May Festivals!

Today we went to a local festival.  They had traditional food, dancing and music.  The costumes were lovely.  I loved the dancing.  We ate socca, which is a flat bread made from garbanzo bean flour and olive oil (+?) and cooked in a fire oven on pans that look a lot like pizza pans.  It was good and very filling.  Then we went to see the Roman ruins, which are in the same park.  They are part of a bath house, from aroudn 100 AD.  It is so amazing to see something that has been preserved fot that many years!

Let Them Eat Cake

Luis XVI: Are you admiring your lime avenue?

Marie-Antoinette: I'm just saying good-bye.

Today, we were able to step into another world as we toured the Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild Villa & Jardins. I can only imagine what Versailles has to offer after walking through this decadent 18th-century shrine. 

Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, the daughter of banker and major art collector Baron Alphonse de Rothschild (Culture Spaces), decided after her father died in 1912, to build herself a beautiful villa to keep her many collections of art. Shortly before her death in 1933, she decided to let the world enjoy her incredible collection.  

Doesn't this remind you of, Out of Africa? J'adore. 

While Shelby and I were walking around, admiring all of the many rooms, she asked me: "Doesn't this make you want to live during these times?" I instantly thought what a party Marie Antoinette and Beatrice would throw. 

Every excursion keeps getting better than the last, how will I ever want to leave. 

Travel Often-

Alle

All photos taken by me

Each day seems to get better!  The weather has been fabulous ... warm, but not too hot!  Finally getting to know my way around this wonderful city!  I can even manage the buses!  I still feel like I struggle with the language, but the people are nice, and most of them just end up speaking to me in English, if I need help.


A crazy note ... I woke up at 1:00 a.m. to the extremely lound sound of garbage trucks collecting trash.  Who does that?  My roommate says they have been doing it every night since we have been here.  I am so glad I usually sleep through it!


I do miss my children, but really, I just wish they were here with me to experience all of this!  The seagulls are singing a goodnight chorus! Bon nuit!

Bonjour!

Bonjour! We have been in France for a few days now and it is a dream! This is a gorgeous city and it has been so fun exploring and learning so far.  I feel like I have already learned so much about the culture and people but have so much more to learn. I can't wait to get the language down better and really take all I can from this amazing experience we get to have. I can already tell I won't ever want to leave!

Here are a few pictures of the Promenade d'Anglaise!  It was really fun to see all the people and the public and private beaches side by side.  One thing I found interesting, is that in Polly Patt's book, French or Foe, she says that the french will talk about things at a museum, or art gallery, not just look at it and walk on.   This was definitely the case when we visited the museum with all the pianos, and other instruments ...  The blue head is from a famous festival held in Nice every year.  It sits on top of the tourist building.  Fun!

I am in NYC at JFK waiting for my flight to Nice.  It is cold and raining here, I am hoping for better weather when I reach France ... I repacked, trying to take less, and fit it into only one suitcase, but couldn't do it, so I am hoping it won't be too much ~ so far it hasn't been bad.
See you all there soon!

Fly Away

Photo taken by me--Dublin outside of central hotel

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." --St. Augustine

Bonjour, fellow travelers! 

I hope everyone is as excited as me to start our adventure abroad! 

Photo taken by me--Exchequer street in Dublin, Ireland

Here are a few words of wisdom I travel by when I leave the States: When you feel vertigo start and your balance start to go, the jet lag has hit and the only thing to help will be drinking lots of water during your flight. 

Photo taken by me--British Midland International flight into Dublin

When you arrive in Nice (or London for others) try your hardest to not fall asleep before 20h00, I promise this will help. Like the professors have advised many times, pack light--I wish I wouldn't have packed so much stuff in my backpack because by the time I got through the London customs line (two hours) I wanted to chuck the entire pack. The blogs are right girls: everyone sports converse around Europe (and the girls LOVE tights). Come to Europe with Euros, this will definitely come in handy because everyone in Europe has visa chip cards and most places do not accept anything other than chip cards or euros.

Photo taken by me--Euros

 Besides, the exchange rate is so much better if you go directly through your bank, the ATMs over here will charge a slight fee depending on your bank and the few exchange places sometimes will charge an in-house fee. You will always have coins, it is simply a fact. If you have to break a 5 (the smallest bill), you will get coins back so, a coin purse comes in handy. 

Things to look forward to:

You will never run out of cafes or corner bakeries; they are absolutely divine. 

Photo taken by me--Dame street Queen of Tarts, scones

Photo taken by me--Bakery in Dublin

There is so much more, but some has to be saved for another date. Travel safe and we are going to have so much fun! 

Travel Often-

Alle