Wanderings

Intrepid Trip: three days to go!

nicolasophie — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:43:00 GMT

Well I obviously didn't write anything for Thailand. Actually, it was a really shit holiday. Nick and Amelia ignored me and shunned me the entire trip, and Lachy was studying all day in order to pass his exam.

I am just setting this out - maybe I will journal while on this intrepid trip? Hmmm

Testing

nicolasophie — Tue, 1 Jul 2008 15:42:00 GMT

one two three

I'M BACK!

nicolasophie — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 05:08:00 GMT

I'M BACK!

just thought to let you know.

it's christmas morning now (i arrived at around 10pm on the 23rd australia time) and i'm still incredibly jet lagged. Got 12 hours sleep friday, saturday and sunday nights total. ahhhh!

Didn't let myself sleep during the day yesterday. Got to bed once the Moros left - 11pm. Then woke up at 4am. Have been cleaning my room, brushing jed, and cleaning his hutch all morning. Waiting for the rest of the family to wake up.

Christmas dinner with the wog side tonight... whoo! can't wait - i love christmas! Am liking the fact that my presents from France double as christmas presents. Boo yeah.

When i'm tired, my entire body aches, i feel sick, but i can NEVER sleep because it's not night time paris time! You see, i can never nap during the day - and if my body thinks it's day, no sleep for nicola!

sigh. Anyway, wishing you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Am planning on writing a blog of conclusions of paris. Will do it later - my opinion is generally good!

I shall see you all in Melbourne, once i can do more than drink, eat and nodd (got sick in paris, if you remember!)

xxxx

21st Dec, Morning

nicolasophie — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:43:00 GMT

it's my LAST DAY IN PARIS!

This morning ana didn't feel like coming out early so i went out and bought (and ate) a whole loaf of bread (aux olives) and then went to montmartre cemetary (very different from pere lachaise) and then wondered around a little, just being in paris, which is nice.

anyway, that's about it. slept for about 11hours.

and i am, by the way, incredibly sick. i can walk outside in a tshirt but not feel the cold because my head is so hot. my throat is killing me, and i'm blowing my nose every five minutes (feel sorry for ana!)

so that's it, mes amigos

20th Dec: Elizabeth, Sex Shops, Dinner, New friends

nicolasophie — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:46:00 GMT

hey guys - just came back from dinner - at midnight! was very good - met up with Sally and Clare, who are distantly related through family friend with ana (i do know the proper explanation, but i can't be bothered typing it out). Both REALLY friendly, nice girls, terribly expensive dinner which wasn't worth the money paid for it.

ended up using the ketchup they gave Sally for her stake on an entire basket of bread. yey for tomato sauce!

Earlier today, at 2pm, we saw Elizabeth: Age d'Or. The nit-picker in me was dissappointed in
a) the director's obsession with showing Elizabeth with flaws. There is a difference between showing her with flaws and showing an entirely unbeleivable character - her moments of strength are completely out of character with her moments of fear / hopeless love. Elizabeth was stronger than that. i know it's his own interpretation of a great woman - my interpretation differs, i see her as a much stronger character.

b) obsessive love with Walter Raleigh: so completely false. Wouldn't be so bad that it was false - he was one of her favoured pirates at the time - and again, it's a story, not a history - but then she was embarassingly weak and desperate in relation to him. need my strong elizabeth!

yeah that's about it. other than that, the movie was terrific. It did what all elizabeth movies do to me - that power, that court intrigue, those beautiful dresses! Yes, the dresses do it for me, every time. When i get married i think i'll try on every dress with a big skirt in every shop in Melbourne, just for fun.

So i shall be dreaming of Elizabeth tonight.

Tomorrow is my last day - oh no! My nose keeps on running, my head is stuffy and my throat feels like it came out on the losing side in a battle with sandpaper. :(

Worried about going over the limit of weight for my baggage.

surely i don't need all of my bras & undies? Maybe i could just throw them out, and get mum to buy me more (just kidding ma).

o! before we went to Elizabeth, we dropped into the Louis Vitton shop. First of all, there were people there - women - who were actually trying things on and buying things from the shop. wtf? although i did fall in love with a coat - i stroked it reveeringly under the watchful eye of the service assistant stationed every few metres to ensure we children don't hurt the precious clothes (they sell clothes, and luggage, and bags, and jewellery, and shoes there!). It was my love. It cost E 2000 (that's $4000). So i'll never have it.

