Francais part 2

Hello everyone!
so i went on a surprise little 6 day vacation to 3 city's but ill tell that to you in a different blog post. right now lets get back to France.
Day 4
Day four didn't go how i expected but when your in France, anything can happen. On the bus to the subway station Eva over hured some 2 guys talking in English. Since its a bus mostly for locals it was very unusual. When we went to the train station to go into Paris, the same guys sat across from us. So we started a conversation. Meet David and Pere. I cant pronounce let alone spell correctly Pere's real name so his name now is Pere. Pere was a foreign exchange student for 3 months in Minnesota and David was his host brother, and now David is visiting Pere for a month. Sounds familiar right? It ended up we were going to the same place. This beautiful cathedral, whats name i cant think of at the moment. (i have a really bad memory) After we had a good look inside, and the beautiful look of Paris outside, we took the subway back home. (it also is similar that pere goes to Chloe's school and lives near each other.) After a nice dinner we called  David to see if he would like to come to the Eiffel tower with us (since neither of us have seen it at night.) Pere was busy so it was just us 4. We sat down in the park next to the Eiffel tower, watched it sparkle, drink a little champagne, and we just talked for a couple of hours. Over all it was a good day.
Day 5
On my last full day of Paris we went to a large castle. It was lovely but not much to my interest. We wanted to go into the beautiful garden of the castle but it was too hot. The weather had been a nice cool weather the entire time until day 5 and of course even in France the weather man is wrong and we wore sweaters. One of my wishes was to drink coffee at a cafe and not being use to European coffee i thought it was strong. We ate our last french dinner. Sadly it was too late to see the bridge with locks on. Its a bridge where when people are in love they put a lock on it to "lock" their love forever. So clique but it would have been great for taking photos. we saw it from afar though and i can only say is that their is not an inch without a lock on it. We went back to Chloe's house and went to bed since we had to get up early to leave.
Paris is one of the most lovely places i ever had visited and cant wait to visit in the future.
-Paige

Berets and baguette

5 days in France

That's not a lot of time but I'm so grateful that i was able to go. It was an exciting experience and i would not be exaggerating by saying I've been waiting for this for a long time. Don't get me wrong that i came to Germany just for Paris but it was definitely a highlight.

Day 1

After breakfast we finished packing our bags and filled our purses with snacks. After driving i don't know how long we ended in France (not Paris) to the train station to one of the fastest trains in the world. We spent only a 3 hour train ride in which i spent trying to sleep (unsuccessfully). We then took the Subway to a place near Chloe's house where she met us. So Chloe doesn't actually live IN Paris but the town next to it. So when we were driving to Chloe's house you could see the Eiffel tower. Which i acted really cool and non tourist towards them but in my head i was "Oh my gosh, I'm actually in Paris! oh my gosh, oh my gosh! their is the ACTUAL Eiffel tower!!!!!" We had a tour of Chloe's house which was very french and then had a lovely dinner with her parents.

Day 2

We woke in the morning for a french breakfast, which is croissants and other tasty breads with tea. then we left for their "super market" i do it with quotations because its tiny compared to America but everything is tiny in Europe. we bought food for the time we were their and left back for home. We packet up are lunch's and went on the subway to Paris. The first thing i noticed about Paris was how beautiful it was. The walk towards the louvre puts all the gardens in America to shame. There were statues, perfect trimmed bushed, statues and not a single tree out of place. All that was just the walk from the subway to the louvre. the louvre itself it another beauty. We met up with Chloe's friend and then saw the Mona Lisa. it was a beautiful painting but 10 times smaller then you would expect. After eating lunch in the park we went to the l´arc of triophe. Though it was drizzling a little we went up top and saw a beautiful view of Paris. We all were quite tired so we decided to leave Paris early and enjoy a nice meal at home.

