tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60195521666185805172024-03-07T23:15:25.561-08:00Eiffel for FranceThis blog is the diary of my trip to Paris during the summer of 2012.Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-35026280647627573122012-10-06T14:45:00.002-07:002014-03-25T14:45:20.192-07:00A bientôt Paris! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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They say time flies when you’re having fun, but that can be
an understatement after a trip like the one I had. While there were ups and
downs, the past four months have been the most exhilarating time in my life! I have learned a lot about the French culture, had the opportunity to
live in a different country, continent and language, and travelled Europe alone.
It has definitely been a growing experience for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I feel like my trip is ending too soon, but I know I'll return to Paris. Once I land in Vancouver I will start planning my next trip.<br />
<br /></div>
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Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-20455218689743433642012-09-30T18:29:00.004-07:002014-03-25T14:42:36.506-07:00Mom and I take on Paris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For her 60<sup>th</sup> birthday, my Dad flew my Mom out to
spend the last two weeks of my trip with me in Paris. It has been the best Mother-Daughter trip ever!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first full day I took her for a bike tour around beautiful Paris and to a wine
tasting. Now every French
restaurant we go to, we know which wines are our favourites and which to avoid. Not to mention, we learned how to do a proper "dégustation" of the wine before we drink it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other than our trip to Gail and Francis’, we had two other day
trips and spent the rest of the time in Paris. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We went to Mont Sainte Michel one day, which is a monastery
from the 700s! It has the most interesting history as it was an abbey, prison
and even a military fraction! It is a small island connected to the mainland by
a man-made causeway - which is new and very contested. The views made the trip worth it as I spent half the time craning my neck to see out windows and around walls. We spent the
day touring the Abbey, had a delicious lunch out on a terrace overlooking the water
and country beyond, then made our way back to Paris.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The other day trip we took was to Reims in the region of Champagne.
This one was one of the best days Mom and I had, including the slight bump at the end. We arrived in Reims for breakfast, and afterward made our way to
the tourist building. First thing we did was a bus tour to see the town. Then we visited the Notre Dame Chapel there. It was in this chapel the Kings of France were crowned, which was astounding to be standing in front of. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After the visit to the chapel, we went to a champagne
tasting at La Gande Maison, Mumm! It was so great - how could anyone tell you otherwise?! You can’t go to Champagne without tasting some champagne am I right? We had a tour of the caves and then tried some
Cordon Rouge Brut! It was the best I've tasted, so we just had to buy a bottle to bring home. </div>
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Our day didn’t end here, however, as we were ready to do a bit of
shopping before our dinner reservation and train home. Our dinner reservation was at seven
to make sure we’d catch our train home and after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">more</i> champagne we grabbed our goodies and arrived at the train station with planty of time to make the train. Only, apparently our train was leaving from a different station and we were stuck in Reims for another night. Hmm... What are we to do? Well find the nearest - and nicest - hotel to stay the night in! After all, who doesn't want an extra night in Champagne?! We caught the morning train the next day and still made it to the market in Paris for lunch!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since being back in Paris we have been up to Montmartre,
went inside Sacre Coeur - which Mom has loved - went to the Eiffel Tower and Champs
Elysees, and did some shopping. It’s been the perfect last few days in Paris
and I am very sorry to see it end. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It has been very hard to say goodbye to my little corner in Paris, but I know this isn't the end of my time in the city. I have fallen in love with all its quirks and sights, and I see myself returning in the very near future. After all, I have lots of friends to visit in France so why not?</span></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-8998514497812535092012-09-30T18:16:00.002-07:002014-03-25T14:31:05.729-07:00A step back in time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Eighteen years ago my Mom took me on a trip to France. I was
about four years old at the time and we were visiting good friends of ours from
Montreal who had moved to Aix-en-Provence. Last week we went again to visit
these friends now living two hours outside of Lyon, all of us 18 years older! <o:p></o:p></div>
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We had three full days together and made those three days
count! Mom arrived in Paris and two days later we were on the TGV heading to France's countryside. Rolling hills as far as
the eye can see, small cottages and old houses dotting the scene with cows
grazing everywhere – it was breathtaking. Gail and Francis, our friends,
live in a beautiful home built in 1783 - if I remember correctly - that has been
fixed up since, but has kept it’s charm and look of the pre-revolution time. It’s
gorgeous!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The days were spent catching up on eighteen years of news,
drinking fantastic wine, and touring the towns and chateaus nearby. Oh, I have
not mentioned the food yet… Well, Gail is a fantastic cook and I did my very
best to learn as much I could from her in such a short time – even got some
recipes to bring home! <o:p></o:p></div>
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The only thing that made the trip better was when my friends
Julia - Gail and Francis’ daughter - and her boyfriend, Malcolm, arrived the
second night. When they arrived Gail taught everyone how to make pasta and we
all had the fun of working the dough, turning the pasta machine to flatten it
and cutting it into long strands to be ready to cook. A pasta machine is
definitely going on my Christmas list!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The last day Gail and Julia took Mom and I to a beautiful
Chateau. We toured the whole palace and enjoyed hearing the scandalous story of
the previous owners. Only France would have history describing a
Countess who was a widow and yet later on, had six children! The Chateau was exquisite. completely over the top, and we made sure to take in both the prison and glacerie - where they make
ice - which were also on the land. May I just say, the gardens at all the chateaus I have seen are unbelievable?!<o:p></o:p></div>
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here. After all, nothing can hold a candle to night spent with family and
friends! And in the French country side no less ;)</span></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-17568121401938432722012-09-24T14:24:00.001-07:002014-03-25T14:25:56.689-07:00Greek Myths and Turkish Delights<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ask me to navigate a foreign city in my second language,
bien sur! Ask me to navigate a foreign city in a language that doesn’t even use the
same alphabet?! Forget it! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I arrived in Athens for my weeklong cruise bright and early
