Bikes, Next Time, We Get Bikes

Get ready for this blog- it's as long as Versailles is big....
Versailles was HUGE. Nevermind that last time Christy describe the ability to get stuck spending all day in a garden and it turned out to be more like a half hour tour, this place was more on par to what I was imagining.

Getting to Versailles was easy in theory and Christy educated us several time on making sure we took the proper trains to the Chateau de Versailles-RIVE GAUCHE. But when it cam edown to game time I dropped the ball. While Tanya did a fantastic job navigating, I crashed every time I sat down and completely neglected to make sure we were indeed on the line going toward rive gauche. After riding the train for near an hour, we reassessed the handy map that Christy provided us with and realized we were about where we should be... IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. Serves me right for sleeping everywhere I sit.

So we pulled off and switched directions giving us another hour before we arrived, but when we did the first thing we spotted was a Starbucks. I was fighting my aversion to that particular american chain at every turn and I'm actually not ashamed to say that I gave in. Since Tanya works at Starbucks she can apparently claim a free drink at their establishments anywhere on earth- she chose hot cocoa.  

Working our way up to the chateau that early in the morning made us realize- this cobblestone must have been a 'expletive' to walk on in those old time shoes.

Once we figured out what line we were in and realized that there was a much quicker kiosk than the 20min we had already waited [kudos all to Tanya on that one], our feet continued what would be a painful day on dirt gravel walkways.

I also realized that if you were European you could get in for free... only AFTER paying 18 Euros to get in. from thence forth I made it my mission to speak in a British accent the rest of our endless meandering on this massive estate.

Our excitement quickly translated to our need to jump for joy and show the world [and Swags] our best iTunes poses.







As you can see, we are clearly skilled and should anyone wish to duel us in this respect, we graciously accept the challenge. These are our interpretations of joy and anger at the vastness of the waterways that ran through Versailles. You could apparently boat on [though not as early as we arrived] but not swim in.

Tanya found her Snowman tree, and we both both agreed that walking on the grass would not validate NBC push ups [because seriously, where are our knights in shining armor with carriages at this point]. Everything was very angular and symmetrically cut and aligned on the main property. It was like some landscaper has some serious OCD.

 

There were beautiful dusty views and lovely places to rest [un-posed of course... ;-] and birds swooping in after our heads....

As I've already said Marie Antoinette had it right. After the monotony of unfamiliar half naked statues her estate was a beautiful relief. Though we were at the starting line of spring and therefore missing a most of bloom, the tangles of vines and curving pathways seemed modeled after natures circular style. 

If you notice above- I'm scared to death of crashing my head through this archway, while Tanya decided to hang from it instead.



Even the staircase looked like it just naturally popped out of the ground and attached itself. I think Snow White either lived here or was the decorator.






Rest assured, Tanya and I did try our best to avoid camera detection while searching for ways to enter Marie's estate buildings, however, no such luck was to be found.

In recompense for the photo that I got of Tanya looking for ways in, I received similar treatment while capturing this photo:





Touche Tanya. Touche.

There were LITERALLY entire pathways lined with statues on grand marble pedestals. Most of them were in weird positions that were either so awkward or bizarre that you couldn't possibly see anyone being able or wanting to pose for these.

            

And the beautiful marble gazeebo inspired our own elegant sculpture poses, while also reminiscing of a very particular moment in Pride and Prejudice, well for me at least.

Admit it. You wouldn't have said no.....

This part kills me every time. I know this isn't placed in France either... I don't even think this scene is filmed there, but I would've been OK had it been raining when I saw it.

Along with the picturesque settings cropping up all over the place, the structure of the buildings was....... unique, and not in the one-of-a-kind unique; sometimes it was more of the I'm-saying-unique-in-my-attempt-to-cover-up-my-uncomfortable-options-of-describing-what-I-really-think. Like the gold.... everything, and the near ducking height passages through ridiculously sized homes.

 

We did enjoy the multitude of windows that would sometimes line an entire corridor from floor to ceiling both at the main 'palace' and Marie's estate.

          

Not so much with the constantly locked gates and roped off wings. Though we must say, their security was first rate.... They seemed to have developed a means of communication in this foreign territory, of which, we tried to infiltrate.

After finishing our tour of the outer grounds and our unsatisfying Angelina's lunch, we accepted that as we were walking back, we had made a horrible mistake it not renting the bikes for a couple hours- they would've proved their worth (which was a really great deal in hindsight) many times over. But we were now fully  prepared to be dazzled by the interior that made Marie Antoinette's extravagance famous.

