Hello! or as they say in Spain, hola!¡ (i really don´t know what the upside down exclaimation mark means, just that it is used in Spanish, shame on me)
I spent all day Wednesday traveling (about 10-11 hours! oy!) and was greeted at the platform by Lulu. She spoke to me in English, which was kind of her, and her English was very very good!! I was impressed! Because she´s in school studying to be a doctor, she of course had classes. Nonetheless, we met for lunch at her university restaurant which had surprisingly good food! I guess I was just used to American cafeterias because this was good cheap french food. lol I spent Thursday afternoon wandering aroud the chateau and the cathedrals. They were beautiful, as expected. It was a kind of dreary day so after ambling about aimlessly, I headed back to the flat to rest. I watched Oceans 11 (in English,) and I realized how nice it was to just sit around and watch a movie. I love movies, and it feels like its been so long since I´ve been able to just do this. Afterwards, I helped Lulu start getting dinner ready because she invited friend over for dinner and then out for drinks. This is when things started to get a little interesting. I was already used to Lulu speaking to me in English that when her friend came, it was like complete disarray to me. Their English was not as good as hers, though they tried of course, but naturally, spoke mostly to each other in French. And its was FASTTTT. I had to focus very hard to sometimes understand, and sometimes not, and sometimes I just let my mind wander to attempting to form proper French sentences and questions. My French is really terrible (I realized more then than ever) since it had been years since I´ve studied, but I was able to understand fairly well at times. I was probably too shy about speaking it because I know just how awful my accent and my choice of words is. The dinner was enjoyable, and long, as all meals in France should be. We went to a very modern bar/club afterwards, which was very very crowded (though we still got a table.) I wasn´t feeling well at first, but did fairly quickly so I was able to enjoy myself. There were loadssss of guys there, though none that sparked my interest. (cute, true. haha)
Friday, I slept a bit longer than planned which allowed Lulu time to work on her studies before we headed out for the day. We just went into chocolate stores (which of course, we had to buy) and into other French specialty stores, etc. It was enjoyable just spending time together and bonding. We went to the boulangerie and then home to make lunch (she is a good cook!!) before heading out again to walk around a Japanese zen garden and just around the town. We rushed to catch the train, which was delayed anyways so we had plenty of time. We were not, however, lucky, because a very, very SMELLY couple sat next to us and we had our faces pressed into our shirts and scarved while our heads were turned towards the windows in an attempt to evade the smell. It was a relief to get off the train an hour and a half later, to be greeted by her father.
I must say, I loved the fact that Ludivine´s whole family has a strong desire to learn English. It was really quite amazing how they spoke with me. I was impressed. They would also speak in French, and try to speak slowly so I could understand, though we often needed Ludivine as a translator. I cannot even begin to describe the time I had with her family. It is evident just how much Haley enjoys the Tendrons, to which, I know more clearly understand. They are wonderful, wonderful people. Very welcoming to me and very giving. And great cooks! I have by far, been more spoiled there than anywhere else. The food was very amazing, every meal! And we went to a creperie; and we went to a Epiphany celebration.
Lulu and I attempted to go to a chateau, though January is apparently not the month becuase everything was ferme! Closed! So we went to an Abbey and visited the outside of Le Chateau de Samaur on Saturday. Sunday she showed me around Bourgueil and where she and Haley used to live.
Anyways, today I arrived in Barcelona. Sometimes, you don´t realize you are hungry or tired until you start eating or you start sleeping, and then you do it a lot. Today, I did both. I had quite the experience last night. I got off my train at 11:30 and the metro closes at 1:20, so I thought I had enough time. However, the metros ran less frequently and stopped earlier, so I barely caught the metro close to the hostel I had stayed at before in Paris. I had to walk quite a ways (because I could not make the transfer since the metro closed,) all the while lugging my huge bag and sweating despite the 5 degree celcius temperature. I managed to stumbled into my old hostel (lucky I remembered the entrance code) and occupy a room someone else had booked. They never showed, so I had a private room for a good price, though I was only there for a few hours. I think I slept about 3 hours, worried I wouldn´t wake up on time and still plagued by my deadly cough. I managed to get up and out early enough to figure my way on the RER and shuttle to láeroport dÓrly. I was very tired and just sat around until my flight. The flight was not the best I had taken either, though it wasn´t horrible. My ears did not agree with the pressure but I was able to relax. I was surprised that my passport was never checked? I just walked off the plane and out the door onto the bus. I was slightly worried that I would not be able to get to my hostel, because all I had was the address. I just stopped at an Info center and she pulled out a map, marked it for me, and told me which bus and metro to take. It was really not difficult (though I managed to jump on Line 3 rather than 1, and had to get off and turn back around.)
The hostel, is amazing, just as the person who suggested it claimed. It is new and very, very nice. Luxorious, in fact. :) and very cheap!
So now that I´ve had a most exorbantly long post, I will let you all be. I am hoping to find time to try to upload some pictures, though I´ve experience a lot of difficulty with this since I´ve been in Europe. Perhaps my luck will change.
So, continued prayers for safety as I am clearly enjoying my travels. I wish you all the best! Love you and miss you loads. <3
(also, I may update this soon as I have so much to say and I feel like I left a lot out. People are waiting for the computers but perhaps you will enjoy this for now!!)
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