Wednesday in Paris

Breanne and I at Lunch at Versaillles
It was so windy and rainy!! I nearly froze to death!! Today was the chilliest day!
Opps!! I had too!! I am in Paris! Isn't this soooo cute!!
We made it to the Top of the Effiel Tower!!!
IT WAS AWESOME!!!

Sorry I will blog more later

Here is Katie and I, playing with my Camera.
Here we are at the Effiel Tower!!Chelsea, Holly, Kysha, me and Jessica
Here we are at the Church of the Sacred Heart
I am washing my clothes in the sink....it saves serious money!!
The Moulin Rouge!!

A long day in Paris

Kysha, Jessica, Holly, Lyns, Breanne at St. Chapelle's
What some people see as artwork, others find sure entertainment in!
Random:)

Lila and I at Saint Chapelle
Here I am knocking on the door at Notre Dame
Riding the awesome elevator up the Pompidou

Here I am at the Louve! This muesum was huge!!

Well yesterday was long, but awesome…but I sure woke up tired and sore. Today we were supposed to have a free day, but our plans keep changing here….originally we were supposed to go to Disneyland today, but Darrin said that it would be better on Sunday, cause a lot of things are closed on Monday. So today we changed and went to Pompidou, Saint Chapelle and the Louve. It was a long day, but very cool. The Pompidou was very cool. The outside of the building was awesome to look at. We got to ride to the top and see a whole view of Paris. The interior was very cool, a more modern museum, but very cool. The Louve was very cool, and very crowed. I got to see the famous Mona Lisa. It was hard to get close, tourists everywhere. Tonight we were going to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but we were all too tired and it is raining pigs and chickens. So instead I took a fantastic nap and then Kysha and I headed off to find a grocery store. It is very hard to buy food when you have no idea the brand name of food, and you can’t read the ingredients. Pictures are worth 1,000 words here. We have found this fantastic applesauce, it is pureed and basically has the consistacy of baby food. It is wonderful! We got Apple-Rubbarb and Apple Raspberry. It is really fun to shop for food here...thank goodness for NESTLE!! I see it everywhere!! Way to go dad:) Also Kelleogs is Huge here....and I found OREO

today. Either way, the food is so much better than in London! The language may be harder, but these people sure know what good food tastes like.

DISNEYLAND PARIS

Me and Captian Hook
In line for Space Mountian....we rode it three times!!!
The fantastic five!!
In line for Pirates...it was AWESOME
In one of the gift shops they were selling State Plates...for 20Euro a peice!! I am going to rip mine off of Zip and little Tina and make a pretty little penny!

Paris is sure different than I thought. I defiantly felt safer and more comfortable in London. I am sure that the Language had something to do with it. The “cat” calls are sure louder in these parts….BUT, good news, today for our free day…WE WENT TO DISNEYLAND!!! I realize that is totally touristy of us, but it was pretty fantastic. Most of the group wanted to hang around these parts and chill, but the fantastic five headed off for the “Happiest Place on Earth”. The tickets were quite a bit cheaper than in the states, and the park was just as fun! The layout of the park is quite the same, and they have most of the same rides. Space Mountain was AWESOME, we should know, we went on it THREE times. And I must admit, that the Pirates ride was a lot better here. Indiana Jones ride wasn’t as cool as the states, but either way, we were at DISNEYLAND! And how many times in your life can you say that you have been to Disneyland Paris? It was nice because the spoke French and actually quite a bit of English. And we all felt really quite safe in the park, and felt that we could understand most of what was going on and being said. Our first ride was Star Tours, and we all started dying laughing when the little robot was giving directions in FRENCH!! And the only thing we understood during the ride navigation was.. “ohh no…” and then it continued in French. Quite funny. We were there from 11am until 9pm…and after we went to Planet Hollywood. I wasn’t quite in the mood for food, so I just got a drink; that was the most expensive Sprite I have ever had. It is so hard to ask for water in these parts. We all ordered tap water, and it never came; even after we asked repeatedly. The metro ride home was a little iffy…I didn’t mind riding the tube in London late at night, but the RER train and the Metro late at night here is quite scary. Then we couldn’t find our way home, so we walked aimsly around Paris for about 30 minutes. BUT we are alive and well. It was a fantastic day! I am so glad that we were able to go to Disneyland! So worth it, it was nice to change it up a bit.

Fontainebleau and Vaux le Vicomte

The gangs almost all here
English please!! This was our own personal little tour guide
I love this stair case at fontainebleau!
I have got some mad skills!
How sweet it is...

