Montpellier is quite possibly one of the prettiest cities I have ever seen in France. It’s a good mix of modern and old.
On the way there, Alex had some disgusting doner kebab for 8 euro! (Normally they cost 3 euro on the street)
T he next day, we strolled around the markets
Saw this book maker
The main place is ENORMOUS. It’s called Place de la Comedie
Alex kindly permitted a visit to theMusee Fabre where he got scolded by the museum guards for standing too close to the paintings. Cameras were forbidden, but I managed a couple of shots
We spent our evening in the most American way. We went to a quasi-Irvine Spectrum place where we ate at a French brewery chain (think Bj’s) where I had a beer taster
It’s a TINY town with large fields of… nothingness.
But it was fun to walk around. A child always gives a better perspective.
Orleans is known for a couple of things. OK, I lied, One thing and here it is.
Jeanne D’arc (Joan of Arc to us Americans)
She helped turn the tide for France in the Hundred’s Year War in Orleans and now they have this huge Cathedral dedicated to her.
BTW, that cathedral is fucking enormous. And WAY cooler than Notre Dame.
It is being refurbished right now but the stained glass windows are amazing.
I mostly spent the holidays trying not to do anything “unfrench-like” and indulged in a lot of WII.
It is so addicting and a perfect way to sweat. YES YOU CAN SWEAT WHILE PLAYING WII GOLF. The boyfriend and I are very competitive.
I also had my first 4×4 cart experience.
*NOTE this picture was taken for you my readers to show HOW ridiculous I can look.
But it did give us the opportunity to drive around the area
And see this house with it’s own moat!! Why does America have nothing like this??
And craploads of cows.
Christmas was lovely as even I received gifts from his family.
BTW I never believed in Santa Claus but apparently his nephew does so it was hilarious to hold this over his head for a week.
“Si tu ne faites pas bien, on va appeler Pere Noel!” (If you do not behave, we’re going to call Santa Claus!)
The right side were presents for him. ALL OF THEM.
And still, he asked “Mais ou est-ce que le ______ que j’ai demande?” (Where is the (have no recollection of what he wanted) that I asked for?) after shredding TEN gifts.
Kids these days.
Alex was pleased with his gifts.
It was a comic book on Jean Claude Van Damme. It’s a big french joke here that he’s always on drugs and speaks in the weirdest mix of french and english and thereby making no sense in either language.
Example:
BTW, I know this is kind of perverse, but I LOVE taking pictures of french children.
Of course, being only 2 hours away from Paris by train demanded that we go. So we did.
BTW this is scary for kids. Two monkeys killing a man?
Then a stroll through the outdoor zoo they had.
I’ve ALWAYS hated zoos, as the animals alway look depressed
but this one had guinea pigs! With bunnies for some bizarre reason.
(It started out with two…then…)
And my first ever sloth sighting.
And the boyfriend meeting up with some old friends
We walked on the Champs Elysses
and to my HORROR…
McDo has invaded le champs elysses. Why aren’t more parisians pissed? Where is Jose Bové ?
We ate at a Korean/Chinese owned restaurant with some decent kimchi….but OMG
I ate fucking dduk. 7 EURO dduk!!!
Then impressed the shit out of the boyfriend at the Eiffel Tower. He didn’t want to go and be a tourist, but he was the one most excited when we got there.
No matter how much I bag on Paris, it is goddamn beautiful.