Also, i bought Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone in french. whoo! i was reading Deathly Hallows and then i got up to the bit where Hedwig was about to die, and have given up. it's too depressing!

Then after the movie we went back home, i had a shower then we headed out to meet Sally and Clare at 9.30. Ana and i walked.

On the way to where we were meeting them, we passed what must be a beehive of strip joints, sex shops, "supermarché sexuel!", "sex o!" and other such reputable establishments. It was quite funny - one man actually called out to us, asking if we wanted to go into the strip joint! ew! i think i'd vomit.

want to take my camera next time and take photos of all of the weird names and terribly unclassy photos that blare at you from the street. their lights even outside macdo's lights!

alright, sick nic is going to bed soon. We're going clubbing tomorrow night to celebrate my last night - whoooo!

love to all. i shall see everyone very soon.

Gallery: Assorted Montmartre Pics

nicolasophie — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:26:00 GMT

19th Dec. Did i mention i have two new scarves and a handbag?

nicolasophie — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:33:00 GMT

well, even if i didn't, here are the pictures.

ps: ana's really cute when she sleeps.

19th Dec

nicolasophie — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:00:00 GMT

Went out last night - pretty shit, didn't want to drink too much so we were asked to leave! went back home, went to QUICK - ate far too many fattening food miam miam

this morning it took us forever to get up.

Went shopping a bit - to H&M. i had to withdraw cash from my aussie bank accounts (ah! the fees!) because i have NO money whatsoever.

Bought two scarves and also a silve clutch bag.

Discovered that the note about "traces" on a desk being left behind weren't to monitor whether people were eating in their rooms, but whether the maids had cleaned properly. well, yay for that!

Tonight going to see Elizabeth: Age d'or (Golden Age) - it's in VO (version originale) - in English with french soustitres (otherwise i don't think we'd understand!)

Then might go to a smoking pub. ana wants to try it.

Then tomorrow night we're meeting up with ana's french contact, Sally, and having dinner with her.

Then friday night we're going to see the christmas lights in place de l'italie and then go to café oz for a final hurrah before i leave saturday morning.

going to miss paris.

Kinda concerned - a transfer to the airport is going to cost me 28 euro! trying to find another way...

bye! xx

Gallery: First Day Montmartre (18th)

nicolasophie — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:50:00 GMT

Gallery: Last Morning of CIEP / Arriving at Montmartre

nicolasophie — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:40:00 GMT

18th Dec: OMG internet access!

nicolasophie — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:23:00 GMT

guys! i have internet access! it's free! Although it's pretty poor quality.. each page takes forever to load, no conversations for me! But a good chance to fill you in. This hotel is very pretty, we're on the 6th floor - but the lift only goes up to the fifth floor! oh no! also, the lady very rudely informed us that it was impoli to bring food into a hotel - we went out while we were waiting for our room to be ready, grabbed some food - and "this is not a youth hostel". RUDE!

Um yeah... so ana and i have food anyway, and we're just locking it in our suitcases when the maids come in to clean the room. Also, you're forbidden to wash your clothes here. Both of these rules are "for reasons of hygiene". But then the patron of the hotel has a HUGE big brown male dog called Caramel and he wonders around the hotel... even in the breakfast room. Hmmmm

Ana reckons this is because of trying to encourage us to fuel local industry - cafés etc - but i think they're making the maids work less, and are mean tight-arse administrations.

Um yeah... i bought FOUNDATION. oh, my god. i know, we can all have a heart-attack together: i've never had foundation ever! worn it like twice... wow. Ana helped me pick it - i'm shit at being able to tell what colours are good.

Also bought a little sock for my mobile... that way it won't get even more scratched than it already is.

MOBILES in paris are so cheap! there is this really cool-looking modern mobile: only 69 euro! that's like $120 aussie dollars.. you could not get such a phone for such a cheap price in australie!

I only have 100 euro left (already paid my share of the accomodation). I'm going to go crazy - be stingy with the amount of money i spend on food - there are heaps of beautiful little boutique food shops, boulangeries etc here - so gorgeous - i love this place, could buy a hosue here - so we can eat cheap. Also able to go home at lunch! LOVE living in paris! I've put $400 aussie dollars in my aussie bank acount.. if i run out of cash, i'll just pay the $10 in processing fees commonwealth bank charges me and use that.. i don't care... only a few days in paris left - gonna go wild!

also, elizabeth golden age is here in english with french soustitres... YEY. going to see it with ana tomorrow night.

loving paris, i don't want to go home!

if it weren't for jed, i don't think i would. mummy loves her baby!

