Missing France

I am not in France anymore(in case you couldn't tell from the subject of this post.) This is a problem. Jennifer and I are trying to make a Europe trip after graduation. I'm really hoping this works out. Because, unfortunately, and also probably inevitably, I have become what my friends call a "Europe Girl." I'm assuming this means that they're sick of me bringing up France (or Italy, or London, or Switzerland... you get the point) at least once a day. Although I know that secretly they find it endearing. The problem is, I think about it probably at least half of my waking life. Freud would probably think that this is going to cause some form of abnormality because my desire to spend every penny I earn on plane tickets, train tickets, hostels, and every type of wine, cheese, and pasta under that magnificent soleil europeen is in conflict with my need to start saving for my real life. You know, the one you're supposed to start after college with car payments, mortgages, a 9-5, and preferably someone to make an honest woman out of you. So, in order to save my sanity, I'm thinking that maybe I can put off that real life for a little longer and finally make it to those places I need to see, even if it is for a second time.

Also, I clicked on a link to this without being logged in and realized that at least half of my posts are not visible. For example, the rest of Italy... where did that go? So, not that anyone besides me is going to be reading this anymore seeing as I've been back in the states for 8 months already (8 MONTHS?!? How did that happen?)it would still be nice to have everything out there in the open.

Ciao Bella!

Bongiorno from Italia!
This has been an amazing week! This is our 6th day of traveling and our second night in Naples. We stared in Milan last Friday, where Allie and Preston met Katrice, Danielle, and I at the train station at around midnight. The first thing we did in Milan was get gelato, and oh my god was it amazing. Preston took us to this place called Chocolat and I got chocolate (ciccolatte) and banana and it was basically the best gelato ever! We then went to Preston's apartment to drop of our bags and crash after 12 hours of travelling. In the morning, I woke up with about 20 misquito bites all over my arms and face, swell! Preston played tour guide for the day and took us to see Milan's castle, the park, the famous Milano shopping area (filled with stores that I can't even afford to go into), the Duomo (third largest church in the world!), then more gelato and rest at the apartment. We had dinner at this amazing place where you buy one drink for 6€ and get all the food you can eat for free! it was delicious, and all vegetarian! wahoo!
Sunday morning we left Milan and headed to VENIZIA (Venice)! OH. MY. GOD. Venice is simply gorgeous. We got off the train and had a little trouble getting to our hostel since we were trying to avoid paying 6.50€ to take the water bus. But once we got there and got settled in, we started on our sight seeing tour of the city. The view from the hostel was amazing. We were on the big island just south of the mainland and could see all down the coast. The only place we really wanted to see in Venice was the Basilica. So we headed straight to Piazza de S. Marco. The Basilica is amazing. Most churches here have very ornate exteriors, but are not very colorful. The Basilica in Venice is colored with gold and red marble, and the piazza is breathtaking. After that we sort of wandered the Venitian streets, got lost, had some more gelato, ate some fabulous pizza then headed back to the hostel. We woke up to some French students blasting "Low" and being loud at 7:30 in the morning. Fabulous. Then did some more wandering around our island. We met a really nice Canadian couple, sat on a pier looking out over the Mediterrean Sea, infiltrated the Hilton, and pick nicked in a park. The afternoon was spent wandering more of the streets and searching for some Murano glass pendants.
We left Venice on Sunday evening, spent a couple hours at the train station in Balogna with a really creepy homeless man who kept trying to converse with us in Italian. Then jumped on our overnight couchette train to Naples. That was an experience, a good one. At nine we checked into our Naples Hostel "Giovanni's Home."
Giovanni is a middle aged man who runs a hostel out of his apartment. First he gave us a map highlighted with things to see and places to go. Pompeii, was high on the list of things to do so we headed there first. Pompeii is a gorgeous place. I can't believe the city is that old, or that that much is still standing after that much time and that large of a volcanic erruption. We wandered the city, but I think we would have done better if we would have paid the 6€ for an audio guide because after a while the ruins sort of looked all the same, and we had no clue what the things were that we were looking at. We did see one plaster caste of a person caught in the ash, some grafitti (the world's first!), and some beautiful views of Mount Vesuvius and the surrounding areas. On the train back to Naples, we met this Australian couple who are here for 3 months, we chatted for the entire train ride. They gave us some tips on what to do in Rome, and warned us that they tend to check travel tickets in Napoli. They were right. We didnt buy tickets back from Pompeii because noone was checking at the gate, but they were chekcing to get out. We just acted like lost Americans, and they let us go with just buying another ticket, instead of fining us. When we came back we had to nap then Giovanni made penne for dinner and homemade cannoli for dessert! All 19 of the guests sat down and had dinner together. It was so great! I met a woman from Quebec who gave mer her e-mail so that when I visit, she'll help me communicate (The Quebequoise don't speak the same french as les Français). We also met a guy, Todd, from Alberta, Canada whose really cool.
Today we intended to wake up at 7:30 to go to Capri Island, but that did not happen so we spent the day wandering around Naples. But not before Giovanni made us calzones for lunch. The beach is absolutely amazing!! I love the Mediterranean Sea. We spent 4 hours walking the streets and seeing the churches of the city. I never realized Naples was so big! over 1.04 million people in the city limits alone! I have no idea how large it is including the suburbs. For dinner we went to the restaurant where the Calzone was invented with Ben (a guy from Australia), his mom, and Todd. We had the best pizza I've ever eaten in my entire life, great wine, and 1.50€ caffé lattes for dessert!
We've spent most of the night hanging out with the other guests (3 of which are from the states, studying in Lyon) and singing along to Italian songs while Giovanni played the guitar and harmonica. This is definitely not an ordinary hostel. It's an amazing experience completely centered around getting to know the other guests and making friends.
I'm surpised how many of these people are travelling by themselves. One woman was a journalist in D.C. when she decided to sell all of here belongings, her home, quit her job and backpack across Europe for 3 years! 3 YEARS! Can you imagine not having a plan and just going with the flow for 3 years! I admire that in others, but there is no way I could ever do something that drastic. Todd is travelling on his own for 6 months. He is an apprentice electrician back in Canada and just decided he wanted to do something cool for the next half a year of his life. It's pretty inspiring actually. I hope we get to meet more people at the other hostels we go to. It's really been amazing meeting all these people and hearing about their adventures and lives.