Sunday morning. After finding my way to the baggage claim and then out the door
I showed my cab driver the address of my hotel and we were off! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Do you know anything about Greek drivers? If not, picture
Italian drivers… but worse! I did make it to my hotel in one piece, thank God, and took my time to unload my stuff. I grabbed a map from the front lobby and circled everything I wanted to see on it. I was on the metro heading to the city centre by 11am. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It is quite a sight to be walking down the streets of a
modern city and see ruins way above you from many thousands of years ago. It is a lifestyle I love ask I've been enjoying while in Europe. I explored the Plaka and a few other areas until realizing the time and making my way back to the hotel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I met my roommate and after a bit of get-to-know-you
chatter, we both realized we were travelling on our own and loved Greece already! There was about 26 of us in the group
and maybe 15 people went out for the traditional dinner that night, which was
delicious! The food was fantastic and there was even some traditional dancing –
which I was forced to do by one of the men to join in. I can tell you now; I am
no natural at the Zorbas dance!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The next morning, woken from an abrupt wake up call, Lexi - my new best friend and hotel roommate - and I wandered down to the hotel buffet for breakfast
before getting on the ship. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The day was spent lounging by the pool on the cruise ship
with our fellow travellers - all of whom seemed to be Australians - on our way to
Mykonos. It was our first destination. Known for its windmills, Mykonos was extremely
windy, and I could see why it was so famous for these! In tradition, the
village was full of small winding streets with white washed buildings that all have blue
accents. The idea was that you are supposed to get lost in the village - it's my kind of place! Historically it was
set up this way so that if pirates arrived they would not be able to navigate
the town and the people could escape. This was my favourite island of the whole cruise.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, it’s important to note, we were not the only Contiki
group on the boat. There was another
group and we spent our whole week all together. Majority Australians, these
guys and girls knew how to have a good time! Given this, every night seemed to find us out at
the ship club dancing the night away and enjoying the cocktails made by the ship's crew. We practiced the Zorbas dance but I am still no better on it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Every morning we were up early for tours. It was tough, but I was determined to not miss a thing! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Day two we went to Turkey. We woke in Kusadasi, the port town
very close to Greece and took a bus inland. On a bus with the other sleepy Contiki
travellers and we headed for Saint Mary’s home and ancient Ephesus! If being surrounded by this place doesn’t wake you up, then I don’t know what will! It was magical.
We walked through Saint Mary’s home and chapel, left wishes on the wishing wall,
washed our hands in the fountain of health and made our way to ancient Ephesus
where we walked among ruins from Cleopatra’s time! If you ask me the highlight
of my trip, this was it! The rest of the afternoon was spent in Kusadasi,
trying the authentic Turkish foods and back on the ship for our late afternoon
in Patmos. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Lexi and I parted from the group in Patmos, to do some
shopping before meeting everyone for cocktails and Greek beer at a local pub.
It was the perfect end to a great day and start to a memorable night aboard
ship!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The next day was spent on the island of Rhodes. A few of us took a
bus to Lindos and saw the Acropolis there and explored the ancient city <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">way</i> above sea level before coming back to the ship. Back in Rhodes, we swam in the Aegean sea and lay on the beach. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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On day four we spent the morning on
the ship followed by the afternoon and evening in Santorini. If you want to see
Greece as all those pictures depict it, go to Santorini! It was beautiful. Eight
years ago, they abolished the law stating all the accent colours against the white, had to be
blue, so the colours on the houses are all different and range from dark pinks
to bright greens. It was probably the most beautiful
of all the islands we saw.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The next morning we were dropped back in Athens and the cruise was over. A group of
us stayed in Athens two extra nights so I had a chance to hang out, sight see,
and eat with my favourite Australians! We had fantastic meals, an
unforgettable afternoon on the “happy train” - a hop on-hop off little train
that chugs around Athens - and a tearful goodbye.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A few friends on this trip are visiting me in upcoming
months, and I can hardly wait to see them! It’s amazing, but after just one
week together, we felt like we knew each other for years. Can’t wait for our
adventures to continue in Vancouver and, of course in Australia.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let’s face it, I’ve already looked at flight
prices ;)</span><!--EndFragment-->
</div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-15480545011747796262012-09-17T03:20:00.002-07:002014-03-25T14:14:47.857-07:00Would you like some wine with that?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What do you get when two best friends take on the city
of Paris? Late nights, days of sight seeing and too much wine!
Or at least that sums up the week when my friend Rosie came to visit me in
Paris. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As soon as she arrived in Paris, we popped a bottle of
champagne and made a plan of attack for her visit. Rosie had been to Paris
before, so the ‘must dos’ when you come to Paris had already been taken care of
allowing us to enjoy the city more slowly and for me to show her the local
sides of Paris. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We shopped in the Latin Quarter, had a few picnics up at
Sacre Coeur and along Canal St. Martin, shopped at the food markets, ate
out at amazing restaurants and I even took her on my last bike tour! We went
out with Mikayla a few times too, making the week that much better. The biggest
disappointment of the trip was that the Hagen Das on the Champs Elysee only
made <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">virgin</i> cocktails out of ice
cream – a fact a coworker of mine had confused.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There was a small world moment on day two, which added
another level of excitement to the trip… <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Rosie and I were doing some research into a few restaurants
for the upcoming week when she saw on Facebook a friend of hers from law school
was in Paris! She wrote him to find out what he was doing here and it turned
out he was here for the week! We met for a fantastic dinner in Montmartre. The four hour meal flew by without a minute of silence. We ended up making plans to go out for Rosie’s
last night, and he met us for a night of dancing at Showcase! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Showcase is located under Pont Alexandre III - the bridge - and the view of the seine is beautiful. It was a perfect way to end an awesome
week and when it finally did get busy, did it ever fill up! With the party
still going hard at 4am, Rosie, Cam and I decided it was time to head home.
