Caen, France

Caen! Caen! Caen!

It has been extremely cold here in France. I was not expecting this. I know Texas is going to be HOT but I am READY! I am ready to get home and run up and down my street, sleep in my canopy bed, eat some Hook Line and Sinker, El Finex, and spend all day swimming on the Forth of July until I turn into a prune! Today is Sunday... and in one more week I will be HOME! God Bless America.

Life Lessons

Courtney and I joke that when we land we are going to kiss the ground and the first American we find give them a huge hug! Europe is amazing and it has been amazing being a able to see so many sights but I think they have skipped a few lessons. Like having to pay for water, ketchup, not being able to match their clothes, not having any good food to eat, and other essential and basic lessons to life. 

On the bright side...

We are staying in Caen for a week!

Finally! A little bit of down time and relaxation, right?

Ummm. No. Well it is nice being in one spot for a long period of time, but here we are suppose to finish up our coursework that we started in Prague.

School

We have to write a group business plan that is about 20 pages single space and also a personal business plan that is about 10 pages.

Group

My group is writing a elderly service businesses plan. We are going to provide an assistant to the elder. It is a great business since the baby boomers need more care. It isn’t medical or anything but strictly a service where we can get grocerys, make dinner, bring them to events, hair salon, and etc. I think it would be wonderful and it will provide a great relationship! Who knows? Maybe I will start it one day! But for now... the plan must be written. We have to finish writing it and present it on Wednesday in front of everyone so... Pray that we finish and do well on the presentation!

Personal

My personal business plan is a pizza restaurant called Peachy Pizza. Long story short you build your pizza through a line like a FROYO place.  Cook it and eat it. That is the short version. Fast. Friendly. And great for busy families like mine. I would love to start some sort of business when I graduate but who knows what will happen. I think my plans change daily.

D-Day

The first day we arrived in Caen we went to the D-Day museum. It was interesting. We got to watch a movie. And I am really glad me and Courtney watched Saving Private Ryan in Geneva because I would have no idea what was going on! Haa. So much for public school history.

We went to the artificial harbors make during the war. The Americans and British created two different harbors to load and unload supplies and it is still kind of standing. We saw an underground bunker and the old radar concrete slab.

We went to the Normandy beaches where the attacks took place and the American memorial. The memorial and rows and rows of crosses and the Jews had their star of David. The two flag poles had eagles on top. The eagles and the head stones face America. We found the Nylon brothers (saving private ryan) and we found the Teddy Roosevelt’s two sons. Those are the most famous people buried at the memorial.

Hotel

We are staying by a McDonalds with wifi and a big supermarket. We are staying in an apartment style so we have groceries. I make me a sandwich for lunch. I found hot salsa and guacamole sauce but its not the same. I think their taste buds are messed up.

Schedule

The past two days we would get up. Have breakfast.

 AKA.... croissants with butter or nutella.  (we have croissants for breakfast everyday for 5 weeks. How about a Whataburger taquito?) Nutella has definitely grown on EVERYONE! Nutella and crepes.

Then we would work on our business plans from 9-12.

Have lunch from 12-1:30. Take a nap!

Then work from 1:30 – 5 on more business plans.

We have to finish because we present on Wednesday!

Dinner

One night we decided to go into town to eat dinner. The town is bigger than I expected but it looked a bit deserted. There were people walking around but it was just very quiet. We found some water and some boats. Where there is water.... there are restaurants. They LOVE muscles in France. The restaurant basically gives you a big pot filled with muscles and you pick the sauce or cream you want them to marinate in. I picked a tomato and parsley with oil and Courtney had some sort of goat cheese or something. I don’t know if I just really hungry but they were really good! You would crack them, Let them marinate at the bottom of the pan and then eat them. Bon Apatite!

On Saturday we went to two places, St. Michel and St. Malo. I’ve never been to anything like it.

St. Michel

St. Michel is in the middle of the French Countryside. We are driving along flat, green countryside and a random single mountain pops up. It is a lonely mountain in the middle of the plain! The other side is the English Channel. When the tide is low you can drive up to the mountain, but when the tide is high, the water surrounds the mountain! There is one narrow street to the top. That is it. We walked up to the top and there is a HUGE abbey.