Today was fantastic. We got to sleep in until 10:30!! Talk about a little piece of heaven. We then got into our huge bus, and headed off to Fontainebleau. We only spent about two hours there, which was just the right amount of time. It was really pretty, and we got to see some French brides getting their wedding pictures taken. It was so cool! They were so beautiful. After that 1:45 bus ride, we got right back on for another 45minutes. During which we stopped at a Supermarket. That was an experience to never forgetJ Kysha and I walked around to try and gather some stuff for a picnic lunch and dinner…basically just snacks. I got so excited to buy fruit. Well as I proceeded to check out, the lady wouldn’t let me buy my apples. I was really confused. And she was explaining it to me, in French. Darrin was standing close by, and was just as confused as I was. I had done something quite wrong. I finally just motioned that I didn’t want them anymore. Then I went to pay, and I just handed her 20 Euro Bill. She looked at me and said .12 more…. I didn’t understand. She wanted me to pay in exact change I guess. Then I went to the bathroom there, cause it was free! Ohh it was sure free, but fresh out of toilet paper and soap. Thank you Mom for the wet wipes, and Kleenex. After this adventure we headed off to Vaux le Vicomte. We were supposed to be there for the candlelight tour. And we were, but the sun doesn’t set here, until really late. Like after 10:30pm. And we had to be back on the bus by 9:45. At night they light everything up with candles, even the outside walkways. I have seen pictures and it looks really neat. But the place was still very cool looking. We got to tour the house by candle light (they just had all the blinds shut) after 8. And then, yet again another fantastically long bus ride home. I am beginning to wonder if my life will ever be the same after trains/buses/planes/tubes/metro’s and boat. ½ of our time here is spent on one of the previously mentionedJ But, that helps to add to the tourist experience.

Goodbye London

Seriously, isn't he hot?
Goodbye London. Here we are getting ready to board the tube for the last time, luggage and all.
After carrying all of our luggage, we found that it felt soo much better to carry it like this. Plus, we look cool.
Hallelujah we are bums!! Sharelle and I...the two little blonde girls. We had to switch Jackets cause these weird French guys kept trying to pick up on her, and she doesn't have the best of luck with these foreginers!!

Talk about an adventure. Today we took the Chunnel to Paris. We went to bed, very late and woke up, very early. We had to catch the 10:40 Chunnel, but we got there quite early. Let me tell you how fun lugging my luggage through the tube was…I think I am really buff. Like freakishly strongJ BUT, it was sure great to get another stamp on my passport, making that….2. My friend Maryam, has so many stamps. I was kind of jealous…all in good time. Well the Chunnel ride was only three hours. Luckily, Chance (one of the two boys here) gave me some movies for my IPOD…I was smooth sailing. The Chunnel was crazy; we went under the water for about 20 minutes of the ride. How fun! And my ears didn’t even pop as much as I thought they would. Well now the exciting part of the day. I truly am feeling like a foreigner, I sure am not up with my French. I am kind retarded, and keep falling back into Spanish. I said “Gracia’s” all day today, until someone in my group started making fun of me. I forgot…I am supposed to say “Merci”. Opps. Well, we got to the station, and a large bus was SUPPOSED to be there waiting for us. We arrived at 2:30, and finally at 6:30 we just got taxi’s and headed out of there. GRRRR. We waited outside the train station, in a mixture of standing and sitting on our luggage. It was great to people watch, but it sure made us nervous about our luggage. Ohh and I think I have just developed lung cancer. I wish I was kidding when I say that everyone smokes. We even saw young kids smoking. How sad! They smoke in doors and everything. At least they can’t on the train, thank goodness. Well we got to our hotel, and it is just a couple blocks away from the Eiffel Tower! I got to see it today, for just a second. And if you stand on the window sill, and hang over the edge, and look to our right, you can barely barely see it, but it is there!

Wicked

We had front row seats!! This picture was taken right before the show started.
Here we are! Ladies in Black!
I got to sit by Jessica and Holly, we had so much fun!
This was at the end of the show, it was sooo perfect!

Last night was amazing! If anyone ever gets the chance to see it...do! It was worth every penny. We got the 1/2 price tickets and therefore we got the front row. I was on the end, and sometimes my view was blocked by "flying monkey's".... but the music was fantastic! I will write more later, tonight we are getting ready to leave! We are headed off for Paris!!! So I will write more later.

Syon House/Wicked- June 20, 2007

Here we are at the Syon House Gardens

This flower was the size of my head!


Here we are in line for Wicked Tickets!! it was a little chilly!

Open Open Open Open.....