We hailed a cab and rehashed the events of the night the whole drive back. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was very sad to see Rosie go the next day, but after a
Parisian breakfast and some coffee we realized it would not be much longer
until we saw each other again! You see, I only have 3 weeks left of this trip.
September is quickly turning into the best month yet, but is unfortunately going way too fast!</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-24870858905005324312012-09-05T09:31:00.001-07:002014-03-25T14:09:41.281-07:00The Royal Treatment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Walls made of gold, gardens that stretch out for kilometers
in every direction, and lakes and ponds flowing through the grounds, this is
luxury! One day at Fontainebleau and the other at Versailles, there is no
question in my mind what lead to the French Revolution!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fontainebleau is located 50 minutes outside of Paris and, according
to Napoleon, is the “true home of kings.” There are over 1500 rooms and 130
acres of parks and gardens, and it is the only royal and imperial chateau to
have been continuously inhabited for seven centuries. But enough with the history
lesson…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mikayla and I took a morning train and went to Fontainebleau excited for our day of history and grandeur. We arrived at the
chateau astounded at the size and lay of the grounds. First off was to tour the
palace, so we picked up audio guides and wove through the hallways of the
palace. Peaking in rooms that were once kings’ bedrooms and observing the
difference between the private and public or business rooms of the palace was
fascinating. The palace screamed wealth, it was unbelievable to see the rooms and
imagine people actually lived there!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The afternoon was spent in the grounds of Fontainebleau,
walking around the ponds and exploring the forest. It was beautiful! I don’t
know why people don’t visit it more often because it was magic, and far less
crowded than Versailles.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Versailles was the next day! The palace of French Kings from
Louis the XIV and on until Louis the XVI, the palace was astounding. It cost
equivalent to 2.5 billion euros to build it! All the fountains through the
gardens were set to turn on as the kings walked by so that he thought they were
always on and the garden stretched out endlessly. Each part of the garden was
supposed to be decorated like room in a home. It was meant to offer a different mood in each ‘room’, the way a house does. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That day I went with bike about tours and road my bike all
around the gardens. Mikayla was working that tour so we got to see Versailles
together after having been at Fontainebleau the day before and compare and
contrast between the two.<br />
<br />
We biked down to Mary Antoinette’s village and spent
an hour exploring the cottage and checking out all the animals. We made a quick stop at a French market
for picnic fixings, then headed off to the canal and set up for a picnic
by the water surrounded by the gardens with a perfect view of the palace.
Finally we headed back up to the palace and walked through the inside. It was
remarkable! While the décor was a bit much for me or, as my Grandma would
describe, ‘busy’, it was really neat to see. Seeing the wall of mirrors was one
of my favourite places and the galerie des batailles with paintings depicting
many of the wars fought by Napoleon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After two days of exploring these enormously
luxurious palaces you can probably imagine my apartment seemed a bit small and
simple! </span><!--EndFragment-->
</div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-4341102511066800452012-08-29T07:23:00.004-07:002014-03-25T14:02:37.098-07:00Double Dutch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
DAY ONE:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Due to planning problems, I arrived in Amsterdam a
full six hours before Mikayla. Since we were staying
with a friend of hers I had some time to kill, so I mapped out our day over
some freshly squeezed orange juice and explored the city centre.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My favourite part of Amsterdam was the city layout. Marveling over the number of
bikes and the canals, I picked my way through the small side streets and spent some money.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mikayla arrived at four o’clock so Kitty, her friend, met
us there to help us lug our bags to her apartment. Located just outside the
centre of the city, Kitty’s apartment was a true find. She had a small balcony on the back and it was the perfect distance for getting to and from the city and quiet for sleeping. The evening was spent enjoying some Dutch beer, a delicious
meal while watching the boats pass along the canal. At midnight, we hopped on
our bikes and explored the city in all its glory from the Red Light district to
the city centre, until we were back in her apartment exhausted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, before I explain the next day, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have</i> to talk about the bicycles in Amsterdam. They are all multi
coloured and look as if they are about 100 years old. Each bike seems
to have its own personality, but they do not have standard breaks on them! In order to stop, pedal backwards which is a lot harder than you'd think because the bikes weigh a ton! Mikayla and I looked less than graceful on our
bikes as we toured the city, but by the end of day two we were starting to
get the hang of it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>DAY TWO: </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Breakfast was enjoyed on a patio near Kitty’s followed by a
tour through Vondel Park. It was beautiful! Great for picnics, the park was
filled with people cycling, running, or just enjoying a leisurely walk.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next on the list was a trip through the Waterloo market,
which is one of the biggest flea markets in Amsterdam. While it wasn’t as big
as the ones in Paris, it was very cool to see and people watch. After a walk
through we hopped back on our bikes and made our way to another part of the
city. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were searching for a restaurant for lunch when we
stumbled upon the floating flower market and a nice little restaurant next to
it. After some fantastic food, we continued walking along the flower market,
and popped into the Gouda store to sample some of the cheese – I had no idea
how much I’d love Dutch cheese! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My Dad had told me one of the things I had to see while in
Amsterdam was the Rembrandt painting “Night’s Watch”. This was next on the
agenda, and we took off for a walk through the famous Rijksmuseum. I couldn’t
believe how well organized the museum was! It wasn't as big as the Louvre which I find overwhelming, this museum seemed to be set up so you wouldn't miss anything as you walked through.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we left the museum we noticed Mikayla’s bike had a flat
tire! Let me tell you, walking a bike back to the apartment through the streets
of Amsterdam is not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nearly</i> as much
fun as riding them. I couldn’t get used to watching for cyclists on the streets, and the sidewalks and bike lanes look the same. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All dressed up for a night on the town, Mikayla and I dashed
to the dock to hop on a boat for a cruise through the canals at nighttime. We loved
seeing all the lights on the canals and learned a lot about the city’s history.
