAABMc/VxAwOQeuAkQ/s1600/IMG_2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLEt9Gu0cvU/T6FHO94NLNI/AAAAAAAABMc/VxAwOQeuAkQ/s320/IMG_2115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">with roasted spring vegetables ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUfkPUrsx6M/T6FHRuItIlI/AAAAAAAABMk/1OcNHBshSlU/s1600/IMG_2116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUfkPUrsx6M/T6FHRuItIlI/AAAAAAAABMk/1OcNHBshSlU/s320/IMG_2116.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and some radishes with butter as an appetizer ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vYwfCAArBt4/T6FGrgEXwCI/AAAAAAAABK0/lifCq4ufnpM/s1600/IMG_2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vYwfCAArBt4/T6FGrgEXwCI/AAAAAAAABK0/lifCq4ufnpM/s320/IMG_2019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">makes for very happy friends.</span></td></tr>
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When I got back from the south I had one more week of school left. I finished classes this past Monday and I have been thinking about packing ever since. Key word here: <i>thinking </i>about it. Caely's family came to visit so we have been spending some time with them (slash spending time with her nephew who is <i>actually </i>the chillest, most edible baby on the planet).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nH-KDLUqVpY/T6FKfBqvGxI/AAAAAAAABM4/tEhxVa5hi-U/s1600/IMG_2122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nH-KDLUqVpY/T6FKfBqvGxI/AAAAAAAABM4/tEhxVa5hi-U/s320/IMG_2122.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i mean, come on.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">berit and rowan.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-okcQcnKlqBM/T6FKifbZVLI/AAAAAAAABNI/-JH0T_qETlM/s1600/IMG_2126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-okcQcnKlqBM/T6FKifbZVLI/AAAAAAAABNI/-JH0T_qETlM/s320/IMG_2126.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i wasn't kidding ... all eyes on sir ro.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i also met miss keziah, my colleague carine's<br />six week old baby girl and we had a staring<br />contest that turned into love for a good two hours.</span></td></tr>
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Yesterday was the first beautiful day we had in a while and it was labor day (which we all know the French take extremely seriously: complete with no public transportation and lots of striking) so we hosted a spa day to ring in spring with clear skin and manicured hands.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and yes, there was champagne involved.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">mayonnaise and egg hair mask?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">claire and i: co captains of the synchronized<br />swimming team.</span></td></tr>
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This week is going to be filled with packing and getting ready for the transition home which will definitely be interesting, so I'm planning on getting my fill of bread, chocolate and wine before I leave. Home bound in T minus 6 days ...</div>
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<br />emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-671365307539378632012-03-31T08:55:00.001-07:002012-03-31T08:55:16.432-07:00day and night.My last post I talked about Eastern Europe, traveling, and the cold. My life at the moment could not be more different: I haven't left Rennes in over a month, I have had some pretty important visitors, and the weather has been painfully perfect. For the past two weeks we have nothing but sunshine and summer weather meaning drinks outside, a sunburn and lots of park time.<br />
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Very shortly after I got back from vacation, my parents came to visit for a few days before they continued to Mont Saint Michel, Normandy and Paris. We had such an amazing time. We ate a ton, rented a car and traveled to a nearby town for the day (in the wind and rain), hung out in my apartment, they attended a class (an advanced debate on prostitution nonetheless), and spent some time with my friends eating cheese and drinking wine. Pretty ideal. As always, I'm feeling a bit lazy in my description of what we did so here are some photos to give you a good idea of our time together ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D6oVoWwCtOA/T3MnhaYNTuI/AAAAAAAABFQ/l2N8E70Eh_4/s1600/IMG_1814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D6oVoWwCtOA/T3MnhaYNTuI/AAAAAAAABFQ/l2N8E70Eh_4/s320/IMG_1814.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ok so not really having to do with my parents visit, but i made<br />dates stuffed with goat cheese wrapped in proscuitto with dates<br />lindsay brought back from morocco. bomb.com doesn't even begin<br />to explain how good they were. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fwww6dfP7R8/T3Mnk6-wF4I/AAAAAAAABFY/4zIx0Vbp-0E/s1600/IMG_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fwww6dfP7R8/T3Mnk6-wF4I/AAAAAAAABFY/4zIx0Vbp-0E/s320/IMG_1822.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">we had a little cocktail party so my friends could meet my parents</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">there was lots of chat</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IvsbvOsrjiI/T3MnufAmfDI/AAAAAAAABFo/KZ90a2RjqWE/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IvsbvOsrjiI/T3MnufAmfDI/AAAAAAAABFo/KZ90a2RjqWE/s320/IMG_1827.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and inevitably a bit of dancing in the end ... </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on sunday we drove to dinan which is northwest of rennes.<br />it is the cutest town - super picturesque.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">mom and dad at a crêperie in dinan.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NHHmfK1MOHk/T3Mn-X432OI/AAAAAAAABGQ/EogXI3TzniI/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NHHmfK1MOHk/T3Mn-X432OI/AAAAAAAABGQ/EogXI3TzniI/s320/IMG_1837.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">view from the top. absolutely beautiful.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hello wind.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">basilica in the center overlooking the valley. </span></td></tr>
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A little less than a week after my parents left, my friend Allison came to visit. We have known each other since our first days at Elkhorn and we have remained extremely close despite the fact we have never lived in the same place. Al isn't completely keen on traveling, especially overseas, so it was a big deal to have her here and we had the most amazing time here. The weather behaved itself the whole time and she was able to see all aspects of my life. We ate at some of my favorite restaurants, we had a game night so she could meet my friends, we sat for endless hours in the sun both in the park and drinking coffee outside, she came to school for a whole day with me and then we were able to spend three incredible days in Paris where we lounged and caught up on bad TV. Her visit was such a tease as it was the most time we have spent one on one and I wish she could have stayed longer! We are all very excited though because her new HBO show 'GIRLS' is coming out on April 15th so don't forget to watch! Here are some highlights from our trip ...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the best ice cream in rennes in the sun.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">game night gets competitive.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EzUprrSzfCQ/T3MoP0wS--I/AAAAAAAABG4/G1p4n9bd4mU/s1600/IMG_1887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EzUprrSzfCQ/T3MoP0wS--I/AAAAAAAABG4/G1p4n9bd4mU/s320/IMG_1887.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">my team. the best team.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBuzz37LNXQ/T3MoT63zZFI/AAAAAAAABHA/tI8N9XwUoOw/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBuzz37LNXQ/T3MoT63zZFI/AAAAAAAABHA/tI8N9XwUoOw/s320/IMG_1888.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the other team. their affection for the dog soon became an <br />obsession. yet they still won ... </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">berit explains her drawing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">soon to be birthday girl!</span></td></tr>
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I was sad to watch my parents and Al go, but I don't have much time here and the weather has been so gorgeous so I have definitely been taking advantage of it spending as much time as possible outside and with my friends. Plus, vacation is coming up in one week (yup, that's right ... another vacation.) I'm going to stay in Rennes for the first week to hang with friends and celebrate Easter, afterwords I will go to Montpellier and Toulouse with Helen and Lindsay. Hopefully the south will be nice enough for some beach action? </div>
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<i>Je vous laisse regarder les photos. A bientôt!</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">parc thabor on a lazy saturday.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">berit at the park.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">kels at the park.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">claire at the park.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">saturday morning flowers.</span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-5787859796793819682012-02-29T07:14:00.000-08:002012-02-29T07:14:09.397-08:00beautiful budapest.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Saturday early afternoon I arrived in Budapest ...</div>
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I rented another apartment from airbnb that worked out perfectly with these two goons ... </div>
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Helen and Lindsay studied abroad with me in Rennes and are now assistants in/around Toulouse in the south. All three of us were coming from another trip, so we were equally as exhausted and broke which ended up making for a WONDERFUL little séjour in Budapest. </div>
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Two things you should know: </div>
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1. Budapest is actually two cities. Buda and Pest. Apparently most people know this, but I didn't and I think that the fact that you can live in a city called Buda is one of the coolest things ever.</div>
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2. The hats Linds and Helen are wearing in the picture above is no joke. Everyone walks around in them (in large part due to the fact that it's February in Eastern Europe ...) and by the end of our trip, we were all extremely close to buying them.</div>
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Sunday was our first full day in Budapest. We walked around attempting to orient ourselves and ended up stopping for pastries, very early on in the day, then headed towards the Jewish quarter to explore and see the synagogue. I learned so much on this vacation, both in Berlin and Budapest. It was incredible to learn about what Budapest went through during World War II and the effect on the Jewish population. We got a tour of the synagogue and our tour guide, who was from Brooklyn, was extremely passionate and informative. The synagogue was amazing, and is the largest in Europe, so it was very impressive. After a late lunch, we wandered around the Jewish quarter for a bit which is the former Jewish ghetto making it eery and heartbreaking. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this memorial tree contains names of hungarian Jews<br />who lost their lives in the holocaust.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--toaM2_SSFk/T0fOIxAzexI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/2kG-abZG3fM/s1600/IMG_1512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--toaM2_SSFk/T0fOIxAzexI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/2kG-abZG3fM/s320/IMG_1512.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">if you flipped the statue over, without the leaves, it<br />would be a menorah. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">linds and helen inside the Jewish museum.</span></td></tr>
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After a heavy day, we took sometime to shower and decompress at home before venturing off to a (very fancy) light dinner. We ended up on the 'Champs Elysée' of Budapest near the Opera house at a French restaurant. The ambiance was so beautiful and the food was incredible. We nixed our plans of going out and stayed for drinks and appetizers and a four string quartet. One nice thing about Budapest was the price ... inexpensive. Everything was cheap allowing us to really enjoy ourselves and experience a <i>real </i>vacation. That being said, the currency in Budapest is forints and when you convert it 10 euro is thousands of forints which become extremely confusing when the dinner check said 10, 500.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the opera house lit up at night.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">impromptu dance party in the kitchen ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">there was a lot of that.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">duck ravioli with butternut squash sauce? yes please.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">calamari and bulgar salad. yum.</span></td></tr>
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Monday we check out the Basilica which was literally a three minute walk from our apartment. It was beautiful both inside and out and contained the mummified hand of St. Stephen, who was the first king of Hungary, from the year 1000.<br />
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My friends who had been to Budapest before recommended the covered market, so we made our way to the land of fruit and strudel. Let me just say that once is not enough, we went everyday after that to take full advantage of the Hungarian speciality trying cabbage, apple cinnamon, cherry, and curd cheese with apricot (which I know sounds different, but it was so good). </div>
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We also discovered a used English book store on our way home, which was very cool - it was such a tiny whole in the wall. Also something that is popular in Budapest (and amazing) are stores that sell wine on one side and books on the other. Genius? I thought so ...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">linds checking out the selection.</span></td></tr>
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That night we went to the <a href="http://www.szechenyibath.com/">Szchenyi Thermal Baths</a>. This was my favorite part of Budapest. It was a huge building with tons of baths of different temperatures and saunas and steam rooms: it was so beautiful. Plus, we went at night, so it was freezing, but the outside was a huge hot tub where we just lounged for an hour or so chatting. Best people watching in Budapest. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so no pictures, but if you visit the website you can see what it looks like.<br />
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Tuesday we decided would be our 'Buda' day where we would spend the day on the other side of the Danube. There we visited the palace, which contained two huge museums including the history museum which was <i>really </i>cool, and a huge church with an extremely unique tiled roof and beautiful view.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">view from the palace.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0W9fBOws34/T0fQhLzACRI/AAAAAAAAA_w/kdmmb_lqg0o/s1600/IMG_1662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0W9fBOws34/T0fQhLzACRI/AAAAAAAAA_w/kdmmb_lqg0o/s320/IMG_1662.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">peek at pest.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-uvmiIORxg/T0fQv4wPP-I/AAAAAAAABAA/HvtG3eIAtAg/s1600/IMG_1668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-uvmiIORxg/T0fQv4wPP-I/AAAAAAAABAA/HvtG3eIAtAg/s320/IMG_1668.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">entrance to the castle.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wmu2NlEXuEk/T0fQ4PtC-MI/AAAAAAAABAI/mrFrxfONQCs/s1600/IMG_1676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wmu2NlEXuEk/T0fQ4PtC-MI/AAAAAAAABAI/mrFrxfONQCs/s320/IMG_1676.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">guards in front of the president's office?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JZo9mZ8UpCo/T0fRI0z7BVI/AAAAAAAABAY/MB9QGuNTCoA/s1600/IMG_1679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JZo9mZ8UpCo/T0fRI0z7BVI/AAAAAAAABAY/MB9QGuNTCoA/s320/IMG_1679.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">tapestry of budapest in history museum.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_NFoGQbD54/T0fRVzYZ0bI/AAAAAAAABAo/SHzvACV7xd4/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_NFoGQbD54/T0fRVzYZ0bI/AAAAAAAABAo/SHzvACV7xd4/s320/IMG_1686.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a visit to buda wouldn't have been complete<br />without fancy coffee ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dy-0cPXISy4/T0fRdHrALOI/AAAAAAAABAw/2DvkSGQt26A/s1600/IMG_1693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dy-0cPXISy4/T0fRdHrALOI/AAAAAAAABAw/2DvkSGQt26A/s320/IMG_1693.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">or pastries.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vm15yQA9Mko/T0fRvvd89DI/AAAAAAAABBI/wmcmrdAOeQQ/s1600/IMG_1704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vm15yQA9Mko/T0fRvvd89DI/AAAAAAAABBI/wmcmrdAOeQQ/s320/IMG_1704.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">top of the church on the most beautiful day.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLe8BjAJTLg/T0fR3UULK2I/AAAAAAAABBQ/vSsBBAygZMY/s1600/IMG_1710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLe8BjAJTLg/T0fR3UULK2I/AAAAAAAABBQ/vSsBBAygZMY/s320/IMG_1710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vf7e5sSTlGE/T0fR9o63hYI/AAAAAAAABBY/wzsz2CxAYZM/s1600/IMG_1711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vf7e5sSTlGE/T0fR9o63hYI/AAAAAAAABBY/wzsz2CxAYZM/s320/IMG_1711.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">tiled rooftop.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hSzVqbPuq1Q/T0fSC24sdII/AAAAAAAABBg/nv4EQCleCYc/s1600/IMG_1712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hSzVqbPuq1Q/T0fSC24sdII/AAAAAAAABBg/nv4EQCleCYc/s320/IMG_1712.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">by the time we got to the church the lighting was incredible.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CIwVGshyB-4/T0fSGiIffbI/AAAAAAAABBo/rvPkqRnH-9I/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CIwVGshyB-4/T0fSGiIffbI/AAAAAAAABBo/rvPkqRnH-9I/s320/IMG_1714.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cGENb2HqyTM/T0fSLa02ooI/AAAAAAAABBw/rsWNQ__-IZk/s1600/IMG_1716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cGENb2HqyTM/T0fSLa02ooI/AAAAAAAABBw/rsWNQ__-IZk/s320/IMG_1716.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">parliament building across the river.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T4z4MiFd5gQ/T0fSnfcoHVI/AAAAAAAABCg/hHlAnqZZJWY/s1600/IMG_1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T4z4MiFd5gQ/T0fSnfcoHVI/AAAAAAAABCg/hHlAnqZZJWY/s320/IMG_1738.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">because it was all downhill, we decided to walk home<br />and chose the perfect time of night.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4q6ZRkj5eg/T0fSs-4tYOI/AAAAAAAABCo/SIjK7qE__5w/s1600/IMG_1742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4q6ZRkj5eg/T0fSs-4tYOI/AAAAAAAABCo/SIjK7qE__5w/s320/IMG_1742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4s8Y76Lkwyo/T0fS5CKcT6I/AAAAAAAABC4/kxgMYZ3C9pE/s1600/IMG_1753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4s8Y76Lkwyo/T0fS5CKcT6I/AAAAAAAABC4/kxgMYZ3C9pE/s320/IMG_1753.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">linds and hel pose with the chain bridge and the buda<br />palace in the background.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJ1alxV6yjg/T0fTAbwOD3I/AAAAAAAABDA/J1svuCJZu4c/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJ1alxV6yjg/T0fTAbwOD3I/AAAAAAAABDA/J1svuCJZu4c/s320/IMG_1754.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">thanks to a food blog i found, we ended up a very traditional<br />hungarian restaurant that evening spending next to nothing<br />for an amazing feast. i had gorgonzola cheese and prune stuffed<br />chicken. i know. and yes, it was amazing.</span></td></tr>
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This brings us to the last day - already! We started the day with a free walking tour (which admittedly we should have done the first day, but it was cool nonetheless. Future Budapest goers: do this your first day!). Our tour guide was Hungarian, but spoke English perfectly and in addition to showing us around the center of the city, she filled us in on how to say certain words in Hungarian (which is impossible to understand and I can only imagine extremely difficult to learn) as well as famous Hungarians (Tony Curtis? Estée Lauder? Drew Barrymore's mom anyone?) We then tried famous Hungarian goulash soup (which is like a beef soup with paprika) for lunch before running to the parliament building for another tour. The building itself was beautiful, and the inside was impressive, the tour guide on their other hand was ... bizarre.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RRU0x60O4Fg/T0fTNyZ7vxI/AAAAAAAABDQ/EA2J_oeBMWY/s1600/IMG_1761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RRU0x60O4Fg/T0fTNyZ7vxI/AAAAAAAABDQ/EA2J_oeBMWY/s320/IMG_1761.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this statue is good luck if you rub her knees so of course<br />we all queued up like over anxious tourists in hopes of good luck.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rd1BDgmBHwM/T0fTUnmSLKI/AAAAAAAABDY/DZ1fCuRULIw/s1600/IMG_1767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rd1BDgmBHwM/T0fTUnmSLKI/AAAAAAAABDY/DZ1fCuRULIw/s320/IMG_1767.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">in the park there are love locks where people write their<br />names after they are married.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3BU6jx-1RA4/T0fTaW65UBI/AAAAAAAABDg/hUnroyxuO7o/s1600/IMG_1770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3BU6jx-1RA4/T0fTaW65UBI/AAAAAAAABDg/hUnroyxuO7o/s320/IMG_1770.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">front of the parliament building.</span></td></tr>
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After the parliament tour, we walked down to the edge of the river on the Pest side to see the sunset and soak in our last night in Budapest. Here you can find the Shoes on the Danube Promenade which is a memorial to the Jews that were shot into the river and killed by the Arrow Cross Army during WWII. It is extremely realistic and really well done.<br />
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After showers and trying a glass (or bottle ...) of some Hungarian wine we bought earlier (which by the way is very good ... who knew?) we headed to our last dinner. We tried another traditional Hungarian place and we were not disappointed - even though our waiter could only say "can I help you" "chocolate" and "thank you." Helen and I got chicken in a paprika sauce and dumpling like pasta (and sour cream of course because they literally put sour cream on ev.ery.thing,) which Linds got turkey in a mushroom sauce that was equally as amazing. For dessert we got flaming crêpes ... because how can you not?<br />
