As you all know, I'm a bit of a fanatic when it comes to music. Since having spent my summer in Alaska and now my winter in Paris I haven't been keeping up on new music coming out and am falling behind. But I did just get Muse's new album The Resistance and I'm obsessed with it. The song Uprising is definitely one of my favorites along with I Belong to You (+ Mon Coeur S'ouvre A Ta Voix) and I love how different the entire album is, which is only expected from Muse. They're pretty much amazing. Also, I was disappointed to find that they played in Paris last week and I had no idea. So now I'm attempting to find a good show while here that isn't already sold out or too expensive. Devendra Banhart is coming but alas, it's already sold out. So far the only thing I've found that I'm planning on going to is Rue Royale on Dec. 5th. From what I found, they'll be playing at a pub and it should only be five euro. I'm crossing my fingers this is true!
So if anyone knows of a good show coming up in Paris, please let me know!
Also, if there's some good music that you've been listening to and you think I'd enjoy it, let me know! I'm always happy to explore something new.
Besides Muse, I've been listening to: Coeur de Pirate, The Decemberists, Horse Feathers, Empire Of The Sun and Passion Pit
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Pictures from Rome
View of Rome from the "Spanish Steps"
Nina, Lauren and I on the Spanish Steps
Basilica Church
The infamous Colosseum
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Doctors Appointment
Went to an American doctor tonight who ignored me as I spouted off my symptoms and asked me to repeat them when she realized she wasn't listening. Then when I got done she responded by saying, "You don't look sick." ... REALLY? REALLY!?!?!
Then she went on to tell me that I wasn't coughing and people who have the swine flu cough more.. I was astonished by the stupidity of this doctor and was tempted to cough in her face! I have spent the last three days coughing and was coughing in her waiting room but because I didn't cough the ten minutes in her office she thought I was perfectly healthy. If it wasn't for my 100.4 fever I think she would've just kicked me out. But thankfully the heat radiating from my face and entire body made her re-evaluate things.. But by the end she told me that I was past the 72 hr medication of the swine so I just have to ride it out from here. The only good thing I got from that appointment was a note excusing me to miss the entire week of class. Not sure how that will go over but at this point I don't really care. She also told me that I need to stay in my room until at least Friday. I'm hoping that I'll start feeling better so I can at least spend the time doing some needed homework.
Anyway, that's the update of the evening!
bisous!
Then she went on to tell me that I wasn't coughing and people who have the swine flu cough more.. I was astonished by the stupidity of this doctor and was tempted to cough in her face! I have spent the last three days coughing and was coughing in her waiting room but because I didn't cough the ten minutes in her office she thought I was perfectly healthy. If it wasn't for my 100.4 fever I think she would've just kicked me out. But thankfully the heat radiating from my face and entire body made her re-evaluate things.. But by the end she told me that I was past the 72 hr medication of the swine so I just have to ride it out from here. The only good thing I got from that appointment was a note excusing me to miss the entire week of class. Not sure how that will go over but at this point I don't really care. She also told me that I need to stay in my room until at least Friday. I'm hoping that I'll start feeling better so I can at least spend the time doing some needed homework.
Anyway, that's the update of the evening!
bisous!
Grippe A aka Swine Flu
This last week I went to Rome with some friends and was having a blast until the last day where I spent literally the entire day in bed. At first I just thought I was getting a bad cold but when the body aches, fever, chills and night sweats kicked in, I became worried that I caught the Swine Flu. So I laid in bed unable to move and asked Jason to google the symptons for me. As he did it, he gasped and said he didn't want to read them to me. Needless to say, I had every sympton. Somehow or another I survived the airplane and bus ride back to Paris where I have not left my room since. Last night I ended up soaking five different pj's along with my sheets in the ever so lovely night sweats. I have literally never felt so close to death.
Today I will call an English speaking doctor in hopes of getting a prescription to some magical medicine.
Will write more when I'm feeling better.
Today I will call an English speaking doctor in hopes of getting a prescription to some magical medicine.
Will write more when I'm feeling better.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Belle-Ile-en-Mer
This past summer while I was working in Alaska I met quite a few people from France. One of which was Bastien, a young man hitchhiking through Alaska who had stopped in Denali Park for a couple days. When we started talking I told him I'd be studying in Paris for the winter, so we exchanged information and have kept in touch. Last week he invited me to visit him at his parents house on a small island on the west coast of France called Belle-Ile-en-Mer. I decided I should go for it and Friday I caught the train to Auray where I switched to a bus to go to Quiberon. In Quiberon Bastien and his mother met me and took the ferry from Quiberon to Belle-Ile-en-Mer with me. His parents don't speak English so my dictionary was my constant companion and it was really good practice even though I still had to rely on Bastien to translate basically everything.
It was great to stay in a "real" French house and have that experience. Bastien and his Father built their home which they later transformed into a Bed & Breakfast. It was so rejuvinating to get away from the busy streets of Paris and enjoy the laid back lifestyle on the island.