PS: please put him on a diet. i don't want to be the mean person starving him. One carrot and hay should be enough - stop feeding him pellets - give him as much hay as he wants, hay is best for him.

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE PARIS! I'm so going to buy a little appartment here when i'm rich... come here for holidays when it's hot in australia... too hot in australia! I could chase the winter... :D

love paris!

um i already said that.

also love Milka caramel chocolat!

and olive bread - ana and i bought a loaf each this morning - ate it all - very nice! tell yiayia that putting both black and green olives in it - and HEAPS of olives - tastes really nice!

don't want to leave.

bye now!!! we're going to walk up the stairs at sacre coeur again... exercise, since i ate two family-sized blocks of chocolate this morning, as well as my loaf of bread :O

love paris! bye!

PS: later, 4.15pm:

We went around, looked at some pretty shops. Before, the Nanny was in French on tv. Now Xena: La Guerriere is on! Whoot!

Gallery: Farewell bateau!

nicolasophie — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:52:00 GMT

16th Dec: Au revoir Paris Ville Lumiere!

nicolasophie — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 23:43:00 GMT

we just had our final day of this course! We went out after the presentations, and we had dinner at this really cheap place - exchanged kriss kringle - i had ana, very badly kept secret, oh well at least i hope she got the chocolate she wanted! Duncan had me... i got a box of chocolates... ate them all. Very cheap food at the restaurant. I got dressed up - most people did - wore my silver dress, va va voom!

Then we went on le Bateau Mouche which just rode up and down the Seine for a bit, showing us these sites at night. Walking to the dock of the Bateau we walked over the tunnel in which Princess Diana died - there is heaps of graffitti, i took plenty of photos.

Saw the Tour Eiffel lighted up at night - quite spectacular (THEME! THEME ! ha ha) - and other pretty things, like the entire length of the Louvre, Musée D'Orsay etc - it seems like so many of the things we studied have been along the banks of the Seine.

Eventually went inside - it was soooo freezing on the top - had good convos with Ana, Wayne, Katheryne, Gemma later on, Mel, Adhiti... yeah various people.

Going to miss everyone a bit. Think Wayne is an excellent person. Going to miss Sylvia and her cute little ways. She only found out tonight i'm greek - there you go - although she thinks i have a "greek tragedy" flair to me... hmmmm, wonder what that means? I inquired - apparently it doesn't mean i overexagerate...

So yeah i'm in my room now. Everything is packed up. I took a couple of vids of the Eiffel Tour glittering. Going to miss CIEP, but going to have sooooo much fun with ana this week! So simultaneously pumped and slightly sad.

bye everyone! bons voyages, et a plus!

xxxx

16th Dec: Moral of the story? Ana and i rock. And i don't like wine

nicolasophie — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 11:48:00 GMT

We just did our presentations this morning. And it is a fact well-established, but i feel the need to repeat: ana and i rock.

Last night's performance (we're all doing our presentations at different times... four groups did it last night) was a mixed bag. The first off the cap was Vi and... I've forgotten who was with Vi. Maybe Maddy? Anyway, they sat down, and kinda read their presentation, and didn't speak very loudly. Sylvia was hideously tactless - shaking her head, not bothering to ask them a question at the end of it, coudln't even think of something nice to say at the end.

Then was Katheryne and Duncan, Mr Calous-I'll-do-anything-to-get-ahead, and Ms Laura Cochrane. I like Katheryne better than Duncan - i think she has a soul.

Anyway, their presentation was good - Sylvia kept on making huge "mmm hmmm" sounds and nodding enthusiastically, making little cries of joy when they pulled out a quote.

Seriously.

Also, Duncan wore a suitshirt. We bagged the shit out of him.

So at about 10pm at night Ana and i were seized with a desire to do well. We stayed up until midnight, fixing things going through it etc. I stayed up a little later adjusting the slides - i really enjoy the part of the job which means choosing when the slide should be shown, and what it has on it etc.

But then i wanted to read some Harry Potter - i need some kind of distraction from reality to sleep - and then i read about a page and forced myself to sleep.

Then we woke up early - 7am - went down to breakfast, the woman was absolutely shocked that we were there - even though breakfast starts at 7.30am, apparently on sunday the first person shows up at 8, earliest. Me and ana had breakie with the oldies - Denise, Wayne, and James - and then we went and prepared our speech a bit more.