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All in all we had a great trip. I really enjoyed Budapest and was able to relax and be on vacation without worrying about money or time or anything. The ONLY thing was the accessibility of it all. Being with two of my best friends was key because we all had to put up with a lot: no curb cut outs, awful public transportation, and a lot of broken 'elevators.' Unless you are willing to deal with all of that, I recommend finding another Eastern European city to try. Even the Starbucks wasn't accessible, which is saying a lot. On the flight back I sat next to a man and his daughter who was in a temporary wheelchair and when he found out I spoke French, he went on a rant about how difficult it was to navigate the city. There was a lot of eye rolling in the conversation. I hear ya buddy. But the city was super flat so I got my fair share of exercise and I got to spend four amazing days in an incredible city with two awesome friends - <i>je me plains pas! </i></div>
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My parents are coming <i>tomorrow </i>which is beyond exciting. I can't wait to show them around Rennes and considering today is 60 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, I'm hoping it will feel like spring and they will fall in love with Rennes as much as I have ... </div>
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<br />emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-53063991104404804602012-02-24T09:42:00.000-08:002012-02-27T08:48:23.096-08:00school vacation in BERLINVacations are definitely one of the perks of this job, as I have mentioned many, many, MANY times before. This February I was perhaps overly ambitious in my travels and my budget, but I traveled for 10 days in Eastern Europe and had an amazing time. I started in Berlin with four friends from Rennes (Kelsey, Annie and Caely, who are also in their second year of the assistantship in Rennes, and Claire, who is Irish and is in her first year). We rented a lovely apartment in Prenzlauer Berg (thank you airbnb) and spent four whole days and five nights enjoying and exploring the city.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and we're off! claire and caely get ready to take flight.</span></td></tr>
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Monday morning we took off from Rennes heading towards the Paris airport and arrived in Berlin in time for some grocery shopping, making dinner, and a little riesling. The first day we set out on a free walking tour for four hours, and it might have been my favorite part of the trip. Our guide, Barry, was Irish and did a great job. We learned SO much about the city, the history, the architecture, art, and German/Berlin culture. It was my first time in Germany so I was soaking up every ounce of knowledge. The tour covered almost everything: the Brandenberg gate, the Holocaust memorial, the Berlin wall, museum island, Check Point Charlie, buildings left over from Nazi architecture, and the Opera house among lots of other memorials, squares and important buildings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pre tour - warm and psyched.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">propaganda mural on former nazi air force building which is<br />now berlin's tax office ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">our guide barry and a part of the wall.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">that's all folks.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">brandenburg gate.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">holocaust memorial</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">annie and claire </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">coffee break on the tour ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hipsta brandenburg gate.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">walking along the very frozen river.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">museum island.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">checkpoint charlie.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">checkpoint charlie was reconstructed to look exactly like it did<br />when the US occupied this part of berlin. it is now touristy and you<br />can 'pose' with a soviet or US soldier ... </span></td></tr>
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The one downside was that it was absolutely FREEZING our first day, so hour four I think we had all reached our limit ... the freezing rain in the last half an hour didn't help either. Barry suggested a restaurant about 10 minutes away that we trekked to and discovered spätzle. Oh my goodness. It is basically a thick egg noodle/gnocchi-esque with tons of cheese. It's the Eastern European answer to mac'n cheese and it's amazing. A huge helping of spätzle and two pints later, we were ready to face the cold again and walk around before retiring for the evening.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">annie and caely: thankful for spätzle.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">me and kelsey: thankful for beer.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">cheers to being warm in berlin.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pure love. and cheese.</span></td></tr>
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Wednesday we started off heading to the Jewish History Museum and exploring the Kreuzberg neighborhood. The history museum was huge and very cool, and the architecture was very impressive. We spent a couple hours exploring the museum before we headed to Kreuzberg in search of currywurst which we found at Curry 36. I've never had currywurst, but it is essentially a fried sausage with curried ketchup and fries. Whether it sounds appealing or not, I'm here to tell you ... it is. We walked around the area everywhere before stopping for some pre-dinner drinks. When we finally made it to dinner, we discovered a Vietnamese place called Miss Saigon. It clearly made an impression considering it wasn't our last time there. A huge bowl of Vietnamese soup was exactly what we needed to stay warm for our trek back home.</div>
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We walked so much while we were in Berlin, but we also took advantage of the simplicity of the public transportation. I never tried the bus, but I have to say that both the U train and the S train were super easy to navigate and the map clearly indicated which stops had elevators and which stops didn't (even though we did run into some broken elevator situations ... good thing I was with some strong women!). Berlin was a really young, gritty, new, historical, artsy city - it reminded me of all the good things about New York, but more graffiti and less pretentious-ness (if that is even a word ...)<br />
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On Thursday the weather redeemed itself and we got a slow start enjoying the sun and strolling through Prenzlauer Berg, which was adorable. We stopped to get coffee and pastries and soak up the sun while we had the chance. We moseyed down towards Kreuzberg again to try Turkish food and continue our walking tour of Berlin. That night we attempted Berlin night life at a club that played way too much techno music and the ambiance wasn't what we were hoping for, but it was fun to dance together and see what happens in Berlin at night.<br />
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Friday we decided to explore a completely different area and we headed towards the western part of the city to see the Bauhaus museum. We got distracted on our way there by a food market where we tried kebabs and sausage. We finally arrived at the Bauhaus Archives, which was very cool. Our friend Kelsey suggested it and it was really really interesting especially because I knew nothing going into it. We stayed for a couple hours learning about architecture, photography and the history of the Bauhaus movement before walking back for ... you guessed it ... more German pastries. With our goal being to return to Miss Saigon for Vietnamese soup one last time, we headed back towards Kreuzberg and walked along the river to see the East Side Gallery. This is where the wall was painted on commission and is a long, diverse mural recreating the wall. In addition to the tour, this was amazing. We didn't make it until after sunset, but it hardly mattered. The art was incredible and after learning so much about the wall and Berlin's history, it was amazing to see it being reused and reconstructed.<br />
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Saturday morning, despite rumors of a strike, we all headed off at different times in different directions, me heading southeast. Next stop Budapest ...<br />
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</div>emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-47131861553452966322012-02-24T08:15:00.002-08:002012-02-24T08:15:16.395-08:00as of late ...I can't believe I haven't written in 2012 ... consider this my first post of the new year! I can't believe how quickly these past six weeks have been (crazytown). We already have another vacation and I'm off TODAY to Berlin and Budapest for 10 days. It has been abnormally cold in Europe lately, so I'm not sure booking a trip to Eastern Europe was the best idea, but I'm bundling up and heading out of France. I have been super busy lately with teaching and my new internship with CIEE in Rennes. I have had such an incredible time in the office. In addition to doing some translation for course syllabus', I wrote a <i>dossier </i>for prospective students with reduced mobility and I serve as a support person for the students, which has been excellent. Speaking to students every day and answering their questions, giving them advice, or just chatting is <i>actually </i>the best job ever. I should write a lot more about what I've been doing, but here are some photos and I will fill in more when I get back from my trip!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CRTHl_YafeA/Tzi8nCfm6-I/AAAAAAAAAx8/2H6byxn5sRM/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CRTHl_YafeA/Tzi8nCfm6-I/AAAAAAAAAx8/2H6byxn5sRM/s320/IMG_1119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">attempting to grow some herbs for the kitchen</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5mO6PieycM/Tzi8q84_6-I/AAAAAAAAAyE/EoTAFNe2CSs/s1600/IMG_1124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5mO6PieycM/Tzi8q84_6-I/AAAAAAAAAyE/EoTAFNe2CSs/s320/IMG_1124.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">all january france celebrates with a marzipan filled pastry<br />called 'galette du roi.' each one is filled with a little plastic<br />toy - my toy collection speaks for itself...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UarKZjv-QTM/Tzi8xD3cCII/AAAAAAAAAyU/SH3BM1FI6zs/s1600/IMG_1169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UarKZjv-QTM/Tzi8xD3cCII/AAAAAAAAAyU/SH3BM1FI6zs/s320/IMG_1169.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">january was COLD</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dq54XIy2gtM/Tzi803T8H0I/AAAAAAAAAyc/2j7kKzNscHQ/s1600/IMG_1170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dq54XIy2gtM/Tzi803T8H0I/AAAAAAAAAyc/2j7kKzNscHQ/s320/IMG_1170.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">so, to stay warm, we made raclette, which is potatoes and ham<br />smothered in melted cheese ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QaMGvqz9wF0/Tzi84S_D-xI/AAAAAAAAAyk/jx2zNHP3hv0/s1600/IMG_1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QaMGvqz9wF0/Tzi84S_D-xI/AAAAAAAAAyk/jx2zNHP3hv0/s320/IMG_1171.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">raclette party</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAG8iOSz7nQ/Tzi89UPjLPI/AAAAAAAAAy0/FGVMca1gdy8/s1600/IMG_1192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAG8iOSz7nQ/Tzi89UPjLPI/AAAAAAAAAy0/FGVMca1gdy8/s320/IMG_1192.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">kelsey, berit, and claire</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urqd0tpCyew/Tzi9CVUg_aI/AAAAAAAAAy8/5ah48DsZVMg/s1600/IMG_1300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urqd0tpCyew/Tzi9CVUg_aI/AAAAAAAAAy8/5ah48DsZVMg/s320/IMG_1300.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">we haven't had much snow, but the beginning of february<br />we had a winter wonderland for about 24 hours</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2j3-NObt1ag/Tzi9MpUU8GI/AAAAAAAAAzU/_zb_dbgK3Kw/s1600/IMG_1325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2j3-NObt1ag/Tzi9MpUU8GI/AAAAAAAAAzU/_zb_dbgK3Kw/s320/IMG_1325.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">my roommate berit and i decided to celebrate super bowl<br />by making super bowl food and not actually watching it ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPtJMecFW-Y/Tzi9RkRgNFI/AAAAAAAAAzg/7P9tT8ukoDE/s1600/IMG_1332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPtJMecFW-Y/Tzi9RkRgNFI/AAAAAAAAAzg/7P9tT8ukoDE/s320/IMG_1332.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i went to the opera at the beginning of february to see benjamin<br />britton's adaptation of henry james's 'the turn of the screw'</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_IEoz2tD5rI/Tzi9QuEuZrI/AAAAAAAAAzc/EmxolhF4wOo/s1600/IMG_1326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_IEoz2tD5rI/Tzi9QuEuZrI/AAAAAAAAAzc/EmxolhF4wOo/s320/IMG_1326.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">prom! the roaring twenties was the theme of this year's<br />prom at chateaubriand. i went with my friend kelsey who is<br />also an english assistant and it was so fun. the students were<br />REALLY into it and they dressed up completely in twenties<br />garb. it was very impressive.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zgej0GFQN_o/Tzi9U3Hth7I/AAAAAAAAAzs/7Ns31Z7YZOQ/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zgej0GFQN_o/Tzi9U3Hth7I/AAAAAAAAAzs/7Ns31Z7YZOQ/s320/IMG_1338.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the decorations at prom were fantastic - complete with<br />piano player!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-brR2wGS5d6M/Tzi9YHaojoI/AAAAAAAAAz0/kmBdznslEm0/s1600/IMG_1350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-brR2wGS5d6M/Tzi9YHaojoI/AAAAAAAAAz0/kmBdznslEm0/s320/IMG_1350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here the students could pose with each other in front<br />of this 1920s french bike.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MiXBieczFNo/Tzi9cnmQmQI/AAAAAAAAAz8/7i9QkJJDShc/s1600/IMG_1353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MiXBieczFNo/Tzi9cnmQmQI/AAAAAAAAAz8/7i9QkJJDShc/s320/IMG_1353.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">dancing dancing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rwsJRAcRu0Y/Tzi9m6KwFYI/AAAAAAAAA0M/XX6GlK2_3yY/s1600/IMG_1359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rwsJRAcRu0Y/Tzi9m6KwFYI/AAAAAAAAA0M/XX6GlK2_3yY/s320/IMG_1359.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">even though my dj responsibilities were hijacked, the music<br />was great, and the student dj's were super into it. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GidkjCtYWM8/Tzi9sZ4RrXI/AAAAAAAAA0U/_nSZXE78vXM/s1600/IMG_1360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GidkjCtYWM8/Tzi9sZ4RrXI/AAAAAAAAA0U/_nSZXE78vXM/s320/IMG_1360.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i went to paris for a small conference about students with disabilities<br />studying abroad in paris and had the chance to meet up with my friend<br />shana's (freshman year roommie at bowdoin) sister. we grabbed<br />a couple glasses of wine after the conference and had so much fun, i wish<br />i had been able to stay the whole weekend ... </span></td></tr>
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<br />emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-13887524658394716852011-12-30T10:29:00.000-08:002011-12-30T10:29:12.233-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was lucky enough to receive the best Christmas present from my family: a roundtrip ticket home! After an incredibly busy December helping colleagues with end of the semester evaluations and scrambling around trying to decide what gifts to bring home (and realistically, what will fit in my suitcase) I spent a wonderful ten days in the US of A. Even though it ended up being a lot of dayquil and netflix due to getting sick (oops) I still managed to squeeze in a trip to NYC, seeing friends, lots of cooking and even more eating. Here are some snapshots from break ...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p9Q5-EBdfHc/Tv4Aj5jZGqI/AAAAAAAAAwI/TCbk5cAv-_Y/s1600/IMG_1045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p9Q5-EBdfHc/Tv4Aj5jZGqI/AAAAAAAAAwI/TCbk5cAv-_Y/s320/IMG_1045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a white christmas!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2QoFSiZvH8/Tv4And0WqXI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/VfGX1cT27Do/s1600/IMG_1046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2QoFSiZvH8/Tv4And0WqXI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/VfGX1cT27Do/s320/IMG_1046.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">celebrating cait's birthday in nyc.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x03MHytnvd8/Tv4BEjetqeI/AAAAAAAAAxY/pd07FpljpYM/s1600/IMG_1034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x03MHytnvd8/Tv4BEjetqeI/AAAAAAAAAxY/pd07FpljpYM/s320/IMG_1034.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pancakes are the new birthday cake.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MD5EcWM9msc/Tv4AuPhINcI/AAAAAAAAAwY/aqPBi8_MQ5c/s1600/IMG_1047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MD5EcWM9msc/Tv4AuPhINcI/AAAAAAAAAwY/aqPBi8_MQ5c/s320/IMG_1047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">christmas eve tradition: homemade pizza.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W1hWpBLtIQk/Tv4Aw-HetFI/AAAAAAAAAwg/wREbAw70LZc/s1600/IMG_1058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W1hWpBLtIQk/Tv4Aw-HetFI/AAAAAAAAAwg/wREbAw70LZc/s320/IMG_1058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">make it nice around the tree, make it nice.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jTcg2SsiejE/Tv4A2I1uPVI/AAAAAAAAAwo/5hLk6d7Lhyo/s1600/IMG_1062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jTcg2SsiejE/Tv4A2I1uPVI/AAAAAAAAAwo/5hLk6d7Lhyo/s320/IMG_1062.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">merry christmas family.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ8bpQ6xn-I/Tv4A9UJ1l6I/AAAAAAAAAw4/x4pr3lJXSOg/s1600/IMG_1002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ8bpQ6xn-I/Tv4A9UJ1l6I/AAAAAAAAAw4/x4pr3lJXSOg/s320/IMG_1002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">before heading home, my roommate and i did a little<br />tour of rennes to look at the lights and enjoy the<br />christmas market ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yAPrcWKkZQI/Tv4A-ndkyqI/AAAAAAAAAxA/InYvn3xdnYw/s1600/IMG_1004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yAPrcWKkZQI/Tv4A-ndkyqI/AAAAAAAAAxA/InYvn3xdnYw/s320/IMG_1004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">french christmas trees.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fROEoWTb__M/Tv4A_lgcBtI/AAAAAAAAAxI/SgjNy6mM8W4/s1600/IMG_1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fROEoWTb__M/Tv4A_lgcBtI/AAAAAAAAAxI/SgjNy6mM8W4/s320/IMG_1006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">christmas market with delicious food and spiced wine to keep you warm.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg-2x-M4H8E/Tv4BA8hag7I/AAAAAAAAAxQ/Nq6zeAO4l1M/s1600/IMG_1011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg-2x-M4H8E/Tv4BA8hag7I/AAAAAAAAAxQ/Nq6zeAO4l1M/s320/IMG_1011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">everyone was out and about looking at crafts and munching on<br />tartiflette at the christmas market.</span></td></tr>
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I am back 'home' in Rennes and anxious to ring in the New Year with my friends here. I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday and I will see you in the New Year!<br />
<br />emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-55132117279951886912011-11-20T23:17:00.001-08:002011-11-24T12:21:29.062-08:00sunday afternoon.Time for another update. I wish I had more pictures for this post, but I'm sure that Thanksgiving will provide plenty food pics so just a few will have to suffice this time! Ever since our October vacation, things have been really busy. I'm working a lot, tutoring a lot, and keeping very busy throughout the week. This usually means that Friday night I zombie out and watch bad reality TV I've wanted to catch up on, Saturday I sleep in and hit up the market, and Sunday is usually a wash.<br />
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But I have been very productive this weekend...meaning I was social and planned what is going to be another amazing ex-pat Thanksgiving. In addition to going to the market, going to IKEA, and doing what has become my only form of exercise here (dancing), I went to my dear friend Lisa's farm about half an hour outside of Rennes. Lisa is the owner of Apple Pie - the restaurant I talk constantly about - and she invited my friend Caely and me to spend the afternoon with her and her family. Last weekend I went to a colleague's house for lunch and after champagne and wine and a delicious chicken dish and <i>tarte tatin</i>, I decided it is so nice to spend Sunday with French families.<br />
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Our afternoon with Lisa was so lovely. Her husband is a baker and was nice enough to let us poke around his bakery ... it is very cool as everything around them is homemade, organic, recycled and wonderful. We had tea and cakes (gingerbread!) in the afternoon with her family including her sons and talked for hours about food and family and being a foreigner. We went for a walk, and Lisa and her family acquired an adorable female kitten from the neighbor. It was relaxing and I think I drank enough coffee and fresh apple juice to last me the rest of the semester. Sunday afternoon is something the French definitely know how to do ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YnCyW2NTzL0/Tsn-NWNlsoI/AAAAAAAAAvk/xSwQUQ1GJoY/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YnCyW2NTzL0/Tsn-NWNlsoI/AAAAAAAAAvk/xSwQUQ1GJoY/s320/IMG_0887.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">inside the baker's workshop.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWbdRpeWAx8/Tsn-RqveaUI/AAAAAAAAAvs/VyFEFYxHaHQ/s1600/IMG_0888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWbdRpeWAx8/Tsn-RqveaUI/AAAAAAAAAvs/VyFEFYxHaHQ/s320/IMG_0888.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">custom oven making between 50-60 loaves a day.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouph3mzg-IM/Tsn-Vhkw7dI/AAAAAAAAAv0/gnb-tj4vQ_Q/s1600/IMG_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouph3mzg-IM/Tsn-Vhkw7dI/AAAAAAAAAv0/gnb-tj4vQ_Q/s320/IMG_0889.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GODK-l2EZZY/Tsn-cWz_FZI/AAAAAAAAAv8/hi2jbDPhhRw/s1600/IMG_0875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GODK-l2EZZY/Tsn-cWz_FZI/AAAAAAAAAv8/hi2jbDPhhRw/s320/IMG_0875.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">i almost forgot to show you Apple Pie was featured<br />in french <i>Elle</i> ... la class.</span></td></tr>
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<br />emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-74331284714490302202011-11-12T08:52:00.000-08:002011-11-12T13:50:52.190-08:00random post.<br />