From the ceilings to the clocks, the mirrors to the mirrors to the mirrors to the... wow these people were vain... to the intricate paintings, this place was fABuLOUS.

The very beginning of our indoor labyrinth was met with the need of a plug in, at least 80 tours in all different languages, as if french wasn't trying enough, and... a forbidden wing.

FLASHBACKS!!!! Tanya was brave (and spritely) enough to venture forth up the darkening staircase, but lo, she found naught but an entrance to the chateau restaurant. That was at the beginning of the tour and after we convinced our feet that they would in fact survive the rest of the day, we explored, navigated, gawked, snickered, and meandered our way back out the gate and to the train.

With our departing photos, as Tanya was amazed to find out- she looked like she was spiking a volleyball, we began our arduous journey back to Montmarte. As much as our appetites for shopping need to be sated, so too were our ravenous bellies needing to be appeased. We found a little food stand (shocking) where we both got a meal of a baguette, a slushie, and shared the most delicious dessert we could ever find. Though I admit that after the fact, it was probably our momentary starvation that was making that judgement and less so our actual, unbiased palettes. 

Having been calmed with food, we endevoured to find a way up to Sacre Coure by bus. Once that was settled, we did a little shopping at a nearby souvenir store and as we both looked around, the store owner started chatting us up- in English- and basically flirting with Tanya (no denying it). To which she got at least one of her shirts for free. Once back to the bus stop, we had to question whether or not our Montmarte bus would ever come. When it did finally come- very late mind you- we prepared for a leisurely ride up the 'mountain'. Unfortunately we got of on the wrong stop and far too early; we debated waiting for the next bus but after the first one was so late, we weren't sure it'd be worth it. By the next stop there was another bus and we made it all the way up. In the painters square I bought and actual painting! Which was basically pen and watercolor and a 2x2 inch framed square, but it was legitimate so I was happy. Dreading now the walk back down, we found A TRAM!!! which Christy had failed to ever mention or point out that our passes worked for. Now down, we began our thrift store thrifting.

We didn't just shop, I mean we SHAAAWPPED! I found a stretchy and flippy blue dress for six Euros and a white lace skirt/dress that I swear I wasn't going to buy because of the price, but Tanya and I had LITERALLY been commenting on other lace skirt and how we (or at least I) wanted one all day. Tanya found some long skirts that she was going to cut to shorter skirts and scarves. Hitting a few more souvenir shops, and a few more and even more near Notre Dame, both Tanya and I finished our gift shopping for the entire trip. Even Better was that even after buying items from one shop, Tanya would walk in behind me and purchase something that she would ALWAYS get a discount on or something extra for free. As much as I love you Tanya, when those guys were complimenting your accent, after only saying "Bonjour", they were lying. As we both noticed, the 'Tanya discount' never worked for me

At least I found what I wasn't looking for- The most perfect bag (and for lack of calling it a purse, I only refer to it as 'The Satchel'). I hadn't, up to that point shopping on Montmarte, seen a bag like this before or since, and as I struggled whether or not to buy it, because it wasn't cheap, I realized that this wasn't just another 'souvenir'. It is a canvas satchel with that was originally a canvas green color and a black and white striped shoulder strap. But the front flap was painted- and I mean REALLY painted; you could feel where the tree paint was used too much and it pricked up and dried leaving a funky but realistic texture. I came to the conclusion that it must have been painted in the artist's square only a few blocks up from where I unearthed it.

From there we hit Notre Dame at sunset, which was glorious despite the fact that we didn't get in and so Tanya had yet to be inside my only favorite chapel out of the numerous that I saw. But for me, it's magnificence is as much on the outside as it is on the inside.



Tanya pulled me across the Seine to see one of the coolest stumbled upon finds I think one might get when living in Paris- Shakespeare and Company. The bookstore is floor to ceiling, wall to wall STACKED with books and nooks for reading in. It is also owned and run by a British family I think, so we could actually speak English, unfortunately, the book prices are fairly normal to a Barnes and Noble, so as much as I wanted to buy out the whole store, I contented myself with some great advertisement worthy photos...

Pulling ourselves through a few more shops and chasing down the train back to Melun, I believe both Tanya and I were fairly proud of our stamina and finds for a confusing and jam packed day of Parisian tourist fun!

Back in Paris

After an almost week long vacation from Paris, I arrived to meet my new 'roommate'. A wonderful girl named Tanya Bekendam. I had been foretold I would bond with her and following this intro, you'll soon find out why I have yet another friend to keep in touch with[Tanya- if you're reading, this is my only warning and threat- I will keep you as a friend till the day I die, which looking at my ability to find myself in disastrous situation means long before you do]... and on that happy note....