GUESS WHAT!!! In 30 minutes I get to go see Wicked! I am so excited! We stood in line this morning of 1 1/2 hours to get the same day, 1/2 price tickets! I am so pumped! It was well worth the cold long stand! We are so excited. About 15 of our group is going. I even got the front row! And Darrin, our professor said, that the front row is his favorite! After our 'wicked' adventure this morning, we headed off for Syon House. It was nice, not my favorite. The tour was long and the gardens were lame. However the ceiling patterns in this place were amazing! They really had some cool designs along the ceiling. After this we just headed back, and now we are just getting ready to leave. I am so pumped!! Sorry for the short blog today, it was pretty uneventful, we are getting ready to leave for Paris. We leave friday morning. I am very excited! It is only a three hour train ride there! Not too bad huh? Now I am going to feel like a real foreginer!!! I better learn french and italian real fast:)

Chatsworth- June 19, 2007

This picture is for you, Mom...we are flossing on the bus! I thought of you:) (Mikelle, Lyns, Katie)
The three amigo's, now and then! These were the funny/dirty little grandma's! They were awesome!
Here we are walking through the fountian. The water was chilly, but it felt amazing!
Don't Judge Me! I caved!
Here I am, climbing through the rock garden!

Today we went to Chatsworth, and by far this tops the cake! It was so much fun. This was one of the first places that we were able to use camera’s inside the building. While we were in there Kaari, Kysha and I came across the funniest old ladies I have ever met. They were 88,86,85…and just as active as can be. They kept making jokes about how much whiskey they had in them…and to be honest with you, they really may have been serious. We even took pictures with them, because they were so funny. They may have also been the dirtiest old women I have ever met. Well the house was really pretty and very fun to walk through. They filmed Pride and Prejudice here aswell. I am really needing to see this movie now, I have been to all the sites that it was filmed at. After this we walked down to the gift shop; and long behold, my long lost love….I FOUND A CLOCK!!! I gave myself a price range even before I walked over, and it was way UNDER!! So yes, I bought another clock. Don’t judge me! I have a weakness, and lets be honest, I needed a clock from London. Well once again, I had a blast in the gardens. I am beginning to wonder why the gardens are becoming my favorite part. Could it be that they are green, gorgeous and I get to play? There was 105acres of green heavenly lushness, and the coolest fountains. They had this fountain/waterfall that you could walk through. It was so fun! And then we hiked down to a maze, and then found an amazing rock garden. Dad, you would of loved this garden! It was totally amazing. After this we rode the 2 hour train ride home, and then a couple of us went to Oxford street to go shopping. They have this store called Primark that is the cheapest cuttest clothes. It has been a lot colder here than I had expected, and so I bought another pair of Capri's....£6!! That is cheaper than in the states! And then I got two shirts for £2.50! That is unheard of... Today was seriously one of my favorite! It was so much fun and still really laid back! I loved it!

Monday June 18, 2007

Peek-a-booThis really looks more comfortable than it was
Stay off the grass...opps..(I am the one in the middle...with my pants falling off. Don't look too close!

Isn't she beautiful...Chance and I thought so!

Rain Rain, go away....actually I loved it! The gardens were so pretty today, right after a storm. This is Chelsea, Winnie (in the pink that you can barely see), Karissa and yours truely
Don't we look like a happy family?Me, Kysha, Chelsea, Chance, Kaari, Cassie

I made it!!

Here I am in the Secret Gardens...shhhh

Well today was just fantastic. Like I said, last night we sinned and went to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner....talk about good old fashion home cooking!! They had ranch dressing! That was the sexiest salad I have ever had:) Today we went to Blenheim Palace, near Oxford. The train ride was luckily only 1 hour long...boy aren't I getting sick of train rides:) The palace was very nice, and the tour was a little lenghy...however it was very informative and I got quite a bit of good old fashion sketching in. After this we went to the cafe were Darrin told us all to try Cream Tea...I decided to split one with Kysha. It is a Scone, that you put Clotted Cream, and Strawberry Jam on, and then you have your favorite kind of tea. Well we passed on the tea, but the scone was pretty good. It's all part of the London Experince I guess:) After this the day was left up to us, so some of us went off to explore the gardens. We had a great time. We walked around and found the Secret Garden, it was so pretty. I am not sure why they call it a secret garden, but none the less it was beautiful. I love how green it is here...especially after the rain we had this morning. I love the green, and the trees are beautiful. I have always been a huge fan of big cities, therefore I love London; however I am really LOVING the english countryside. I love these little brick houses, with their tiny yards and huge gardens. I am falling in love with the english architecture. I still love the City, but I would much rather live on a little country side.