Nerdiness to the nth degree.

So, it's Sunday in Montpellier. Which means that everything is closed and I have been sitting at home all day. Normally I would be very restless by this point in the day, but today I have been wasting time watching this pretty sweet website that my Mom's friend sent to me.
I've actually really been missing my psych classes, so this was a cool link to recieve today.

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/184



This weekend was fun, everyone was actually in town! Friday after class, I spent the afternoon wandering around the historic center by myself. I bought mom a birthday gift from this great organic beauty store. The woman working was English and it was nice to speak french with her because she was very understanding about my lack of vocab and my slow speech. I think I'll go back there soon. Friday night, the people in my language group all went out dancing. It was a ton of fun, and I hope that we hang out as a group more often.
Saturday, the plan was to go to the beach with Allie, Katrice and Mariah but when we got to the bus none of us has the 6 euro that it would take to get there and back, noone told us that our bus passes wouldn't work to get to the beach. So, boo for that. Attempt number two to see the Mediterrean sea, failed. Insead we went to the Antigone and read magazine's on the bank of the Lez until we got too cold and decided that we were in need of Louis crepes. Not that we are ever NOT in need of Louis crepes, but you know.
Last night Mariah made some declicious pasta sauce and we all ate dinner at Allie and Katrice's and had bread and cheese and wine, and it was fun. Then we went to the Australian Bar for more dancing! We met Danielle's cute french friends there and overall it was a pretty great day.

Planning spring break is still frustrating because we don't know what we're doing for sure. Aunt Marghe doesn't want me going to Rome because she doesn't feel that it's safe for us without a tour guide. Danielle and I would both really love to go to Greece, but it's expensive, and I think she would also like to go to Rome. I would LOVE to see Rome but I feel a little guilty using my family's money to go someplace that they would rather I didn't this time. I know I will be back in Europe (hopefully many many times, and sooner rather than later) to see the things I missed this time, so I'm not extremely upset about missing anything this time around even though it would be great to go everywhere I want to go.

