FRANCE - 30 August - 12 September 2006

August 30, 2006

I’m in Paris!!! I am waiting for my train to Lyon to meet with Carole and her family. My stupid plane arrived 2 hours later then scheduled!! And my bag was the last one to get out of the freggin thing!! I am so impatient with that! I have two hours of wait for my train, then a two-hour on the train before getting to Part-Dieu station in Lyon. I missed all the meals on the plane so have not eaten since yesterday… I am a little hungry! And I so can’t wait to run!!!!!!! I’m so impatient with everything today!! The person at the information center was being an ass with me so he got my way of thinking quickly!

So Carole and her mom (Henriette) picked me up at the station (aren’t they sweet!!). Then we went back to their home. I love it! So peaceful, cute and cozy!! Then I went for a run, finally! Had a lovely diner!! Called home and dodos!! I was pooped out!

August 31, 2006

Very relaxed morning, felt great! At noon, we left to visit Lyon. Our first stop was Olympic Lyonnais’s Stadium. After, we took the metro to get to the city center. Saw fountains (Fontaine de Bartoni), carousels, shops, etc. We took the funicular to go to the old Lyon (Le Vieux Lyon). I liked it there! We saw Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica (1400); the old Roman Theatre (very cool! I love Roman stuff.). Then we saw a second church, much older then the first one, St-Jean Church, containing the oldest clock in the world (and still working! It is a kind of astrological clock, very impressive!). Then we crossed “le canal du Rhône” on a red bridge for pedestrians. Went back home by metro. Had diner (peppers stuffed with meat, cheese, spices and do not know what else…. Very good!!!!!!!).

September 1, 2006

Awesome day!!! We went to a town called Annecy. Lovely!! It reminds me of Venice (even though I have never been there). We walked around to see the place then went to a little restaurant and I tasted some kind of “apple wine”, very bitter and sweet at the same time. I liked it! Then we went on a drive for a desperate search of a view of the Suisse Alps. Went through a town called Col des Avaris (a skiers paradise!!) and then, all of a sudden, the Suisse Alps!!! Gorgeous!!!!!!

On the way back we stopped at a bakery for cheese and bread. Then, once arrived home, it was running, dinning, TV and sleeping!

September 2, 2006

I went with Carole when she visited her aunt Monique. Then joined Carole’s family to drive her to the airport… yes, Carole was going back to Canada today. It was sad seeing her off… I am staying with her family for the night and they will be driving me to the train station tomorrow morning. I was a little bizarre without Carole there. But, they are such nice, generous and warm people; it’s hard not to feel comfortable with them. I went for a run in late afternoon, and then we went for diner in an Italian restaurant close by. Very good pizza and wine!! In the evening, I settled down and watched a movie.

I got hold of Julien and Delphine (friends of unky Rémi and aunty Ruth) so I’ll be staying with them for a few days. They live 30 minutes outside of Paris, in a little town called Ennery.

September 3, 2006

I woke-up slowly this morning. Then, I left the Gillant family to take the train to Paris. From Paris, took the RER in direction of Cergy. Delphine came to pick me up at the train station there. They were having a big BBQ when with the neighbors when I arrived. Hihi! Everyone is really nice and funny! Then, I had a chance to go for a run in a park near by!! Woohoo! We are Sunday, and I will probably be staying until Friday or Thursday. So today, I called home. Then I called my grandparents and aunt Gin. I was so happy to hear their voices!!!

September 4, 2006

Cool! I woke-up late and walked around this morning. I had a very long run afterwards, then a good shower; checked my emails and watched TV.

September 5, 2006

I woke up really early this morning. I had a run in the afternoon. In the evening, Delphine, Matilde, Juliette and I went to Paris for a boat ride (Bateau-Mouche). Juliette and Matilde are so cute!! Hihi! And then, we saw the Eiffel Tower! It’s really beautiful with all its lights!! That was a great evening! The moon was full and shinning!

September 6, 2006

Same thing today. I watched a great film in the evening. We tried reaching my unky Rémi and aunty Ruth but no luck.

September 7, 2006

Same old, same old. Did some laundry, running and watched another film in the evening. And, I called home. Tomorrow, I am taking the train around mid-day to Paris. Delphine’s sister, Valérie, will let me stay at their apartment in Paris for the time I’m there!! Everyone is so nice here!!

September 8, 2006

So, after a wonderful and amazing stay with Delphine, Julien, Juliette and Matilde I took the train to Paris. I arrived in Paris at around 3pm. By the time I had settled in and Valérie showed me around a bit, I had plenty of time to go visit the Eiffel Tower. My goal was to go up to see it during day, wait up there for sunset and see it by night. Therefore, I did. I caught daylight, sunset, moonrise and night-light of Paris up the Eiffel Tower!! Just beautiful!! Then came back at the apartment and had a long good night sleep!

September 9, 2006

Discovered a beautiful park close to the apartment where I can run (well, technically, Valérie kind of told me where it was so I just had to follow her directions)!! I think it’s the nicest park I ever ran in!! I found myself running for one hour and a half instead of one hour. Anyways, so after my run, I headed for the Musée du Louvre… (If you ever go to Paris, read The DaVinci Code book, makes things more interesting! Not that they aren’t already!!). You could spend literally 3 days and more in there!! Amazing!! Then I walked around and went to see l’Arc de Triomphe (talk about a big round-about!!!). Then walked some more and hung around Musée du Cinéma. I called it the “artsy spot”. Cool! Few people playing drums while others are doing stunts on roller blades and others are brake dancing!! Very entertaining!! In addition, there is a big long fountain with a great view of the Eiffel Tower behind it. I just felt I could have laid there for days. At sunset, I went back to l’Arc de Triomphe for a night view (and picture) and finished at the Musée du Louvre for some more night views (and pictures). That is where I almost kicked some person’s ass for coming on to me a bit too strong. What an idiot!! But, do not worry, that didn’t ruin my day, not even close! I had the most beautiful day!!

September 10, 2006

I went to the Château de Versailles… Magnifico!! Gardens, fountains, castles and water everywhere!! It took me all day, and I felt rushed! Two days would not be a bad idea to see everything. However, I do not have the patience for that, so I am quite happy with what I saw. What I saw is what I wanted to see. When I came back, Valérie and Rolland where back. Had a lovely diner… so generous French people!!!

September 11, 2006

Today, after my run, went to Place de la Concorde. It is nice but nothing like the rest I have seen. I am on my way to Sacré-Coeur. I hope it will beat it all!! I was saving that place for last, because I have a feeling that if I would of have seen it first, I probably would of stayed there for my entire duration in Paris!

And, I was right! I was speechless when I saw it (well.. I would have been speechless if I would have had someone to talk to!). If there would be a place I would consider living in Paris, there would be it!! There’s little road made out of stones with little coffee shops everywhere and artists painting “live” everywhere on the side of the streets!! I loved it! Moreover, the church itself is very … just…amazingly beautiful! I went up Sacré-Coeur; you have a view of all Paris… stunning!! Once inside, I lit a candle for you Grand-maman Gertrude and actually prayed (yes, me, I prayed for once in my life) very hard for Grand-maman Fleurette, Grand-papa Claude, Grand-maman Gertrude and Grand-papa Fernand. I thought of you very much!! So, by far, this was my favorite day in Paris… maybe even France all together. I had a strange sense of “being home”.

I was sad for leaving Sacré-Coeur (also because I did not get the chance to see it at night). But my day ended with Valérie, Rolland and some of their friends around a fabulous meal and wine!! It was great chatting with a bunch of doctors!!!!!

I am leaving France tomorrow… I honestly do not want to….