Im safe in Barcelona

No post for today. Its not that I dont have a lot to say about my interesting overnight stay in Perpiniea France, or the philisophical train ride to Barcelona. I would love to post pictures of the Louvre for you, or tell you about the lost day I didnt get to have in Barcelona. However I havent had two min to think, pee, or eat, let alone post any thing. However I am here in my stunningly quiet hostel in Barcelona so dont fret Im safe.

Lots of Love
xxx

Blois day 2 and then back to Paris

Sadly today will be picture free as I am in a cafe with out my laptop. Its a shame because I have lots of beautiful shots of the Chateau in Blois. Also worth a note, French keboards are totally backwards!!!!

However I have had a good day so no complaints. I slept peacfully in a double bed, then started off this morning for the Chateau Royal in Blois. Apparently the same one that Catherin De Medichi died in, and Queen Margot use to hide her poisons. The Chateau was older, and more medival in feeling but still full of splendor. The walls were covered in canvas then painted with brilliant patterns and colours. Cool at first but a little dizzying after a while. I will try to post some pictures for you tomorrow.

After the Chateau I made my way to the train station and took a leasurly slow train ride back to Paris. Im in a different hostel as the other one is full for the weekend. The new hostel leaves a lot to be desired, in fact it is one of the dodgy-est places I have ever been. However my new german roommate is very very lovely. She took me on a tour of the Sacre Cur, Monmart, and past the Moulin Rouge. We are cooking together and generaly it was nice to follow someones lead for a wee moment of peace. I didnt have to worry about the directions, what to cook for diner, or any thing. So it kinda felt like a day off.

However tomorrow is a different story, tomorrow I finish my Paris tour with the entire Louve in 1 day!!!!! Dun Dun Dunnnnnnnn! Im sure my feet will be soar, but it will be worth it. I am missing every one and send my Love and good wishes.

Blois (prunounced like Blwa)

WOW! Today may be a short post cause I didn really do much but wonder around but by far its my favorite!!!!! This tiny little town is every thing I was looking for when I came to see the world. Its a new experience, unique, friendly, historical, charming, inviting, breathtaking, oh wow I just cant describe it to justice. So the tiny town is about 15 min from one side to the other (If and only IF you dont get lost). I was given a map by the lovely man at the hotel with 3 english words but I didnt feel the need to use it once. Today I felt safe and was happy to be lost. First Im the only one in the hotel, so my breakfast will be brought to my room so they dont have to open or clean the dining room, and second I got a room upgrade free of charge! Squeee. The locals here are much more friendly and welcome the chance to learn english. However so far I have heard about 4 english words and I have spoken to about 6 people. But they gesticulate like the Italians and smile so so big that you dont feel guilty at all for not understanding them. In Paris I always spoke english with a bit of an apology behind it, here they love it. They are also much more willing to help you learn french, but Im not sure the phrase I was taught was right, however niether here nor there.

The streets are less wide than ally ways, and they do like to twist and turn. They also love to go up hills and then down them again. No joke, we arent talking hills like Edinburgh, or San Fran. But rather they couldnt be bothered to move that mound of dirt, so the road goes up 4 feet, then down 4 feet. Its not speed mesures either because they are all different shapes and sizes, unmarked, and the pavements follow the same pattern. This happens all over the place. The buildings do it to. The buildings are wooden tudor, and ever so slighty squint or kattywhampus. The churches are freezing cold and massive. Also very old. This one on the left is from the 11 hundreds. The weather was nice so I just wondered. Every time I saw a cool street I would turn down it. I continued this way for almost 3 hours. Stoping to see what was cool, and walking slightly ahead of myself becuase my curiosity was stronger than my patience or lethargy.

I also decided to indulge myself and I bought a chocolate eclaire. I sat in a park eating my ecliare, pausing in between bites to giggle cause it was soooo good I felt slightly naughty for having one, and gazing out over this river that has no name as far as I could find.

Through out this trip I have been troubled by several things that I cant shake; time to fit every thing in, remembering to relax, getting lost and thereby frightened, worried about cash flow and spending allowences, my inability to comunicate effectivly or express myself in a lanuadge they understand. Today I felt none of that. I gave myself the day off from sight seeing so I didnt worry about my time. I wondered not wanting to look at a map but actually enjoying not knowing where I was going. I took 3 hours to stroll, meandor, and take deep breaths so I am much more relaxed and hopefully with sleep as a result. I spent money on a totally endulgent eclaire and didnt pause for a second about weather or not I REALLY wanted one or weather I would have wished I saved the money later. And finally I wasnt afraid to say I dont understand, or gesture wildly like a mime on drugs cause the people were so friendly.