Day 3

We woke up early in the morning and our subway was late but after rushing from the subway to the Eiffel tower we were able to make up the time to be able to go on the Eiffel tower (our tickets were at 9 50 and we arrived at 10 00) while everyone Else had to wait in a 6 hour line to buy tickets we bought our online and got in 5 minutes. it was very lovely. when we were done i got my first crepe in France and it was Delicious! we then went on a boat tour of France. After that we went to the park near the Eiffel tower and just relaxed in the grass. we then went home and made diner. afterwords we went to Notre dame but was 15 minutes late from going inside. (it closes at 6 45, for anyone who traveling to Europe their is nothing that's 24 hours.) we then found a nice crepe restaurant were we had dinner and hung out with 4 of Chloe's friends. Afterwards we traveled to the edge of the island. (Notre dam is ON an island in the middle of France. You wouldn't realize it though unless you look at a map because their are so many bridges. ) we drank a little champagne because that's the french thing to do and then went home late at night.

Now that's part one of France. Part 2 coming soon!

Quick update

So the last 2 days have been great. On Friday i stayed at the house and relaxed because i needed a break. Yesterday after a late morning Eva and I went to her friends house because they have a pool and its really hot here now. (Germany houses don't have air conditioning or the stores.) we went grocery shopping and had a BBQ. At around midnight here i skyped my parents which was very nice to see their faces again.
So right now my suit case is all packed and my shoes are tied (actually I'm wearing sandals but its a metaphor) because today I'm going to PARIS! We are leaving at noon for a 3 hour train ride strait to Paris. Ill be staying at my friends, Chloe. (such a french name!) who Eva and i met because she was a foreign exchange student also. We leave on Thursday. Its so sad we only have 5 days in Paris but I'm thankful i can go at all.
-Paige

School

Hello everybody!

well this week had been very exciting for me. On the 22 Me, Eva, and her parents went to the highest point of the black forest by a r. it was beautiful up their and you could even see France from a distance. very cool. We ate lunch their and i had ice cream. Fact about Germany: their whipped cream isn't sweet. its more like foam .After a nap ( i love naps!) Eva and I went to the train station near her house and met her Friend Natalie. The trains are so much nicer then Chicago's and a smother ride. All 3 of us went to an outdoor concert. I didn't understand any words they were saying but it was nice none the less.

On the 23 i woke up in the morning, got ready and went to school with Eva. Eva goes to a private school that had the same number of students at South but looks more like a collage. They have 4 separate buildings, your allowed to text in school and leave campus. Since it was the last "full" day of school her teacher decided we would go to town for ice cream. so we all jumped into the cars and went for ice cream. (you could never do that in Illinois!). When school was over Eva, Natalie and i went to Baden-Baden. (the really pretty town i was talking about before. i remembered its name!) we went to a cafe and drank some coffee.

The 24th i went to Eva's school again. this time to only one class to see all the people she went to Vienna with last week for a school trip. I met this guy named Freddy who was a foreign exchange student last year in America and his girl friend Stephanie who was visiting from Maine. she seemed to be in the same place as me, who arrive the same day as me. We both didn't know any German yet love it here. She leave a week before i do for college but its still nice knowing someone here is having almost the same experience as me. After that Eva and I went to the beach. All together it was a good day

Yesterday Everyone got up early and jumped into the car to get Eva's brother Stephan. Stephan goes to a boarding school more then an hour and a half away and in the black forest. When we got their i couldn't help thinking Hogwarts! (push up glasses) It use to be a place for monks until converted to a boarding school. its beautiful. it was first built in 850 until it got burnedand built again so i don't know how old the building actually is but id you want to know more its called St. Blasien in the black forest. When we came home Me, Eva and Natalie went to the beach again. After that Me and Eva went back to Baden-Baden to go shopping. Late that night we went to a party for Freddy. (the foren exchange student i was talking about) 18th birthday. Turning 18 here is a big deal, i guess kind of like turning 21 in America because when you turn 18 you get your license and are able to drink harder liquor. It was pretty nice where we all just sat around the fire.

