1st Class Hoodlums

Well today was interesting!!!

Nice today was absoluetly gorgeous!!! We had a bit of an interesting train ride. We were in the wrong car and almost didn't make it. We were running down the platform like in a movie and the woman was yelling GET IN GET IN! So we went in the nearest car and about 10 seconds later the doors closed. We weren't in our proper seats so we had to sit on the floor in the main entrance of the compartment in 1st class! Where you step onto the train and go either right or left through glass doors to your spots. We were like the hoodlums for first class. The train attendant guy didn't seem to care that we were sitting right on the floor. There were tons of seats of available but because we were 2nd class tickets we weren't allowed to sit in them. We sat there for about 3 hours and then finally were able to move to some cushioned benches in second class. Luckily, we weren't the only ones sitting on the floor and in the stairwells so we didn't feel so ridiculous. It never seems to fail, we always get lost, on the wrong train, miss the stop! Something!

We finally made it to Nice in one piece and luckily our hotel is about a 5 minute walk from the train station. The hotel is really nice! We only booked it last night and it turned out to be decent. Its in a gated area which is great for the feel of safety. "The Hotel Durante", its very clean and spacious and reasonably priced, I def recommend it. The French Riveria is beautiful !! Absoluetly stunning! It reminds me a lot of Florida or California. Very americanized but gorgeous at the same time. There are homes built into the mountains right on the water. There are also palm trees and quite a few fountains. It was more low key than Paris but an amazing place to visit for a day! There also isn't a whole lot to do, so one day was perfect for us. We're uploadng pix so you'll have to check them out :) We ate dinner tonight on the beach. Our table was about 20 feet from the water. It was a bit chilly but it really didn't get much better than that! Beach, Dinner, French Rivera! We then decided to play in the Rivera a bit and of course, I was wearing a white skirt and got wet .... I looked like I peed myself or something. Im not sure why it always happens to me lol

Tomorrow morning we leave for San Remo. From what we understand, we'll have the afternoon to explore then be back for a meet and greet with all the other tutors who are beginning orientation when we do. It's time to get out of vacation mode and into teaching mode! Although we've only been gone a few days, we've had a lifetime of fun and adventure. Im so glad I got to experience Paris and Nice! Its been so incredible thus far and I cannot wait to see what happens next! Im not sure if there is going to be weefee in San Remo so this could possibly be my last blog for a bit. we'll see !

xoxo

Last Day in Paris

Bon Soir !

Our last day in Paris was def. an eventful one! We got lost - again! On the RER. The thing is, you think you're on the right track but they veer like 4 ways then veer again another 2 ways so it's frustrating to find your way because you think you're going in the right direction then it'll change on you!

We left our hotel around 9:30 and didn't make it to Versailles until after 1pm! Ridiculous! ahahaha But it was a place to see! I still canot wrap my head around the size of the place! Standing on the steps looking out to the gardens it is gorgeous and huge! As far deep as the eyes can see. Marie Antoinette had her own house off the gardens. It was just excessively huge, but such a sight! We were trying to discuss what it would have been like back then living in such a grand palace and we really have no comprehension of the times and what it would have been like. The only thing I have to say though, is if they could afford such a lavish lifestyle, why did they not invest more in personal hygene !?

We took our usual afternoon rest and came back to the hotel for a bit before heading out again to meet some of Mario's friends (Tom and Kim from DRED) for dinner and onto the Eiffel Tower. For our last meal, we enjoyed some delicious nutella, bananna, whipped cream crepes ! Trying to take in all the Parisian food traditions :)

We went to the Tower one last time tonight and saw it sparkle from a mile away. It was simply breath taking once again and we just stood there and appreciated what was in front of us. I couldn't have been more content inside! It is just such an overwhelming experience but in the best way to visit places like this. I am truly happy with my experiences with Paris and would recommend it :)

We are leaving for Nice in the morning. I am looking forward to that little day trip! After that, onto San Remo!!!

love you and miss you.

xoxo

Paris end of Day 1 and Day 2

Well, day 2 here and we're taking full advantge of the weefee ( as our Parsian landlord called it). Facebooking, uploading pix and what not.