I put on a shirt - channelling Duncan - and we did it at 9.30. I have so much fun making speeches! I was grinning like an idiot during it... i don't know what's so fun about it, but i do enjoy it.

Each speech is meant to lat 20 minute, maximum 30 - we did just over 20, when we feared we'd go way over, so that's good.

The people after us - James and Denise - started at 9.55am and then didn't finish until 10.55am! a WHOLE hour. wow.

So yeah, i came back to my room.

Ana's found out who is my kris kringle, and apparently amanda told them to get me wine! Thank god ana set them on the right track.

I actually have a feeling it's Duncan, because i saw him leave for the supermarket just before (but he left only 30 minutes before the supermarket closes!). I hope he gets good chocolate. I don't like nuts.

Mmmmm maybe he'll get maltesers.... mmmmmm

Anyway, i've eaten too much already, want to get dressed up special tonight - silver dress whooo! - but it's going to be freezing - it's about zero degrees today (:O), and tonight we're going on a boat, which is not sheltered, and on the Seine... wow, we're going to die. But we're also having a 'farewell' dinner, so i want to look good for that. Hmmmm

Mum had the idea of wearing a shirt underneath, since i don't have a skivvy.

I saw jed! Mama's boy is getting a bit fat. And my mum keeps on jiggling him around like he's a stuffed animal.

Can't wait until i have my baby back in my arms.

Mum: now you suggested it, i will be very upset if you don't sneak Jed into the airport.

Still loving French MTV... whoo!

going to pack my bag now, also maybe wash another pair of jeans

bonsoir!

Oh, and finally: this is either my last or second last post. I don't have net access for a week. But please do send me emails - i will be able to check - but not enough to write my blog.

See you all back in Melbourne! I'm going to miss the cold here...

xxx

15th Dec: NOT doing our presentation

nicolasophie — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 17:17:00 GMT

This morning I got up at 8.30, went down to breakie… I had 3 rolls with heaps of butter! Fattening!

Then we eventually got ready, ana and I went to find quick. Took forever! First went to Marcel Sembat – only macdo. Then Billancourt – only macdo. Lined up at macdo – they wouldn’t make burgers without the meat for ana. We lined up for like 20 minutes! We then left, decided to get off at Franklin at the Champs Elysées. Got off, found quick! HUGE line (same as Macdo), got club au trios frommages, and a mix mania with smarties and chocolate topping.

Had to wait forever for my 3 frommages… annoying.

Met ana upstairs (there is three levels to that store) ate it all very quickly – cheese thing very nice. Ana got a 3 frommages meal, with a small pack of wedges – in quick, called “rustiques”, in Macdo called “deluxe potatoes”.

Then we felt like more so went to Macdo on the CE just down the road!! Whoo! Again long line, was going to get McFlurry, but the machine broke! So I got a large wedges, ana a small – ana ended up getting about the same amount as me! We then ate those with ketchup… couldn’t find a table, just sat down on a group of stool/chair things.

Then went around a bit… I bought a chocolat macaron from Paul’s. We jumped into a few stores… went to Virgin Megastore looking for KK presents. (which I keep calling Krispy Kremes). Ana found a nice little phone book, going to get everyone to put their contact details on it, maybe write a message, and also get some chocolate. Good idea. We went to a section which is supermarket - yummy food!

Then I ate the macaron. It wasn’t fantastic. I feel fat.

At the Virgin Megastore I bought haaarrry pottair! Whoo! It was E26.50 – expensive, but fuck it! I’ve really been feeling like reading recently, sitting down with a good story, not too hard to read, some good fun. I also thought that I would want to buy Harry Potter in French – so I did! Whoo! I’m really looking forward to just sitting down and reading it. It was pretty shit at the start I remember, but the last fight with Voldemort was epic.

I love shopping. Spending money gives me this happy glee. I’m very happy at the moment – loving everything – don’t worry that will descend into nervous wreck when we have to give this presentation tomorrow morning.

Also, I love French MTV.

Um yeah, then we went home! We’re home now… we arrived at around 3.30pm! And the presentation is not done! Naughty girls. We saw Sarah Gemma and Jessye leaving when we arrived back home. Oh well. It was a good day.

A french man in Chad

nicolasophie — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:16:00 GMT

On the french morning news a couple of minutes ago, there was an article on the french news about a french doctor who had been arrested in Chad - i wasn't paying attention enough at the start to hear why. Anyway, it was a similar style of article like the Bali 9 or Schappelle Corby - about his inability to get justice, it's not really a crime worth the punishment he could get in Chad, and i find it funny that the wife would explain why he has little chance of justice by saying that their is a strong "sentiment anti-francais" in Chad.

