Hello all! There is probably not anyone even checking this blog anymore, since it's been so long since I've written, but I figured I would provide an update anyways. Paris has been INCREDIBLE lately! I went yesterday to Dijon, which was an interesting town. Not that much to do there, but we did see a church that had parts of it built in the 6th century!! Also, we saw the old palace of the Duke of Burgundy who used to rule a really large area and was the king of France's brother (a bit confusing to explain). We also had a very yummy lunch, which obviously involved some dijonnaise mustard!
A few weekends ago I went to Normandy which was incredible! Unfortunately my camera battery died part way through the trip but here are a few pictures that I do have. The one on the above left is of a bunch of the girls in my program in the crypt of the church in Bayeux (the boy who got in was not supposed to be there). We first went to this town called Bayeux that has the very old tapestry depicting William the Conqueror's conquering of England. Normandy is known for its apples so we had lots of food and drink involving apples, such as chicken with this liqueur based sauce and apples and apple cider. We afterward went to Omaha beach which was very beautiful and moving, and then went to the beach where the U.S.S. Texas bombed lots of craters into the Nazi encampments. The following day we journeyed down to Mont St Michael which was very beautiful. It was the feast day of St Michael so it was quite crowded with religious people.
I've been very busy with schoolwork and exploring Paris. I have now been to 2 theater performances for my French theatre class. We saw an awful play by Beaumarchais called Le mariage de Figaro that lasted 3 and a half hours!!! This week's play was much better. We went to see Fin de Partie (the Endgame) by Beckett, which although I prefered reading to seeing, was nevertheless an entertaining performance. The weather is once again beautiful in Paris (it is quite fickle between freeeezing and nice) so we have been trying to spend as much time outside as possible. We walked around les Invalides and the Ecole Militaire the other day and today I think we will be going to the wine festival at Montmarte. Also, last weekend when it was very cold and rainy, we went to see the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the biggest horse race in France, sponsored by the government of Qatar!
IT was suuuch a fun trip and lots of memories from there! There's sooo much to do in Paris it is almost overwhelming! I'll be leaving for Vienna on Friday with 2 girls from my program in Paris to go meet my friend and roommate Eva in Vienna. I am very excited and am sure will have lots of stories from there!
