YOLO Beav

Beaver is my name, YOLO is my game. You Only Live Once!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Stateside

Dan and I made it back to Atlanta last night from Paris. As with most things in my life, there is a story to be told about our flight home. I promise to write the details on it later, but let's just say it includes old people, vomit, and a near emergency landing in South Carolina. It's always interesting!

I know I haven't done an update since we left the Riviera, but I want to update you on everything in sequential order. My plan is to attempt to pick up from where I left off with pictures and such in Juan-Les-Pins and continue thru to Paris and then our flight home.

I'm super jetlagged. Apparently I was overly ambitious in thinking that I could fly home on a Wednesday night and be at work Thursday morning. Dan convinced me I was crazy and needed to take a personal day to catch up on rest and get the body clock back on schedule. He was right......I slept today off and on until 5:07pm. Feels good.

I'll try to update as much as I can before bedtime tonight. Back to work in America tomorrow!

Paris - Day 1

We took an early flight from Nice and landed in Paris at 9:30am Sunday morning.  All of our luggage came through just fine and we grabbed a cab to our hotel.  Having only gotten 5 hrs of sleep in the last 2 days I was exhausted --- and so was Dan.  We decided since we had landed so early we could spare a couple hours to lie in the room and rest before we hit the pavement to explore the city.  Our power nap turned into a long nap, but we felt GREAT when we woke -- ready to get outside with enough energy to appreciate the sights we saw.

Our hotel was a block away from the Vivain metro stop in the Montparnasse area of town.  I knew exactly where to go from here...hop on the metro line and take it straight up 5 stops to St. Michel (my old stomping grounds)!  Emerging from the underground metro we walked up the stairs right out to the front of the St. Michel fountain.

From there we walked across the street toward the River Seine and watched some boats float by below.  I told Dan to turn his head to the right and -boom- there was Notre Dame.  We took some pictures out front then headed for the doors to check out the inside.  Turns out we were right in time for Sunday evening mass, so our tour of the interior was even more beautiful as we were accompanied by the live singing of hymns.  The incense began wafting through the air as we moseyed through the crowds staring up at stained glass windows, chandeliers, and equally as intricate gothic, arched walkways.  I've always loved it in here, but it made it even better hearing Dan say he had never experienced anything like it.  I'm so glad we saw it together.

Leaving Notre Dame we noticed that the rain had turned into a drizzle.  I decided we had to walk back across the Seine over to the best little bookstore in Paris:  Shakespeare & Co. -  a must see!  Love it there and, yes, I bought a book (another one of Stephen Clarke's hilarious British commentaries on the French).

We walked outside this time and noticed that the drizzle had turned into an unexpected moment of dryness with sun poking through the clouds.  I told Dan it was imperative that we run to the metro and go to the Eiffel Tower that second since it was supposed to rain the entirety of our time in Paris and we must take advantage of the weather gods temporarily smiling on us -  so that's what we did.  Even though in my lifetime I have spent a total of nearly 6months in this city, I had NEVER been to the top of the Eiffel Tower.  It was closed in 2002 when I went with my high school class as it was less than a year after 9/11 and when my family tried to go during my study abroad semester in 2005 it started snowing, so they closed it down for fear that the cables would snap from the cold.  So, this was the day I was meant to go to the top!  We stayed there for hours...taking our time strolling along the river from the metro to the monument, grabbing a nutella crepe at the carousel right across the street from the Tower, waiting in line with many an American high school group to go up the elevator, being silly with my camera at the bottom of the Tower before our ascent, keeping Dan calm at the top due to the crazy height which was not helped by the whipping wind, and finally gazing up at the glittering Tower lights that flickered on at 10pm sharp.  (*Note- If my memory serves me correctly then the lights usually twinkle for 10min at the top of every hour beginning at 10:00 each evening...however, this time they only stayed illuminated for 5min.  Result of the economy?  Too high of a power bill?  Just curious.)