..... I was warning not long before my return that today would be our day for dresses- which I didn't have so Christy gracious dug through my traveling closet to find the SINGLE dress I brought... and several other 'necessaries'. I quickly met Tanya with the faith that I would love her as much as Christy said I would, and went to change[paying included and that particular train station] Once dressed, I realized I'd be packing my bag around with me today since we wouldn't return 'home' until that evening. Along with my 'walking legs' I built some luggage arms.

We then proceeded to Angelina's [contented sigh] the beautiful tea room with hot cocoa like a melted hershey's bar, only better, and french toast that was more of a fried [not heavily though] thick bread. My mouth waters just remembering it [since then I've also tried to replicate the cocoa with little to no success]

From here we crossed some streets, gardens, and bridges until we arrived and the questionable Paris sewer tour.... However informative it may have been, it reeked- because the actual running sewer was just below our feet, wafting upward to our noses. And yes, there were times we could see it too [HARF!!!]

        

After leaving the bizarre underground tour that no city should really have, we made our way back to Mulan where Tanya and I were put in charge of making sure we had any special toppings we'd need for our special dinner night. Christy left for practice and Tanya and I left to navigate to the local supermart. We snagged what we needed and hit the streets to enjoy the sun, and aparently a picturesque walk along the river and some gangsta artwork.

From here, what did we do, what any other American probably comes to Europe for- shopping! So our shopping was more inadvertent [I was determined to find a leather jacket that was never to be]. We didn't find exactly what we were looking for, but we did find a beautiful church [as if there is any other kind over here]. This one had a more contemporary/ modern twist to it...

To my utter dismay, shortly after exiting the holy sanctuary, I saw a rack of dresses that were so floppy looking that one just might fit me, ok more than might, I was ready to pull out some Euros. I meandered inside holding my find praying I might find a jacket as well. My luck had stopped drastically short. Not only was there no such jacket, the proprietor gave me the once over, actually TOOK the hangers from my hands and said something akin to, "Not your size here; these [holding up the dress that could probably fit TWO of me] not your size." Appalled and stunned that I was rejected from even trying the clothes on, I stumbled out half insulted half in hysterics at what just happened. Welcome to the general French attitude.

On our way back we were going to stop at this familial restaurant that only carries food until it's order gone. We happened to circle the place several times before we realized what restaurant it was. Through a bit of trouble, we figured out that we would need to be finding our meal elsewhere and found some delicious food while hoofin' it back. Along this journey I finally realized why I have so much trouble navigating with a map- I could never seem to find the street signs...... turns out this was the exact sign when Tanya connected me to the fact that the signs were on the BUILDINGS.

All the lugging and dragging was worth everything that night when I got to make my families 'famous' big pancakes[crepes] to a smorgasbord of fillings that would've made my mouth water individually

 

Stained Glass Travelers

My two days with Erica were spent shopping in Heidelberg and partaking of a very German pastime. I got to see the crumbling castle grounds and the old bridge that I have no idea the significance of, but there was a monkey statue I got to stick my head in.

But before we hit the 'street' I ran into a Starbucks *gasp* because I was needing coffee and if there's one thing I'll even appreciate about Europe is that for some inexplicable reason, their coffee is WAYWAYWAY better than any Starbucks in the US. The shops also look like mini royal palaces. On the down side I waited almost 20 minutes for a drip Pike's Place Roast coffee. The very cute German barista gave me free flavor though for the wait.

The streets were beautiful, though I was well aware this was a tourist area and a historic district so I understood that many of the shops were purposely made to look like old-timey stereotypical German shops. I didn't much mind- I was too busy enjoying the spring and the sunsets We had a great time at an Irish pub with Internet and the most delicious vegetarian pastas dish EVER!!!... and I got a free backpackers catalog that will be epic for collages, which I fully intend on doing after seeing Tara's 'ADVENTURE' sign in her blanket fort.

 

I found some great sales, for Europe, and even the classic cougar huskie rivalry made its way overseas. In this store called Mustang there was a wall of hats, scarves, and gloves all for 3 euros, which is basically 4 dollars. And there, on that wall, were matching hats and gloves that were either crimson and gray or purple and 'gold'. I freaked!....and then I bought the gloves.....but unfortunately didn't think to get the picture- I was remiss.