Last night we decided to walk and ended up at the Louvre and Eiffel Tower! It was quite the distance but so worth it. The closer we go to the Eiffel Tower, I began to get butterflies and when I saw it up close, I got goosbumps all over! That for me was the moment I realized Im in Paris !! We also saw it after dark and it was breath taking! All lit up! I almost cried :)
To end the evening, I decided to throw on a load of laundry but didn't realize by the time we all showered it was 1:30am ! The walls are paper thin so I feel as if the neighbors were not impressed. As well, we couldn't sleep and Mario came in our room at 2am badgering us about what time we're getting up- he wanted 8am so in my hasty tired state I said "Jesus Mario! Why don't we just get dressed and go now!!" hahaha And that was how we ended our first day in paris.

Today we woke up and decided to start our morning with pain au choclat and some Starbucks! After that, we were on our way t0 Hermes where Alyssa picked up some perfume for her Nonna. IN the bag they stuffed it with samples of all sorts of perfumes and creams! Very generous in my opinion. After that we wanted to go to Notre Dame but still haven't mastered the metro so we walked and found a really tall skinny monutment which must be important but we're not sure what it was. Finally, we made our way to Notre Dame, walked the whole way! It was an incredible structure!!!! The architecture blew me away. We all lit candles and said a prayer. The religious genes came out hehe

We went for our nice meal at lunch and the waitress didn't speak a word of English. She was the first person we've encountered that didn't speak English so it was difficult to communicate. According to Mario, "Shes the worst one yet" ahahah We had a good chuckle with that.

We went up the Arch de Triumphe (300 stairs) and looked out over the city. The way it is lined up and placed is awesome! I love the design of the buildings.

On the way back to our appartment, we stopped for some groceries and are relaxing now until tonight.

Tonight was fun! We took the metro (after 2 days we finall figured out how to use it) to the Sacre Couer area where the Moulin Rouge is also located. You could tell you were getting closer to the Moulin Rouge because every store was some type of sex store or whorehouse or strip club. Some of the names where more descreet if you will, such as Sex Drone but then some were just out there like Pussy's. Needless to say, it was very interesting. It was a pretty sketchy part of town, so we went to the Moulin, took our pix and hitailed it our of there! ahahaha Moulin Rouge was very small. I thought it was it's own building, but it's just one of many on the strip of love.

Sacre Couer was a site to see! Located on Montmare and a stunning building. Archetectually, not as impressive as Notre Dame but the stairs leading up to the church are on either side of huge patches of grass so there were people sitting everywhere, talking, eating, smoking. It was very relaxing.

Then, as per usual, we said we wanted to go to bed early - 2:30am we were still up! It was a long but eventful day!

Bon Soir

Paris- Day 1

Alright!! So Im sure you've been anxiously awaiting my first post. We're alive and well in Paris :)
The flight was fantastic, nothing but smooth sailing. The food was good too, chicken for dinner and mashed potatoes (which burned the roof of my mouth), but other than that it wasn't so bad. There was a random call for a doctor around 2:30 am. An old man was in need of assitance.
Once in Paris, we got to our lovely appartment which is really spacious and extremely nice. The cab ride to our app. was interesting - the cabbie went on a rant for about 25 minutes about how the English language is dominating blah blah blah basically we're taking over the world and it sucks ! ahahahaha

We've seen the Arc de Triumph, and down the Champs Elysees. Everything is so chic here, and the building designs are amazing !!
We also got lost by taking the REI instead of the Metro which took us out of Paris, into more of a residential area as well as the business sector. It was quite a laugh when we realized we weren't going anywhere we should but thats alright! Already a story to tell. We also had some baguette's while walking the Champs Elysees so we felt very Parisian.
Im at the appartment now. We're all blogging and catching up on emails. Tonight we're going to see the Eiffel Tower and Im very excited to see it all lit up! Then dinner and hopefully an early turn in because we're all exhausted.
I'll Keep in Touch !!!

Je t'aime
Amanda

48 hours - packing

So, today I am packing for this crazy adventure I decided to embark on. I am having a bit of a freakout because I don't want to over pack! While Im teaching I won't need much in the line of clothes, but travelling is a different story entirely!

Paris is only a few days away. I am getting so excited for the Eiffel Tower :)

Pack pack pack ! I can't get distracted.

updates to follow ....