Not too much to update everyone on, but found some unused pictures in my iPhoto and thought I would share ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2rvz5e0SQWk/Tr7lCcUoDUI/AAAAAAAAAts/bTgr4X35MCs/s1600/IMG_0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2rvz5e0SQWk/Tr7lCcUoDUI/AAAAAAAAAts/bTgr4X35MCs/s320/IMG_0634.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">clare front row and center at the stade rennais vs. lorient game.<br />apparently she wasn't the only one psyched about the picture taking ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-APspj2oT4Zw/Tr7lIhofK6I/AAAAAAAAAt0/Kdzagq6_AG0/s1600/IMG_0640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-APspj2oT4Zw/Tr7lIhofK6I/AAAAAAAAAt0/Kdzagq6_AG0/s320/IMG_0640.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">smitten kitchen french onion soup: success!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mjETIQB2CkI/Tr7lPMF37VI/AAAAAAAAAt8/qq_GtzFy2k8/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mjETIQB2CkI/Tr7lPMF37VI/AAAAAAAAAt8/qq_GtzFy2k8/s320/IMG_0641.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">cute plate credit to berit.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4mLnOU1Bvk/Tr7lVt3_rFI/AAAAAAAAAuE/Znak1s2J9So/s1600/IMG_0647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4mLnOU1Bvk/Tr7lVt3_rFI/AAAAAAAAAuE/Znak1s2J9So/s320/IMG_0647.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">fig marscapone tart. yes we made it. yes it was delicious.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-My9GOBkiXZE/Tr7lbC-lRGI/AAAAAAAAAuM/zzvqaw89e4g/s1600/IMG_0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-My9GOBkiXZE/Tr7lbC-lRGI/AAAAAAAAAuM/zzvqaw89e4g/s320/IMG_0821.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on halloween (and caely's birthday!) we ventured to the <i>salon des vins</i><br />and they featured my favorite châteauneuf du pape wine. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TXKvwje2Fng/Tr7lg2MiXwI/AAAAAAAAAuU/nhyYwPPKkTw/s1600/IMG_0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TXKvwje2Fng/Tr7lg2MiXwI/AAAAAAAAAuU/nhyYwPPKkTw/s320/IMG_0823.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">one word: mustache.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9F_F_IOJY8/Tr7lnNZYHeI/AAAAAAAAAuc/n68lqW_4S5c/s1600/IMG_0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9F_F_IOJY8/Tr7lnNZYHeI/AAAAAAAAAuc/n68lqW_4S5c/s320/IMG_0825.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the salon also featured tons of cheese, sausage, chocolate, and foie gras.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_vJiJHOg15M/Tr7pI64_XtI/AAAAAAAAAvM/8M5_GoRUKNc/s1600/IMG_0852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_vJiJHOg15M/Tr7pI64_XtI/AAAAAAAAAvM/8M5_GoRUKNc/s320/IMG_0852.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">joyeux anniversaire caely! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fdt0ZEql7D0/Tr7pT7yiLHI/AAAAAAAAAvc/2xwmSgJ4HXs/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fdt0ZEql7D0/Tr7pT7yiLHI/AAAAAAAAAvc/2xwmSgJ4HXs/s320/IMG_0816.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">birthday brunch. complete with speculoos.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqMdaEK6z8Y/Tr7lsPuur0I/AAAAAAAAAuk/Uk3aE4tuho4/s1600/IMG_0832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqMdaEK6z8Y/Tr7lsPuur0I/AAAAAAAAAuk/Uk3aE4tuho4/s320/IMG_0832.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">halloween came to rennes. thank you clare for the pumpkin!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2uBBi-I8EWY/Tr7lwl1yIeI/AAAAAAAAAus/ExJTb6DzqfE/s1600/IMG_0843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2uBBi-I8EWY/Tr7lwl1yIeI/AAAAAAAAAus/ExJTb6DzqfE/s320/IMG_0843.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">role call: miss peacock, colonel mustard, miss white, prof. plum,<br />miss scarlet and mr. green. all present.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B1aHr4iNjWA/Tr7pOaSg9NI/AAAAAAAAAvU/f7_hY-oYh4w/s1600/IMG_0849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B1aHr4iNjWA/Tr7pOaSg9NI/AAAAAAAAAvU/f7_hY-oYh4w/s320/IMG_0849.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a scotsman and a lovely butterfly arrived.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NiTNB18H9dY/Tr7l1OdbsXI/AAAAAAAAAu0/ss3XVFDrWJg/s1600/IMG_0864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NiTNB18H9dY/Tr7l1OdbsXI/AAAAAAAAAu0/ss3XVFDrWJg/s320/IMG_0864.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">beautiful day in cancale with caely.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nLxYZoCzI2k/Tr7l7iWXGYI/AAAAAAAAAu8/Ozj1hwsBNJQ/s1600/IMG_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nLxYZoCzI2k/Tr7l7iWXGYI/AAAAAAAAAu8/Ozj1hwsBNJQ/s320/IMG_0867.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">lots and lots and lots of oyster shells.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eAzlwT9WJcQ/Tr7mCZWWOJI/AAAAAAAAAvE/3GA3LVwCFkY/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eAzlwT9WJcQ/Tr7mCZWWOJI/AAAAAAAAAvE/3GA3LVwCFkY/s320/IMG_0874.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">november has arrived. so have warm, home cooked meals.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlnD0a8jGws/Tpr6YSsKR2I/AAAAAAAAAdA/IxWSlaq_hS8/s1600/IMG_0618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlnD0a8jGws/Tpr6YSsKR2I/AAAAAAAAAdA/IxWSlaq_hS8/s320/IMG_0618.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">like dad's mac and cheese.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm4zXRE59mg/Tpr6iNH98lI/AAAAAAAAAdI/Xedt6mR0Eu8/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm4zXRE59mg/Tpr6iNH98lI/AAAAAAAAAdI/Xedt6mR0Eu8/s320/IMG_0619.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and zucchini and carrot muffins.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gvjh36YPWHM/Tpr6u0ODf5I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/LFua_lsdyDw/s1600/IMG_0621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gvjh36YPWHM/Tpr6u0ODf5I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/LFua_lsdyDw/s320/IMG_0621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JQFFj9b9KYI/Tpr641BNKgI/AAAAAAAAAdY/36kFHS9aijw/s1600/IMG_0622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JQFFj9b9KYI/Tpr641BNKgI/AAAAAAAAAdY/36kFHS9aijw/s320/IMG_0622.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">we had a huge potluck with the other chateaubriand assistants.<br />representing america, china, and mexico.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra3kxW6xxOU/Tpr7Hxqx7RI/AAAAAAAAAdo/vrDJ-94TJko/s1600/IMG_0625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ra3kxW6xxOU/Tpr7Hxqx7RI/AAAAAAAAAdo/vrDJ-94TJko/s320/IMG_0625.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">representing brazil and connecticut.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">representing russia and mexico.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the feast.</span></td></tr>
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<br />emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-6390771826095493882011-11-05T09:03:00.000-07:002011-11-05T09:03:43.899-07:00off to bordeaux we go.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is beyond overdue so brace yourself ...</div>
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After only three weeks of teaching, France rewarded me with a long vacation. Technically, it is honoring Toussaint, or France's "All Saints Day" on November 1st, but who's counting? The weather has been beautiful in Rennes, not too cold yet, but some friends and I decided to head south in search of sun, food, and wine - welcome to Bordeaux. My friend Caely from Rennes and I took a painless train arriving in Bordeaux on Friday night in time to meet my friend Helen, who studied abroad with me and is currently teaching outside of Toulouse. We rented a room in an "appart'hotel" which is basically a hotel room, but with a kitchenette for people who stay for long periods of time. It was in a perfect location, a small (much-needed) walk from the city center, and it was nice to have a fridge etc, to avoid eating at restaurants every meal.</div>
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Saturday morning we moseyed through the city center which is completely dominated by pedestrian only streets making it easy to take our time and people watch. We grabbed a quick coffee and croissant before heading down towards the river Garonne. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">cute bookstore we passed along the way.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">helen and caely.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">perfect way to start a cold morning.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">We came across Esplande Quinconces</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> which is a huge open space that is currently being occupied by a carnival. As you can see the sky was blue, blue, blue - we totally lucked out.</span><br />
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We kept walking until we hit the boardwalk along the river. The river separates Bordeaux into two sides, which is very important (as we soon learned) when it comes to wine and which grapes are cultivated and grown on which side. Despite the cold in the morning, the sun came through and it was an absolutely beautiful day. </div>
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Along the boardwalk we found Bordeaux's <i>mirior d'eau</i> which is a very thin layer of water that allows you to see your reflection.<br />
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Bordeaux raises breast cancer awareness so creatively by hanging breast cancer ribbons in Place de la Bourse while fish spit out <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d5a6bd;">PINK</span> water. Very clever.<br />
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We seriously walked all over the city stopping once to enjoy some foie gras tartines and smoked salmon salads at L'Autre Petit Bois, a restaurant we found in <a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/travel/20hours.html">this</a> NYTimes article. Helen and I sat "shaded" under a fake tree covering the inside of the restaurant on a very regal feeling couch and the three of us shared our first, of many, red Bordeaux's.<br />
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Following our meal, we continued to explore the city that all three of us fell in love with very quickly. We visited the Cathedral which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has been built over different decades providing a very diverse architecture both inside and out.<br />
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After a <i>petite soirée </i>Saturday night, we got up at a very reasonable hour to explore the Sunday market along the river. I had heard lots of good things so my expectations were a little high, but they were beyond fulfilled. The market went on forever, and everyone was out and about taking walks, riding bikes, and slowly making their way through the market drinking <i>rosé </i>and eating oysters. The man below is making <i>canelés </i>which are small pastries made of egg yolk - they are caramelized on the outside and have a solidified custard inside. When we went on a wine tour, our guide told us that <i>canelé </i>were originally invented because wine makers used the egg whites in the wine barrels to collect debris inside and they needed to use the leftover yolks so they created these small desserts. I'm not sure how accurate that is (as wikipedia suggests differently), but it makes sense!<br />
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In addition to <i>canelé, </i>we bought bread, cheese, wine, figs and sausage to complete our riverside picnic brunch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVFULGSxSmM/TqgwnP_xPEI/AAAAAAAAAiI/SsxE-_SHyFA/s1600/IMG_0696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVFULGSxSmM/TqgwnP_xPEI/AAAAAAAAAiI/SsxE-_SHyFA/s320/IMG_0696.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">cheese. beautiful, beautiful cheese.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">more cheese.</span></td></tr>
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Eating was followed by more strolling through Bordeaux on another amazing day. After ditching some goodies at the hotel, we took a break in the Jardin Public which reminded me a lot of the Boston Common, and sat in the sun for the rest of the afternoon. On our walk back we discovered a <i>brocante, </i>or an antique market on a blocked-off street that was also celebrating <i>vin nouveau, </i>which is a wine they sell before its complete fermentation. The wine has a little bit of carbonation, is best cold, and tastes a tiny bit like sangria. We walked up and down the street poking at what people were selling and listening to street music while tasting <i>vin nouveau</i>. I have a great video I will try and find to upload ...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">sunset on the boardwalk.</span></td></tr>
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We passed through the Esplande again and couldn't not go on the ferris wheel ...<br />
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Monday was rainy and ... Monday, so not a lot was open and due to the weather we were feeling particularly lazy. We had a late breakfast, walked around, did some shopping and watched a movie before venturing out again for dinner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FXZphceNr4k/TqgyC6T0o6I/AAAAAAAAAj4/O2qMNgKx31k/s1600/IMG_0739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FXZphceNr4k/TqgyC6T0o6I/AAAAAAAAAj4/O2qMNgKx31k/s320/IMG_0739.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">real cool alligator sculpture in front of musée de beaux arts.</span></td></tr>
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L'Entrecote. Yum. So this place is apparently a Bordeaux institution and they have one in Lyon and Toulouse as well. Vegetarians beware. They have one item on the menu: steak. The line is enormous and people wait forever just to enjoy steak, salad, and unlimited fries and bread (do you blame them?). We waited in line, in the rain, and we were not disappointed. I'm not kidding when I say one thing on the menu, when we sat down we were asked two questions: "What would you like to drink?" and "How would you like it cooked?". The steak was cooked perfectly and it was so entertaining to watch the hustle and bustle of the waitresses attempting to serve three floors of customers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">it's famous because it is served in an amazing <br />sauce that is a top secret recipe.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">walking home in the rain - in front of the opera.</span></td></tr>
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Tuesday we woke up very early and went on a guided tour of <a href="http://www.winery.fr/">La Winery</a>, which was a relatively new vineyard filled with contemporary art. It rained, again, but there were only six of us so we piled into a landrover and off-roaded in order to get the full experience.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">inside.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">huge vats pumping red, rosé and white wine into barrels.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">caely taking a closer look.</span></td></tr>
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Our guide made a point to tell us that each barrel comes from a different place and provides a different taste to the wine, so they purposefully put wine in different barrels to later combine them and come up with a completely unique taste.<br />
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The tour was finished with lunch, and lunch with a wine tasting. The lunch was amazing, and beautifully presented. Caely and I had fish while Helen had the pork. The concept of the place is they have a huge wine store where you buy the wine and can drink it at lunch without a corkage fee - clever no?<br />
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When all was said and done we had an amazing time. Despite some rain, Bordeaux is a beautiful city and is moving all the time. People were nothing but nice and as per usual, we ate so. well. I would love to go back and spend more time in the surrounding area, not to mention take a small trip to the sea. Bordeaux, je t'aime. I will leave you with some more pictures ... (thank you Caely!)</div>
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<br />emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-28635729968198071852011-10-19T02:20:00.000-07:002011-10-19T02:20:07.031-07:00oh, hey, mélanie laurent.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a super busy weekend and a very hectic beginning to the week, my friend Caely and I decided to have a low-key movie night and go to the "avant-premiere" (pre-screening) of<i> Les Adoptés</i>. The film was written and directed by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0491259/">Mélanie Laurent</a> who is a very well known actress in France, and is becoming increasingly popular in the US as well (<i>Inglorious Basterds</i> and <i>Beginners</i>). I really enjoyed the movie and it was exactly what I was in the mood for. Also, there was an original score by Syd Matters, so the music was really good. I noticed the lights didn't come on as the credits started so I was a little confused as to why people weren't getting up. At the very end, a young man with a microphone stood in front of the screen to say thank you and "bienvenue à Mélanie Laurent." Caely and I looked at each other ... wait ... what? I had <i>no</i> idea she would be there! She was so cute and so funny and people were able to ask questions. She touched on how she chose the actors, the music, and what it was like to direct her first film - it was one of the coolest surprises. Bravo Mélanie!</div>
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<br />emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-12575141512932307852011-10-15T12:51:00.000-07:002011-10-15T12:51:55.077-07:00trot trot to normandy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You thought I was JUST going to write about my day trip to Normandy and not include my latest food creation didn't you? Tant pis. Before I gush about Normandy and the amazing horse festival I went to today, let me just talk about the latest dinner club creation. I have to give complete kudos to Caely (as per usual) and I think the photos will speak for themselves. Wednesday night dinner consisted of mashed cauliflower, fresh market sausage, roasted tomatoes stuffed with basil pesto and a salad. I'm pretty sure the three of us were prepared to lick our plates at the end. Who knew cauliflower would be so delicious roasted and mashed with butter? I guess that is a rhetorical question ... </div>
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Ok so today, Saturday the 15th, means I have officially been in Rennes for one month. It is seriously amazing how time flies. While it has quickly turned to Fall, today the sun came out and made for an absolutely beautiful day. A colleague of mine, Lise, who is a philosophy teacher at the lycée took me horseback riding a couple of times last year and this year we decided to venture to Normandy for the day to participate in Equidays. The best way I can describe it is a sort of horse festival for about 10 days in Normandy where barns and breeders open their gates (literally) to the public. Lise and I had the opportunity to go to a small town outside of Bayeaux, close to Omaha Beach, and visit France's largest <i>haras </i>- or stud farm. A stud farm is basically a farm for an extremely selective breeding process for race and show horses. We took a two hour tour of the farm walking over 10 kilometers. The farm was only open to the public on this specific day to those who reserved a spot. There were about 35 of us that oo-ed and aw-ed our way through the fields and stables led by our guide, Christophe. It is hard to refer to Haras d'Etreham as a farm, it was more like a perfectly manicured estate with amazing views and beautiful horses. You can learn more here: <a href="http://www.etreham.com/">http://www.etreham.com/</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this is lise looking at what i would describe as a merry-go-round for<br />horses. here they are trained to work by following fast paced gates in<br />a circle. christophe let the young kids run around in it for a while which<br />i think every parent was thankful for.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2Ql_0paGFs/TpnaNq9obOI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/bg7L4e713WI/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2Ql_0paGFs/TpnaNq9obOI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/bg7L4e713WI/s320/IMG_0595.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">home to the <i>poulins - </i>or fouls.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">one of their newest fouls - only six months!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a couple of babies decided to come say hello.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_oCO-MzBCVI/Tpnamfs58HI/AAAAAAAAAb4/GevDhXWlp2M/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_oCO-MzBCVI/Tpnamfs58HI/AAAAAAAAAb4/GevDhXWlp2M/s320/IMG_0605.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this is the stable where the stallions lived. they were absolutely <br />stunning.this particular <i>étalon</i> is named poliglote and can be bred with a <br />mare for 6, 000 euros. the stallions ranged from <br />3,000 - 15,000 euros just to be bred.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzgde9Whv7Q/TpnaqGdl5wI/AAAAAAAAAcA/zfoTzOfEs6I/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzgde9Whv7Q/TpnaqGdl5wI/AAAAAAAAAcA/zfoTzOfEs6I/s320/IMG_0606.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">isn't he absolutely beautiful? </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sL8e_XXeg_Q/Tpnate5wfUI/AAAAAAAAAcI/a0YSGNMgYp0/s1600/IMG_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sL8e_XXeg_Q/Tpnate5wfUI/AAAAAAAAAcI/a0YSGNMgYp0/s320/IMG_0607.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">it sounded a bit like a high end male prostitution ring. you can find<br />out more information about poliglote <a href="http://www.etreham.com/fiche-etalon-haras.php?nom=poliglote">here</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">everyone wanted a turn. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IQa7yIU89zQ/Tpna42X6DtI/AAAAAAAAAcY/4WHflQPdOYc/s1600/IMG_0610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IQa7yIU89zQ/Tpna42X6DtI/AAAAAAAAAcY/4WHflQPdOYc/s320/IMG_0610.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">one of the stallions popping out to say<i> coucou</i>,</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--r0pw9xyJcA/Tpna9MPkEVI/AAAAAAAAAcg/LCHCMWF_0Vw/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--r0pw9xyJcA/Tpna9MPkEVI/AAAAAAAAAcg/LCHCMWF_0Vw/s320/IMG_0611.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and of course we finished with a little <i>coup de champagne</i>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2AD8ZW7_jmE/TpnbHBLDAiI/AAAAAAAAAco/GKddJkpPxD8/s1600/IMG_0613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2AD8ZW7_jmE/TpnbHBLDAiI/AAAAAAAAAco/GKddJkpPxD8/s320/IMG_0613.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this was the inside of the structure where the mares and stallions <br />are held to mate. interesting choice of location for a toast ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yk3Thw2J-cQ/TpnbPGQCF3I/AAAAAAAAAcw/gB81Ngde4nQ/s1600/IMG_0615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yk3Thw2J-cQ/TpnbPGQCF3I/AAAAAAAAAcw/gB81Ngde4nQ/s320/IMG_0615.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and we finished the day with a late lunch in the <i>soleil </i>in bayeaux. delish</span>.</td></tr>