My last day there, Erica took me up to the castle where we toured the grounds without going inside because frankly most everywhere costs to get into and it's usually it's not worth it.

On a serious note- I really don't like museums. You're stuck inside, looking at things that you can find in most history books. Yeah, originals are cool, but there's not anything really that different. It's smaller/ bigger/ lighter/ darker than I thought. But usually it's just the same. Unless you're really into art and the techniques or colors or styles or something, then it's mostly a waste of money and time. Mostly money where you pay to simply LOOK at something. I have the same issue/ opinion of paying for national parks or anything that in reality should be free, especially for those in 'the land of the free'

The only thing free here were the ground and the hysterical laughter I had to suppress at seeing a couple walking their dogs.... that had ponytails!

However, this one was kinda sweet because it was all crumbly-like and reminded me of Jane Eyre after Rochester's estate went up in flames- I even think I recall that being the reason for the renovations, that there was a fire!

Anywho, my trip back into Paris was as much the same as all the others but this time a couple kicked me out of my NON-reserved seats halfway into the three hour ride. Did I mention I was dead asleep sprawled across the table in front of me practically drooling? Oh, I didn't? Well I WAS!!!

One thing that I loved about all my traveling is not only all the people I got to see, but all the random people I met. Even those that I only conversed with for a second were kind. If you start off smiling them they'll normally end smiling also. It's like the stained glass that is so popularly used in the cathedrals around the world- each piece is separate and unique, carefully crafted so that when all those tiny separate piece are put together that is a magnificent picture grander than any one piece alone could make. Every piece is needed, every piece is important, every piece contribute to the larger picture. I know that I'm not only the piece but also the picture. Each person I've met or know is a integral part of my stained glass that when the light shines through and I can see the whole picture, each piece castes its light of different and varied hues and shades to allow me to revel in its beauty that is my life. I continue to be grateful for the way God has blessed my me.

Americans in Denmark

My last day with Tara brought us to Holstehal for their second of their best of five playoff games against this all Danish team. We lounged a bit in the morning, watching the eerie fog retreat through their diarrhea forest, which is what the name for it translates to in English, then we put ourselves into go mode, stuffed all our bags into Donald and like a baby, we head out.

Two Minutes down the road and I was already missing my fort room. We made our way into Copenhagen none the less and met with the rest of the team for lunch and a beach park where apparently there is no fence to distinguish the regular side of the beach from the nude side. There were volleyball nets though.

While we were milling about, Tara and I had decided to ask the Danish girls about my 2:18 train out of Copenhagen when the European daylight savings was at two, thereby causing me to attempt catching a train that would never be. Their coach ended up calling the station and found my train had been changed to 3 AM or what would previously be 2. The American girls Tara shares the car with were very gracious about having to take me to the train station at 1 in the morning, especially considering they would still have an hour drive to get home after- to Schnake, Noelle, and Sage- I can't thank you girls enough for your warmth and hospitality- it was truly a great trip for me. I won't forget you anytime soon.

Well, we got to the gym that smelled like it had just been painted and I watched a poorly coach volleyball game. The mood after the loss wasn't very uplifting but there was another American's birthday to go to in Copenhagen, which helped give us something to do while waiting for my train.

I was surprised by how many American are in Denmark alone. Several of whom I was connected to in amusingly distant ways. It was a great party but also daunting after a not so great game.

We left sometime around 1230. And I made my train with the right time only to realize it wasn't a straight shot where I could sleep the whole way through, no I stopped about every two hours and had anywhere from 5 minutes to and hour and a half in between catching trains. Where I usually found either something to eat, something to look at, or somewhere to corner up and sleep.

One great thing about Europe is getting to know other peoples stories and connecting with friends world wide. I made friends with Sarah on the plane and if I'm remembering right- Christine [below] who I shared beautiful music with.

Then came my very American moment on the next leg of my journey where I got kicked out of a first class compartment and shluffed into what I like to call the 'Cargo Class' Here is where I was sandwiched between the window and the mother/ wife of the family of three with their 5 year old son- ok he was cute, but I was trying to crash and I didn't think it polite to sprawl across the table we shared.

I felt that after that trip I can handle traveling just about anywhere in the world now. So much so, I got into Frankfurt and had to buy yet another ticket to Leimen where I was thankfully picked up and saved from having to navigate to the gym.

Erica's last game ended in a loss. But the dinner afterward with her past and present teammates was mouthwatering...Baked potato with spinach and this cream sauce with baked cheese over the top. If nothin else I leave Europe with great cooking ideas, phenomenal walking legs, and an intimate knowledge of inner and outer city travel.