Saturday, June 6, 2009

Last day in Juan

I already did one post on my last day in Juan-Les-Pins when I was checking all of the students out of the residence. Beginning with check-outs at 4:30am that morning, I was finally done with the last of them around mid-day. Instead of going up to bed to sleep, Dan and I made the most of our last day in the south and paid 15euro a piece to rent padded beach chairs in the sand. It was unnaturally windy this day so the waves were choppier than I've ever seen them on the Med. It was warm in the sun, though, and we soaked up every last ounce of our last day before Paris.

Student Check-Out Day

Today is the official end to the 2009 Cannes Film Festival Study Abroad Program at UGA.  It is 8:26AM here in France and I have been checking students out since 4:30AM this morning.  All but three people have checked out of the residence and made their way to both the Nice airport for long plane rides home and to the train station for many post-program travels.

I am emotionless, but I think that's only because I'm too tired to "feel" right now.  I'm sure this all will hit me (the students being gone, the fact that I have to leave my life at the beach) later on.  If it doesn't hit me later today then I'm sure it will tomorrow as I'm on an Air France flight for a 3-day getaway in Paris.  And if it doesn't hit me then then it'll for sure hit me come Thursday morning when I'm back in the offices of Fletcher Martin a mere 12-hours after I've touched down stateside.  My mind cannot even begin to fathom what that morning will feel like.

For now, I want to soak up the rest of my time in this beautiful, quaint, dreamlike place.  I hate to leave it, but I can't WAIT to come back!

I'm adding more pictures to my last post (which can be found below this one) as I wait for the last of the students to turn in their keys.  After those final goodbyes you can find me passed out from exhaustion on the beaches of JLP for one last day in the Mediterranean sun.  Okay, I think it's starting to hit me...  I better go focus now so I can ditch this laptop and get out to enjoy this lovely, sunny, French life to which I've grown so accustomed.

A bientot!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

June 3. Danny's Birthday!

For Dan's birthday we went out to eat at a restaurant on the beach (literally ON the beach...our table/feet were in the sand) called Le Jetee. I had salmon and Dan had steak. Some highlights: listening to the calm waves of the Mediterranean hit the beach as we ate, watching the sunset from the dinner table, the amazing waitstaff and how nice they were to us --- our waiter even surprised us with two complimentary birthday shots at the end of dessert.




After dinner the plan was to head back to the residence and have a glass of wine in my room before heading out on the town for a rare night out. All week Dan had encouraged me to talk up his birthday with the students to see if anyone wanted to go out and celebrate....but I just kept telling him how they all had papers due the following day and I doubted many people would be able to make it out.

Arriving back to my room I turned the key to the door and Dan walked in to flick on the lights. Right on cue he was met with a huge "SURPRISE!" from a roomful of students dressed in all white. Yes, folks. I am the first person in Dan's 32-year history to have ever successfully thrown him a surprise party -- and a surprise WHITE party, at that (I'm patting myself on the back as I type).

The white party under black lights. We took the party out to Juan-Les-Pins super-Euro, Club M. There was dancing aplenty as we celebrated Danny's birthday in style.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAN!!!


Finally some pictures

Here are some pictures from our first week together in France...


SATURDAY --- Eze, Monaco

Pulling in to the hillside town of Eze on the grafitti'd train.

Attempting to find the nearest bus stop.  We had been told by students who visited Eze the day before that we HAD to pay 5euros and take the bus 20min up the mountain where we would be met with a beautiful garden which would pale in comparison to the view overlooking the Mediterranean down below.  Apparently our bus ride up to the top of the hill was not meant to be because our timing was off.  It was 45 min until the next bus went up, 20 min to get up to the top, and the next train we needed to catch to Monaco was shortly thereafter.  Too shortly thereafter, in fact, that our bus trip plans were squelched as we headed back to the train station and decided, "we'll see it next year."