I had no idea how much of the city was built around cycling! After the boat
cruise, Mikayla and I took off to a club called Paradiso and danced the night
away with the most international group I have ever seen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>DAY THREE: </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Running on only a few hours of sleep, we were up bright and early
and in line for Anne Frank’s house as soon as it opened. Easily one of the most
interesting tours I have done since being in Europe, I was blown away by the
stories, the house and seeing the actual diary. Emotions ran high after that tour so we made our way to a pancake house for some comfort food - Dutch pancakes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next up was the Heineken Brewry where we not only learned
about how the beer is made, we assisted by stirring the ‘mash’ - the mixture of
water and grains - and tasting the beer... well, someone has to do it! Feeling slightly buzzed after the beer tasting, we made our way to the Andy Cuypmarket, which is the biggest market in all of Amsterdam. We sampled some of the food from the different vendors before
hopping back on a train home. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the train we discussed our trip and decided three
days was not enough. There was so much we missed, but sometimes it is best to leave parts unfinished. It gives you and excuse to come back! <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-8462880560783513122012-08-17T08:45:00.002-07:002014-03-25T13:49:25.622-07:00That awkward moment when...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As you can probably imagine, in the past two and a half months I have had quite a few awkward moments in Paris. I have listed the top 10 here for you to enjoy having a laugh at my expense...<br />
<div>
<ol>
<li>You are standing at a printing shop, waiting for
your document to print when the French man who works the counter starts
chatting with you. About 90% is clear, but he has an accent you haven’t heard
before so it is a bit difficult to catch everything. Then he makes a rude joke
at your expense. Everyone around you is laughing so you join in until he says,
“So it’s true yes?”</li>
<li>You are describing a building in detail to your
tour group while pointing at it. Explaining its relevance and history in Paris,
when you realize you are pointing at the wrong building.</li>
<li>Your landlady gives you the keys to your new
apartment and lists everything that is there to be sure it is still there when
you give the keys back. She points at the hanging plant saying she expects to
see alive in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It dies less than
one month into your contract.</li>
<li>You are out on tour with a group and a little
boy informs you he needs a bathroom. You kindly explain that if he waits a few
minutes we’ll pass a coffee shop he can run into. When he says he can’t wait,
he ducks into some bushes on the side of the road and does his business.</li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>A gypsy tries to steal your bike in the middle
of a tour while you are speaking to your group. You run over to the bike and
say something very rude in French to which she rebuts and storms off. Slightly
shaken, you turn to your group and ask, “Uhm… does anyone speak French?” Everyone
looks at each other shaking their heads but one of the men at the back. He
laughs and says, “couldn’t have said it better myself!”</li>
<li>You have a family on your tour with two sons
both in high school. You’ve been having a great tour, joking around with the
family and hearing about the oldest boy’s university plans. At the end of the
tour their mom asks if you will take a photo with their family. You say of
course and she says, “Oh no, just with my sons. You can be the girl they met in
Paris!” After they leave you walk over to where your boss is standing who says,
“So that was your mother-in-law to be? She seems nice!</li>
<li>On your way over to the Eiffel tower for the
fire works on Bastille Day you and some friends pick up a few bottles of
champagne. You’ve walked a long way and decide to have some while sitting by
the Seine. It’s quite crowded due to the celebration so no one wants to open
the champagne. Since you’ve opened bottles before as a server without a problem, you offer to open the champagne. The bottle must have shook a lot on the walk because as soon as you take the aluminum off, the cork
bursts off and champagne goes everywhere!</li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>You take a tour group to the oldest house in
Paris exclaiming it’s from the 1400s and a young boy asks you if people still
live there. You say no, now it’s actually a swinger’s club. Everyone laughs but
he looks confused and says, “what’s a swinger?"</li>
<li>You are in Brussels searching for the Manneken
Pis fountain. You walk into a Godiva chocolate shop and ask directions from a
sales girl to the “Manequin qui pis” fountain. Everyone in the store laughs and
informs you it’s called “Manneken Pis” and you just asked for directions to “the
fountain with the model who’s pissing”.</li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>At
the beginning of a tour you go around the circle and get everyone’s names. One
of the women on your tour informs you her name is Taffy. This was the name of
your family dog while you were growing up so naturally the first thing that
comes to mind. Mid way through, “REALLY!? Crazy, I had a…” you realize what you
are about to say and switch to “… a cousin named Taffy.” You then spend the
rest of the tour trying to dodge questions about this cousin of yours. </li>
</ol>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-6726325257239195562012-08-13T08:43:00.002-07:002014-03-25T13:47:11.450-07:00Twelve hours in Brussels<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day started like any other. Up at the crack of dawn to meet my travel buddy, Mikayla, at the train station at 5:50am. Only one hour and
twenty minutes later, we were in a different country all together. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we got off the train we could only think of one thing… Belgian
waffles for breakfast. Ravenous, we went on a hunt for a place that looked like
it would have some. It seemed the only places open had people still
partying from the night before, so unless we wanted a beer at 8:30am, we were
out of luck. Finally, closer to the centre of the city we found a little café
serving breakfast and some of the best waffles I’ve ever tasted. After the best waffle I have ever had, we made a game plan for
the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As any typical political science geek, at the top of my
must-see list was the EU Parliament, so we decided to make this our first stop.
