The Train People

Not the people who work in transportation but the weird people on the train. There happens to be outlets on the train strategically placed in the bathrooms. As a result, lots of people are always hanging out around the bathroom charging their crappy French phones which don't have half the battery power as our American phones. Americans 1 French 0.

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Brest-Paris-Montpellier

So I took the train. I received an email from ryanair that they would reimburse those customers who were unsatisfied with the change in plans- like me. The new plan included taking a navette to the Brest airport and at 3 o'clock they would shuttle us to Nantes which would take 3.5 hours, our flight would then take off about 10pm and we would arrive in Marseille around 11:30pm. Now that's awfully nice of them and all, but what am I supposed to do at 11:30pm? There are not any trains to Montpellier that late and I didn't really want to run around a strange city at midnight looking for a hotel/hostel. So I'm trying to get the reimbursement, although I don't think the online form works (intentionally), but in the meantime, I bought a train ticket and I'm on my way.

The train hasn't been quiet the smooth ride I was hoping for though. I tried to buy the earliest ticket possible which would Leave about 6am and arrive about 4pm. And yes, the train ride takes presque 10 hours. Unfortunately, I think everyone decided to change their plans last minute as well, a cause de la greve. And as I was trying to purchase tickets online they were selling out within seconds. Finally I managed to purchase a ticket for the 1:30 train. The slow train that makes a million stops between Brest and Paris and takes about 5 hours. THEN... Luck strikes again. Our train arrived 15 minutes en retard putting me in jeopardy of missing my correspondence on the other side of the city. As I was running into the next train station, nearly in tears and sick with worry of missing my train, I saw on the train board that the train had been delayed 40 minutes. Finally! Some real luck. However it was freezing in the train station and now it is 11 pm and I'm still on the train. Ugh.


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Planes Trains and Automobiles

I'm taking the train tomorrow. Hopefully I wont have too much of a problem trying to change trains in Paris, as the métro is striking too.

N'importe quoi.

La Grève

For those of you who are unaware of how much the French like to strike... Let me tell you.. The French love to strike! The teachers went on strike about 2 weeks ago, however, us assistance were required to come in nonetheless. Last week, the cafeteria workers were on strike and as a result we did not have lunch. I here that the metro in Paris is striking over Christmas and that the people who work in transportation are also striking... Such as the delivery trucks. More importantly, the Brest airport is striking. There was a strike on Monday and no flights left the airport. And again the workers will be striking on Friday aka tomorrow, the day I'm supposed to fly to Montpellier. Thank you disgruntled French workers. Merry Christmas to you too.

The Medical Visit

The main reason I went to Rennes was for a required medical visit. Hermann's girlfriend, Annelore, helped me find it. There were lots of assistance there including a bunch of my new friends in Brest. I was lucky enough to be first on the list so it went pretty fast. Over all I'd say the whole process was slightly comical. I went into a tiny room where the nurse came in and told me to take off my tops. There is no sens of modesty there though, no gown to cover you up or anything. I had to get an X-ray of my lungs taken, which Nick tells me they were looking for tuberculosis, whatever. After I redressed, the lady told me to wait in a chair next to the room. After the next assistant was finished she then told me to move to the next chair, and after the 3rd assistant was finished we all had to shift to another chair. Seeing as there wasn't anyone in front of me to begin with, I don't know why she didn't just tell me to go to the last chair, but, whatever, that's the French for you. The best part about the med visit... I got to keep my X-Ray.

Rennes

I recently visited Rennes where I stayed with my neighbor Hermann and his family. He has a very big family and so many people come and go that It was kinda like being in a TV series. I know I met his parents who were wonderful. He has that stereotypical motherly mom who is always trying to feed you and even went grocery shopping and sent food home with me for Hermann and me. He had I don't even remember how many brother and sisters. I hung out with his younger sister for awhile and we watched friends (in french) and she watched "Bridgette Jones" while I chatted online. I also met a brother and random friends of both brother and sister. I don't think any other brothers or sisters were there but it's hard to remember now.

L'école Supériure des Beaux-Arts

I started taking a printmaking class at L'école Supériure des Beaux-Arts. So far, I'm just happy to be, once again, taking an art class. The class meets every Tuesday night for 3 hours but in the true spirit of an over-achiever I also go in on Friday evening, during the other printmaking class's time. As excited as I am though, I very much miss Jim and his wonderfully laid out print shop that is always so clean and tidy.

Look for some amazing prints to be posted here in the near future!

Add Another Continent to my List... b/c Africa, here I come!

That's right. Nick and I are going to Africa for Christmas. Specifically Morocco. We leave December 21st and will return to France December 31st. I hope all goes well! And I especially hope that it's sunny :)

Le vin, le fromage, et le film court

Today was a pretty exciting day for me. I started by waking up early and finally going on a run for the first time since I've arrived in France. I ate my usual breakfast which involves about a half of a loaf of bread with the best butter ever, made right here in Bretagne, and apricot jam. I also had a bowl of cereal today. I don't normally eat cereal(here) but I found it at the grocery store to go with my yogurt; it is a granola with mixed nuts and I think I prefer it with milk vs. yogurt. Delicious.

Some time later...

I went to an exposition/fair with a few friends. The fair, as it turns out, is very popular and is in Brest once during the winter and once during the summer. The reason behind it's popularity? Cheese, wine, sausage, chocolate, etc. and all kinds

of samples. I tried some extremely expensive and delicious foie gras, many different types of red and white wines, champagne, vodka, chocolate, every type of saucisson imaginable, cheese, pretzels, honey, and macaroons. Talk about a wonderful lunch.

After "lunch" I went to the Quartz, the theatre in Brest, where I saw a portion of the film festival(as advertised in the photo below) that is going on here in Brest. The title of the series of short films that I saw was "All you need is love".

I finished my day up by trying a new recipe for dinner. (See last post)

It was a pretty awesome day.

Learning to Cook

I went to the book store the other day and spent way too much money. I did however buy a wonderful cookbook, yes-in French of course, that has been helping me cook some of the most amazing dishes.

Today, though, I very successfully cooked Calamari or as the book calls it "Petits Calamars Grillés au Lard et à L'ail".

Here is a photo of my dinner. Yeay for cooking: the French way!

On another note... the poissonier always gives me the saddest looks when I tell him I only need enough for one person and then makes sure he asks me again "for one person... you?". Yep.

Carson

Mom sent Carson's school photos for me to post on my blog. He's adorable.

Phare off on an ile

Nick and I went to Ile d'Ouessant one day during our vacation. It's a very small Island just west of France and when there isn't an excess amount of fog you can even see all of the light houses (Phares-sounds like Far) located on all points of the island. We rented bicycles which helped us get around rather quickly and enjoyed a picnic high up on the rocks over looking the sea. The weather wasn't great, lots of fog and clouds, but at least it didn't rain.

I took lots of photos of lighthouses for Judy. Hope you enjoy them!

^photo by Nick Corich

^photo by Nick Corich

^Photo by Nick Corich

^Photo by Nick Corich

The End of the World