I am going up to the Grand Chateau tomorrow, and then Im gonna try and take some time to find out why Blois has been so successful. I hope I can re-create it cause this is what a trip around the world should be.

My very own Versailles

Well its a love hate relationship. For some people versailles was a palace for some a prison, for others it meant their starvation, and for the rich their sanctuary, currently its a place where people walk around in awe. Well I think I experienced all these aspects of the palace today and the gambit of emotions that go with them. It was beautiful, opulent, perhaps exesive just like one would expect. The grandure of gold, and ornate decoration was like non other that I have ever seen. But I was sadend to realise that even I couldnt live there with out feeling like it was excessive. I felt guilty for the starving beggars still at its gates today as I paid 15 euros just to see all the gold, and yet felt too poor to offer them a penny. So I cant imagine how terrible I would feel if it were my home. Basically I became maniacally depressed to discover that should the French government offer me a residence in the grand palace I would feel obligated to turn it down. This realisation was earth shattering. It totally conflicts with my princess complex.

The second thing I did not like were all the rules and regulations, you may not see this room, you must go through that one, You may only wonder around this room in a clockwise direction, and that one is circulated counterclockwise. I felt angry at the palace and the staff for their pretentious cattle herding. I understand that in the summer it may be so busy that these measures are nessicary, but today they just felt cruel. I kept thinking to myself "who do they think they are?" Then a small voice in my head answered, "Versailles", and therefore they have the right. I guess that is why the palace was built in the first place, it was made to think that its word was law. Every thing about the palace history was made with the thought "I will be cause I can", so I had to forgive the palace for its absurdity, because it didnt know any other way to be. As for the staff, maybe working in such a regal place goes to your head after a while. Therfore I was amazed, then guilted, then imprissioned, then accepting all in the 1st 5 minuets of being there. What did I learn about home today? If you want something decorated, hire the French. There is a point when to much luxury becomes a prison. And santuary for me is relational to light, and noise volume!

Now that the spiritual stuff is over I have to say Versailles was so unbelivably like a dream come true, and it would be perfect if even the beggers could have lived there, god knows there is enough room.

The bed chambers are stunning, and pretentious. Mom I took pictures of the fabric wall paper and gold embrodery trim just for you. The gaurd in the corner was giving me the strangest look, then he said "you missed the painting AND the fireplace." The ceilings are all painted and its magnificent. I have such a sore neck from walking around looking up.



The hall of mirrors is far cooler than most people realise. At first glance it looks like a lot of crystal and light bouncing around. One wall is floor to ceiling windows, the other all mirrored panels. In the middle hundreds of chandeliers dripping with crystal. the effect is magical. But what I found magical was that the mirrors were doors and when I asked what was behind the doors the guide reacted very supprised and told me I had already seen the rooms on the tour, but not many people realise the mirrors actually open. After carefull thought and a good look at the map I realised it was the King and Queens bedrooms and anti chambers. So in the morning they could wake up to this view.

The sad part was that so much of it is closed in the off season. So I did not get to see the opera/ballet house, or the grand chappel. I was gutted!!!! Much of the gardens were closed for planting too, so I was depressed, but what I saw took my breath away, and my feet are very soar so I dont think I could have walked more if there was more to have walked. I liked the gardens almost more than the palace not that I was suprised by this. They were practiacally empty and very peicefull. Some of the bast landscaping and water features I have ever seen. I took more pictures in the first 4 hours at the palace than I have in all of Paris. My battery was fully charged and ready for the day and it died after 4 hours of constant use. So I will have to share the rest with you at some point, these are just a taster.

Overall I had an amazing day, peacfull at moments and in other moments a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Although I felt kinda sad when leaving because I have been waiting my whole life to see that place and now I had. My dream had come true and then I was leaving and may never see it again. I am not sure what to do with the knolledge that I have realised my dream, now what?

Lots of Love

I just wanted to say thanks for religiously leaving me comments. It totally helps me feel like Im not alon but rather sharing this trip with the whole family. However I know your busy so if you miss one artical, or dont have anything to say dont feel bad. Im doing ok. I miss you of course, and its nice to hear from you. Also if the pictures are making it too slow just tell me and I can leave them out. I just hate books with out pictures myself. he he he. I love you all very much.

xxxx

Paris Day two

Today was really cool, and only a few minor mishaps. I started by giving in to the metro today mostly because I was going several miles away and I had a headach. I was riding down to the Arch de triomphe at the start of the Chambs elysees. I noticed something cool while on the train, there are parts of me that are distinctly New York and those parts are tough, confident, and they dont take crap from any one. Every one in the hostel seems frightened of the metro and its one of the only places I found so far that I actually relax. I am not afraid to try my french to say "Hold the doors", or to sit right next to someone. Although unlike in NY the French get very concerened when you sit in their personal space. I just remember thinking "Im a New Yorker and I will catch that train, and then sit if I want to, cause we New Yorkers know how its meant to be done." I wish I was a New Yorker in every thing I did, I would be such a bad ass then.