The french are, i think, the kind to react to such an allegation. But it was never even mentioned in the Bali businesses.

''31.17 15-75 ans

Gallery: 11th, 12th, 13th Dec

nicolasophie — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:12:00 GMT

Photos & French appearances

nicolasophie — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:57:00 GMT

Just to let you know that i now have photos. however, no access to internet, so will upload them within an hour.

On the french: they're not very good looking. Half of them don't dress very well. Their faces are very pointy, and rather gaunt. Shades of grey swim across their faces - no rosy cheeks for the french! Of course, this is a comment on women, but applies to men too.

It appears la joie de vivre is more of an aspiration than a state-of-face.

13th Dec: Sylvia, le Vieux Montmartre, McFlurry

nicolasophie — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:55:00 GMT

This morning started off not too good. Sylvia told about half of our group that she was changing the "be ready" time from 9.15am to 8.15am. Through some word-of-mouth, most people got the message. From the people who didn't get the message coming down to breakfast early, they were told the message. The only person who wasn't told the night before, and who didn't wake up early anyway, was me. FUN. So i woke up at 8am. Started taking my time getting ready... at 8.10am, Laurence (the sweetheart) knocks on my door and tells me.

FUCK

So i run around like absolute crazy, swearing my head off at Sylvia, unable to talk to mum, unable to have breakfast - run down and grab some rolls, the cook's like "the plates are over there" and i explained to her i don't have the time to eat breakfast, rush upstairs - looks like i'll only be about 10 minutes late... ana comes up. She was told. But not me! And ana had the instructions for how to get there. So i stopped trying to get ready, and we had a good convo and i took my time to eat.

Anyway, turns out Sylvia was a bit weird about it. She claimed she had told me specifically about it, when she never even mentioned today yesterday at all. Tone along the lines of my fault for being disorganised? Maybe she's getting senile. Then ana asked for the instructions in english - and she made a comment how ana has translation issues, when ana is sooo good at french, she's really good at it and making up sentences and the like... probably better than most of us, and then impliedly hanging shit on ana because ana speaks in english! we all speak in english! and french can be so frustrating because they waste so many words getting across a meaning which in english takes like 2 words to say. grrr sylvia. grrr

anyway, fortunately i still looked hot.

We caught the metro by ourselves - so much more fun than catching it with the group. Turns out the group left waaaay too early - they spent a lot of time doing rubbish because they arrived too early for the tour (it was run by a really nice french woman).

Ana had the chance to go to the toilet, i popped in and bought a black scarf - very nice, i like it quite a bit.

Then we walked up the stairs to Sacre-Coeur, which were long but i wasn't too tired - i guess we walk so many stairs, you kinda get used to it - also because it was freezing outside we weren't too hot.

The guys on the steps for sacre-coeur are creepy.. they reach out to you, speak english very well, and they actually grab your arm trying to sell you these "friendship bracelets" - the woven-wool kind you have in like year 4. One of them grabbed ana's arm. weirdos.

Anyway, then we were there. But we weren't allowed inside - it's a church where catholic sacraments are displayed, groups aren't allowed in there, and they only really allow people to come in if they intend to sit and pray etc.

We also went to the church nearby - forgotten it's name - but again not allowed inside.

The lady - conferencier - that took us was very very nice. She was very friendly, and she walked us around old Montmarte - no, that's not where we're staying. The streets are picturesque - beautiful cobbled streets, winding roads going up and down, etc. The information and things she said were both relevant and interesting - she made the history of the area actually fun and intriguing. She also finished about 45 minutes before we were told she'd finish. She was bumbling and really nice - she also spoke english absolutely perfectly. Only very minor traces of a french accent could be found in her voice. And she was useful in telling us not to buy anything from that area, it was all too expensive, and telling us her favourite café because they don't charge you exhorbitantly and they're nice.

It was also good that these two young girls who worked in a restaurant allowed us to use their toilets without paying.

After that, we walked back to the metro - there are heaps of tourist shops around there, some things are really cheap - value for money - although some are quite expensive. I think you need to have the patience to search through it all - which i do not.

Ana and I then went to H&M near le Chatelet (metro station AND building). Ana bought gloves to go under her leather gloves, and nail polish etc. I bought a pair of gloves v similar to ana's - only 1.90 euro! and also another umbrella (it's pretty! i swear!) and um what else? a pair of black flats.