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<br />emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-8515549481860309652011-10-09T15:30:00.000-07:002011-10-09T15:30:24.878-07:00day trip.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love Rennes so much, but I also love taking a day to escape to the coast to a. see the ocean, b. eat good seafood, and c. have a mini break from "the big city." This Saturday my friend Caely and I did exactly that. From metro to train to bus we arrived in Cancale around one in the afternoon. It was a beautiful train ride from Rennes to Saint Malo, and then we hopped a local bus through fields and campgrounds to get to Cancale. </div>
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Cancale is a very small town of about 5,000 people that is infamous for their oysters. In fact, according to the most reliable site on the internet, that being Wikipedia, Louis XIV had oysters from Cancale delivered to him in Versailles. If that isn’t class I don’t know what is. With this in mind, Caely and I ventured north on a cloudy day to enjoy relatively warm weather and seaside dining. </div>
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Cancale is basically a large boardwalk along the ocean consisting of oyster traps with dozens of crêperies, cute hotels and seafood restaurants. We chose a mom n’ pop looking restaurant where people were squished on small wooden tables and the owners were shucking oysters and picking away seaweed as they shuffled around taking peoples' orders. We settled on a dozen oysters to start and each got <i>moules frites </i>– mussels with fries. The meal was complete with bread and Breton butter and a nice bottle of muscadet. After overstaying our welcome and having a typical two-hour French lunch, we walked the boulevard a bit and marveled at the color of the water. Also, despite the weather we could see Mont Saint Michel, which Caely pointed out looked like a little sandcastle. We grabbed a pastry (or two) in Saint Malo before heading home and arrived home around 6:30. It was such a lovely day trip and even though we just ate and took a walk it was a very successful day - in my opinion.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the way lunch should be: part two</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the color of the water here is insane</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">au pied d'cheval - where we ate </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">very distant mont saint michel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oyster traps during high tide</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes please</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">famous statue </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">art gallery? knick knacks? </td></tr>
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emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-19513216091743060712011-10-02T22:37:00.000-07:002011-10-03T03:39:24.622-07:00gordon's visit: part two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As my cousin rightfully pointed out to me today what started as a "Dear Family and Friends, this is what I am up to!" blog, has really become Emma's adventures in eating. Not saying that is bad thing, but I feel like I should start writing superfluously about teaching, traveling, or my cultural discoveries to balance that out. Don't worry, I won't start today. There is too much to share - especially after having someone stay with you, showing them around/telling them what to eat allows you to experience all of your favorite things for the first time. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gordon and berit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gordon, berit, and caely</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">enjoying berit's quiche!</td></tr>
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Gordon's visit was wonderful and we couldn't have asked for better weather or timing. We had a very low-key weekend filled with lots of sunbathing and food. Saturday we got up early and went to the market for a couple hours. We pretty much bought anything and everything: figs, goat cheese, comté, duck and rabbit paté, <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2005/08/long-live-the-k/">kouing amann</a>, caramel tarts, bread, Fall apples, homemade apple juice and beaujolais sausage (yup. wine flavored sausage). </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-Tg5_5BMc0/TojjYb7qsdI/AAAAAAAAAX8/S5tR5WnE79c/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-Tg5_5BMc0/TojjYb7qsdI/AAAAAAAAAX8/S5tR5WnE79c/s320/IMG_0525.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">different kinds of sausage including mushroom, bison, duck, and cheese.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V4WnFrTjBBs/TojjM5yV2pI/AAAAAAAAAX0/I63e_WZIPyo/s1600/IMG_0523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V4WnFrTjBBs/TojjM5yV2pI/AAAAAAAAAX0/I63e_WZIPyo/s320/IMG_0523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">caely and gordon catching their breath at the market.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3G3f5vWLi4/TojjeZ4wcNI/AAAAAAAAAYA/oYDHHlORL5Q/s1600/IMG_0527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3G3f5vWLi4/TojjeZ4wcNI/AAAAAAAAAYA/oYDHHlORL5Q/s320/IMG_0527.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">galette saucisse.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-juGn2I30-tQ/TojjjW--aLI/AAAAAAAAAYE/5i-bpr5BBaw/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-juGn2I30-tQ/TojjjW--aLI/AAAAAAAAAYE/5i-bpr5BBaw/s320/IMG_0528.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flower market.</td></tr>
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We sat in the sun and enjoyed our purchases before heading to Apple Pie to meet the other English assistants. Gordon tried one of Lisa's raspberry cupcakes. Amaze. The way he put it was, "This is like eating a raspberry, but, like, in cake."Very philosophical G. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k015uvsP3r0/TojjvNCRhyI/AAAAAAAAAYM/Ct7Z8kpmv4o/s1600/IMG_0531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k015uvsP3r0/TojjvNCRhyI/AAAAAAAAAYM/Ct7Z8kpmv4o/s320/IMG_0531.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">apple pie's raspberry cupcakes.</td></tr>
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We walked around Rennes a bit before heading home and waiting for Berit. The three of us had a nice little debrief of the day over paté, goat cheese, and cocktails before I made dinner. The weather has been so nice that we have been able to eat outside even at 10 o'clock at night. We are so so lucky that we have a little terrace and we can <i>profiter </i>from the sun. After dinner we may, or may not, have brought iPod speakers outside and had a bit of a dance party for all our neighbors to see. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U6ZfvXbUJw0/Tojj0w-HFWI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/N7mRi7b9aN0/s1600/IMG_0533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U6ZfvXbUJw0/Tojj0w-HFWI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/N7mRi7b9aN0/s320/IMG_0533.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we are very sophisticated chez nous.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHpf57c5QB0/Tojj5z29EFI/AAAAAAAAAYU/EmvzZ0P21K4/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHpf57c5QB0/Tojj5z29EFI/AAAAAAAAAYU/EmvzZ0P21K4/s320/IMG_0534.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not sure it gets better then this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qB0636s0H0I/Tojj_b5yA6I/AAAAAAAAAYY/vqyEzjubbrE/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qB0636s0H0I/Tojj_b5yA6I/AAAAAAAAAYY/vqyEzjubbrE/s320/IMG_0535.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dinner for three - very romantic. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eF0r9EAqXGw/TojkKF_Q2oI/AAAAAAAAAYg/OmUi_8NNcCU/s1600/IMG_0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eF0r9EAqXGw/TojkKF_Q2oI/AAAAAAAAAYg/OmUi_8NNcCU/s320/IMG_0538.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunday flowers.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kw-eCxdtV3Y/TojkQs-QIEI/AAAAAAAAAYk/LTIUX4iyaUc/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kw-eCxdtV3Y/TojkQs-QIEI/AAAAAAAAAYk/LTIUX4iyaUc/s320/IMG_0539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next morning we slept in quite late ... let's just say well into the afternoon, then went to find a café open for business on Sundays. We had a coffee and a small pastry before remembering this weekend was the <a href="http://www.tourisme-rennes.com/festival-gourmand-office-tourisme-rennes.aspx">Festival Gourmand</a>. Even though I included the link, for those non-French speakers, "gourmand" is the French way of saying "foodie." But, it has a bit of a negative connotation when you are talking about someone <i>being </i>a gourmand, unlike in English when saying you are a foodie simply reflects your love and appreciation for food. In French, gourmand is more along the lines of glutton. For instance, if you are a young American living without a refrigerator and you grab breakfast at the market and eat it while walking around, many of the vendors might look at you endearingly and say "bon appetit! quel gourmand!" which basically means, "wow. enjoy your breakfast ... glutton." Maybe not that harsh, but you get the gist. Back to the festival ... we wandered inside to find lots of vendors selling meat and apple juice and chocolate, and there was a food demonstration. The chef was local and he was making a three tomato tart on a basil, parsley, and cilantro based tart. I know, it was amazing. I translated for Gordon as we oo-ed and aww-ed at the final presentation. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J7YQGeBZw48/TojkaG3oB4I/AAAAAAAAAYs/VHAuzeKnMco/s1600/IMG_0541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J7YQGeBZw48/TojkaG3oB4I/AAAAAAAAAYs/VHAuzeKnMco/s320/IMG_0541.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CVP3V8Wces/TojkVhBb6UI/AAAAAAAAAYo/-vRuqzTOmUE/s1600/IMG_0540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CVP3V8Wces/TojkVhBb6UI/AAAAAAAAAYo/-vRuqzTOmUE/s320/IMG_0540.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cooking demonstration.</td></tr>
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Across the street from the festival there was an outdoor bar showing the Rennes/Lille soccer game so we sat for a couple hours and unfortunately watched Rennes lose. We rounded up Gordon's visit with a visit to my favorite créperie where G got a shrimp, scallop, and mushroom galette in a cream sauce, with a side of a special sweet bread and foie gras. They don't play around as you can thoroughly see. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDtTHDN0RDM/TojkfJYgV6I/AAAAAAAAAYw/cmxitRyUyAc/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDtTHDN0RDM/TojkfJYgV6I/AAAAAAAAAYw/cmxitRyUyAc/s320/IMG_0543.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gordon's fancy galette. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xo7ToKzJ9Qg/TojkkI5XFAI/AAAAAAAAAY0/wPtxwr1Vapo/s1600/IMG_0546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xo7ToKzJ9Qg/TojkkI5XFAI/AAAAAAAAAY0/wPtxwr1Vapo/s320/IMG_0546.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">absolutely beautiful in front of the mayor's office. oh, and proof<br />
i take pictures of things other then food ...</td></tr>
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It was so nice to have Gordon here - very relaxing and low key, especially now that he knew what he was getting himself into.<br />
<br />
School starts today! So as I write this I'm preparing to see some former students and meeting my new ones. I'm getting excited to start a routine because I feel a little like I'm on vacation, which is, don't get me wrong, fantastic, but not exactly realistic. I will work every day except Wednesday and have a bunch of tutoring gigs as well which will be great for some extra income. Tomorrow, there is a little get together at the lycée to meet the other foreign assistants which will be really fun. That is all for now - more to come once school picks up and I have some more pictures of <i>ma vie. </i><br />
<br />
<br />emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-14794575653922621132011-09-30T09:29:00.000-07:002011-09-30T09:29:05.052-07:00the way lunch should be.In true Verrill fashion, my cousin Gordon emailed me two days ago briefly saying what he was up to and finishing it with "so can I come to Rennes this weekend?" A quick email to my roommate later to announce his arrival and his plane ticket was bought! He arrived exhausted and hungry and so I did what made the most sense: feed him. We hopped over to my favorite tartine place open all day (even on Sundays!) and took advantage of the summer-like weather and each other's company. Gordon enjoyed the special consisting of grilled sardines in a tomato provençale sauce and I had a tartine that was a bit like chicken salad. Add a side salad and a bottle of muscadet and voilà. Let our food adventure weekend begin ...<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-onA6tKCcgV0/ToXtyZ-WlaI/AAAAAAAAAXU/s-dBLrCEDfw/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-onA6tKCcgV0/ToXtyZ-WlaI/AAAAAAAAAXU/s-dBLrCEDfw/s320/IMG_0511.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and that's how it's done.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t5ZPZezMtek/ToXt4GUefiI/AAAAAAAAAXY/Pdg-NPpFmU8/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t5ZPZezMtek/ToXt4GUefiI/AAAAAAAAAXY/Pdg-NPpFmU8/s320/IMG_0512.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">les sardines</td></tr>
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emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-33737672820054165042011-09-25T10:28:00.000-07:002011-09-25T15:30:35.148-07:00<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IcEelIm5Fbo/Tn9clMmbZuI/AAAAAAAAAWE/xLJR1ZnLroI/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IcEelIm5Fbo/Tn9clMmbZuI/AAAAAAAAAWE/xLJR1ZnLroI/s200/IMG_0485.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">perfection.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I brought Helen and a rough cold home with me from Paris so
this past week was spent taking advantage of our internet, which finally
started working, and catching up with Helen over almond croissants and bad
internet television. I took her to the market where we stalked up on produce
for dinner and then Apple Pie where I had a lovely reunion with miss Lisa and
some of the other Rennes assistants as we nibbled on tea and carrot cake. </div>
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Seeing
friends and returning to favorite restaurants and coffee shops is such a hue
part of reentry. The fact that I have been recognized and have received many “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Je suis contente de vous voir! Bon retour!” </i>makes
me feel even more at home.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JhYox4fVdU8/Tn9jUMDGX_I/AAAAAAAAAW4/bh9fPWhZtmQ/s1600/IMG_0502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JhYox4fVdU8/Tn9jUMDGX_I/AAAAAAAAAW4/bh9fPWhZtmQ/s320/IMG_0502.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this one is for you margaret. l'epicerie wasn't the same without you.</td></tr>
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Helen left this morning (Sunday) and the apartment feels a
little empty so I filled the Sunday with lots of mini excursions. The weather
has been abnormally wonderful these past couple of days though so I have been
getting my vitamin D and took a nice walk today to a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">brodarie </i>which is a bit like a yard sale for multiple
neighborhoods. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQl_F0Fl_9g/Tn9cq-seYII/AAAAAAAAAWI/u59VG7jx5MA/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BQl_F0Fl_9g/Tn9cq-seYII/AAAAAAAAAWI/u59VG7jx5MA/s320/IMG_0487.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rennes gardens are stunning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jf-S_uhJvTs/Tn9cuyfsLCI/AAAAAAAAAWM/xxSHDrAdmU0/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jf-S_uhJvTs/Tn9cuyfsLCI/AAAAAAAAAWM/xxSHDrAdmU0/s320/IMG_0488.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">especially on a day like today </td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QIKXkGyGEX8/Tn9czeKShGI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/1Ip726GxiTI/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QIKXkGyGEX8/Tn9czeKShGI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/1Ip726GxiTI/s320/IMG_0489.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last week Berit and I went to one and we walked around for two
hours and only saw a section of it – that should give you insight as to the
potential size of them. People sell everything from old clothes and shoes, to
TVs and stereos, to kitchenware and furniture. I’m so bad at going to those
because I think I should buy something only because it is two euros, but then
someone else’s junk becomes my junk … I was controlled today and only bought a
sweater. For two euros. However I was wildly impressed by one woman’s My Little
Pony collection and “joked” about how I would have loved this 15 years ago
(slash now?). </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJFqPsQAAZ8/Tn9dW8Mqi6I/AAAAAAAAAWo/4qIhF4U04vI/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VJFqPsQAAZ8/Tn9dW8Mqi6I/AAAAAAAAAWo/4qIhF4U04vI/s320/IMG_0498.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">am i right or am i right?</td></tr>
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After a late brunch and some writing, I ventured to have a café
with Caely and we took a Sunday stroll to an outdoor photography exhibit called
“Passages” where the featured photographer captured important events in
adolescent lives. For instance some of the kids were celebrating their first
party or their quinceanera (I hope I’m spelling that right). There were some
photos from France and the US, but most were taken in Ukraine and Cuba – I’m
including a few of my favorites.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPUXS1oOBsE/Tn9jYqaXxoI/AAAAAAAAAW8/wOC9H2MnBns/s1600/IMG_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPUXS1oOBsE/Tn9jYqaXxoI/AAAAAAAAAW8/wOC9H2MnBns/s320/IMG_0503.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i like this one because it reminds me of home!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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So as you can see I’m back to my old routine –
seeing friends, wandering around Rennes, and eating food that is so delicious
it’s honestly unfair...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhfu3zEhav4/Tn9dDrMvVAI/AAAAAAAAAWc/nfWBmeTIcMk/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhfu3zEhav4/Tn9dDrMvVAI/AAAAAAAAAWc/nfWBmeTIcMk/s320/IMG_0493.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">apple pie specials!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just a quick dinner helen and i threw together ...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is why i came back. </td></tr>
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I’m so happy to be back and so excited to have school start –
only one more week! There is another English assistant teaching at
Chateaubriand this year, which will be great as she is returning from last year
she just got reassigned schools. I’m excited to get back into the swing of
things and see old students and meet new students!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first market back</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">quite possibly the quaintest late brunch ever ...</td></tr>
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On tap for this week is more IKEA runs, a couple first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rendez-vous’ </i>for tutoring, running
around trying to get my immigration paperwork settled, putting finishing
touches on the apartment, and of course discovering new restaurants and
revisiting familiar ones. </div>
emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-35017273236010013502011-09-25T09:52:00.000-07:002011-09-25T09:52:30.920-07:00third time's a charm!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">evidence of fall in rennes</td></tr>
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I am officially in Rennes and moved in to my very new and improved apartment! I have to say I am SO much happier now then I was at the beginning of my stay last year and my living situation has so much to do with it. As does being back in a place I feel incredibly comfortable, seeing my friends, and eating lots of French food.</div>
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I jumped right back into life here starting with grabbing a
train into Rennes a few hours after I arrived in Paris. Berit (my roommate) and
Caely met me at the train station and we went directly home. I’ll be posting
pictures of our humble abode very shortly. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQVlV5RRncs/Tn9asYME7LI/AAAAAAAAAVs/bLG369Qp418/s1600/IMG_0478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQVlV5RRncs/Tn9asYME7LI/AAAAAAAAAVs/bLG369Qp418/s320/IMG_0478.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trying to figure out the bed frame ...</td></tr>
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After some catching up I showered and we
headed to IKEA to purchase the most important missing piece: a bed. Caely, Lise
(a colleague of mine), and I piled into Lise’s car with some fake flowers,
picture frames, sheets, a bed frame, a mattress for a double bed, and my chair.
We were cramped to say the least, but made it home in one piece. I enjoyed a
traditional galette dinner complete with crepes and cider before absolutely
passing out. Thursday was full of errands. I got a bunch of paperwork done and
headed to Emmaus, which is like small used furniture/clothes/book/random-shit
store (Salvation Army?). I found dining room chairs, a bedside table, a small
table for our terrace (yes, terrace), some things for the bathroom, and a
perfect desk for Berit. I then conned Berit and Caely into helping me put
together my bed frame. So IKEA is great, but the thing they don’t tell you is
how it is a huge pain in the ass to put together. Even three intelligent,
strong women had some difficulty. But I can say with complete confidence (knock
on wood) that I slept for eight hours and did not wake up in a pile of broken
frame wood so I would count that a huge success.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QNNXgH2Prdc/Tn9bEWoEOhI/AAAAAAAAAV4/aI-02-ln_ks/s1600/IMG_0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QNNXgH2Prdc/Tn9bEWoEOhI/AAAAAAAAAV4/aI-02-ln_ks/s320/IMG_0481.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back to grocery shopping on a day to day basis - which i LOVE when<br />fresh markets are involved ...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6lGTG73BLUE/Tn9bQBIYEHI/AAAAAAAAAWA/QipjBPH8WkM/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6lGTG73BLUE/Tn9bQBIYEHI/AAAAAAAAAWA/QipjBPH8WkM/s320/IMG_0484.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers to a wonderful dinner back!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CdMOtG3EzU0/Tn9bKZ-F0jI/AAAAAAAAAV8/7XYghhL9APY/s1600/IMG_0482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CdMOtG3EzU0/Tn9bKZ-F0jI/AAAAAAAAAV8/7XYghhL9APY/s320/IMG_0482.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berit and I attempted to impress Caely</td></tr>
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Jetlag didn’t catch up with me until I got to Paris. I went
to Paris to see two friends, Helen and Clare, I studied abroad with in Rennes.