You can see the sand and water and the French countryside. It was gorgeous. We toured the abbey and then walked around the mountain. The narrow street has souvenir shops and restaurants. I had a omelet basically inside of a crepe. The street and village looked like something Disney would have created. It was really cute.

St. Malo

St. Malo is considered a wall city. The city is surrounded by a huge stone wall that you can walk around and the Ocean surrounds the city depending on the low and high tide. I thought it was going to be cold but it was really hot. I even got a little pink. We walked in the sand and then walked around the city and looked a the cute little shops. It was so pretty but I know why we couldn’t stay there....

I would never finish my business plan!

Sunday

We had a small church service in the hotel this morning. We sang, my professors husband is a reverend so he preached. Laundry and going to McDonalds to work on the business plan is on the agenda.

TV

we finally learned how to change the languages on the television! Hallelujah! One night we watched charlie’s angels one and two! Today...Bride and Prejudice! At least we have a tv to keep us company!

Monday Night

We have girls night with Dr. Reed in town! Should be fun!

Texas in one more week!

ahhhhvvveee waaaaaahhhhhhhh!

MCDONALDS has free WiFi! Hallelujah!

Paris, France Day 3-5

Paris France, Day 3-5

Eiffel Tower

Army Museum- Where napolean is buried.

Arc de Triumph!

Marie Antoinette palace. We didn't go in the main palace but we went in the garden to find Marie's own cottage hidden in the area. We rented bikes and rode around the whole area! It was fun to get some exercise by not walking around all the time.

Inside Napoleon's apartment.

Inside Napoleon's apartment.

Inside the Galleries de Lafayette.

Notre DAME

We went to the international morning mass at Notre Dame. Even though it was an international mass, they still only spoke French!  During the day we walked around the Latin Quarter and found some amazing fondu. Mom is going to love it. In the late afternoon we walked to the Eiffel Tower to see the sun go down. We sat there and watched it twinkle. It is gorgeous.

Notre Dame

Inside the Notre Dame.

Escargot!

Paris, France

Paris, France (Day 1+2)

Bonjour!

Paris is beautiful! I was iffy based on everyone else’s opinion, but I love the culture and the language. There is something about going into a cute little shop and being greeted with everyone saying “Bonjour!” You never know what you are going to find around the corner! There is so many beautiful buildings and plenty of places to eat delicious food!

Paris’ weather is WAY MORE bipolar than Texas! It will be VERY cold. Then it will be raining. Then it will be VERY hot. Then windy. Then repeat and maybe a little mix of all of them. So confusing! It was about 60 degrees at some points but it guess it is better than the 120 degree in Texas!

LOUVRE

The first day we went to the Musee du Louvre!

It is the biggest museum in the WORLD! Too much to see! There is so much history and famous paintings! I could stay there a week! I didn’t even see ¼ of it and stayed there for like 3 hours! I saw the mona lisa! And Napolean’s apartment along with many other famous art pieces!

EIFFEL TOWER

We walked all the way from the Louvre to the tower. LONG WALK! We walked up a hill to take pictures and ate on the hill! The food was delicious! And we shared dessert! The tower blinks white lights and night. It is like a diamond shining in the light! So pretty!

The Pantheon

The pantheon was gorgeous. It wasn’t as big but it wasn’t like any building. It had a huge! Pendulum in the middle! It was the coolest thing ive ever seen watching the earth’s gravity pull it back and forth along the ground! There were many famous French contributors buried in the crypt below!

Luxembourg Gardens

It was so pretty! A lot of people were exercising yogo and running through the gardens it was gorgeous! If only Ennis had a park this gorgeous!

St. Sulpice, St. Germain Des Pres, Monnaie de Paris

We made a circle around these churches and buildings. All of them were gorgeous!