Tomorrow is Monday, which is really Sunday for me. I need to go grocery shopping and try out new foods for when dad comes, so I can cook more than just pasta and veggies for him. Not that he would be dissatissfied with pasta and veggies. I can't wait for him to come visit! I'm really excited to see Paris again with him and to show him my life here. I am a little worried about what he's going to do while I am in class because he doesn't speak any french, and it can be intimidating for me still to interact with some of the shop keepers and cafe owners. Plus, him being here is a part of home. I don't get terribly homesick that often, but it's mainly because I ignore it. I know this incredibly selfish, but sometimes that's the reason I am bad at keeping in touch with people over here. Whenever I talk to my friends or family I usually end up homesick for at least a few hours afterwards. If I keep myself busy with other things it's easier to ignore the homesick feeling. I'm surpised that I'm actually more homesick for Minneapolis than I am for Racine. I miss my school, and understanding what the hell is going on in my classes, and my amazing friends. I miss being busy. Plus, I'd really like some coffee to go. Nobody here brings coffee to class. There is no Starbuck's, or Caribou, or Espresso Royale. The coffee is amazing, but it's definitely a sit down social affair. Not a get through the school day without falling asleep thing. Don't get me wrong, I really love France. The culture and the scenery are amazing and I could see myself spending summers here. But, surprisingly, I really am an American Girl through and through.

My computer cord broke (of course...) so until my dad gets here with a replacement, it may be a while since I update again. Andrea was nice enough to let me borrow her computer for the weekend while she is in Barcelona, but I'm not sure I'm going to want to journal in the office. We shall see.

A bientot mes amis

La plus belle ville du monde.

As promised, the Paris post.
Anyone who has known me for any period of time probably knows that it has been my life's dream to go to Paris.
After at least 10 years of facination with the city, I've finally made it there.
I left Montpellier at 9:20 on Saturday morning and arrived back at my apartment at 11:30 on Monday night. I spent three days in absolute wonder at the how beautiful a city can be. Friday after checking into our hostel, Mariah and I decided to head to Champs-Elysees and from there, go see the Eiffle tower. The first thing we see when we get off the metro was the Arc de Triomphe. First of all, the arc is definitely larger than I was expecting. Secondly, God it's pretty. From there, we walked down the Champs-Elysees, stopped in at Louis Vuitton to lust after bags and sunglasses that, one day, I'll be able to afford. Then on to the Pont d'Alexandre. My first view of the Eiffel Tower happened to be at sunset, perfect timing. It was absolutely breathtaking. After taking about twenty pictures from the bridge, we decided head over and get an up close and personal view. Again, not expecting the tower to be as big as it was. But it was every bit as beautiful as I was hoping it would be. By the time the sunset and we had had chocolat chaud under the tower, it was cold and we were tired. Before bed, we had drinks at the bar on the first floor of our hostel. (St. Christopher's, by the way, if you're going to Paris this is the hostel to stay in, no joke). My first official cosmo, and the best fuzzy navel I've ever had.
Day two started out at 9am at the Louvre. We spent five hours there, and it wasn't nearly enough. First things first, we saw Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory, and the Mona Lisa. Up to this point, most things in Paris were on a much grander scale than I was expecting. The Mona Lisa was not. It's so small! It was, however, way cooler than I was expecting. I wasn't really that thrilled because the image is everywere: calendars, post cards, text books, you name it. But the actual painting has a lot more life in it. To state the obvious, DaVinci was a genious. Then, we went our separate ways and I took an audio tour of the history of the actual building called from Chateau to Musee, or something much catchy-er. I'm really glad I did that, it was maybe the best 6 euro I've spent so far.
Our original plan was to hit the Musee d'Orsay after that but by the time we were ready to leave the Louvre there was a huge line to get into the Musee d'Orsay so we decided to wander a little and go back on Monday to see the museum. After wandering for a while we headed to Notre Dame. Once again, absolutely gorgeous. We went inside and there was a service (or mass rather, since it is Catholic) going on! I did not know that it was still being used as a church, that's amazing.
We bought some cool things near Notre Dame, I got a painting for a euro and some pretty neat gifts (that I'm really excited to send)! Night two ended at the bar of the hostel again, talking with the cool 19 year old bartender from Oregon and a guy from Texas who is also studying in France.
Our last day was supposed to start with the Musee d'Orsay, nope didn't happen. We had completely forgotten that museums are usually closed on Mondays. So we decided that Sacre Coeur would be the next stop. I am so happy we made it there. It has the best views of the city, plus the church is gorgeous, and the arrows from Amelie are there! How cool! After sitting on the steps of the church for a while we walked around Montmarte. For a few blocks near the church, there are nothing but fabric stores! Seriously, I don't know how they all stay in business, there must be over 40 fabric stores in one neighborhood! Among these fabric stores was a discount purse store where I bought a new bag, since my 12 euro one decided it had had enough of carrying my crap around and broke over five times that weekend alone... anyways more wandering led us to le Chat Noir, Moulin Rouge, and Les Deux Moulin, the Cafe where Amelie workes! We had coffee and crepes then headed to the Gare to catch our train home.
I was one of the most tiring weekends of my life, and way more than worth it.