Clare will be teaching with me in Rennes and Helen is off to a small village
outside of Toulouse. The three of us oo-ed and aww-ed about being back in
Paris. We ate so well (act like you are surprised), went to the Shoah Museum
and Memorial, may or may not have done a little dancing and strolled the Marais
and the Latin Quarter along with the rest of Paris on a Sunday afternoon. I have
to say I’m always enchanted by Paris, but also always happy to be home.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-90025987927112411422011-08-22T07:29:00.000-07:002011-08-29T10:51:03.793-07:00in the summertime ...After much hesitation, debate, and endless indecision, I'm officially going back to France.<br />
<br />
My contract for the teaching assistant program was renewed (unfairly right before I was leaving so I never really had a chance) and I'm not ready to say goodbye yet. I'm not ready to stop listening to French everyday, speaking French everyday, working with my students, cooking with my friends, and flat out pretending I'm French. I think about it everyday and finally the wait is over.<br />
<br />
So I will be stressing about packing too much for the third time, thinking about traveling over vacation for the third time, arriving in Paris with way too much luggage for the third time, and taking the train home to Rennes, for the third time.<br />
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I have had one of the best summers. It has been the perfect combination of downtime and seeing family and friends and doing small jobs to have some backup funds while abroad (which will inevitably go towards something I don't need like almond croissants and hair bows, let's be honest). Here are some highlights:<br />
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As you can see perfect weather and a lot of eating.<br />
<br />
So the adventures will continue on September 14th as I make my way from Boston to Paris where I hopefully will meet up with some friends before we go our separate ways around the country to teach. I found an apartment in the center of town with my friend Berit instead of living in the same "apartment" as last year (and yes, quotation marks are seriously necessary in this situation). I'm so excited to be back and see everyone and settle in.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for more in September ...emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-9805452330452532772011-05-14T15:33:00.000-07:002011-05-14T15:33:55.722-07:00Saying goodbye to Rennes ... again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My last couple weeks in Rennes were fantastic and I can't believe everything came to an end so quickly. After I got back from Lisbon and Lyon, my cousin Gordon came to visit me. He is currently living in Madrid so he came up to Rennes for three days and then headed to explore Paris with friends for the weekend. He was such an easy guest as we had a very similar itinerary in mind: sleep, take advantage of the sun, and eat good food. I introduced him to camembert cheese, paté, duck, and galettes so I think he was a happy camper. As soon as Gordon left I suddenly realized I had one week left. Time absolutely flew. My last week consisted of packing and attempting to cancel internet, move out of my apartment, and pawn all of my extra 'stuff' off on my host family and my friend Caely who is staying. It is incredible how much stuff you can acquire in such a small period of time. I also had my birthday which was so nice and a really wonderful thing to have in my last week. I celebrated by going to Apple Pie for lunch (pictures to come of course) and then having a small dinner party with friends. It was the nicest party and I got great gifts from friends, including a Stade Rennais scarf and Caely-knit socks ... which I refused to take off and ended up wearing home on the bus. The cake was delicious - absolutely one of the best I have ever had. I had sent Caely a recipe months and months ago, and somehow she remembered and surprised me with it: sweet potato pie with coconut and almonds and a speculoos cookie crust ... like really? </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n1aN-pOqlo8/Tc8CdgciLjI/AAAAAAAAAUI/OxEr90Z3Dd8/s1600/P1020442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n1aN-pOqlo8/Tc8CdgciLjI/AAAAAAAAAUI/OxEr90Z3Dd8/s320/P1020442.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">absolutely. delicious.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_x9721ZCg3A/Tc789zAHW-I/AAAAAAAAAT0/ixvzxMRSFxU/s1600/P1020369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_x9721ZCg3A/Tc789zAHW-I/AAAAAAAAAT0/ixvzxMRSFxU/s320/P1020369.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgia and Kelsey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhSHDrvrWmI/Tc79Jg9WDNI/AAAAAAAAAT4/cmESUY4zSxM/s1600/P1020372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhSHDrvrWmI/Tc79Jg9WDNI/AAAAAAAAAT4/cmESUY4zSxM/s320/P1020372.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berit and Margaret</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B-R2EThX7ks/Tc79Y6gPPNI/AAAAAAAAAT8/7HpVwsse6pc/s1600/P1020401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B-R2EThX7ks/Tc79Y6gPPNI/AAAAAAAAAT8/7HpVwsse6pc/s320/P1020401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1PsF31GOlEI/Tc7_E7VQgvI/AAAAAAAAAUA/0gh-bDl2d9U/s1600/P1020409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1PsF31GOlEI/Tc7_E7VQgvI/AAAAAAAAAUA/0gh-bDl2d9U/s320/P1020409.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lVj48yOHUJc/Tc7_12bzbSI/AAAAAAAAAUE/a1HuAM0G9xU/s1600/P1020420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lVj48yOHUJc/Tc7_12bzbSI/AAAAAAAAAUE/a1HuAM0G9xU/s320/P1020420.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting some help from Caely: at first I thought I was having a hard time blowing <br />
out the candles, until we all realized they were trick candles ... <br />
which took us a little too long to figure out ...<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am officially home and not ready to admit that I am no longer living in France. I'm not sure what is next, but I know for sure this is not the end of traveling and I will be back to at least visit Rennes in the very near future. Stay tuned for more travels ... even if they are stateside travels!emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-53409666374038441262011-05-14T15:00:00.000-07:002011-05-14T15:00:09.525-07:00L stands for ...<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">LISBON</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDuROrWWr78/TcJ7PatS85I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/QhzQuWpsPFs/s1600/P1020191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDuROrWWr78/TcJ7PatS85I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/QhzQuWpsPFs/s200/P1020191.JPG" width="200" /></a>Spring adventures started on the last day of school - April 22nd. Gracie arrived THAT night and after a long traveling day, came straight home with me and passed out. Saturday morning we got up and went the market - obviously - to soak in the sun and have her try some of my favorite foods there. We went to the park in the afternoon with some friends, but Saturday was interrupted by a quick trip to the ER after a super random back spasm. But all was fine, just needed some relaxation, hydration, and sister time. I took her out for a typical Breton dinner on Saturday and then Sunday, Easter, we had a wonderful brunch with my friends complete with delicious quiche, scones, and of course, bellini's. Monday was absolutely beautiful, basically beach weather, so we simulated the beach at a park near my house and packed up all of our stuff for our long trip to Portugal. Tuesday involved buses, metros, trains, cabs and cars, and around 10 pm we finally arrived in Lisbon. I felt so flustered with the end of school and Gracie's visit I didn't have too much time to research what we were getting ourselves into ... and perhaps lesson learned? Of course our hostel was in the hilliest part of Libson (Barrio Alto) and was at the top of one hill and the bottom of another. Also I think the notion of accessible is definitely a relative term and depends on where you are, so lesson number one: always clarify what 'accessible' means. We stayed in the hostel one night before realizing it really was not going to work, and we were lucky enough to find a great, inexpensive hotel in a perfect location with perfect accessibility for the other three nights. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MqId2jUxFdw/TcJ7h3rLS8I/AAAAAAAAARE/qiSZNIyASZ4/s1600/P1020196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MqId2jUxFdw/TcJ7h3rLS8I/AAAAAAAAARE/qiSZNIyASZ4/s320/P1020196.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ginjihha: strong cherry liqueur very popular in Portugal and<br />
and specifically in Lisbon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-opBsTQCCRaM/TcJ7VueGtfI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/a0j4TRWKDXE/s1600/P1020192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-opBsTQCCRaM/TcJ7VueGtfI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/a0j4TRWKDXE/s200/P1020192.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful mosaics on the façade of most buildings</td></tr>
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BYmUFIo0a9g/TcJ7bUkSsDI/AAAAAAAAARA/HpAYA1omp60/s1600/P1020193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BYmUFIo0a9g/TcJ7bUkSsDI/AAAAAAAAARA/HpAYA1omp60/s200/P1020193.jpg" width="150" /></a>Our first day, after we called about 10 hotels and ran around trying to figure out our next move, we decided to sit down, take a breather, take advantage of the sun and have some lunch. The first day we just tried to catch our bearings walking all over the city and attempting to figure out how to understand Portuguese which is a beautiful language, but extremely hard to understand. Nevertheless, we were talking with our hands for most of the trip. Lisbon is a really beautiful city and all of the streets are paved with designs and every building is covered in traditional tile mosaics. That night we went for a nice dinner and of course we were given directions to go up two of the steepest hills in Lisbon and then the restaurant was down about 10 stairs ... I think Gracie got her workout for the week. We had a great dinner: I got a delicious seared tuna and Gracie got a crab salad - it was delicious and we felt completely on vacation when we were able to go back to our room and absolutely crash. Thursday we decided to make our way to the castle that sits up on one of the hills. The views were absolutely beautiful and we definitely lucked out with the weather because we were able to see for miles. Again, we were told that the castle had ramps going up, but by ramps I believe they meant old cobblestones thrown together to resemble some sort of walk way making it impossible for ANYONE climb to the top.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vRJQLnJ78s/TcJ75aAytEI/AAAAAAAAARQ/eKsT0VYAtNM/s1600/P1020213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vRJQLnJ78s/TcJ75aAytEI/AAAAAAAAARQ/eKsT0VYAtNM/s320/P1020213.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of the castle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We at least took advantage of the sun and the views at the top for an hour or so before deciding to head back down. The rest of the day we walked around and checked out the fashion museum and the Santa Justa elevator, designed by an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel . The elevator is situated pretty much in the middle of downtown and it takes you to the top of a beautiful view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xuRaxPpFFsU/TcJ9fmjHZ0I/AAAAAAAAASA/n3KnCRXaKNU/s1600/P1020281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xuRaxPpFFsU/TcJ9fmjHZ0I/AAAAAAAAASA/n3KnCRXaKNU/s320/P1020281.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the elevator from the back</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDAgg4qkp3s/TcJ8DS-_6PI/AAAAAAAAARU/Q45qtRjJlio/s1600/P1020219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDAgg4qkp3s/TcJ8DS-_6PI/AAAAAAAAARU/Q45qtRjJlio/s320/P1020219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Eiffel's elevator</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8rW1xaWmAM/TcJ8N4KW1yI/AAAAAAAAARY/ZeVBDS2lieM/s1600/P1020225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8rW1xaWmAM/TcJ8N4KW1yI/AAAAAAAAARY/ZeVBDS2lieM/s320/P1020225.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Eiffel's elevator with the castle in the distance</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiqPT8hKmPs/TcJ8XwXLqbI/AAAAAAAAARc/ruQPMaXMDOQ/s1600/P1020226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiqPT8hKmPs/TcJ8XwXLqbI/AAAAAAAAARc/ruQPMaXMDOQ/s320/P1020226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next morning, after yet another incredible breakfast, we ran to the room before heading out and didn't leave until an hour and a half later ... thank you Royal Wedding. Lisbon is on London time and Kate was just arriving at Westminster ... how could we leave? We sat and watched most of the wedding before realizing we were in Portugal and should probably be taking advantage of Lisbon instead of living vicariously through Kate Middleton. So peeled ourselves away from the television and yet again roamed the streets of Lisbon. We attempted to go check out the big market, but unfortunately missed the opening hours so we walked around it and I can only imagine the enormity of what is inside based on the building. On our way back, we came across a crowd of people. We found a guy levitating surrounded by so many people. It was so bizarre. He had a plaque in front of him describing that he had won a Guinness World Record for standing as a human statue for a certain amount of time: almost 17 hours! He also had local records for levitation and human statue's from Libson, Barcelona, and Paris to name a few.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NlD3VCY0cv4/TcJ8olbNO9I/AAAAAAAAARk/J3-nOH0wnz0/s1600/P1020239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NlD3VCY0cv4/TcJ8olbNO9I/AAAAAAAAARk/J3-nOH0wnz0/s320/P1020239.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Market mosaics </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YDOU0j7HlTg/TcJ84Z_IljI/AAAAAAAAARs/vTLWYV7YBD8/s1600/P1020254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YDOU0j7HlTg/TcJ84Z_IljI/AAAAAAAAARs/vTLWYV7YBD8/s320/P1020254.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freaky huh?</td></tr>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That night we met up with one of Gracie's friend's from Waynflete's older brother's, who is living in Lisbon and he brought us to a great local restaurant, followed by showing us a bit around Bario Alto where there is a majority of Lisbon's nightlife. I got Lisbon's traditional cod dish, and Gracie got grilled calamari, and of course some sangria. It was so surreal to see someone from Maine in Lisbon, but was very helpful considering his Portuguese is fluent and for a few hours Gracie and I didn't feel completely incompetent. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiqPT8hKmPs/TcJ8XwXLqbI/AAAAAAAAARc/ruQPMaXMDOQ/s1600/P1020226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DrD1w-kyx-I/TcJ7w5h_m1I/AAAAAAAAARM/W6s5EhaEBQI/s1600/P1020199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DrD1w-kyx-I/TcJ7w5h_m1I/AAAAAAAAARM/W6s5EhaEBQI/s320/P1020199.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DwgR2EuRZYI/TcJ7oCLXNwI/AAAAAAAAARI/A9PnGMWzCkM/s1600/P1020197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DwgR2EuRZYI/TcJ7oCLXNwI/AAAAAAAAARI/A9PnGMWzCkM/s320/P1020197.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Square in Lisbon - note the sidewalks with the cobblestones<br />
in a certain pattern - this was everywhere and actually<br />
kind of trippy ...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJ1uDuAtkDs/TcJ8e3A3Z8I/AAAAAAAAARg/y2mMcFf7BAg/s1600/P1020233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJ1uDuAtkDs/TcJ8e3A3Z8I/AAAAAAAAARg/y2mMcFf7BAg/s320/P1020233.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entryway to the port</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AN62mSU-kl0/TcJ8vTCo9-I/AAAAAAAAARo/bbQTzgJfEKI/s1600/P1020247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AN62mSU-kl0/TcJ8vTCo9-I/AAAAAAAAARo/bbQTzgJfEKI/s320/P1020247.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Last day in Lisbon, John had recommended we go to Belém, a small suburb of Lisbon with a famous cathedral, and, more importantly a famous pastry shop we had read about. That morning we headed to Belém and walked around a bit before checking out the Church of Santa Maria. There is also a monastery attached, but we only spent time inside the church. Inside, when you first walk in, there are two tombs. Directly to your left is the tomb of Vasco De Gama, famous Portuguese explorer. On your right, is the tomb of Luís de Camões, a famous Portuguese poet. In front of the church there is a slab of stone outlining the Treaty of Lisbon. We did a small tour of the church then headed to the infamous Pasteis de Belém. They make the pastry 'pastel de nata' which is a small custard tart, almost like crème brulée in a small cup. This specific bakery makes thousands and thousands of them a day and only three people in the world know the recipe. In fact, they have a competition every year to see which other bakery can get their recipe to be the closest ... there is no way anything comes close. The pastel de nada's are served hot with a side of powdered sugar and cinnamon and they go perfectly with a hot cup of coffee. We couldn't have asked for a better afternoon. Our trip to Belém marked our final day in Lisbon, and I have to say, regardless of the multiple hiccups, we had such an incredible time and it truly felt like vacation. We had one last meal of local cuisine, before heading to bed early. Gracie left very early on Saturday morning and I had a bit of time to clean up and check out before grabbing my plane to ....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BFRLaW60-SQ/TcJ8-L8OBGI/AAAAAAAAARw/uXyQPDR5tIQ/s1600/P1020266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BFRLaW60-SQ/TcJ8-L8OBGI/AAAAAAAAARw/uXyQPDR5tIQ/s320/P1020266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C0YXEykEJ84/TcJ9FoYzvoI/AAAAAAAAAR0/cuQE2XEPI2E/s1600/P1020268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C0YXEykEJ84/TcJ9FoYzvoI/AAAAAAAAAR0/cuQE2XEPI2E/s320/P1020268.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church of Santa Maria</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mQIDG07y9dw/TcJ9PZftJ7I/AAAAAAAAAR4/_4Z8ie2MObA/s1600/P1020271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mQIDG07y9dw/TcJ9PZftJ7I/AAAAAAAAAR4/_4Z8ie2MObA/s320/P1020271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WbGtO6H6K9w/Tc7wrYVL5yI/AAAAAAAAATc/o3xZ0kuWCSo/s1600/P1020275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WbGtO6H6K9w/Tc7wrYVL5yI/AAAAAAAAATc/o3xZ0kuWCSo/s320/P1020275.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">deliciously hot pastel de nata</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qTLyPs7EyiE/TcJ9Y6rMTEI/AAAAAAAAAR8/clpy0yIdnXg/s1600/P1020277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qTLyPs7EyiE/TcJ9Y6rMTEI/AAAAAAAAAR8/clpy0yIdnXg/s320/P1020277.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Park in Belém</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Njtz1yjNlA/TcJ9n9l92nI/AAAAAAAAASE/YfLhLLtHt_U/s1600/P1020284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Njtz1yjNlA/TcJ9n9l92nI/AAAAAAAAASE/YfLhLLtHt_U/s320/P1020284.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train station in Lisbon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lZ52LJOZcJ0/TcJ9siVf_7I/AAAAAAAAASI/xcAGf-YKR64/s1600/P1020285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lZ52LJOZcJ0/TcJ9siVf_7I/AAAAAAAAASI/xcAGf-YKR64/s320/P1020285.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ominous storm on our last day ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>LYON</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFpaw1HfiSs/TcJ-0rbxC9I/AAAAAAAAASk/HMIhh52YYo0/s1600/P1020323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFpaw1HfiSs/TcJ-0rbxC9I/AAAAAAAAASk/HMIhh52YYo0/s200/P1020323.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the hostel - beautiful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">After a very confusing week, language wise, I couldn't be happier to hear French when I got off the plane in Lyon. Lyon is the second largest city in France - it is south east and is close to the Swiss border - I saw beautiful mountains on my way in. I met my friend Berit at the hostel that night and we immediately had a drink and did some major catching up. Berit studied abroad with me and coincidentally is an assistant in Rennes with me this year which has been great. We decided to do just a small weekend trip on the tail end of our vacation to see another part of France. I absolutely loved Lyon, definitely one of my favorite cities and I was immediately struck by how incredibly nice everyone is. It is a big smaller then Paris, but has the same idea of layout consisting of arrondissements. There are two rivers running through it - the Rhone and the Saône - forming a little island in the middle and also allowing for lots of boats along the riverbanks that have been transformed into small cafés and restaurants, and of course, dance clubs. Any city where you can dance on a river boat is good by me. Another reason Lyon was of interest to us is because it is the 'food capital' of France ... so does that surprise you? You can walk all around the old quarter of Lyon and find 'bouchons' which are restaurants serving traditional Lyonnaise cuisine which consists of a lot of sausage, foie gras, tripe and Côtes de Rhone. Our first night we indulged in a delicious dinner where I had steak and gratin dauphinois, which is a fancier, more French and delicious version of scalloped potatoes. And we tried some Beaujolais rosé which is typical of the region. We were so full so instead of walking it off, we decided to dance it off, by finding one of the dance boats. They were playing mostly music from high school days so I'm pretty sure we impressed all the Frenchies by knowing the words to all of the music ... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E9IP6SpuXG8/Tc70BqdKKjI/AAAAAAAAATo/LfSi9SK2s1g/s1600/P1020290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E9IP6SpuXG8/Tc70BqdKKjI/AAAAAAAAATo/LfSi9SK2s1g/s320/P1020290.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gratin dauphinois - goes perfectly with steak!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFOj0rAJXjk/Tc7zscE4e8I/AAAAAAAAATg/cuvitGMqons/s1600/P1020287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFOj0rAJXjk/Tc7zscE4e8I/AAAAAAAAATg/cuvitGMqons/s320/P1020287.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical 'salade lyonnaise' which consists of frisée, croutons,<br />