One of them had a replica of Jesus cloth they found in the tomb! I watched it on the History Channel. I knew it was amazing but when I first stepped in the church and saw these cloths… I stopped. Gasped.  And said Oh MY Goodness! I got chills! The same thing I saw on the history channel was right in front of my face. Jesus was in front of my face basically. It was an overwhelming feeling. I know it is a replica and I saw it on tv… but seeing it in person is a totally different experience.

Sainte Chapelle

St Chapelle was also very shocking! I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into… Come to find out…. You walk up a winding staircase then the sun just hits you! You walk into a room filled with sunlight. All of the walls are covered in stained glass! The glass is in little tiny pieces! And it gets better. Every story in the book of the Bible is on a part of the stained glass in the room. It was absolutely dazzling! The colors just lit up the room. As the sun moves, it hits each stained glass through the bible. Genesis- Revelation. Revelation is in a circle and it was breathtaking! All I could think of was… I really wish my mom was there with me to see this... She would LOVE IT!

Notre Dame

We are going to the international service tomorrow! So we didn’t go inside but I’m excited to see it!

Rue Cler

Rue Cler is a local market with fresh fruit, meat, cheese, bread and it has restaurants! Everything looks sooo good to eat! It was neat to see all of the locals around the market. Bon Appetite!

Statue of Liberty (Paris Style)

Yes! I saw the duplicate!

DARK/Light

So it doesn’t get dark until about 10:30 here! At 9:00 it is bright outside!

To Do list

Arc de Tiomphe Etoile

Sacre Coeur

Versailles

Catacombs

And SHOPPING!

I only have about 2.5 more days to accomplish everything! Hope I can do it!

So much to do! So little time!

Time is money. Money is time.

Au revoir

Travel Tips

IT IS SUMMERTIME! 

Summer is when most people travel to see relatives, have vacations, or weekend getaways. 

I wanted to share some of my favorite tips on how to have a carefree vacation without forgetting necessary items.

• Pack an extra set of clothes/toothbrush/make-up in your carry-on incase the airlines "misplaces your luggage"

• Your only going to be gone for a couple of week or less so try travel-sized items. 
• Bed, Bath, and Beyond has a three aisles full of travel size products-organic/and non-organic
• My favorite ones
Tide for the Sink!! ITS PERFECT!
Toilet Seat Covers
SHOUT
Sanitizer Spray
• One item I take on the plane/train with me is a neck pillow. 

• Mine is from the Container Store with a compartment for a blanket. I hate using the ones from airplanes. However if you just bring a neck pillow, I suggest you wearing an oversize scarf to use as a blanket, that can also spruce up an outfit, or be needed to visit a mosque!

• Once at your destination, I always carry a roll of toilet paper with me (especially foreign countries!) You never know where you might have to use the restroom! Most overseas restrooms only have a "hole" in the ground with no toilet paper. Or you have to pay for a dirty toilet. (This is where the seat covers come in handy).

• Always make copies of your credit cards/passport/driver's license/itinerary---give a copy to relatives and keep one in your suitcase. You never know where you might "lose" things!

• I always see if the hotels we are staying at have a blow-dryer so I won't have to pack one. **BE CAUTIOUS WITH OVERSEAS PLUGS....some don't "power up" our utilities like here in the U.S. One time Briana and I were straightening and blow-drying our hair at the same time...and we took out the ENTIRE FLOOR'S ELECTRICITY IN ITALY!!
• Briana bought a european straighten on E-Bay because we travel so much. If you studying abroad this might be the best option! 

• See if your credit card company has any incentives for using "their credit card" in the area you are traveling. For instance, Discover is offering 20% cash back for using their card in Czech Republic right now.

• My Favorite App for Traveling(or not having to pay for texts) is "TEXT+" 
• It is free texting while using wi-fi. 

• There is a website called HERmail.net   It answers any and all questions about what women your pack in a specific location. 

• FOOD--be cautious. You never know if local food might make you sick.
•  Drink lots of water. And pack Tums or constipation medicine just in case!! YOU NEVER KNOW! I always pack nuts and seeds to help retain water and maintain a healthy "body system!" 

I HOPE THIS HELPS!! HAPPY TRAVELS YA"LL!