I aboslutely cannot wait to go back with Andrea and Katrice.... and DAD!

Until next time, love, Ashley

Paris, Je t'aime.

I love Paris. j
This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Paris is officially my favorite city, and I can say that for real now. I will write a full post, complete with pictures soon. But until then, I really need some sleep :)

Bonjour. I've decided that Travelpod isn't as cool as blogspot, so here I am. Hopefully, my Travelpod posts will be moved over to this site soon, in the meantime here is the link for that blog:
http://images.travelpod.com/members/ashleyelizabeth

I've got to leave for class in 15 minutes, donc a toute a l'heure mes amies!

We stayed in Montpellier this past weekend and it was a blast! Friday Andrea and I drank a bottle of wine here (and danced around the apartment to Sara B, like the dorks we are) then I went to the Aussi bar with Katrice, Danielle and her friends who were visiting from Barcelona. The only time I'm glad they play American music in France is when we go dancing. It's so much better when you know the words and can sing along. Saturday the plan was to bike to the Medditerranean Sea and have a pique-nique on the beach, but after finding out that it would be four hours of biking we decided to bus it. So, we took the tram to the Place de L'Europe, and waited for the bus. Then this crazy woman shows up mumbling nonsensical french to us (well really it probably was legit Francias, but we couldn't understand her) then asks me if she can use my phone to call her friend and tell him she's going to be late because the bus wasn't going to come for another hour. Me, being me and not knowing how to say no, let her use my phone. Then she proceeded to follow us around for a bit, and we decided that bussing to the beach wasn't really worth waiting at the bus stop for an hour with this crazy French woman. So we headed to the mall and did a bit a shopping :). That night we tested out a few bars, and I've got to say Aussi bar is still my fav. Sunday was my alone time/get stuff done day. One good thing about staying here: CLEAN CLOTHES! wahoo! even if they still take three days to dry...
Yesterday was Katrice's bday, so I bought her a birthday crepe then Mariah and I did homework at Book in Bar and I bought some amazing apricot tea from this cute little shop on one of the side streets. Last night, we went out for FONDUE (delicious fondue) for Katrice's 21st! What an experience! 17 euros gets you a house cocktail (Kir de peche, white wine, and a little rum... sooo good) , salad, baked potatoes, fondue, wine served in baby bottles, and an interesting dessert. In the middle of dinner we decided that we were going to need more wine for Katrice's apartment, so Danielle and I ran to Monoprix then came back and had dessert. We really are the classiest girls ever. Seriously. And to further prove my point I will tell you what we did after dinner: President and Asshole, with wine. It was great.
Class pretty much kicked my butt today seeing as I seem to have developed a french form of ADD. And we have another pointless MaxSA assignment due on Friday. Not only is it completely pointless, but I found out that they're not even doing MaxSA next semester! I'm mad. It's such a waste of time! bah. Oh well, it's an extra credit? Maybe?
D'accord, I've got class at nine so bonne nuit mes amis!
Je vous aime! Bisous!