The other great thing was the food! I haven't eaten that good in months! Every morning for breakfast they made me hot chocolate with French bread and blackberry jam that his mother had made. Lunch was vegetables and meat followed by more bread and cheese. (The cheese in France is amazing! I will definitely miss it when I go back to the states.) For dinner it was more vegetables, meat, bread, cheese and just when you didn't think you could eat anymore they brought out the dessert. I even ate rabbit and pheasant for the first time in my life and was truthfully surprised they were so good.
While the weather wasn't the greatest it didn't stop me from going out and exploring all the different beaches in the area. I was in constant awe of the beauty everywhere. I'm afraid my pictures don't do it justice. Monday when I woke up and started packing the weather was gorgeous. The sun was out and the skies were blue and clear. Bastien kept trying to talk me into staying longer but I had to get back to Paris for a test so he went with me on the ferry back to Quiberon where I waited to catch the bus. It was a quick trip but I'm so glad I was able to go and have such an amazing experience. I truly am blessed to be able to get out at see different sides of life. I love it!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
London Trip
Tuesday morning Jason and I caught our bus to London. It was about a 4 hour ride to Calais, where we caught a ferry and relaxed for about an hour, then back on the bus for another few hours to London. It was such a LONG trip but was also VERY cheap. So really you pay for what you get.
We arrived in London late Tuesday night and checked into our hostel and called it a night.
Wednesday we met Natalie, a really sweet girl from Australia, who was sleeping in our same room so we spent the day out exploring London with her. We visited the Tate Museum and saw some really interesting art. I enjoyed seeing Andy Warhol's work, but didn't necessarily enjoy Jeff Koons. lol.. (If you haven't heard of him, you're not missing out on much except pretty much porn they call "art".)
After an entire afternoon spent wandering through the museum, we set off to explore the streets and saw Big Ben and the Eye. It was so nice being able to ask questions in English and not worry about trying to translate anything. Although it was odd crossing the street and having to look right instead of left and vise versa. Even walking down the sidewalk was confusing, because I kept walking on the right naturally and then being in the way of people.
Thursday we visited the Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Jason kept talking about how much I was going to like Westminster and he was right, it was my favorite place of the whole trip. Such a beautiful church and very interesting to learn of the history and all the royalty buried there. By the time we were done touring it, the choral services were getting ready to start so we stayed and for that. The Choir was made up of men and boys and they sounded very beautiful. It was definitely unlike anything I've experienced and I really enjoyed it.
Friday we walked around the Soho area and explored the different shops. Afterwards we bought tickets to the musical Blood Brothers, staring Melanie C (formally known as Sporty Spice of the Spice Girls). It was a very different plot, playing with the theme of nature vs nurture but I enjoyed it. By the time it was over it was 10:30 so we headed back to the hostel for the night.
Saturday morning we got up, packed and headed back to the bus station for the long journey.
The ride home seemed to go a little faster and we got back just in time to celebrate Halloween in Paris with some friends. It was definitely entertaining seeing the looks we got from the French, seeing how they don't really celebrate Halloween. A lot of people would yell out "ca-boy!" when they saw Jason on the street and metro but it was a fun night.
We arrived in London late Tuesday night and checked into our hostel and called it a night.
Wednesday we met Natalie, a really sweet girl from Australia, who was sleeping in our same room so we spent the day out exploring London with her. We visited the Tate Museum and saw some really interesting art. I enjoyed seeing Andy Warhol's work, but didn't necessarily enjoy Jeff Koons. lol.. (If you haven't heard of him, you're not missing out on much except pretty much porn they call "art".)
After an entire afternoon spent wandering through the museum, we set off to explore the streets and saw Big Ben and the Eye. It was so nice being able to ask questions in English and not worry about trying to translate anything. Although it was odd crossing the street and having to look right instead of left and vise versa. Even walking down the sidewalk was confusing, because I kept walking on the right naturally and then being in the way of people.
Thursday we visited the Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Jason kept talking about how much I was going to like Westminster and he was right, it was my favorite place of the whole trip. Such a beautiful church and very interesting to learn of the history and all the royalty buried there. By the time we were done touring it, the choral services were getting ready to start so we stayed and for that. The Choir was made up of men and boys and they sounded very beautiful. It was definitely unlike anything I've experienced and I really enjoyed it.
Friday we walked around the Soho area and explored the different shops. Afterwards we bought tickets to the musical Blood Brothers, staring Melanie C (formally known as Sporty Spice of the Spice Girls). It was a very different plot, playing with the theme of nature vs nurture but I enjoyed it. By the time it was over it was 10:30 so we headed back to the hostel for the night.
Saturday morning we got up, packed and headed back to the bus station for the long journey.
The ride home seemed to go a little faster and we got back just in time to celebrate Halloween in Paris with some friends. It was definitely entertaining seeing the looks we got from the French, seeing how they don't really celebrate Halloween. A lot of people would yell out "ca-boy!" when they saw Jason on the street and metro but it was a fun night.
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