Ok so I haven't posted anything in a while, sorry. The days and nights are whizzing by and although a lot's happened in the past week, it feels like a couple of hours has gone by.
I will try and summarize everything for you!
My french teacher has taken us on a couple of field trips to different areas in Paris. First we went to le Marais which has a lot of culture and history since it is the gay and jewish area of Paris. It is home to the Hotel de Ville (the mayor's house, and the center for a lot of political activity; pictured left), and lots of cool parks and buildings. We also went to St. Denis which is a giant melting pot of different cultures because it is home to a lot of immigrants from all over the world, legal and illegal.
I just got back from a weekend trip to Strasbourg, which I thought was amazing. It's a small town on the border of France and Germany with a river running through it and everything. We went there to see the European parliament and chamber of commerce. Apparently, Strasbourg is the heart of Europe! We left Strasbourg and went to Verdun, a small, small town on the way back to Paris. At first I was skeptical of the idea that I would be able to have a good time in this town, but I was proven wrong. Unfortunately my camera died within minutes of my arrival to Strasbourg so I have nothing to show from my trip!
The past week has been filled with homework, sightseeing, and lots of good times with the locals.
I have to buy school books this week which hopefully aren't as expensive as they are in the US. If they are, my next post might be from a prison after they catch me trying to rob a bank.
On the right we have Notre Dame, which means "our lady" in french, and below are some awesome stained glass windows from the Basilique St. Denis Cathedral. The big circular one shows the creation!
A tout l'heure!!
Alex, you may not recall this, but you've actually been to Strasbourg before. You were a few months shy of 5 when we traveled there in the summer of 1994, from Washington, D.C. Like you, I had a splendid time there, perhaps a better time than I actually had in Paris, although that was quite lovely, too. But I prefer smaller, more intimate settings, and ones that are off the beaten path -- so perhaps that was the reason it still stands out, along with some of the attractions and history you've cited.
ReplyDeleteStay true to yourself, slip in a prayer here and there (please) and have fun.
Love,
Dad