Movie Recommendation

I though it was really good. Two thumbs up (and that's not just because Brad Pitt is in it, though it is a perk).
I had a moment of weakness, where I wanted to see an movie in English, and this movie just so happened to be in V.O. (version originale) with French subtitles.


Bises!

One-of-a-kind Weekend

I don't think that there is any other way to describe this weekend. Megan and I stayed with fellow hashers and very nice people in general in the apartment in Paris. Friday was pretty uneventful. We arrived at around 11 at night and got to hang out with Robert, Diana, Rob, Isaac, Autumn and Ivy.

I'll start the photo journaling with Saturday since that was Megan's birthday and, also, when I started taking pictures.
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This picture is just to wonder: "Why a pelican? Really?"

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In the cemetary around the corner. The interesting detail about this tomb is that the front of it is not actually 3D.
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Still in the cemetary and realizing how much I don't want to be in there after dark.
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This tomb was huge. My camera could only capture half of it.
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My first visit to the Louvre.
A statue of Diana/Artemis:
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Winged Victory (one of the must see's and very hard to miss):
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2nd must see, the Venus de Milo:
Due to the faulty photographer, there is no good picture of the Mona Lisa (La Jocande), the 3rd must see. I can still confirm that she does watch you, the painting is smaller than you'd think, and good luck getting close to it.
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The dungeon of the Louvre (centuries old):
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The Three Graces:
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Another statue of Diana/Artemis:
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Not-quite-decent-yet statue:
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The courtyard view from the interior:
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After an hour at the Louvre (yes, I'm sorry to say that was all the time left before closing), we headed off to Notre Dame, where they happened to be hold Saturday night mass (go figure).

These next few pictures are my photo experiments with the candles.


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After finishing with the candle pictures and listening an amazing organ piece (accompanied by 2 very accomplished singers), Rob, Megan and I head out to the park behind the catherdral. This is what we found:
Best playground toy that I've ever been on. You lay on it and have somone spin it round and round. It's a trip and a half.
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Part of the birthday crowd (Rob, Autumn, Megan, Me and Ivy). The cake was delicious.
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I'm very proud of this picture. The other 27 tries were blurry, but this one is a beaut. When I get home, I'm going to blow it up, print it out and hang it on my wall.
This is were my photo journaling will end. Some things are best left alone. Though some people know the whole story, I will sum it up. Megan had a birthday she will never forget (in a good way, I promise), we all got home safe and sound and I did not make the evening news. We also were in good enough shape to hash the next day with Sans Clue. Good times. :-)

Cheers, bises and kisses!

Nice Juxtaposition

Anyone else see why I was laughing?

If I wasn't living in France...

...the following post would make me out to be a rich, spoiled brat. But, seeing as how France is my adopted country until May (I just got my residency card), I won't feel bad about decribing this past Sunday.

At about 18h 45 (6:45 p.m.) on Saturday night, my partner in crime, Megan, and I decided that the following day would be an excellent day to hop on the train and spend the afternoon at the sea. (The preface about the 'spoiled brat' comes from the fact that Vermont has no sea coast, so any day trips in that direction would require a little chunk of money to charter a plane.)

With 5 minutes to spare, we found ourselves seated in 2nd class compartment, on a high-speed train to St. Malo.

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Boat and gorgeous weather:
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Many boats, still gorgeous weather:***
You know you've got sailing down when you can parallel park your boat here:
Also, as it happens, Brittany is home to some of the most challenging sailing in the world, which helps the Brittons train and maintain a strong hold on the competitive, international sailing scene.
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Low tide at St. Malo and Megan and I walked to the end and back (with a café break in the middle):
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The catherdral of the village. I think my camera did a good job of catching the light cast by the stained glass.
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Another angle (This church was working it that day):
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The grave of Jacques Cartier (anyone remember why he's famous? Beuller?):And just so there's no confusion, I was present in class the day they went over M. Cartier's importance.
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Beautiful. Also, it was a little on the brisk side, but I'll be damned if there weren't a handful of headstrong swimmers taking the dive into the La Manche.
Hope you liked the slideshow and the commentary. I should take fewer pictures, as it's tricky to think of witty little blurbs for them all. And if you don't think it's witty, keep it to yourself and let me have my blissful ignorance.