small pieces of ham, and a poached egg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p3iYGYVjA7Y/TcJ-qcWVR2I/AAAAAAAAASg/ZG6NQL3vW-E/s1600/P1020322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p3iYGYVjA7Y/TcJ-qcWVR2I/AAAAAAAAASg/ZG6NQL3vW-E/s200/P1020322.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrace at the hostel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Our first full day was Sunday and it was a holiday, which means there was literally nothing open. The weather was absolutely fantastic so we went for a walk and found at least one bakery open where we grabbed some traditional praline pastries and went for a good place to sit and people watch. We hit a market along the Rhone - jackpot. They had beautiful flowers and incredible local food. We sat and people watched in the summer heat before wandering around the city for hours. We must have visited close to every arrondissement. I kept thinking when we crossed the street, or turned a corner, we would end up somewhere familiar, but we kept discovering new places. The city was so quiet and so beautiful we stayed out all day discovering the city. We had an early night on Sunday having a light dinner consisting of all our goodies we had bought at the market - fresh radishes, tomatoes, olives, lettuce, sausage, and of course delicious French bread. We ended up meeting a couple girls around our age traveling on their own, one from Australia and one from Germany, and we hung out on the hostel's terrace enjoying the view and chatting for a couple hours about language and the difference between our respective countries.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6a785umk1LI/TcJ-hxNYlII/AAAAAAAAASc/gHjZi2Tf98s/s1600/P1020311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6a785umk1LI/TcJ-hxNYlII/AAAAAAAAASc/gHjZi2Tf98s/s320/P1020311.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Lyon </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XI2QqHnK2iw/TcJ-GRo6HII/AAAAAAAAASQ/PGQE7rAiGr8/s1600/P1020298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XI2QqHnK2iw/TcJ-GRo6HII/AAAAAAAAASQ/PGQE7rAiGr8/s320/P1020298.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marching band playing on the bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PKEeGZa0Sdc/TcJ-QJ11RKI/AAAAAAAAASU/ff9NHIvdDko/s1600/P1020306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PKEeGZa0Sdc/TcJ-QJ11RKI/AAAAAAAAASU/ff9NHIvdDko/s320/P1020306.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel de Ville</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oQC70RoxXYY/TcJ-YjQZZrI/AAAAAAAAASY/l1nwg7WMHtI/s1600/P1020309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oQC70RoxXYY/TcJ-YjQZZrI/AAAAAAAAASY/l1nwg7WMHtI/s320/P1020309.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opera house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Monday morning we made our way to the tip top of the hill to see Lyon's famous basilica, the Notre-Dame de Fourvière, an official UNESCO sight. We made our way up the steepest hills to get to the top, being told there wasn't any public transportation to take us to the top, of course to discover the tram and one of the bus lines went to the top ... we got our exercise I guess. The basilica was absolutely beautiful. Not only were the views spectacular, but the inside was so unique and it was one of the more recently built churches I have seen which was very interesting, it wasn't completed until 1964. Even the crypts below the church were uniquely laid out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kzRarLoqjE/TcJ99az85WI/AAAAAAAAASM/pEkTrBMeP4E/s1600/P1020296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kzRarLoqjE/TcJ99az85WI/AAAAAAAAASM/pEkTrBMeP4E/s320/P1020296.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Notre-Dame de Fourvière</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zs86aGahEI/TcJ_DI6hruI/AAAAAAAAASs/8JcfGMB-PTg/s1600/P1020329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zs86aGahEI/TcJ_DI6hruI/AAAAAAAAASs/8JcfGMB-PTg/s320/P1020329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eiIz0uBf7Us/TcJ_Jy1V2xI/AAAAAAAAASw/6OiHkTLatSA/s1600/P1020333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eiIz0uBf7Us/TcJ_Jy1V2xI/AAAAAAAAASw/6OiHkTLatSA/s320/P1020333.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of the basilica </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LftyVtb8_rM/TcJ_Q-M6_0I/AAAAAAAAAS0/fOGaQicSnJg/s1600/P1020337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LftyVtb8_rM/TcJ_Q-M6_0I/AAAAAAAAAS0/fOGaQicSnJg/s320/P1020337.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>That afternoon we grabbed quiche and decadent French desserts at a little café before heading to Lyon's biggest park. The park was absolutely huge and because it was vacation in France, there were dozens of families and small children. It was the perfect park day. The park had gorgeous botanical gardens and as we were walking along we found elephants ... which lead to a full out zoo in the middle of the park. Berit and I were almost more excited then half of the French kids strolling along, especially once we came across the giraffes ...<br />
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All in all we had an absolutely wonderful time. Our last night we had a series of unfortunate events where we came back from this perfect summer day at the park to find some things ... missing. Someone had stolen Berit's toiletry kit and about half of my clothes, my iPod, and a pair of my shoes (which is just weird.) We were really upset at the beginning, but in the end it is just 'stuff' and nothing extremely precious was stolen. We sucked it up and treated ourselves to yet another delicious dinner at a typical bouchon, this time I had fish and Berit and I shared profiteroles to end, which ended up being a mountain of whipped cream - not complaining. And as a side note, other then the hill leading up to the Notre-Dame, the city was very easy to navigate and very accessible, including an easily accessible metro which became essential in getting around as the city is so huge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jWgIO1_Al_8/Tc70bHPmewI/AAAAAAAAATw/zMhd6ObtBtA/s1600/P1020347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jWgIO1_Al_8/Tc70bHPmewI/AAAAAAAAATw/zMhd6ObtBtA/s320/P1020347.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tarte Fraise et Tarte Praline</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BAqYtzRYN5c/TcJ_kKA2YmI/AAAAAAAAAS8/VEqcAJfgw3A/s1600/P1020345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BAqYtzRYN5c/TcJ_kKA2YmI/AAAAAAAAAS8/VEqcAJfgw3A/s320/P1020345.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Flower Tree' sculpture designed by Choi Jeong-Hwa</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ej53THdiHxQ/TcJ_ublk-PI/AAAAAAAAATA/9yikACj2ljs/s1600/P1020349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ej53THdiHxQ/TcJ_ublk-PI/AAAAAAAAATA/9yikACj2ljs/s320/P1020349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3QnFI4dXrV0/TcJ_46JqxMI/AAAAAAAAATE/3DLBBF8jPuE/s1600/P1020350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3QnFI4dXrV0/TcJ_46JqxMI/AAAAAAAAATE/3DLBBF8jPuE/s320/P1020350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance of botanical gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOFpgSDm3jY/TcKAD5eX_KI/AAAAAAAAATI/e_VwXXLq-lM/s1600/P1020351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOFpgSDm3jY/TcKAD5eX_KI/AAAAAAAAATI/e_VwXXLq-lM/s320/P1020351.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grass gardens</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jP1duOcvlmg/TcKANmeQoAI/AAAAAAAAATM/0fTQbH0EDrs/s1600/P1020352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jP1duOcvlmg/TcKANmeQoAI/AAAAAAAAATM/0fTQbH0EDrs/s320/P1020352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YP4QFv5FiUU/TcKAXdrghCI/AAAAAAAAATQ/h6fjBin5x38/s1600/P1020355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YP4QFv5FiUU/TcKAXdrghCI/AAAAAAAAATQ/h6fjBin5x38/s320/P1020355.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhrS0CJmcgs/TcKAiAffsKI/AAAAAAAAATU/LTg4IQvdrlA/s1600/P1020359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhrS0CJmcgs/TcKAiAffsKI/AAAAAAAAATU/LTg4IQvdrlA/s320/P1020359.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4UMxDdFA0V4/TcKAsbceNII/AAAAAAAAATY/MWU01Rpvdy4/s1600/P1020362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4UMxDdFA0V4/TcKAsbceNII/AAAAAAAAATY/MWU01Rpvdy4/s320/P1020362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-29423147953399826092011-04-11T12:41:00.000-07:002011-04-11T12:42:33.120-07:00Summertime?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My classes end in two weeks, the weather has been 75 + and sunny and I went on a boat ride on the ocean on Saturday ... is it summer? Of course today is cloudy and cold, but for the past two weeks I have been completely convinced summer came early. I had such a great week last week/weekend this past weekend and I have been very busy that I think I'm going to use these clouds as an excuse to just chill for a couple days. This post is going to be about the weekend, but I couldn't help but include a picture of one of my favorite classes. They are the equivalent of sophomores, and I have so much fun with them and I'm going to miss them so much! There are 38 of them, and I saw them all together for the last time, this week so I couldn't help being the cheesy TA that just HAS to take a picture. So, voilà:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMUgyzzBqoc/TaMaweWniBI/AAAAAAAAAPc/FK1pgoOC5Jo/s1600/P1020073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMUgyzzBqoc/TaMaweWniBI/AAAAAAAAAPc/FK1pgoOC5Jo/s320/P1020073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WlRiTHTyAk0/TaMbz9opsmI/AAAAAAAAAP8/ThUZFrk_tJg/s1600/P1020094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WlRiTHTyAk0/TaMbz9opsmI/AAAAAAAAAP8/ThUZFrk_tJg/s200/P1020094.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small church on Ile-Aux-Moines</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KaXjuPWM-YY/TaMbG88y_6I/AAAAAAAAAPo/gm_QIbkQAtg/s1600/P1020083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KaXjuPWM-YY/TaMbG88y_6I/AAAAAAAAAPo/gm_QIbkQAtg/s200/P1020083.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pascale and Corinne on the boat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I have said, Monday I work at an alternative high school, working with students with physical and mental disabilities. There are only two English teachers, Corinne and Pascale, who work with me and they are so nice and invited me to the coast on Saturday. I have been to the northern coast a few time, up to Saint Malo, Cancale, Cap Fréhal, and Mont Saint Michel, but somehow I have never been to the southern coast so I was so excited when I got the invite. Saturday morning we left around 10 am and could not have asked for a better day. The area we were in is called Morbihan and it took about an hour and half to get there. We parked the car and took a small, quick ferry to an island called Ile-Aux-Moines (which means Monk's Island, even though there are no monasteries on the island). While it is the biggest island in the gulf, it is very small, only about 3 miles by 4 miles. We walked all around the island and it was so adorable and picturesque. All of the houses are old stone houses, or houses that seemed very Mediterranean, all white with blue shutters. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yF5EsISTiI/TaMb7RkJu_I/AAAAAAAAAQA/1eJY-XnAvrI/s1600/P1020099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yF5EsISTiI/TaMb7RkJu_I/AAAAAAAAAQA/1eJY-XnAvrI/s320/P1020099.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiring the ocean from above</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-655mpVZ9gUk/TaMcEPd0SKI/AAAAAAAAAQE/PvdyXDFQL7g/s1600/P1020102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-655mpVZ9gUk/TaMcEPd0SKI/AAAAAAAAAQE/PvdyXDFQL7g/s320/P1020102.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59unDvKkb8U/TaMcjz-DIpI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/E9AnY6QQZJI/s1600/P1020107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59unDvKkb8U/TaMcjz-DIpI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/E9AnY6QQZJI/s320/P1020107.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the beach!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CM4vuC4AqTo/TaMcQXdEzRI/AAAAAAAAAQI/Tza0KGhKyQk/s1600/P1020103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CM4vuC4AqTo/TaMcQXdEzRI/AAAAAAAAAQI/Tza0KGhKyQk/s320/P1020103.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TgX8XcgLBvs/TaMcaveHLhI/AAAAAAAAAQM/p8CdD714YcI/s1600/P1020104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TgX8XcgLBvs/TaMcaveHLhI/AAAAAAAAAQM/p8CdD714YcI/s200/P1020104.jpg" width="150" /></a>The flowers were incredible and were out everywhere - mostly wisteria and lilac so the whole island smelled like summer. We walked along the beach, through the middle of the island, and ended up back by the port where we had lunch. I had a very delicious scallop and leek galette. I couldn't get over how much it looked like Maine! We decided to take a tour of the gulf by boat, which took a little over an hour. There was someone on the loud speaker to describe to us what was "sur notre gauche" or "sur notre droite" - so different islands, beaches, and lighthouses. I couldn't believe that I was on a boat, on the ocean ... in April! </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viFNZXD-rec/TaMbQ-16VUI/AAAAAAAAAPs/uoNOhutBIg0/s1600/P1020084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viFNZXD-rec/TaMbQ-16VUI/AAAAAAAAAPs/uoNOhutBIg0/s320/P1020084.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little John Island or Brittany, France?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-byAM6pjuiVI/TaMbi3wve1I/AAAAAAAAAP0/vEvQpx72rY4/s1600/P1020086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-byAM6pjuiVI/TaMbi3wve1I/AAAAAAAAAP0/vEvQpx72rY4/s320/P1020086.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarmouth Boat Yard or the gulf in south Brittany?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a1WN1eBfd6w/TaMcpjrdsRI/AAAAAAAAAQU/ZHnIVx5N6CU/s1600/P1020115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a1WN1eBfd6w/TaMcpjrdsRI/AAAAAAAAAQU/ZHnIVx5N6CU/s320/P1020115.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat ride around the gulf</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_S7DADJZrK8/TaMbZL2fmiI/AAAAAAAAAPw/OEnNG1rz7zA/s1600/P1020085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_S7DADJZrK8/TaMbZL2fmiI/AAAAAAAAAPw/OEnNG1rz7zA/s320/P1020085.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the perfect beach house?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On our way back home, we stopped in Vannes, which is a larger 'city' on the coast that reminded me a lot of Rennes. We did little tour, stopping to admire the architecture, and the castle that is in the center of the old city with extremely impressive gardens. We got home around 7 and it was one of the best days I have had here. It made me miss the ocean and summer so much, but soon enough! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D58UpcNAgCA/TaMc4kjs4HI/AAAAAAAAAQc/XQ8L_xtYl3Q/s1600/P1020122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D58UpcNAgCA/TaMc4kjs4HI/AAAAAAAAAQc/XQ8L_xtYl3Q/s200/P1020122.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vannes<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqeSMge2VbI/TaMcx51xBoI/AAAAAAAAAQY/NlCUVuza-EA/s1600/P1020119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqeSMge2VbI/TaMcx51xBoI/AAAAAAAAAQY/NlCUVuza-EA/s200/P1020119.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gardens at the castle in Vannes</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a true summer day on Saturday, I was out and about again on Sunday, this time to Paris to see my friend Julia (from Huckins, who is living in Grenoble) run the Paris Marathon. I went with my friend Margaret (go Yarmouth!) and we left Rennes around 8 am. We were fully prepared with cameras, sunglasses, sunscreen, summer attire, wine opener, and ready to cheer on Ju. We first arrived in Paris at 10:30 and grabbed a bus to the Arc de Triomphe where the race was finishing. At first there was supposed to be a detour, and we were going to have to walk a ways because the roads were closed, but our bus driver was so nice and along the road let us know that the route was now open so this is what we first saw about 20 minutes into our time in Paris:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5FexpMAqe6s/TaMdAQl3GaI/AAAAAAAAAQg/FLArICtEf0I/s1600/P1020140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5FexpMAqe6s/TaMdAQl3GaI/AAAAAAAAAQg/FLArICtEf0I/s320/P1020140.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarmouth in Paris!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Not to shabby huh? We had some time to kill, so we took a little walk down the Champs Elysées and grabbed iced coffee and lunch before heading back towards the finish line. You never think that you care about little things like iced coffee, until you <i>can't</i> have it. It's not like I have been craving it all winter, but as soon as you know you can't have something, what do you do? Crave it. Much to our dismay, we became the Americans asking "Est-ce que vous avez café glacé?" At least it was in French right? Extremely content with our iced coffee we settled in at the end of the finish line and while we couldn't get close to the actual course because of the thousands of people, we sat in front of the screen anxiously awaiting Julia's finish. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UAFjK-qERw/TaMdIWpjkeI/AAAAAAAAAQk/cs3Jc8gbKow/s1600/P1020141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UAFjK-qERw/TaMdIWpjkeI/AAAAAAAAAQk/cs3Jc8gbKow/s200/P1020141.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where's Julia?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We ran into Jordan and Aaron, two of Julia's friends from Grenoble who came to cheer her on and the four of us flinched at every girl wearing a white hat and 'FINISHER' t-shirt, hoping it was her. When we finally saw her come in I was so impressed. I can't believe it was her first marathon! We got some more munchies, some wine, and lots and lots of water, and found a place to sit near Champs Mars, the park by the Eiffel Tower. Situated in the sun and with a beautiful view, we sat and chatted and congratulated Jules from about 2:30 to ... 7:30.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3m4UQVH9mew/TaMdSJgta-I/AAAAAAAAAQo/Th5nQvgVZFI/s1600/P1020161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3m4UQVH9mew/TaMdSJgta-I/AAAAAAAAAQo/Th5nQvgVZFI/s320/P1020161.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay Ju!! So proud!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8oEj5vE7Ao/TaNZHsoY9yI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/WtRJGWQH3Yk/s1600/ju+finishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8oEj5vE7Ao/TaNZHsoY9yI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/WtRJGWQH3Yk/s320/ju+finishes.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXpbxGJR_0g/TaMdaF_7n0I/AAAAAAAAAQs/FPLzdMd_c60/s1600/P1020163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXpbxGJR_0g/TaMdaF_7n0I/AAAAAAAAAQs/FPLzdMd_c60/s320/P1020163.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning of a great day ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The sun didn't leave for a second. No clouds at all. We took bathroom and ice cream breaks, but other then that we just hung out. It was one of the best days I have spent in Paris and I can't get over how lucky we were to have so much time to just sit in Paris and talk with good friends. We didn't do a great job of watching the time because Margaret and I were a bit stressed for time by the time we grabbed a quick dinner and got the train station, where the elevator was broken, of course. We made the train (thank god because it was the last train to Rennes that night ...) and both took a little snooze on our way home. Yet again, cutting it short, because we both RAN to catch the last bus heading in our respective directions. I finally got home around 1 am and after a long shower crashed completely. All in all, it was such a spectacular weekend. I was in the sun all weekend, ate good food, saw good friends, and really did my best to take advantage of every minute. Il faut profiter!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjAdVDYhk7A/TaMdhVMqEAI/AAAAAAAAAQw/cglQhkTbf3Y/s1600/P1020175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjAdVDYhk7A/TaMdhVMqEAI/AAAAAAAAAQw/cglQhkTbf3Y/s320/P1020175.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">friends overlooking Paris (and the 'Inception' bridge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-43003485698409627422011-04-07T09:18:00.000-07:002011-04-07T09:18:17.918-07:00Officially Spring<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Om6hXQzoNoA/TZ3b86Yeo2I/AAAAAAAAAOU/xnXr1pvhmPA/s1600/P1010744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Om6hXQzoNoA/TZ3b86Yeo2I/AAAAAAAAAOU/xnXr1pvhmPA/s200/P1010744.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The weather here has been so incredible and it truly feeling like Spring in Rennes ... almost summer! I am attempting to 'profiter' from my last two months here. March and April have been so busy, in the best way possible. I have been taking on extra hours helping teachers with their own work, giving oral exams for the bac (the exam you need to pass in order to finish lycée) and helping students with their science projects which they are attempting to do in English. In addition to school, I was SO lucky to have one of my BFF's from Bowdoin visit me and we had a Bowdoin reunion ... in PARIS. It was so surreal to see my friends walking around Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower, and taking naps in the Tuileries Gardens. I feel like I have been so lucky lately that I am in complete denial of leaving. I have lots of pictures and updates so bear with me!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P8Q3t-zteok/TZ3bV0vEFXI/AAAAAAAAAOA/pd1-sRWYx4w/s1600/P1010709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P8Q3t-zteok/TZ3bV0vEFXI/AAAAAAAAAOA/pd1-sRWYx4w/s320/P1010709.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice weather brings delicious picnics ... </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvsOtOUP52w/TZ3bc1uTZRI/AAAAAAAAAOE/fkYGrh4xYWM/s1600/P1010710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvsOtOUP52w/TZ3bc1uTZRI/AAAAAAAAAOE/fkYGrh4xYWM/s320/P1010710.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers blossoming at school</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6gHTKEAGc0/TZ3b16rELdI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/tm1PvzJY4DI/s1600/P1010742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6gHTKEAGc0/TZ3b16rELdI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/tm1PvzJY4DI/s320/P1010742.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring in Rennes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A couple weeks ago, before Margie visited, the weather had been spectacular, so my colleague and I went horseback riding about 15/20 minutes outside of Rennes. It started a little rainy in the morning, but after our two hour walk, the sun was shining and it had been the best afternoon. Even though it is only my second time, I love my horse Mélo (short for mélodie aka Melody). She is so beautiful and so easy to ride. After a very long, but beautiful day, I rushed home to shower then back out to the train station to meet Margie. It was SO incredible to see her and it felt like a dream that she was just getting off a train in Rennes and making dinner in my apartment.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ozrSpC4_XMA/TZ3btnv8cFI/AAAAAAAAAOM/1DCeGronqOU/s1600/P1010731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ozrSpC4_XMA/TZ3btnv8cFI/AAAAAAAAAOM/1DCeGronqOU/s320/P1010731.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c4wOZeg-_zM/TZ3bl2YY38I/AAAAAAAAAOI/6G_RRl1n5_0/s1600/P1010719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c4wOZeg-_zM/TZ3bl2YY38I/AAAAAAAAAOI/6G_RRl1n5_0/s320/P1010719.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mélo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We spent Monday and Tuesday walking around Rennes, eating at my favorite restaurants and just catching up. Monday was my friend Fabienne's birthday (she is the Germany assistant at Lycée Chateaubriand) so we had a big dinner for her. Margie was a trooper and came along, despite not knowing a word in French. The countries that were represented were: France, Spain, Russia, Italy, Germany, and of course the USA. It was quite the mix of language and conversation, but I couldn't have been happier to have Margie meet all of them!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAiu4RjkzS0/TZ3cCBCPb0I/AAAAAAAAAOY/SysHQ1zTjDo/s1600/P1010751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAiu4RjkzS0/TZ3cCBCPb0I/AAAAAAAAAOY/SysHQ1zTjDo/s320/P1010751.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">International raclette dinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SGvS-ByXF24/TZ3cJTzNI8I/AAAAAAAAAOc/CL9ZthNo0RM/s1600/P1010757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SGvS-ByXF24/TZ3cJTzNI8I/AAAAAAAAAOc/CL9ZthNo0RM/s320/P1010757.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yula (middle) is a film professor at school, and she brought her<br />