The grounds around parliament were surprisingly deserted. I would have thought
with everything going on financially with the EU, it would be bustling with
energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> But it wasn't. Is this their problem? </span>Have the politicians thrown in
the towel on the EU? Or are they hiding inside the buildings refusing to come
out of the building pulling their hair out? It is August, maybe they're all on holiday!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leaving the quiet EU Parliament behind, we took off for
‘mini Europe’ which we had read was the most visited tourist attraction in
Brussels. When arriving we saw it was more of a theme park for kids than
anything else. Standing at the entrance at least a head or two above everyone
else there - yes, even I was - we decided we would be better to go somewhere else. Lunch
seemed like a good idea, so off we went to Le Greenwich for some Belgian beer
and a few traditional dishes. Everyone who goes to Brussels must eat there. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a fountain in Brussels called Manneken Pis. It was
made in 1619 by a Belgian sculptor and depicts a naked boy urinating
into a fountain. Now, you, like Mikayla and I, may wonder the significance of
this sculpture so I looked it up and here it is… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most famous legend is the one about Duke Godfrey III of
Leuven. In 1142, there was a battle between the troops of Berthouts and Duke
Godfrey’s own in Ransbeke. The duke was two years old at the time and his troops
placed him in a basket and hung him from a tree to encourage the soldiers. Duke
Godfrey, being a young child, ended up urinating on the troops of the
Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle. How about that, a two year old won a
battle for his troops by peeing on the opposition! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mikayla and I just HAD to see this fountain, so off we went
expecting to see a massive fountain with a little boy peeing. It was actually
quite small since the sculpture itself stands only 61cm tall. Either way, it
was pretty cool to see. There is a replica in many other cities around Belgium,
but the one is Brussles is the most famous. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shopping was next on our list, so we spent the rest of the
afternoon looking at lace stores, souvenirs and popping into chocolate shops sampling
flavours. Friday was also the start of a big music festival in Brussels, so we
stopped to listen to bands along the way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The streets finally busy with people, Mikayla
and I decided it was time to find some dinner, so off we went to Aux Arms de Bruxelles
for the best muscles I’ve ever tasted! Also you must eat here! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lugging all our shopping in hand, we
stumbled back onto the train to Paris, exhausted from our day
in Brussels. </span>
</div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-56384926362356824172012-08-11T10:39:00.002-07:002014-03-21T00:17:59.371-07:00Familiar faces in foreign places<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Allie, I’ll see you in Paris!” This was the message I received
from my cousins before arriving in Paris last week. Passing through on their
way for an adventure holiday, they stopped in Paris to take in the sights, much
to my excitement and we made those three days count – let me tell you! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I met them on their second day for dinner and drinks and we caught up over a lot of wine. It’s amazing how spending time with family over a few, perhaps
too many bottles of wine, can make time fly by. It seemed it had only been a
few minutes before I was being dropped off in a cab outside my apartment and
saw the time… 1:30am. Oops! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had promised them a bike tour around Paris, so the next morning
I added them to my tour and off we went. Afterwards, I showed them where the
good shopping was and we headed off to make a dent in our bank accounts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spending money can get tiring so we made sure to stop at a
nice little café for some wine - yes, my family can drink - before meeting their Dad for dinner at a nice
French restaurant near the Eiffel Tower. Making sure to nab a good spot to see
the Eiffel Tower light up, we headed over right after dinner. My cousin Jordan and I the haggled with a Parisian for some champagne. I needed to make sure they got the whole experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was the perfect three day visit and came at the best time
since it landed exactly halfway through my trip. That is, unless I manage to
find a way to stay in Paris…<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-14256018859676159222012-08-06T23:39:00.004-07:002014-03-21T00:15:31.332-07:00Non-Cycling fan turned fan…?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I always liked spinning classes. Instructors push you, yell at you and when the class is done, you leave the room exhausted and exhilarated all
at once. But I was never that interested in cycling in the city or going
for a bike ride. In fact, before I my job, I had only been riding mountain
bikes down green level runs in Squamish and not very often! It’s a
wonder my bosses let me take out groups of 14 with that limited practice!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a brother and sister-in-law who are both triathletes
and accomplished cyclists. They can talk your ear off about cross bars, tire
widths and proper handle bars depending on the type of cycling you do. I’m not going to
lie, I enjoy listening to their stories, watching them race and even participating
in a few training days while I visiting them. But, it wasn’t until I was
surrounded by the cycling culture that I started to understand what made the
sport so interesting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the past two weeks, I have witnessed world class
cycling. I stood at the finish line of the Tour de France, cheering on the
athletes with a few thousand fans and then went to the Olympics in London and, standing
near Buckingham Palace, cheered athletes racing in both the men’s 75km and women’s
140km through the finish line. Let me tell you, they are FAST! Watching it on TV really doesn’t give you that perspective. I had absolutely<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>NO idea just how quickly they could go. On my bike, as soon as I start to get some speed I get excited and immediately grip the breaks because I’m going <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so fast</i>. My speed has nothing on these cyclists who are probably
going double that speed UP hill. Sigh… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Europeans are much more interested in cycling it seems. I’ve definitely been swept up in the excitement! You won’t
catch me talking about proper style and strategy any time soon but I can enjoy it.<br />
<br />
While waiting for the
athletes to come down the Champs Elysees, I was educated by a five year old boy
on the racers! Allison and I were taught how the Tour de France works, and what type of
bikes the cyclists are using depending on where they are in France. He them
boasted proudly his bike was a [insert fancy bike name here] and said, “I am
going to be just like Bradley Wiggins one day!” I swear I was looking at my
nephew in a few years! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Standing in Hyde Park when team GB won silver in the women’s 140km race, was as
though Canada just won the Olympic hockey gold medal all over again. It didn’t
seem to matter we were all soaked to the skin from waiting in the rain; people celebrating