Going to Paris tomorrow night. A dimanche! (Until Sunday.)

Coaster count

They're lovely, compact souvenirs and sentimental gifts for the right person.
I've got 7 and counting.
(It's a slight hint at part of your Christmas gift, Dad.)

Miss you and the rest of the family.

-The Runaway Bunny

You know what really grinds my gears...

...the piles of dog shit. Everywhere.
These little bombs are scattered throughout lawns, sidewalks and roads.

Heaven forbid that you should take your eyes off where you're going for one second, lest you detonate one of the piles.


I miss the "Pick-up after your pet" laws and responsible pet owners so much.
Especially now, having just stomped down on a fresh bomb.

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No words of advice like, "Look where you're going next time", or else I'll have to fly back and knock some heads around (I've been in better moods). Comprende?

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Judo time. Until the next post.

The end of the world

Well, the end of the world (Finistère) according to the Romans. The landscape was savage, with barely any vegetation. It was surreal to stand at the point the farthest west in France. The other intense part of this visit was the man walking around with a hunting rifle, muttering something about "the most dangerous game." Just kidding about the last part, but we skirted around him all the same.
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This is the statue of Notre dame des Naufragés (shipwreaks).


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You can see how it would be a little treacherous for ships of all kinds, especially when the wind picks up.
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Here is where people continue at their own risk. So, guess what I did?
I had to take a peak, because when would I get to see this place again.
I, also, have good balance and there was some rope available for the trickier parts.

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No rope during this part. Not for clumsy people.

I think I could live here

We unpacked at a beautiful spot right on the Atlantic Ocean, called Concarneau, just as the sun started to set. And that's not me exploring the rocks, but the other Kate (there are too many Kate's in the world).

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Here's where Megan and I had a beer (or four), and watched les Anglais go for the wins against the XV de France (the 15 of France). I don't think the busdriver could have put it any better the next day. "Today, France is in morning." This café was also where we met a Canadian couple (rooting for England), who had just sold their house and are about to start on a 3 year sailing trip around the world.***
For how late we stayed out, we got up way too early. Here's the ocean pre-sunrise. I fell into a tidepool earlier, so I was a little bitter towards this piece of ocean.
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Mooring field. Almost sunrise time. Soggy feet.
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Now tell me that this picture is not postcard worthy.
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Postcard moment #2. I've got some skills.
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Finally, the sun decides to quit pushing the snoowe button and get up.***

I hope I get to go back to this village before I leave next year. It was so beautiful and the people so friendly. I'd have to learn Breton and join the fishing industry.
It's a thought.
Anyone else want to buy a boat?

Brittany Roadtrip, pt 2

In Quimper for the afternoon for souvenirs and a tour.
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Breton flags flying.
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Fat, little ponies.
Just watch where you step. I haven't seen anyone pick up after pets and this little guy is a "hair" bigger than Rover.
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Another beautiful cathedral. I don't care how small a village is; it will have a jaw-dropping church.

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I, finally, got a good picture of stained glass. This window is relatively new, since those on the first floor were destroyed during the Revolution.

Roadtrip Brittany

The first stop on this weekend's trip was the quiet coastal village of Port Aven.
Give the map a try, just ignore the red arrow. There was no camping involved, but, thinking abut it, a sleeping bag probably would have been warmer than the hostel. (The other towns visited were Quimper, Concarneau, Pointe de Raz and Locronan.)


We stopped here for some lunch and to walk around a bit. I love it when the tide's out.

Mmm,mmm...
Cider for starters. It's so good once it hits the lips.
Another Bretagne delicacy, une galette complète (cheese, ham and egg).

Delicious!