The train - in very French fashion - didn't show up until 25min after it was due to arrive.  Thus, Dan and my trip to Eze turned into an hour-long detour on our way to Monaco.  We took plenty of pictures at the train station in an attempt to appease our boredom and distract ourselves from the fact that we were a mere two train stops from Monaco and still had to wait so long to get there.  So close, yet so far away...


We made it!  (P.S. - NICEST train station I've seen in Europe.)


This church we stumbled upon has been there since the year 304 (!!).  America is so young. 


Dan being a good Catholic...dipping his fingers in the holy water and doing the 1-2-3-4 thing.

  
Dan paid 1 euro and we lit a candle together.  We walked through the church passed all of the wooden pews, finally taking a seat in the second row at the front and prayed together.  I thanked god for sending Dan to me...both in France and in life...and wished for god to continue granting us his "traveling mercies" (b/c I ALWAYS remember my youth group leader in middle school mentioning that in the group prayer anytime we got on a bus. Gotta love the Methodists!).  I don't know what Dan prayed about.

After our brush with religion, Dan and I headed straight to the Monte Carlo casino.  Our arrogance was palpable as we strutted along the shoreline flaunting our cash in euros.  Breezing by the single security guard at the door we perused the casino's interior and its clientele.  We were the only Americans in there.  However, Lady Luck spat in our faces quicker than you could shout, "Le Blackjack!"  Within seconds we were down a combined 25euros on the daggum slots (i.e. the world's fanciest trash cans for money).  Our spirits were still high despite our misfortune as it was a cool feeling to simply be gambling in the ACTUAL area of Monte Carlo in Monaco versus its American counterpart, the infamously charred hotel/casino version of Monte Carlo in Vegas.

This is the shopping mall in the Monte Carlo section of Monaco.  Yeah, this area has some money...

Dogs are allowed in restaurants, stores, hotels, and offices....but heaven forbid they be allowed in the park!

Here are a few more pictures from our afternoon/evening in Monaco:
 
 



SUNDAY --- Antibes

A street performer came to the outdoor restaurant where we were dining for lunch.  He set up shop for a 15-20min performances perfectly situated behind Dan's chair.  Dan didn't mind too much as he was engulfed in the spicy/pepper olive oil that they serve here (Warning:  To all Customs agents who may read this do not be alarmed when Dan's suitcase is weighed down by bottles of these on the return trip).  Also, the performer ended his set with the crowd-pleasing song choice of, "La Bamba."  Viva France!

After lunch we walked along the harbor and into the city's walls.  At first glance I thought these flags said "Arby's".  Ha

As soon as we entered the Antibes' walls we found ourselves being welcomed by a jovial, seemingly impromptu parade.

Typical street in Antibes.  Love it!


Here's another cute little alley.


We bought three paintings (3!) from this artist at the open-air market.  One of a nearby street in Antibes, one of Cannes' harbor, and one of the Monte Carlo Hotel where we visited the day before.  They are all gorgeous and distinct in their own way.  Thank you to our artist friend, Vincent!


Beautiful city walls along the Med.


Gorgeous, yet treacherous, water and rocks below.


Napoleon wuz here.


The afternoon quickly digressed as soon as we reached the landmark Absinthe Bar... (see below) ...




MONDAY --- Cannes

We ventured over to Cannes Monday afternoon after Dr. Kohn's journalism class let out.  It was rainy the whole time we were there, so we didn't really get any pictures.  We did however shop like CRAZY and eat a good meal at Cafe Roma.



TUESDAY --- Nice

Tuesday morning we let our rebellious sides run wild and grabbed a train to Nice without paying.  (Read: heavy sarcasm here.  No one ever pays for trains around here.  Riding for free is well worth the risk of being fined - which is rare.  I'm waiting for the day when my making statements like this comes to bite me in the ass...)

Anyway, we spent a couple of hours walking and shopping in the lovely city of Nice.  P.S.  - This was probably the fourth time I've been to Nice in my life and it was the 1st time EVER since I've been that the town and general infrastructure was not under construction.  Nice is now actually nice.  Hats off, local government and construction teams.