So that's how my week has been so far. if you have any questions you can right them here or ask me on face book.

life lately

Things have been a little chaotic. first i want to say is that i have not forgotten to write the other weeks of my road trip. their just on my other computer and in the good old US right now, so they will be posted, just not for about 4 weeks.
Lets get started on my 4 days of freedom between my two vacations. After a long 16 hour drive i come home at 11 pm to be surprised by my good friends Angie and Cara. Which was a nice surprise sleepover before they had to leave for wcyc. On Tuesday I saw my Lovely sister Mary and my brother in law Matt. They brought chocolate pie which made the day better.
 On Wednesday I did part of my shopping for Europe and got a leather journal  so now I'm officially cool. (ok, so the reason why i want a leather note book is because in ANY movie you ever see and someone who's really cool has a journal, its a beat-up leather note book.) My oldest brother Josh, his wife Lisa and my cute nieces Morgan and Jordan visited. It was nice to see family before i leave. We also experienced a huge storm (everyone in Crystal lake knows what I'm talking about) and great lightning. i would love to show you pictures but none of them turned out.
On Thursday my procrastination caught up to me and i did all my packing. On Friday i made some baked Alaska. Which isn't very smart to do the day you leave but none the less it was delish. I did some archery and then off i went!
Luckily i have an awesome Grandfather who works at the airport to show me around ( i would probably still be at the airport without him). My plane was a little delayed because they switched planes and people have their seats all messed up. I got moved 3 times because of it but it was no big deal. I watched some movies including this show:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXscF4M1oTI      its super funny. i give credit to people who can sleep on planes with all the lights and tight seats and bumps but luckily i got an hour.
So i arrived at Frankfort airport a little late but their none the less so i was glad we didn't crash. I met with Eva's parents. (Eva was coming back from a school trip that afternoon), we ate some burger king and i took a nap. (best nap i ever had) we went to a lovely town which is known for the Romans who lived their. Its known for its hot spring bath house the Romans built. it was beautiful their and if you can imagine Venus without the water and them speaking German then you can see what I'm seeing. Its unusually cold here. Its in the late 60s early 70s.
till next time!
Paige

Hello everyone!

On the first day we left at five in the morning and didn’t get to Wall, South Dakota till eight. Between that time we went to the happiest place on earth. No, not Disney world, it’s the Corn Palace! If you never heard of this place before it’s a castle in the middle of nowhere that’s made of corn.  Why would someone make a palace out of corn? I have no idea.  It’s fun entertainment for about ten minutes. We didn’t buy any corn but we did buy ice cream from this little shop near the corn palace and it was the best ice cream I ever had.
         
 Right before we went into Wall, South Dakota we went to the Badlands, which has been my favorite part of this trip so far.  About 200 miles away from our destination I kept seeing signs about the famous Wall Drug. I still don’t understand why Wall Drug is so famous and I don’t think I ever will.
         
On day 02 we said our goodbyes to Wall drug and went back on the road towards Mount Rushmore. We found a place where we could go zip lining.  Which I have never done before. Sadly it was broken but they had a really cool cave so it was worth it. Mount Rushmore was a lot smaller then I expected it to be but still beautiful.

On day 03 we went white water rafting in Jackson hole Wyoming. It was fun and exciting except for the bus ride back when it was 30 degrees and we were soking wet.

On day 04 - 06 we went to Yellowstone. It was really cool. Ol' Faithful was a bit of a disappointment since it barely went more then a few feet in the air. We saw ALOT of bison, a dozen Elk, a pack of wolves, a couple of deer, a black bear and a honey badger. The geysers were beautiful (but smells like rotten eggs, i would seriously consider brings nose plugs.)  and our view from our campground was beautiful. We left Yellowstone midday on day 06 for Seattle, Washington. 

     

On day 07 we spent the day in Seattle. We got lost a few times but we found the train (like the EL train in Chicago). We went to the fish market (we didn't get a fish though.) but hopefully i will try my first fish and why not try it in Seattle? The food was AMAZING! The fruit at the fish market was the best i ever had. The weather was dreadful, cold and rainy but it was completely worth it.

    

sadly i couldn't get all my photos on here but i could get a couple.

Till next time,

Paige

So I have till june 17 to fit in an entire summer at home until all my travels begin. If you don't know, I have 2 parts of my chaotic summer. I will be going on a month long road trip with my family. which includes going to the west and south of the United States. After 3 free days of a restful break of travels I will be going to Germany. Which incase you live under a rock, is pretty awesome. This blog is to keep everyone posted and to let you know were actually alive.

(picture by Crow's Nest Knits)