Updates

I still don't have internet so posts may be a little random. Currently at my friends, using her internet. Also, saw skyfall the other day and loved it!

4 days in Paris

Hello all! The french people really like their vacations. After about a month of working at the Lycee and College (high school and juniour high school) the first school break was upon us. Students get a whole 2 weeks off. When I was a student I wouldn't be able to remember much after a single week off. I also received my first pay cheque, woo!

With money and free time I went to Paris for 4 days.

Day 1 - Friday

Arrived, ate, found my hostel then headed straight for the Paris Pitchfork music festival!

The concert starts at 4, but we arrived around 6:40 and stayed till around 1:30. We steadily drank Heineken (the only beer served) listened and danced to Jessie Ware, the Tallest man on Earth, The Chromatics, Robyn and Animal Collective. Had a great time, and caught the last metro home at 2 am.

 Disclosure 

 Robyn!

The Chromatics

   Day 2 - Saturday

Late start to the day - needed the extra recovery time.  A few other assistants and I went to the Musee D'Orsay. There was a massive line, but it moved quickly - my favourite artists that were featured were van Gogh, Georges Seurat (pointed paintings), and Monet. Then walked through the Jardin de Tuileries and visited shopping areas and the huge Courses Lafayette.

 Outside the Musee D'Orsay

 Inside..

Centre of the Course Lafayette (Shopping Centre)

Day 3 - Sunday

Had beef Tartare (raw beef) for lunch, I enjoyed it but I couldn't finish the whole portion. I would eat it again. Sunday's typically means closed shops, but there is one area called the Marais which is open. I really liked the Marais, there were cafes, regular and vintage shops and chocolate shops. After we went to the Centre Pompidou, I enjoyed it because they had more contemporary works of art. Finally we went up to Sacre Coeur, we walked up the many steps to the Basilique de Saint Dennis. Finished our evening a very typical french restaurant with lots of interior décor and live music. There was a large Portuguese family having dinner together which made me think of my family & big family dinners. Miss them!

 Me and Kendra in the places des Vosges

 Centre Pompidou

Day 4 - Monday

Went to the Louvre - with many sitting breaks my legs had started to have enough museums and walks.

Had dinner with another friend from Oslo.

 book stands by the river

 Moi

 Louvre

 Napoleons apartment 

I loved Paris and I would love to go back however I felt very accomplished after the weekend and was ready to get back to Lyon!  

Oktoberfest!

Hey all,
October I had the pleasure of visiting an old American Apparel friend studying in Munich and obviously we went to the Oktoberfest! A fellow assistant and I went on a brutal 8 hour car ride from Lyon through Switzerland all the way to Germany. Lots of country side, farm animals and a bit of mountain. I definitely loved Germany, it feels a little more parallel to Canada compared to France. Also, the guys are taller and more attractive.

We woke up at 8am in order to get a place inside one of the tents. You're basically sitting in a giant tent paying 11 euros for giant mugs of beer while the band plays old german songs and strangely popular american songs (ex. sweet home alabama). Our german friends made sure we were drinking strategically sipping slowly so we could last the whole day. Unfortunately for the table full of French people behind us, who we'rent strategic, had passed out by 11:00am.

The traditional thing to eat is 'kendle' which is a half chicken, of course there was sausage and sauerkraut on.

Me and Audrey in our dirndl dresses we rented from her landlord. 

We stayed at the festival until 4pm afterwhich we left and had dinner. I had a great time laughing and speaking to many germans and foreigners from around the world.