Then i stopped into the Macdonald's on the way home (well, it was right next to H&M) and i got a McFlurry - with D'Aim (delicious toffee-caramel chocolate) and then caramel sauce. There was a freaky druggie there, i'll let ana tell you about him.

Then we went to the supermarket. I got diet coke, and mentos. Then we caught the metro home, and went to another supermarket, where i got water. And we saw the entire range of Haagen Dazs and Ben and Jerries icecream at Hyperchampion.. drool.

Then we came home on the bus, and it was all good. I'm going to spend a couple of hours cleaning my room. FUN.

So in conclusion: a lot of money spent, but much fun had while spending it. And montmarte is cute.

bonsoir tout le monde

12th Dec: Budgets, Haussman, Petit Palais, Durée, Louvre at night

nicolasophie — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:14:00 GMT

today was a pretty packed day - we practically had classes non-stop from 9am until now, which is 9.07pm at night. i just got home! very odd for me, since i usually write these blogs at around 5.00pm

This morning we had a three-hour class with M Le Grand - it was in the conference room, which is a god-send, because he couldn't make us do group work when we're sitting in theatre-style seats. It was basically a summary / wrap up of all of the changes that Haussman made to Paris under the instructions of Napo III. Something i'm actually interested in - although i used the time to try to calculate how much money i would be spending in the next week and a bit and making sure my bank account has the right amount.

I think i might over-calculate by 50 euros and spend my last day really enjoying paris... :)

So it was nice just to sit in a warm room and not really pay attention and for him not to be able to tell i'm not paying attention. I wrote an incredibly long email to chrissy, and typed up my budget on excel. funfunfun

Then we had lunch - it was ok. Today has been a bad food day - four bread rolls for breakfast with honey, half a tub of yoghurt, lunch - one bread roll (again), a quich-type thing, and then an incredibly rich pure chocolate cake. Very yummy, although slightly too much chocolate, feeling a bit of an overload.

Then we had class - went to Le Grand Palais and Le Petit Palais which was ok. The guards and rules at Petit Palais (grand palais closed for renovations) were ridiculous. They would sell us a group ticket but then refused to let us congregate - the guards kept on telling us to disperse - because they refuse to let someone talk to the group as a whole (even though they sell group tickets) because they want us to pay for one of their conferenciers to talk to the group instead of a leader of the group! What absolute tight arses. Also, one of the guards said he thought sylvia had explosives on her when we went through security - scanning of bags and person - at the louvre it's only your bags - and then follow that with guards coming up insisting every two seconds that she didn't have le droit de parole and watching us suspiciously (they all warned each other about her through their walkie talkies.. stupid french thinking we can't understand). On top of that, when i was looking at a sculpture i had my bottle of water out because it was too big/heavy to be in my bag, and the guard insisted i put it in my bag and keep it in my bag otherwise he'd have to confiscate it. And i was like "why" and he said that i would get water on the sculpture - yes, very likely, since the ropes prevented anyone from getting near throwing distance to the statues. And all the security guards kept on giving us greasies... what a rude day. Also, there wasn't that much famous art there - in the louvre you carry your water bottle around, hey you can even pull a roll out of your bag and eat it (which is actually forbidden) and they don't give a damn. What a terrible place.

Then ana amanda and i went to La Durée which is this extremely famous parisien bakery / cake shop where you can both buy to take away and also sit down and eat. I had Religieuse a la violette which was pastry sphere stuffed with purple-cream stuff (it tasted purple too) and then was covered in purple icing, with a small ball of pastry and purple cream on top. The cream was probably a bit too much for me, although i was very impressed with their ability to make the cream and the icing actually taste like violette. Miam. Felt a bit sick, and definately overdid it today.

Then we went to the louvre - my third visit! This time it was at night, and we were given the history of the building - assez interesting - and we saw the medieval foundations of the building. I already knew this stuff because i researched it, but still. It was very hot inside - we were all sweating because it was freezing outside today so we'd all rugged up, and at the end the conferencier (who was good-looking in the french man way of actually being ugly but still being good-looking) made us stand outside for like 20 minutes.. we were all freezing.

Anyway, feeling fat and off to bed.

No photos today because although i took them Sarah still hasn't returned the thing i use to upload them onto my computer

bonsoir

xxx

Snow report: none sighted, not really expecting any, although the ground was particularly frozen and frosted this morning.

Re Photos: check ana's blog. she has all of mine too.