Chalk, Crack, and Fog

Waking up in Praesto was like waking up from the perfect dream. The night before was so much fun, and to wake up surrounded by blankets- literally, except this one window that had been decorated with beautiful green wine bottles and a magazine collage and the sun was trickling through the surrounding forest encasing me. It was a perfect moment. But there was a day of adventure ahead so it was no time to lollygag around, no matter how comfortable the double blow-up mattress was.

For my first full day in Vordingborg Tara and her teammate Schnake took me to Mons Klint and the island's chalk cliffs with it's 497 steps down to sea level of the Baltic. The day was perfect and sunny and the hour drive was filled with chatter and laughter. I didn't care what we did at this point- I was already loving Denmark.

During a quick stop for gas I also learned that the dollar/ Danish king krone conversion is easiest when you divide the DKK price by 5. This made more sense when seeing shirts for 200 DKK.

Once we got to the cliffs I wasn't sure what I wanted to look at more- the massive, glaring white chalk cliffs, the near undisturbed Baltic Sea, or scavenge the beach for chalk pieces and shards of natural glass that would sometimes be formed into fossil prints.

    

In between walking, tanning, breaking for lunch, and picking up random objects, we did a little photo shoot. I also decided to scale a chalk cliff. In theory this was a great idea, considering I didn't actually expect to get that far, but since the moisture of the sea mixed with the chalk...dust?... it basically was a hill of more like a dry-ish clay consistency. However, once I was up, I realized how far I got because of how steep it was and because of the whole center of gravity thing while climbing forward and the not wanting to lean forward and tumble down the crumbling cliff thing, the only way I was getting down was by scooting down on my butt. Apparently the chalk/ clayish mixture when packed down and smoothed out make a formidable slide, which I so learned in accumulating a nice layer of it on my backside. Whatever- it was fun!

Our time on the ocean ended with that lovely German lady sharing her beach combing finds, another couple's gorgeous yellow lab chasing chalk chunks, swans, hummingbird sized bees, color accenting our outrageously accented personalities, climbing a tree, being chased by fog and hiking back up the 497 steps that originally took us down seaside, and three words that made me the funniest person ever.

The first moment was when I started using the chalk pieces to re-whiten my shoes that had picked up a few stains. Through commentary with Schnaki and Tara and proving that this method was working, I used that awesomely pathetic pun, "I'm just CHALK full of ideas!" This guaranteed a mildly amused giggle from both girls. Shortly thereafter, Tara and Schnaki was cracking each others back using their own hilarious puns so I threw in my own, "You two CRACK me up." Both of these retorts were followed with the classic knee-slapper but they were still funny in their own right. At this point we were all fairly amused at the terrible puns, mostly because they were terrible, but that is half the fin of them. Until... and we're all still a bit FOGGING on the last pun, but I'm pretty sure it was during the fog chasing sequence, where we finally reached the top- out of breathe... at least on my part- and I was feeling a little lighted headed after the climb where I aptly applied, "I'm feeling a bit FOGGY!" BUAHhahahahahaha (insert more knee-slapping here).

In a quick succession of events, we stopped in one of the mile long towns to look at the stores and grab some snacks. I also bought my Danish souvenir of yarn [shocking-I know] in bright orange, in an attempt to find a similar color to that of the many farm houses was passed.

We returned home in time for the girls to head to volleyball practice, while I wiled away my time back at the apartment. Later in the afternoon I took a very chilly walk down the trail through the woods to enjoy the sunset. And once the girls were back, enjoyed Sage's entertainment with all the things she could use the head massager for.

   

In ending the perfect day, Tara, myself and a couple more teammates went out to dinner at a local cafe- which is not at all like our cafes- and after the most delicious salad I've ever had, went to walk out on the pier... in the dark... with no one else around...

While documenting with some of the coolest shots I've taken in a  long time, Tara and I were left to walk back by ourselves. We were joking around about how this scenario is how horror movies start; with two unassuming girls laughing, right before a walrus jumps out of the water to break the dock and eat us alive... when suddenly we heard this load splashing in the water under the dock, where we had just walked from. Needless to say, we freaked out a bit. We quickly, but as carefully as possible in the dark made our way off the dock, onto the pier and back to the solid land where the car and her teammates were waiting.

We couldn't perfectly describe the sound, but I'd say it was a cross between a bird beating the water with its wings, a fish fin hitting water before diving back underneath, and some nefarious creature lurking underneath, about to strike. But it was still a pretty good day, regardless.