The Day the Music Almost Died

That freakin' coat man!

I'm still continually in awe of Christy's jacket that seems to act as the perfect on board cocoon to shut out the world and allow sleep to wash over. Plus, it's super fashionable!

That being said, this day has fully projectile launched me into the musical Caen- way too early might I add. This trip was specifically planned in junction with a FLASHMOB!!! If you don't know what a flashmob is, you could YouTube a plethora of video in evidence to its affect. Ours was in specific support of something I now forget, and in all honesty don't care to look it up for that end, but we wore red.

My aunt my say sacrilegious 

At this juncture, being so far off from the actual trip, I can't quite remember the time our train left, I just remember it was earlier than the sun itself. Weather and distance did not permit what I originally hoped would be a partial trip to my frightening obsession on this earth- the ocean. While all three of us drifted in and out of consciousness, we [meaning mostly myself] would sneak pictures, and collaboratively postpone watching the video necessary for today's trip.

After arriving we immediately sought out a map and tried to figure out where the heck we were, where we needed to go, and how we were getting there. The most entertaining part of this was, while I was continually grabbing maps at their 'travel/tourist' center near the train depot, which wasn't really helpful since I kept grabbing the same things, none of which were maps, Christy was trying to get help from a gentleman behind a counter.

I love a good angle

This exchange was most interesting because, he being French and her being American, he would speak English to her, while in turn she would respond in French. I find it so intriguing that so many tourists expect to be accommodated in other countries, when WE are in fact the VISITORS, and should play by the house rules. With Christy living in France and playing volleyball for them, she has been taking French lessons and thank the Lord for being able to travel with someone who could negotiate, reason, question, and answer when Tanya or I failed to.

Back on point- we figured out where we were going, got super cheap metro passes just by taking a few extra minutes while Christy realized we could get and use a 'family' pass for up to three or four people. On our way into the more central part of town, there was a woman on board near us, who had a cat...... who looked, possibly, malnourished and was quite literally straining itself to the point of breaking to escape her clutch, while she spoke reassuringly to it in French, to which Christy translated something to the affect of, "Oh, its ok. Good kitty; we're almost there." And other such useless phrases to a cat determined on freedom. Christy, Tanya, and I just tried not to burst laughing while still in close proximity to the woman we aptly dubbed 'The Crazy Cat Lady'

Nothing beats perfect timing, and creeping on strangers

We found the area the flash mob would be in and then set out to find interesting things to do/ see in the area including a cathedral [always], the chateaux/ old castle battlements, an abbey, and oh, just happened to stumble upon the site where William the Conqueror is lain to rest...

We stumbled upon/found the ruins of... a castle; that's the beautiful thing about older cultures... there are CASTLES, and I'm as much a fan of them as Swags seems to be.

Where the fortress was once high and the moat ran with water, there has long been ruins and a dried ditch. Here, Christy pulled through yet again and our tour of the grounds and the museums were FREE! Had we actually been students it would've been free anyways and either Christy is very charming, or the person we were planning to get our tickets from was being generous. I think it may have been a bit of both.

The church was lovely, the main 'castle' wasn't really that interesting, but the museum there was quite fun. We found armor, and old dresses, tools that they made lace with, bizarre leprechaun looking things, spiral staircases, and I think we may have even found Narnia. My favorite was an empty glass case, that I could only presume contained some 15th century air....

Lucky Charm

Tedious Lace

"And so for a time it looked as if all the adventures were coming to an end, but that was not to be."

At some point in our self guided tour, I realized- I don't think I'd gone to the bathroom that day- AT ALL!!! I ran all the way, meandering through cases and items that should not be touched, let alone bulldozed over, to the entrance in search of the toilets. I desperately mimed/ potty dances/ franglished my request to the gentleman in the front, only for him to calmly walk me right back to the room from whence I came to watch Swags and Tanya snicker evilly as he pointed to the door I was standing in front of when my revelation had first dawned. Pointless story- maybe, but who doesn't enjoy a good old tale of the toilets.

Having explored the nooks and crannies like anyone one with half our combined curiosity would, we ventured for FOOOOOOD. 

