So while we were enjoying the perfect weather in the jardin, our friend Annelies (also from MMLA) met us and accompanied us to a restaurant near the Panthéon, right by Flavien's university, where yet another friend Enyi was to meet us! It's nice to know so many people, and it was so bizarre to see all of them out of the camp context. So weird, yet so cool!
After lunch, Flavien and I decided to get ourselves out of the city and use the incredible weather outside as an excuse to go see Vaux-le-Vicomte, a château about 45 minutes southeast of Paris. Neither of us had ever been there before, and it turned out to be a really beautiful castle (I mean, duh...). The gardens in the back were just immense. It's just incredible to imagine how much money the royalty spend on their homes... with gold plated objects and ornaments all over the place! And the castle was mainly owned and developed by Nicolas Fouquet, whose symbol I suppose was the squirrel... so I found that QUITE amusing and wished Margaux could have been there!!
After Vaux-le-Vicomte, we decided to stay out in the country in a hotel because it would be much cheaper than finding someplace back in the city. Here's the deal: Flavien goes to school in Paris, but his classes don't start until October 15 and won't be able to get into his new apartment until October 1. That's why I didn't have anywhere to stay in Paris that first night! So much to Flavien's chagrin (though he did get quite a kick out of it!), we stayed in the Campanile in Meulin, just a little motel out in the country. It was quite nice! For dinner we drove into Fontainebleau (where there is another château) and had a pleasant pizza dinner. We then drove by the château, which was stunning even at night, and decided that we just had to come back the next morning.
So that's exactly what we did. We woke up around 10 the next morning and drove back to Fontainebleau to go on a tour of the château. I had never been there either, and it was especially cool because I did a presentation on François 1er and Fontainebleau (one of his masterpiece constructions) this past semester in one of my classes. Vaux-le-Vicomte had looked like a baby compared to this one! One of Fontainebleau's notable features is the staircase at the entrance (see below).
After Fontainebleau, we made our way back to Paris with a couple things on our to-do list: I had to get a cell phone and needed to get a new bottle of my cologne... I know, the former was just so incredibly important! Quite easily, we got me a phone from Bouygues. It's a pay-as-you-go type deal, and it's especially cool because there are different pay-as-you-go plans you can choose, and you can change it every time you top-up! So one cycle, I might choose a certain number a minutes with a limited number of text messages. If I find I didn't use my minutes but texted a lot more, I could change it to fewer minutes and unlimited texts, all for the same price to top-up. Pretty cool! Then we made it to St. Germain and found my cologne at the Fragonard boutique. I first started using this cologne when I visited the Fragonard factory in Grasse when I came after junior year of high school and have used it ever since!
Then Flavien took me to the court house, where, as a law student, he spends a lot of his time. It was really interesting to go inside, and we even went to observe about ten minutes of a French trial! I had no idea what was going on, but that's ok. After that, we had a quick bite to eat before heading down to Malakoff to drop me off at the Dalibot residence.
After an interesting time trying to parallel park his car, we finally made it to Mimi's, where I was warmly welcomed by Mimi herself. We then chatted for a bit and had a drink on the patio at her house. After about half an hour or so, Flavien had to get on the road because he was heading back home to Reims at full rush hour... on the périphérique. Not too good. I should see him soon, though!
It is just so wonderful to be back! It's actually a really weird feeling... while it feels like I've been gone forever, it paradoxically feels like I never left at all! Seeing the family around seems so normal, even though I've felt like there was so much to catch up on. They're currently hosting two students from IES who are extremely nice, and André (a good family friend) came over for dinner. Ahh! So good to see everyone. After a quick dinner, we went and saw Inglorious Basterds. Interesting movie, to say the least.
Then when we got back, I got to see Chloé, my host sister. So nice to talk and catch up and all that! I just can't get over it. It's amazing to be able to come back here. I'm so happy that I've had this opportunity!
I hate that I am a day behind, but once again, it's quite late. I'll have to fill y'all in on today tomorrow!
First of all----who would WANT their symbol to be a squirrel?!? umm, retarded. glad i wasn't there. BUTTT omg i love this mansion/ridiculous chateau. I'm pretty certain it was in the Marie Antoinette movie with Kirsten Dunst, yes the movie sucked but the costumes and scenery, yeah, but this looks an awful lot like one of the houses they had. umm, omg so jealous about your day, did this excursion happen before or after i managed to catch you before i went to class?! so jealous. ummm st. germain is pretty much one of the best places ever. oh and did you get one of those delicious waffles in that sorta underground mall by notre dame?! i wanna say the place is called waffle queen (something in english and referring to royalty), but yes please eat one, for me. yes im sorry im talking about food all the time, but thats all thats been on my mind. love you! love the pics! please post more :)
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