throughout the city. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It looks like I’m going to have to invest in a road bike
when I get home. This is just too fun!<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-28307111418060222192012-08-03T02:49:00.002-07:002014-03-20T16:10:01.197-07:00Lazy day at the beach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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No, it wasn’t spent at the man made Paris Plages along the Seine! Sporting bad biking tans, Mikayla and I decided we needed some sun. We hopped on a two hour
train to Deauville-Trouville in historic Normandy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Before I talk about the day, I should probably explain what
Paris Plages is to those of you who don’t know. Every summer for four weeks
from July 20th to August 19th, the mayor of Paris closes one of the main roads
down along the Seine river, ships in sand and builds a long beach for Parisians
to sun bathe on. Kids make sand castles and while you don’t swim in the Seine,
you can run through massive ‘sprinklers’ to cool you off. It is the city
sliker’s version of a beach since you don’t have to head very far. As a girl
from Vancouver and another from New Zealand, both used to beautiful beaches and
walking along the water, we are not quite as impressed by this 2.5 million euro
idea, so we decided to check out the next closest beach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Normandy is famous for the invasion and establishment of allied forces during World War two. Especially for Canadians, we are proud of
the role we played here. The region is massive and while I only made it to two
little towns in it, I can tell you it is absolutely beautiful and very
worthwhile to see from either historical interest or relaxing time on the beach.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Leaving the bustling city of Paris behind, Mikayla and I
loved walking through the small town of Deauville toward the beach. There are
piles of little cafes and boulangeries and while they have them in Paris too,
of course, it was a lot quieter in this town thus we were able to better enjoy
conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul, our boss and
Mikayla’s cousin, was in Deauville with his family, so we crashed their
vacation and met them for a late breakfast and some fun on the sun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Deauville has a massive beach, which is covered in multi
coloured umbrellas. It is famous for these strong coloured umbrellas and the
beach itself is huge. We caught some rays for a while and then when starting to
get a bit thirsty we hit the Bar du Soleil for a cocktail! We were on vacation
after all, it’s always five o’clock ;).<o:p></o:p></div>
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We then took a boat across the harbor to Trouville to eat
lunch at a fish market! Paul and his family had been there yesterday and showed
us how to do it. We ordered a massive platter of fish from the fishermen
themselves and ate some of the freshest fish I’ve ever tasted! After that,
Mikayla and I continued to explore Trouville, checking out its beach and then
walking through the town. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This area is where a lot of Parisians have their summer
weekend homes and I can see why. It is a beautiful spot to spend the day with
endless activities for families. The town is small and moves slowly, crawling
with vacationers, but you can tell it’s not a sleepy town during the summer!
After stopping for a bit more wine and a chat about the day, Mikayla and I
hopped back on the train to return to busy, bustling Paris.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We spent the train ride saying how much we both
want to return, but knowing I’m halfway through my trip and still want to see
so much, it’s hard to be sure whether we will get the chance. Nevertheless, it
was the perfect beach day! </span></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-17306303791077959832012-07-31T03:04:00.004-07:002014-03-20T16:02:22.728-07:00Olympic Fever - London 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This weekend was the perfect balance between Olympic
excitement and exploring London!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I hopped off the train at St. Pancras station and the first
thing I saw was those five beautiful rings that hung in Vancouver only two
years ago. It was all I could do not to grab the person next to me and say,
“Can you believe where we are right now?!” That might have made other people uncomfortable, so instead I practical skipped through customs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The next thing that hit me was that it was the first time in
two months I was in an English speaking country! Getting around was going to be
a cinch! No more using rusty high school Spanish or switching my thoughts into French before asking someone a question! It wasn’t until I went up to the
currency exchange desk and said, “Pardon monsieur mais…
I’m sorry, I’m in London aren’t I?” It was at that moment I realized how much I
needed a weekend in my first language! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I spent that first afternoon walking along the river, window
shopping and eventually finding myself standing in front of Big Ben and West
Minster Abbey. After a quick coffee break and rest for my feet, I stepped back
out into the crowded streets of London and stumbled across a massive swarm of
people. I was swept along with them and ended up standing at the intersection
when the flame passed by! Now, being vertically challenged made it hard to see
exactly what was going on, but I was able to push my way near the front and see
the parade that was passing and cheer along with all the other onlookers. After
this amazing moment and welcome to London, I met my friend Iain who I was
staying with in Covent Garden for some drinks on a roof top patio. What a
civilized beginning to an amazing weekend. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The next day I was up early and met a fellow bike about
guide from Paris, Mikayla, for a traditional English breakfast. She had also come to
London for the weekend and we had decided to take a bike tour around London to
see the city. Off we went to meet our group and had a blast seeing everything
from the Tower of London to the oldest wig shop in the city. It was a blast, such
a great way to see a city that big. We stopped mid way through the tour for the best muffins in London – which I will agree with - and to watch the street
performers in Covent Garden before continuing on. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the bike tour, Mikayla and I walked over to Borough Food Market
and tried a cornish pasty before heading to an English pub five minutes from the opening ceremonies! The fighter jets that were in the opening ceremony actually flew
over us! We stayed at the pub for the duration of the opening ceremonies cheering as everyone in the pub cheered for their home country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday was shopping day! I dragged Iain to the
world famous Harrods store! We had English tea across the street and then
wandered over to the Olympic store.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That afternoon, I met my friend Karl I hadn’t seen since first
year in university! We caught up while walking through Hyde Park watching the
roller bladders skate through the park and then caught some of the men’s
cycling before making our way over to one of the big screens across from Tower
Bridge to watch the volleyball. After cheering the Italian vs Dominican