We found a different sort of nook with some delicious entrees, unfortunately, they apparently didn't own a single squirt of ketchup. Having asked for some when ordering, I wait to this very day for that ketchup. I'm still torn up about this as you can tell.

We sat there eating slow and enjoying the warmth, because the outdoors had turned against us. Since the purpose of our trip here was to join in this flash mob, we figured it was about time to get down to business and learn the routine. After our focus proved ineffective, as was our attempt to share a single device on opposite sides of a table, we plotted contingency plans for when we proved amateur status in our endeavor.

These ploys ranged from the simple to the ridiculous, to joining after the difficult part, mimicking along, to standing watch, positioning ourselves a few rows in from the back and bailing when we realized we suck, or even just snapping a photo inside the crowd then sneaking off. The plans became more refined and improbable, which I now realize foretold of career paths we would never take- as spies.

We meandered the street, biding our time until our eventual decisive climactic moment. We also attempted to keep warm by continually ducking into shops. As the moment rose to greet us, we found ourselves part of a large crowd gathering in the doomed square. We positioned ourselves so that whatever action we took, we could be both a part of the action, and the onlookers.

Watch for Christy to run in from your top right at 3:02 and Tanya follow shortly after at 3:10

This is the video I took from the side, while safeguarding all of our bags............

Making a quick loop back to earlier in the day in the castle grounds, we desperately attempted to get three shots using my camera timer, as opposed to (seriously take note, people) video recording a jump on an iApple device and then using a screen shot for the perfect moment; you'd never know you didn't just have perfect timing (BIG shout out to Christy as she's the one who originally told me this, also explaining all her amazing iTunes card poses). The shots were supposed to be walking away, forward and jumping......

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That's it, we give up.

Screw that, let's twist this.

JudooooooCHOP!

Alas, Sweet Success.

   

And again.......

'Merica

After our attempt at flash-mobbing (three years later, still not sure I understand WHY this is a thing, or ever was) Christy found this adorable little bobbles shop with random gift/ quirky things and asked before gifting me one of the most important items in my day to day life, if she spent money on this item, if I'd actually use it. I'm happy to report that my WALLET is currently and has been in ever-use since the day it was given to me. I still misplace my keys whenever they are not immediately returned to the safe haven that is the "Items to treasure; NOT to loose" home they've come to know.

That generous moment propels me onward to the last amazing finds we have in Caen....

Welcome to the Saint-Etienne Abbey, or the Abbey aux Hommes ( men's abby), where, unbeknownst to us, is the burial place of none other than William the Conqueror!!!! This is partially why I believe so strongly in traveling to Europe, and so many places really. You have the fortunate luck to turn a corner and stumble on to some of the world's most notorious history (the Western world, at the very least in this case. Travel people, just get out and travel.

Woop, there it is.

My Brit Lit profs would be so proud.

Remember when Organs were more than
a single story high? Yeah, neither do I

My most favorite of stained glass

I play hide and seek

While Christy Reflect in worshop

We are the faithful. Castles are cool, but Cathedrals are constant

Gah! I'm speechless.

If we ever start a boy band, this would be our first cover

I like missing the 'perfect' moment

In exchange for the BEST moment

Clearly, Tanya is just more talented

The Abby had this great back boor while we were lost finding the entrance, that happened to be next to the greatest brick backdrop for some weird photos. Also the RED backdoor just happened to be unlocked-granting us unmitigated access.

This photo is the perfect seg-way into...

Yeah, after over three years, and three moves, it's time to shut this freakin' post down! "Finally!" you're thinking. Probably why this post was so long-to make up for all the time in between actually writing it in retrospect. Never fear, there are two posts yet to appear, they should be up by 2027.

Instead, an accurate depiction of war

What a fitting reaction to our departure and return to Christy's little nook to meet up with Mark for a night of Crepes. The little family run Creperie was as every bit authentic and quirky as Christy said it would be. It was a beautiful night of new and old friends, conversation, and amazing food.

Nice tail end- I was totally prepared for a face of viscous determination