baby, Milo with her to dinner. Raquel (right) is the Spanish assistant<br />
and was attempting to get Milo to understand a Spanish lullaby </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSxJQ5N4TiU/TZ3cQINeMpI/AAAAAAAAAOg/XklYjlBQmCo/s1600/P1010761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSxJQ5N4TiU/TZ3cQINeMpI/AAAAAAAAAOg/XklYjlBQmCo/s320/P1010761.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right ... Elsa (Russia), Marisa (Italy), Fabienne (Germany),<br />
Margie!, me, and Raquel (Spain)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Wednesday, even though it rained, we made the trek to Saint Malo for the afternoon after my class and had 'moules frites' and enjoyed the ocean despite the rain!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8J4_f8qCjVo/TZ3d_zQRM3I/AAAAAAAAAPY/01LZ9hOkQxg/s1600/P1020067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8J4_f8qCjVo/TZ3d_zQRM3I/AAAAAAAAAPY/01LZ9hOkQxg/s200/P1020067.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our apartment</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3dat7qwIoQ/TZ3ctb7f6mI/AAAAAAAAAOw/eKu2nD3RaVg/s1600/P1020023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3dat7qwIoQ/TZ3ctb7f6mI/AAAAAAAAAOw/eKu2nD3RaVg/s200/P1020023.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reunited!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Thursday morning we left early for Paris and had the day to ourselves before Sarah came to join us. We went to the Pompidou which was great because I had never been and I really enjoyed it - it is such a cool museum and I really want to go back and spend some more time there. Thursday night Sarah joined us and we spent the night in a hostel. Friday and Saturday were THE best. Friday we slept in a bit and went to a garden in the Latin quarter to wait for Allie and Abbie to arrive. It was so nice to be reunited and so crazy to just be chillin' in Paris with friends from school who I hadn't seen in MONTHS. We rented an apartment on Rue de Rosiers in the Jewish Quarter and after checking in the afternoon, we unloaded, went grocery shopping and Margie made incredible pasta, along with bread, cheese and wine, of course. It was so comfortable and easy, it almost felt like we were back in Brunswick N (Abbie and Sarah's old apartment at Bowdoin) making dinner on a random Friday night. Saturday we were so lucky with the weather - it was like 70 degrees and even though we were a bit 'tired' we rallied and took a bus to the Eiffel Tower.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fz7m60t2ApM/TZ3c1-vAW7I/AAAAAAAAAO0/bHCCZHGx54Q/s1600/P1020026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fz7m60t2ApM/TZ3c1-vAW7I/AAAAAAAAAO0/bHCCZHGx54Q/s200/P1020026.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers to Bowdoin!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G-BhvlSfGZU/TZ3c-Ewy_0I/AAAAAAAAAO4/144Vj4vOnFY/s1600/P1020028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G-BhvlSfGZU/TZ3c-Ewy_0I/AAAAAAAAAO4/144Vj4vOnFY/s320/P1020028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uEgCmDDTDCI/TZ3dGTMseyI/AAAAAAAAAO8/ShrhGwaqVzY/s1600/P1020030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uEgCmDDTDCI/TZ3dGTMseyI/AAAAAAAAAO8/ShrhGwaqVzY/s320/P1020030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y_BI2izm8H0/TZ3dND4T9-I/AAAAAAAAAPA/F7WVmFTxrsA/s1600/P1020033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y_BI2izm8H0/TZ3dND4T9-I/AAAAAAAAAPA/F7WVmFTxrsA/s320/P1020033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">perfect dinner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
We walked back along the Seine and made a couple pit stops at La Durée and a place to grab sandwiches. We finally ended up in the Jardins de Tuileries, in front of the Louvre. We lounged on the grass among other Frenchies for a couple of hours before saying goodbye to Allie. On our walk back the the apartment, we indulged in Berthillon ice cream - their 'caramel beurre salé' or salted butter caramel is THE best ice cream. Saturday night was very low-key more pasta making and we all attempted to get some sleep and prepare for goodbyes the next day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SAvix9G-pWQ/TZ3dW7V7neI/AAAAAAAAAPE/soyq0dxcde0/s1600/P1020037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SAvix9G-pWQ/TZ3dW7V7neI/AAAAAAAAAPE/soyq0dxcde0/s320/P1020037.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bagels in the Jewish quarter ... how can you not?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6pBr8lhVFCE/TZ3de8C0I4I/AAAAAAAAAPI/QQSXSbMVSzs/s1600/P1020043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6pBr8lhVFCE/TZ3de8C0I4I/AAAAAAAAAPI/QQSXSbMVSzs/s320/P1020043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowdoin at Hotel de Ville</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ErZhpbfgUL8/TZ3dloMV9EI/AAAAAAAAAPM/QNjg1GiPgNY/s1600/P1020057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ErZhpbfgUL8/TZ3dloMV9EI/AAAAAAAAAPM/QNjg1GiPgNY/s320/P1020057.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JUMP! For my love ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cQpf4Isxknw/TZ3d5P-tXlI/AAAAAAAAAPU/b9GH_pHaTCU/s1600/P1020063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cQpf4Isxknw/TZ3d5P-tXlI/AAAAAAAAAPU/b9GH_pHaTCU/s320/P1020063.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berthillon ice cream break on the Seine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Margie left in the morning and it was so weird to see everyone start to depart one by one, but Sarah, Abs and I took advantage of our rainy Sunday in Paris, getting Pierre Hermé macaroons, and going to l'As du Falafal for lunch - which seriously NEVER disappoints and is worth the wait. Sarah and I took the train home, she dropped me off in Rennes and continued on to Brest and I got home in time to shower, have some dinner, and have some time to myself (let's be honest, I caught up on the reality TV I hadn't watched all week ...) All in all it was SUCH a great trip and I feel like we did SO much in only 3 short days.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VfNzBz35OJI/TZ3cYUGq73I/AAAAAAAAAOk/xVU1daPiWk0/s1600/P1020001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VfNzBz35OJI/TZ3cYUGq73I/AAAAAAAAAOk/xVU1daPiWk0/s320/P1020001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Pompidou </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zlvZFrYKK8/TZ3cf47tNcI/AAAAAAAAAOo/b7ZBxytDNDI/s1600/P1020009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zlvZFrYKK8/TZ3cf47tNcI/AAAAAAAAAOo/b7ZBxytDNDI/s320/P1020009.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pt_GgeWJhcs/TZ3cl9h_shI/AAAAAAAAAOs/s8nABvP_AVw/s1600/P1020015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pt_GgeWJhcs/TZ3cl9h_shI/AAAAAAAAAOs/s8nABvP_AVw/s320/P1020015.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Chanel herself</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Back in Rennes the weather has continued to deliver sun, so in between school and extra hours I have been working, I have absolutely been enjoying the sun (and may or may not be burnt already ...). I have been seeing my friend Margaret a lot which is so fun - Margaret went to Yarmouth and is studying abroad as a junior this semester here in Rennes. She and I have been doing weekly dinners and last night we satisfied our mexican craving AND celebrated her 21st birthday! This weekend I am going to the coast on Saturday with two of my colleagues from the hospital school I work at on Mondays, and Sunday I am going BACK to Paris with Margaret, to see my friend Julia (Huckins girl!) run in the Paris marathon!! I'm SO lucky and so proud of her I cannot wait to see the whole thing. So stay posted for Parisian adventures.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQ0PiLipu_k/TZ3dvgAre_I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/uwk5bP-mTus/s1600/P1020060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQ0PiLipu_k/TZ3dvgAre_I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/uwk5bP-mTus/s320/P1020060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And in case you are looking to go to Paris and want some (accessible) chic hints check this out! http://girlsguidetoparis.com/archives/%E2%80%A8weekend-on-wheels-in-paris/<br />
<br />
à toute à l'heure!emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-87050420775152800472011-03-21T13:42:00.000-07:002011-03-21T13:42:54.099-07:00<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7jZq0_sTf3Q/TYcxHlDqDuI/AAAAAAAAANY/I9mCBZXVOmQ/s1600/P1010654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7jZq0_sTf3Q/TYcxHlDqDuI/AAAAAAAAANY/I9mCBZXVOmQ/s200/P1010654.JPG" width="200" /></a>I still haven't finished blogging about my wonderful spring vacation and seeing my family in Roma BUT I couldn't resist adding some pics and moments from this past weekend. I feel like I haven't stopped since I have been back from break, which is a good thing. I also am really starting to hold off thinking about how I only have about six weeks which is not enough time - I'm really starting to feel at home and the longer I stay the harder it gets to think about leaving. All of that being said, here are some highlights from my past week:</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thursday was St. Patrick's Day, which I'm sure most of you know, so I tried to concentrate my lessons on talking about what St. Patrick's Day actually means for both Ireland and the United States. I taught my kids the legend/story of St. Patrick and we did a little exercise about the meaning of shamrocks. We have also been focusing on energy so I spent a good part of my day grading 'Alternative Energy' posters for my sophomores - which was absolutely exhausting, but fun to see how hard the students had worked! Because I don't work on Thursdays, my friend Caely and I decided to splurge and go to our favorite restaurant, Apple Pie, for some real Ireland indulgence. Well, we couldn't have picked a better day to be true gourmands. Lisa had prepared homemade bread with creme fraiche and smoked salmon, an Irish stew with cabbage, beef, carrots and potatoes, and last, but certainly not least, Irish Coffee Cheesecake. Now, I've been treating myself to Apple Pie since my discovery of it in late November. I even wrote an entire post dedicated to Lisa's Pumpkin Pie over Thanksgiving, but I have to say that the cheesecake was the most incredible thing Lisa has made so far - basically I should write a new post: Ode to Irish Coffee Cheesecake. So Lisa, thank you, yet again you have managed to make me want to share my food adventures with everyone who reads the blog. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ciXhWjnpjNw/TYcvyBLYcmI/AAAAAAAAAMs/W5FglyW9Zx4/s1600/P1010647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ciXhWjnpjNw/TYcvyBLYcmI/AAAAAAAAAMs/W5FglyW9Zx4/s320/P1010647.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade brown bread and smoked salmon .... really?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UtAaZEbMeA0/TYcwUiIbgcI/AAAAAAAAANA/tU7tdisGShE/s1600/P1010650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UtAaZEbMeA0/TYcwUiIbgcI/AAAAAAAAANA/tU7tdisGShE/s320/P1010650.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irish stew - reminding me of St. Patrick's Day at home!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j5jremygvB0/TYcwcmD5YeI/AAAAAAAAANE/LjX3ATCRR6w/s1600/P1010653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j5jremygvB0/TYcwcmD5YeI/AAAAAAAAANE/LjX3ATCRR6w/s320/P1010653.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irish Coffee Cheesecake: Renamed "Can I have another<br />
piece?" cheesecake ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LWZ4b9CwlHQ/TYcw0L2n25I/AAAAAAAAANQ/a4z_Q-_-03I/s1600/P1010657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LWZ4b9CwlHQ/TYcw0L2n25I/AAAAAAAAANQ/a4z_Q-_-03I/s200/P1010657.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caely hard at work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Now that you are salivating and hungry ... I worked all day Friday, as I usually do, but took on some extra hours to help the students with their oral exams. Friday night I was absolutely exhausted and went to bed at some unreasonably early hour because Saturday I also worked. Saturday was 'Open House' at school - basically so that parents and their middle schoolers could come and see what the lycée has to offer. Lycée Chateaubriand is considered one of the, if not THE, best public school in Rennes, so you can imagine we were super busy. We schmoozed with parents for a few hours in the morning asking their questions about our role as assistants and where we come from etc. It was exhausting, but actually quite fun to see how many parents are really curious about the next step of their children's education. Saturday afternoon, I continued working and did another afternoon at Les Petits Bilingues - which is a small school offering special afternoon classes for younger kids to practice/learn English. I help once a month with the cooking class offered on Saturday, and this week we made Carrot Cake and American Pancakes. The students were so well behaved and the parents were very pleased to see their kids so excited to share the cake with them, in addition to proving they can say "eggs", "flour", "sugar", and "cinnamon"... very cute. To top it off, France 3, a French news station, came to interview us and film a bit of our class - very very nerve racking. So apparently, tomorrow night, Emma attempting to teach English, cook, and speak French will be on French news - yikes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DemFTo4C8yg/TYcwmdCa38I/AAAAAAAAANI/cgFgqS-LXCI/s1600/P1010661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DemFTo4C8yg/TYcwmdCa38I/AAAAAAAAANI/cgFgqS-LXCI/s320/P1010661.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caely attempting to review the ingredients with some of my students</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Despite my exhaustion level after meeting friends for tea after teaching, then going to see a very adorable new French film, I decided to 'profiter' from the incredible weather we have been having, and I took a day trip to the northern coast of Brittany with my friends Fabienne (from Germany) and Elsa (from Russia). We left around noon and drove up to the coast stopping at a couple different beaches and points. Our main goal was to see Cap Fréhal, a place I have been wanting to visit since arriving in Rennes. It went above and beyond my expectations. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, and it was so nice to be in a car, exploring the countryside and the coast - which is absolutely beautiful here in Brittany. It is truly spring here, and I saw all of the colors and lush gardens to prove it. We would drive a bit, stop, get out and take advantage of the sun and walk a bit before getting back into the car and hitting our next stop. Fabienne vacationed here as a kid, so she knew the area like the back of her hand. Our last stop was at a beach where we walked along the boardwalk and grabbed a galette before heading back home in time for a shower, and finally, sleep. I'm so lucky that Fabienne has a car, and it was so nice to only speak in French all day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xd1tvYASgd4/TYcv3qxEIII/AAAAAAAAAMw/TpRWb7osgTU/s1600/P1010704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xd1tvYASgd4/TYcv3qxEIII/AAAAAAAAAMw/TpRWb7osgTU/s320/P1010704.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sunset</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4tEur3ybIZE/TYcv-XjhuQI/AAAAAAAAAM0/ktaUUlIT5Ls/s1600/P1010684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4tEur3ybIZE/TYcv-XjhuQI/AAAAAAAAAM0/ktaUUlIT5Ls/s320/P1010684.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at Cap Fréhal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kKrGr6G0oLM/TYcwGlfsPsI/AAAAAAAAAM4/Bw7B9ZRxDz0/s1600/P1010677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kKrGr6G0oLM/TYcwGlfsPsI/AAAAAAAAAM4/Bw7B9ZRxDz0/s320/P1010677.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'phare' or lighthouse at Cap Fréhal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j0b8rSKghSU/TYe2oWorVtI/AAAAAAAAAN0/BWsfknUVdIo/s1600/P1010671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j0b8rSKghSU/TYe2oWorVtI/AAAAAAAAAN0/BWsfknUVdIo/s320/P1010671.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching mussels</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7Uaa1AsSuBk/TYcwOcYM9mI/AAAAAAAAAM8/zcGGP_Vj2dw/s1600/P1010700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7Uaa1AsSuBk/TYcwOcYM9mI/AAAAAAAAAM8/zcGGP_Vj2dw/s320/P1010700.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JlyyZ6i4VRE/TYcwt2qPWII/AAAAAAAAANM/O2mHJCcLwz0/s1600/P1010688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JlyyZ6i4VRE/TYcwt2qPWII/AAAAAAAAANM/O2mHJCcLwz0/s320/P1010688.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Latte at Cap Fréhal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f-ZB3wK32GU/TYcw9YPloMI/AAAAAAAAANU/QAIo_85xfBg/s1600/P1010694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f-ZB3wK32GU/TYcw9YPloMI/AAAAAAAAANU/QAIo_85xfBg/s320/P1010694.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water color was absolutely crazy - there were times when<br />
you couldn't tell the difference between sea and sky. Right<br />
below the cliffs, the water looked like Caribbean water it was so<br />
aqua and absolutely beautiful.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vtv55r42Z8Q/TYcxQ6sYdcI/AAAAAAAAANc/-8xNMsdVzcg/s1600/P1010670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vtv55r42Z8Q/TYcxQ6sYdcI/AAAAAAAAANc/-8xNMsdVzcg/s320/P1010670.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paragliding in Brittany</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0OASoABL1xE/TYcxYxxfM8I/AAAAAAAAANg/CgUK8-liO74/s1600/P1010669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0OASoABL1xE/TYcxYxxfM8I/AAAAAAAAANg/CgUK8-liO74/s320/P1010669.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Families have picnics and take advantage of the sun on a Sunday</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--zDFItUzQnw/TYe2UwzERaI/AAAAAAAAANs/kP88foGzB-c/s1600/P1010687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--zDFItUzQnw/TYe2UwzERaI/AAAAAAAAANs/kP88foGzB-c/s320/P1010687.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JWPaUcBKuK0/TYe2fHpWD6I/AAAAAAAAANw/DHkDMNGpTLQ/s1600/P1010667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JWPaUcBKuK0/TYe2fHpWD6I/AAAAAAAAANw/DHkDMNGpTLQ/s320/P1010667.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horses at low tide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-42745047140381530132011-03-10T03:18:00.000-08:002011-03-10T05:23:51.183-08:00Barthalona<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8OzqEkisyTw/TXjPD5lnzUI/AAAAAAAAAMo/GXMr50LBlsA/s200/P1010375.JPG" width="200" /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;">One of the perks of this assistantship is school breaks. Because France values vacation time, unlike the United States where you have to beg for one day off, school vacations are shall we say ... frequent. Schools have two weeks off in February/March and another two weeks over Easter in April. So for the past two weeks I had the opportunity to travel a bit and see my family! The adventure started in Barcelona with my friend Lindsay for four days ... </span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Barcelona is AMAZING. I had so so much fun. It was the perfect balance between eating, drinking, sleeping, and sightseeing. I think spending a lot of time in one place is really nice in order to get to know the city and to not feel like you are rushed in seeing everything. It is super navigable, has a great public transportation system, and not to mention, surprisingly very accessible. After spending the night in Toulouse with Lindsay (which is in the south of France) on Saturday, Sunday we got up and had a lazy day of going to this incredible market, making a big lunch with her roommates and preparing for our journey to Spain. Somehow, we got to Spain without any glitches pretty late on Sunday night. After dumping our stuff at the hostel, we found a tapas restaurant on the corner that was very very good and every table came with your own tap and it just calculated on a big screen how much you were drinking, which was really cool and their beer wasn't bad! </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ROt_LxxrfRQ/TXio7w-F41I/AAAAAAAAAK4/2QA1tOo3A0E/s1600/P1010386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ROt_LxxrfRQ/TXio7w-F41I/AAAAAAAAAK4/2QA1tOo3A0E/s200/P1010386.jpg" width="150" /></a>Monday was our first full day and we were determined to go, go, go. We first headed into the Gothic Quarter to explore the Cathedral and attempt to get our bearings. We walked around everywhere, did a little bit of shopping, and of course, found churros. For those of you who haven't been to Spain, or who haven't read my previous posts, churros are doughnut like pastries you dip in hot chocolate - the thing about hot chocolate in Spain though is that it is LITERALLY melted chocolate. So basically it's heaven. I had read about this one street that is well known for it's chocolate because it is full of art galleries and so while people used to go around to all the galleries they would obviously need a place to rest and get a sugar fix. Lindsay and I wasted no time doing exactly the same thing ... Monday night we began our ritual of a 7pm siesta for about an hour and a half to two hours - every day. I seriously think Spain knows how to live. We also went out on Monday night only discover exactly why people sleep for almost 2 hours every afternoon/evening ... people didn't even start going out until between 2 and 3 am! So you don't eat until 10 pm because you have been sleeping because you went to bed at 6 am and didn't get up until noon - NOW I get it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RxIzw3ZwrRA/TXiqlCc_MGI/AAAAAAAAALo/y3ayk_-L9e4/s1600/P1010439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RxIzw3ZwrRA/TXiqlCc_MGI/AAAAAAAAALo/y3ayk_-L9e4/s320/P1010439.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't go wrong with churros </td></tr>