Republic game, I headed back to Iain’s to go to attend a fancy Olympic party.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My last day was Sunday and I spent the morning exploring
Oxford street before stumbling into an English pub exhausted from walking. They were also broadcasting the Olympics. It was raining so we ordered some pints and some
English specialties. My brother told me I couldn't go to London without trying bangers and mash, so I had that while watching the women's 140km cycling race. During the last 20km of the race Iain
and I ran to across London in what can only be qualified as a rain storm toward Buckingham Palace to
watch the end of the race. There were loud speakers all along the last kilometer
of the race and thousands of people were lined up along the street. We pushed
our way through and with the hoards of people cheered the athletes across the
finish line. You should have heard the crowds erupt when team GB took the
silver! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What an end to an amazing weekend. I wasn’t ready
to leave London on Sunday but then I remembered I was returning to Paris… Oh
ya, it’s not so bad after all ;). <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-89799153576983588012012-07-23T13:04:00.003-07:002014-03-20T15:52:08.731-07:00Job swap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know how analysts say the next generation is going to
have multiple different careers in their lifetime? Well try different jobs
during a world holiday! Yes, about a month ago I switched mine. You see, I’m
not really cut out for retail. Or at least not when being a guide for bike
tours is an option! I’ll explain…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About five days after I arrived in Paris I took a bike tour
my previous employer in Vancouver suggested. Bike About Tours (<a href="http://www.bikeabouttours.com/">http://www.bikeabouttours.com/</a>) is
the name of the company and they do tours in English that are different from
your average “hit all the main tourist attraction” tours. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was scheduled to take the early tour, but I got lost trying to find Notre Dame and missed it. Fortunately, they allowed me to switch my tour time to the afternoon. I arrived for that one a bit flustered but excited to see Paris from a local’s
perspective. When I arrived, I met one of the owners. We talked for maybe two
minutes and then he said, “Do you have a job?” Now, it had only been the day
before I was hired at the gift shop, and I still hadn’t worked a shift yet. I
felt obliged to say yes because I thought I should give the gift shop job a
chance. He said it was too bad, but to stay in touch in case I change my mind.<br />
<br />
After two weeks at the gift shop I was bored and wanted something
I bit more... interesting. I met with Paul, the business owner who had offered me
the tour guide job, and accepted. After about a week of training I was ready to
take my own groups out around Paris!!<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The tour is a chance to
see Paris through the eyes of a local, as every guide lives in the city - most
longer than I have - we can show our clients a unique side of Paris. I love
doing the tours! Each one is a bit different, but the people are always a
blast! I have a great time joking around and teasing people on my tours, and
we all get to enjoy the city together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t tell you how many hours I have spent studying French
history, but I have a pretty good handle on it now! I’ve watched so many
documentaries it would make your head spin. So much for graduating university!
Who knew I’d take a summer job right after I graduated that had me taking notes
on documentaries an being tested by my employers on historical facts! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Either way, it’s been a real ride - pun intended! I work
four hours a day giving me the majority of the day to do as I please. For a
work holiday this job is a dream. Or as the French call it a “Vacance travail” –
a much better name since it puts holiday before work, which is much more
fitting I think.<br />
<br />
We North Americans have so much to learn from the French!<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-3005386765674451342012-07-18T06:44:00.002-07:002014-03-20T15:47:52.854-07:00Yoga me Paris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Four years ago I stumbled into a Bikram yoga class totally
unprepared for the +40 degree temperature, the strength and balance it
demanded, and length of the class. After an hour and a half of
sweating every last ounce of water in my body I collapsed on my mat looking like a prune, and I vowed to never return to Bikram yoga.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As many of you know, I have been practicing Bikram yoga for
the past four years and loved it – I have even dragged many friends and family members to
classes with me. As a runner, I have put a lot of strain on my joints and
muscles and this practice has been my treatment for all the injuries I have
acquired and even improved my running!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bikram yoga is a type of hot yoga that is the same 26
postures in the same order every time. Because of this, they say you can
practice in any language since it’s always the same. I decided to attend a
French class and see what it was like! The dialogue in French is almost
identical as the English one, which I find fascinating. It’s clear the Bikram
instructors are all taught the same way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What is different however is the culture. In Canada, classes
are all taught in English only – Montreal may be an exception. In Paris, the
Bikram studios offer an English class at 11am every day! That got me wondering
why in a city so headstrong about their language, they offer a class in
English? What’s more peculiar still is that all the instructors are fluent in
English and the majority are second language French speakers. Yesterday I went
to a French class and there was a guy speaking to the instructor afterward who
said, “I’m glad it looked like I knew what a I was doing… I don’t speak a word
of French!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then there’s the lululemon. Some how, on the other side
of the world where there are no lululemon stores, at yoga everyone is nonetheless
decked out in it! Generally that can strike up conversations as you ask each
other, “Oh are you Canadian or American? I noticed your lulu shirt!” Since
lululemon isn’t sold here in Paris, it’s like our own private inside joke!<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-14396969330114715232012-07-15T11:36:00.003-07:002014-03-20T15:45:07.650-07:00Barcelona, te quiero!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
What a weekend! Up at the crack of dawn, Allison and I
hopped on a flight to Barcelona early Friday morning, to join in the
celebration of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. The trip was a weekend excursion so we arrived to party for the opening night and drive back to Barcelona the next day. Then we'd have a nice in the city before returning to Paris on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Spanish tradition, running of the bulls dates back to the
14<sup>th</sup> century. While framers were transporting their cattle to the market through the streets in Spain, young men would try to
impress their friends, families and mostly the women by running along side the cattle. After
many years of this, it turned into a competition! The men would risk their lives by running with the bulls which became the basis for this celebration. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dressed in the traditional colours of red and white, Allison