Another thing I have noticed is that there does not seem to be many folk with headphones here, shocking but true I have seen two people listening to music in 3 days. So when I start having a wee boogie to myself on the platform suddenly people give you a 100m clearence. They all looked at me like I was crazy or even dangerous. I thought it was a bit funny, but it didnt bother me in the slightest. This also struck me as odd cause I usually care a lot about what people think. So now I know, traveling by metro and dancing on platforms are two things I do with out fear, wierd huh?

Well I finally arrived by train to the Top of the Champs Elysees and the Arch. The Arch de triomphe is definately a ominous but yet graceful type of monument. It is made of a stunning white stone and the masonry work is incredible. They also have a tomb for the unknown soldier were a little flame is kept lit above it. Very tasteful.

The Champs Elysees is much like Hollywood Bullivard. Expensive, wide, glitzy, and full of itself. I past the windows of high paris fashion, diamond, crystal, overpriced sunglasses, leather, and shoes. The look on the street was either "I shop here," or "I would give anything to shop here." The Well Ta Do didnt sneer at my jeans and old boots, they didnt see me, as if I wasnt even there at all. I felt the need to break the mold, anti-conform as it were. So I did the only thing I could. I clicked my MP3 player to the punked out version of "Oh Champs Elysees" and started to skip. I had a great skip down the pavement, but eventually had to stop and have a laugh because it was as if the entire street froze with their mouths gapping wide and their jaws on the floor. I dont even get that kind of reaction on princess street.

On my way to the Rodin Musee, I accidently stumbled past the Le Musse de armoury. It was this really cool old building full of suits of armor, cannons, and all things to do with the army. I skimmed through most of the rooms but found two really cool things. One was a room with hundreds of flags that the French had captured from various battles. Including french crusaders, flags of pirates, and during the French/British wars over the colonies. There were ornate ones from the East, tatty ones from ships and plane old boring ones too. The point is that the French kept them all. The second place I absolutely loved was the church. It use to be law that the king could not worship with his subjects because he was above them and therefore closer to God. So in the 1600's the General of War asked for this architect to build a church were his solders can worship with the king they die to protect. The architect built two sperate entrances and buildings joined by an ornate glass wall. Next to this glass wall was the alter so the King could sit on one building and the army in the other and mass could be said to both of them at the same time. The church was unbelievably stunning and ornate, I think the time period lent itself to a high formal catholic design sparing no pennies on the gold accents. I sat down on a large padded leather pew and wrote in my journal for a bit. It was so warm and quiet. After almost an hour of resting I had to pry myself way. I think the thing I was most pleased with was that I was the only one there for the entire hour. Just myself, heating, a seat, gold decorations, carved stone, chandallers, and lovely harp music. It was extremely relaxing. I was also very proud because I was determined to read about the unique church divided by a large glass wall splitting the alter in two, so I focused and found a fair bit of my French comming back to me.

To add to the enjoyment I then went across the street to see the garden of the Mussee de Rodin. I had a picnic lunch in the garden under the Thinker, and strolled pleasantly around beautiful statues. Even Henry enjoyed himself.

I passed the Ecole de Millitaire on my way to the Eiffel tower. The tower itself is tall and impressive but I did not opt to climb to the top and see the towering views. Mostly I wondered around the base trying to avoid the men selling key chains rather persistantly.

All in all Im having a good day. Pleasent sight seeing, fairly relaxing, and I finished it with a chat to Andrew so that makes this day in Paris the best yet. What I have learned about home is that it can change who you are, or how you behave on a metro, and it is a place associated with safety or whats familliliar, also heating plays a large part in my life.

Tomorrow Versaille... SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Missing you all desperately, I love you.
xxxxx

My spelling

Im so sorry for all of the spelling on my posts while I travel. Google the smart little thing that it is knows Im in France. So all of my buttons are in French, my search engines are comming up entirely french, and the spell check is hylighting every single word and trying to offer me french options. So I have given up and they are all being posted "As Is".

I know its terrible but bear with me.

xxx