Provence (in pictures)

Hi all! Just got back from a weekend in Provence...too tired to write tonight so until then here is a link to my pictures:

Aix-en-Provence

Cassis (Candida's pics)

My first manifestation

When it comes to the french, they will protest almost anything. They are not afraid to speak out when they feel like they are being mistreated, and i think that is brilliant! They know their rights and utilize them to their full ability. What was so interesting about todays protest was that the protesters were high school age. The area outside of central paris is called the banlieu and is seen as the "ghetto". The children in the banlieu receive less opportunities than the students in central Paris. Here is a link to an article about todays protest. Another interesting aspect was the organization. The police were obviously informed and lined the streets, but it wasn't threatening, there was no sense of anything becoming out of control. The best part was at the end of the march...there was a street sweeper cleaning up the street!







After watching the demonstration for a bit I got hot (it was almost 60 degrees today!), I decided to get some gelato.

this is the life

I haven't done anything out of the ordinary this week and I'm loving it. This is the life. I feel like I am a true resident of Paris, doing the things that the Parisians do. I love going to the same cafe every morning with friends and enjoying the coffee and conversation. I love that I speak poor french to the waiter and he correct me, i love that all the waiters are cute. I love that i went from one cafe to another and sat and drank wine for 4 hours. I love Paris!


Spring is coming!

Paris in the morning

A view from my window...sunrise at 7:30 this morning.

just realized how somber my last post was...
here is a funny picture of me on top of the eiffel tower:

interesting week...

Easter in Paris...
although sundays are generally quiet in paris (most shops are closed), this sunday proved to be even more so. It seemed as if everyone left town for easter weekend to their cottages in the country. It is pretty obvious to everyone reading this that i don't celebrate easter in the traditional sense but i was very curious about easter mass in paris. France is predominately catholic and i imagined the elaborate easter ceremonies. I stopped by the notre dame during easter mass just to peak in...it was a very interesting experience, very very elaborate with a monastic choir and all the bells and whistles that go into a religious ceremony (i have no idea what anything meant). I figured it would be the first and last easter mass i ever go to, so why not go to the notre dame? On Monday i went to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery. It is huge. the history there...wow.
took lots of pics.....

PICTURES

it's snowing!