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<div><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dR_2z7KQCCM/TXi-WTFrfFI/AAAAAAAAAMc/RqoDINOO-GA/s1600/P1010437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dR_2z7KQCCM/TXi-WTFrfFI/AAAAAAAAAMc/RqoDINOO-GA/s200/P1010437.jpg" width="150" /></a>Tuesday turned out to be absolutely beautiful so we went to the famous market in Barcelona to pack up some things and head to Gaudi's famous Park Guell. Of course we found the most difficult route to get there which included impossibly steep hills, stairs, and an escalator, and then on our way down realized we had gone the back way and made it impossibly difficult for ourselves BUT that did not take away from the incredible view, beautiful day, and amazing picnic we had at the top! The market was so cool and everything was so fresh - not to mention the colors! It was different then the market in Rennes as there was so much exotic fruit and their meat and cheese are very different. Sidenote: I felt like in Barcelona no one spoke English so this is where Lindsay pretended she spoke Spanish. Although, putting an "O" at the end of every word does not make it Spanish. Somehow we managed because people seemed to think we understood as soon as she or I said one word in Spanish someone would just start speaking fluently to us. And instead of asking questions, we would finish with "vale" which means "ok" and then walk away without a clue as to what was said. But we ate well, slept well, saw everything we wanted and understood directions so we must have done something right! When we went to the market we had to rely on speaking French some of the time, which was comforting in a weird way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-558z2i5Jlhg/TXiqT80Af_I/AAAAAAAAALg/ZYGwc80tQqk/s1600/P1010436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-558z2i5Jlhg/TXiqT80Af_I/AAAAAAAAALg/ZYGwc80tQqk/s320/P1010436.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Park Guell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A2quNH1STTc/TXiqcRE5JzI/AAAAAAAAALk/x4OoIgZYD6g/s1600/P1010427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A2quNH1STTc/TXiqcRE5JzI/AAAAAAAAALk/x4OoIgZYD6g/s320/P1010427.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top - complete with ocean view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-klMR04Ny1FQ/TXi-MdJSDyI/AAAAAAAAAMY/BT0HDuUVVH0/s1600/P1010429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-klMR04Ny1FQ/TXi-MdJSDyI/AAAAAAAAAMY/BT0HDuUVVH0/s320/P1010429.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picnic complete with sangriaaa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UkJM7n4jIO4/TXip5vbgOTI/AAAAAAAAALU/x-9qae4ukfc/s1600/P1010405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UkJM7n4jIO4/TXip5vbgOTI/AAAAAAAAALU/x-9qae4ukfc/s320/P1010405.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the market</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">incredible fruit - figs, oranges, papaya, you name it ...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z7SVewPdQZs/TXipnMSQteI/AAAAAAAAALM/S936M72DCFs/s1600/P1010413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z7SVewPdQZs/TXipnMSQteI/AAAAAAAAALM/S936M72DCFs/s320/P1010413.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoothies in every flavor - we had them every day<br />
no joke, mango/coconut was my absolute favorite</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-P31xPTkSOwE/TXiqA-7NoDI/AAAAAAAAALY/8eFPwq9Q820/s1600/P1010420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-P31xPTkSOwE/TXiqA-7NoDI/AAAAAAAAALY/8eFPwq9Q820/s320/P1010420.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barcelona is right on the beach, so we had to try some fresh calamari</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Tuesday afternoon we took a tour of the Palau de la Musica Catalana - a privately owned performance space for choruses in Barcelona and Spain. It is absolutely beautiful and is hands down own of the most incredible and intricate buildings I've seen. The details are amazing and there is a lot of symbolism surrounding the legend of St. George, the patron Saint of Barcelona imbedded on the inside. The reason the photo below of the facade is so steep is because the facade is facing another building, making the front very difficult to see. Facing the building is an apartment building, which the architect thought would eventually be torn down, and there were churches on the other sides so the architect thought they would never be torn down, hence the reason the building faces the apartment building. Coincidentally, the apartment building is the only building left standing around the Palau! After a siesta, Lindsay and I met up with my friend Julia from camp. Julia and I never plan anything ... ever. But somehow we are always in the same place at the same time. This summer she called me after canoeing in Maine with her dad for three days and ended up spending the weekend with me. Then we discovered we were flying into Paris the exact same day before our assistantships (she is in Grenoble). She was supposed to go to Cairo for spring break and didn't, for obvious reasons, so left me a message two days before I left saying she would be in Barcelona the exact dates I would. Jules, I think it is fate! So we had a wonderfully late dinner with her and a friend near our hostel. Below is a picture of the Palau, along with some other things I found interesting throughout my exploration of Barcelona!</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music Hall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BKVXD8x8_D0/TXipUwAbZBI/AAAAAAAAALE/cC4Rtncz-Bg/s1600/P1010400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BKVXD8x8_D0/TXipUwAbZBI/AAAAAAAAALE/cC4Rtncz-Bg/s320/P1010400.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are those eyes??</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hYjWXYeeZPo/TXipFpo75oI/AAAAAAAAAK8/FeBYE5D73Hw/s1600/P1010387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hYjWXYeeZPo/TXipFpo75oI/AAAAAAAAAK8/FeBYE5D73Hw/s320/P1010387.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check it again ... those are towels! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lEPRkSW6LgI/TXiroI4b9pI/AAAAAAAAAMM/MPb7FwRximE/s1600/P1010450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lEPRkSW6LgI/TXiroI4b9pI/AAAAAAAAAMM/MPb7FwRximE/s320/P1010450.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue by the beach in Barceloneta </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wednesday was another beautiful day so we decided to head down to the beach. I guess I didn't realize that Barcelona was ON the Mediterranean, well one beautiful walk on the boardwalk and two pastries later I was amazed and in love. It was super windy, but the beach seemed to go on forever and it was so nice to see the ocean. On the way down to the beach we were able to see the port and we discovered an incredible Catalan history museum. Usually I am not very good in museums for a long time, but this museum was one of the best I have ever been to. We only went to the third floor to discover the history of the Catalan region from the revolution in the 1930s to present day. It was so well laid out and really clear. I learned more from just spending a couple hours in that museum then I have in any history class, and I honestly could go back and explore it more. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-amkmRtlHPJk/TXjGBx2MNqI/AAAAAAAAAMg/8QeZZJvO1dE/s1600/P1010458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-amkmRtlHPJk/TXjGBx2MNqI/AAAAAAAAAMg/8QeZZJvO1dE/s320/P1010458.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">la playa!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d5KiuqTHaB8/TXjGkQD1HHI/AAAAAAAAAMk/4nqmTAIpE4g/s1600/P1010452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d5KiuqTHaB8/TXjGkQD1HHI/AAAAAAAAAMk/4nqmTAIpE4g/s320/P1010452.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sort of looks like my apartment after I do laundry ...</td></tr>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rnhazEN1UvU/TXipcQVBefI/AAAAAAAAALI/rr5o060GdYE/s1600/P1010396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rnhazEN1UvU/TXipcQVBefI/AAAAAAAAALI/rr5o060GdYE/s320/P1010396.jpg" width="240" /></a>Wednesday night I think was my favorite night in Barcelona. We met up with some of Lindsay's friends from Toulouse who happened to be in Barcelona as well, one girl was staying in our hostel. Five of us headed back down towards the beach to try this dinner place I hadn't stopped reading about La Champagneria. Seriously one of the coolest restaurants I have ever been. Let me explain: you order champagne, either a round, or a glass, at 90 cents a glass (pink champagne mind you), but the deal is is that you have to order some sort of food as well. So you can order 5 glasses of champagne, but you have to order at least one small plate of tapas or something. We all got sandwiches and split some tapas and it was so amazing. This place sounds classy, but you have to fight your way to order. It is standing room only, the floor is disgusting filled with paper wrappers from the sandwiches and people dropping things, and there is a bouncer at the door making sure it doesn't get too packed. It opens early and closes early because it takes a while to get people to leave. We called to say there were 5 of us and one wheelchair to make sure everything would be ok, and on the phone they said "Yes, of course no problem!", but of course we get there and there is a huge line and the bouncer was less than thrilled to see us. Good thing some very nice (and very cute) Italian boys, helped us get a spot in line and we all chatted a bit and shared a round of drinks. It was crowded and loud, but completely worth it. The food was delicious, the people were crazed, but very nice and it was definitely an experience. I would go back in a heartbeat! Afterwords, the five of us moved to an equally crowded bar to chat some more before the Toulouse gang headed out, as they were all leaving that night. Linds and I continued to head back to our hostel, in the rain, and ended up going out with some of the girls from our hostel which was really fun. At the beginning I was teasing Lindsay because I thought going out on an organized rendez-vous with the hostel would feel like field trip, but I ate my words because it was so fun and everyone was really nice and we had a great time. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thursday morning was a bit slow, but after another smoothie and a Spanish pastry I was good to go. We decided to do a free walking tour of Gaudi's architecture in Barcelona. Highly, highly recommended. Our guide was really sweet, she was from England, and because the weather wasn't superb, there were only eight of us. We walked all around the city as she explained to us the details and history of Gaudi's masterpieces. We finished at the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's yet-to-be-finished Cathedral, which was actually recently deemed an official basilica by the Pope. The Sagrada was my favorite part of Barcelona. We did an audio tour, duh, and the inside of the church was just amazing. You really do feel like you are inside a forest. It is the most modern cathedral I have ever seen and truly unique. All of Gaudi's architecture makes you feel like you are taking a walk in Candy Land, which is a bit ironic considering one of his apartment buildings is actually owned by the family that owns Chupa Chups! Our guide took her time explaining as many details as possible about the outside of the Sagrada, but once you see the pictures below, you will realize there are SO many details it is impossible to cover them all. Thursday ended with an incredible typical Catalan lunch at 4 pm, a siesta, and a final dinner at one of the oldest restaurants in Barcelona. Shoot, I just remembered we went to the Picasso museum too! How did I forget that? I have no idea which day it was now ... they are all running together! Well, the Picasso museum was very cool, in a very cool sort of hidden area, but to be honest a bit underwhelming, considering there was only the permanent collection which was smaller then I assumed, but nonetheless still impressive! I can't tell you enough how much I really loved the city. I would love to go back and explore more day to day life of the city and take day trips. Friday morning I flew to Rome to see the fam so stay tuned on more updates from Italy...</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ciao for now!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning coffee with muffin tops dipped in chocolate ... really?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LrEBiDcwr7U/TXir3TeDbLI/AAAAAAAAAMU/qyNTvZgQ8ak/s1600/P1010353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LrEBiDcwr7U/TXir3TeDbLI/AAAAAAAAAMU/qyNTvZgQ8ak/s320/P1010353.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linds investigating the map</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2zFJ9Sej8RM/TXiq0IGpE4I/AAAAAAAAALw/0EeoCrUc3tI/s1600/P1010469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2zFJ9Sej8RM/TXiq0IGpE4I/AAAAAAAAALw/0EeoCrUc3tI/s320/P1010469.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Gaudi's Casa Milà</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EFYxywSp4CE/TXirChIGX2I/AAAAAAAAAL4/GAvEyC7PNGA/s1600/P1010472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EFYxywSp4CE/TXirChIGX2I/AAAAAAAAAL4/GAvEyC7PNGA/s320/P1010472.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaudi's Casa Batllo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IKmt90i8kEk/TXirMOHfsmI/AAAAAAAAAL8/D-hJjTx2LoI/s1600/P1010475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IKmt90i8kEk/TXirMOHfsmI/AAAAAAAAAL8/D-hJjTx2LoI/s320/P1010475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IkyJEwmc7s0/TXiq5KO21lI/AAAAAAAAAL0/S9HNPdMSATk/s1600/P1010478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IkyJEwmc7s0/TXiq5KO21lI/AAAAAAAAAL0/S9HNPdMSATk/s320/P1010478.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Linds in front of the Sagrada Familia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-an8f7ZAiSF0/TXirT6uvhvI/AAAAAAAAAMA/CGdAo9q6lj4/s1600/P1010485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-an8f7ZAiSF0/TXirT6uvhvI/AAAAAAAAAMA/CGdAo9q6lj4/s320/P1010485.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storm troopers or Gaudi statues? It was said that George Lucas<br />
got inspiration from this exact facade for Star Wars ...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z1LAMABIuos/TXirf-qdn5I/AAAAAAAAAMI/6ORVpBoC03Y/s1600/P1010487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z1LAMABIuos/TXirf-qdn5I/AAAAAAAAAMI/6ORVpBoC03Y/s320/P1010487.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Sagrada - Gaudi designed it to make you feel as though<br />
you were inside a forest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0dEIsKpjZdk/TXiraAMvcYI/AAAAAAAAAME/Zy2hMnp9llI/s1600/P1010497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0dEIsKpjZdk/TXiraAMvcYI/AAAAAAAAAME/Zy2hMnp9llI/s320/P1010497.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at the ceiling over the altar in the Sagrada</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div></div>emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905363558480836057.post-73685825217902084612011-02-17T05:42:00.000-08:002011-02-20T04:53:28.956-08:00Galway Girl<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wPrceN1WSo/TVuRld0XXdI/AAAAAAAAAKI/kMVI6qMoVQc/s1600/P1010330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wPrceN1WSo/TVuRld0XXdI/AAAAAAAAAKI/kMVI6qMoVQc/s200/P1010330.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Enjoying tea and cake at<br />
Apple Pie - of course</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>There is nothing like having good friends visit! One of my best friend's from home, Libby, is currently living in Galway, Ireland and despite us both being in Europe, we have yet to see one another - so last weekend she hopped across the channel and came to Rennes. We had the best time catching up and it was nice, yet again, to show someone all of my favorite spots in Rennes. We had a typical Breton night on Wednesday when she got here, having galettes, cider, and crepes, followed by grabbing a pint with friends in town to watch the France vs. Brazil soccer game (which we won - yay!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mgkjgc0z8fY/TVuTsiSoekI/AAAAAAAAAKg/JZVDSSBZRxo/s1600/P1010341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mgkjgc0z8fY/TVuTsiSoekI/AAAAAAAAAKg/JZVDSSBZRxo/s320/P1010341.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Caely graces us with her talent ... apple tart</span></td></tr>
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I don't work on Thursdays, so I took Libby to the Cathedral, the Parliament building, the opera house and the mayor's office, in addition to all of the tiny side streets trying to still milk the January sales. We got lunch at my favorite tartine place with one of my friends and sat at the same table as some French women who happened to be teachers as well and enjoying a glass of wine before needing to go back to school (a two hour lunch, complete with wine is what teachers should all have in the middle of the day, I wonder when the US will catch on to this ...). Of course when we left it began to rain so we sought refuge in Apple Pie so I could introduce Libby to my favorite restaurant and Lisa (the owner, from Dublin) and Libby could talk Ireland. Turns out Lisa is very familiar with Galway and even met her husband there! We were not disappointed with lemon tart and apple pie.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VF0Vlv5B5kA/TVuRt0Qv8bI/AAAAAAAAAKM/VYSavkD4Nak/s1600/P1010331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VF0Vlv5B5kA/TVuRt0Qv8bI/AAAAAAAAAKM/VYSavkD4Nak/s200/P1010331.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Great meal with great friends</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Friday night Libby came to school with me and helped monitor a debate and later gave a mini presentation on Galway to the students in my afternoon class. They were really well behaved and it was nice to show Libby what my life is like everyday. I think she enjoyed the class, but it was a little hard to keep a straight face when you have someone you know well in the classroom. Friday night I had a dinner party and borrowed a raclette machine from one of the teachers at my school. Raclette is like a big hot stone, and underneath there are places to put mini frying pans of cheese. Once the cheese heats up, you put it on top of veggies, ham/meat, and potatoes ... and repeat (see image below). It was a huge success and so easy when you are entertaining people. Caely spoiled us again with an apple tart ...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fNsLFq9uOE/TV0kx3qhWdI/AAAAAAAAAKo/qyzVzRqzwyM/s1600/raclette+stelvio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fNsLFq9uOE/TV0kx3qhWdI/AAAAAAAAAKo/qyzVzRqzwyM/s200/raclette+stelvio.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Example of raclette machine<br />
Photo from </span><a href="http://www.kitchenniche.ca/raclette-grill-stelvio-p-1413.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Perfect tomatoes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Saturday I showed Libby the market - and I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but it literally never fails to amaze me. The weather all weekend was absolutely phenomenal so we were able to have a picnic outside on the Parliament steps in the sun - it was beautiful. After yet another meal, we wandered up towards Parc Thabor where the flowers are starting to come up! There were lots of small kids and babies walking with their families so we sat and people watched for a while as well. We rounded off Libby's stay with a night of dancing which was, as always, fun and cathartic. She left Sunday morning, to my dismay, but all in all we had a wonderful time and it was so nice to just cook and walk around and talk and drink wine - it was a nice little taste of Yarmouth<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saturday morning book sale</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Beautiful weather - perfect for a picnic!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rediscovering Rennes and it's architecture</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>emma Verrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649499699780639681noreply@blogger.com0