and I joined a group of six and hit the ground in Pamplona at 11pm for the
concert. It was an all night celebration, so we were in for the long haul! We
danced, sang, drank sangria and I practiced my very rusty Spanish. Throngs of
people were partying in the streets, and it was next to impossible to make your
way through the crowds. It was probably the biggest party I have ever
attended in my life. Around 6:30 am, we made our way towards the finish line of
the race to find good seats, and perched on a statue we waited an hour and a
half for the four minute race. Hundreds of men ran through the fenced of streets. It was pretty clear when a group was near a bull because those groups were always faster than the rest. The first few to go through the gate were almost walking, while the guys near the back with in all out sprints! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Back on the bus at two o’clock Saturday afternoon, we slept the whole way back to
Barcelona then Allison and I checked into our hostel. Walking the streets in search of a
place for dinner, we stumbled across a tapas place with the nicest
server and owner I have ever met. I was having difficulty with my phone, and
the owner called the phone company trying to solve it for me! The food was
fantastic - I have fallen in love with Spanish food. After we ate, we walked to the harbor front and saw all the lights from
the boats along the water. The next day we made our way through the markets to
the beach and saw a parade. Dragging our feet, we made our way back to the
airport and returned to Paris. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The trip was fantastic, but far too short. I’m going to have
to return to Barcelona very soon! ;)<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-61793053793030219332012-07-09T13:41:00.002-07:002014-03-21T00:24:51.576-07:00Chez Allie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There is a place in the 11<sup>th</sup> arrondissement of
Paris that has come to be known to family and friends as ‘Chez Allie’. With the
number of visitors coming to visit me while I am here, it only seems fitting to call my apartment that!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the music festival, Tara stayed with me for 5 days. We
had an absolute blast seeing the Moulin Rouge, being educated on fancy French
wines in a wine cellar and eating FAR too much rich French cuisine.<br />
<br />
Canada day
happened to fall on the same day as the finals for the Euro cup, so after
meeting up with a few other Canadians in Paris, we went to the Great Canadian
Pub located on the seine. Ironically, there was only a handful of Canadians there, and the pub was
packed with Euro cup spectators! I guess Canada day is not quite as important
as soccer in France… <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The highlight of the week was our last dinner. We had done
our wine tasting at a place called O
Chateau on Monday and were given coupons for 10% off if we went back, so
for our last night we decided to return for the best meal I’ve had since coming
to Paris! We sat at the bar and chatted with the bar tenders who explained the
wines we were drinking and the dishes we were about to eat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After a week like that, I say to all of you… Come stay at
Chez Allie! Expect, however, to return home and hit the gym with vigour after consuming all the delicious food Paris has to offer!<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-19623714143490818832012-07-04T00:25:00.002-07:002012-07-04T00:25:52.792-07:00Old friends, new friends and a music festival<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two weeks ago I received an email from my friend Tara saying
she had found a cheap plane ticket to Europe. Six days later she arrived for
two weeks! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I planned to go to a music festival the following weekend to
see a very old friend of mine, Julia, who I hadn’t seen in 18 YEARS, so Tara
came along! Bright and early, Thursday morning, we grabbed our bags and took
off for the metro. Not realizing the time, we managed to completely miss the
train. Running through the metro like maniacs and pushing people out of the way
didn’t seem to help, and we ended up taking a train and bus for five hours to
get there instead of what would have been a direct two-hour trip.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we arrived, things went much more smooth. We were just
outside Dijon in the beautiful countryside for the weekend, and it was really
nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of Paris. Julia met us at the train
station and took us to Flavigny, a small medieval town near where she lives in
Semur to see it. This was also the set of the movie Chocolate, so we enjoyed
seeing the church and shop from the movie. We then went back to her place to
get ready for the music festival the next day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tara and I spent the next day navigating the streets of
Dijon, trying all the flavours of mustard that exist and braving the sales in
the stores along the way! In France, June 21<sup>st</sup> is the start of all
the sales in France, so we were taking advantage of that! That night, Julia took
us to the festival with all our stuff to camp on the grounds. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The festival is called Vacarm le rouge (http://vacarmlerouge.com/),
and Julia and her friends organize it annually. They do everything from building
all the tents and BBQs, making the food, organizing the washrooms, bar and
sleeping arrangements and it seemed to go off without a hitch! The bands were
great, many from the area and the turn out was fantastic. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After two days of late nights, heavy drinking
and tons of dancing, Tara and I were ready to head back home, so Sunday
morning, we once again took off at the crack of dawn for our train home. Of
course, we missed the early one! Forced to sleep in the train station like
hoboes surrounded by our things, we vowed to never risk missing another train
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><!--EndFragment-->Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-37692543977309731982012-06-26T13:13:00.000-07:002014-03-18T21:33:13.066-07:00Run Paris!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since the beginning of 2012 I have run along the seawall in
Vancouver while enjoying the view of the mountains and the ocean, seen the parliament buildings in Ottawa when cruising along the canal and now I have experienced a route along
La Seine while looking enjoying the view of Notre Dame, the bridges, and the
tip of the Eiffel Tower. Pure bliss!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While all these routes have something in common (i.e. beauty
and a body of water) the running cultures could not be more different! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vancouver is full of lulu clad, super-fit, mega buff bodies
running with very serious, and intent looks on their faces. It is so
intimidating that if you aren’t going at a fast enough pace it almost feels
like people could be judging your every move! Runners in Vancouver are everywhere, it is almost impossible to go outside and not see at least three or four.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ottawa has a bit more laid back feel. People wear
comfortable attire while running at any pace they see fit - pardon the pun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then there is Paris. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For a city known for it’s fashion, it is painfully obvious the
running clothes were not counted in the poll! Outfits range from tight spandex
to cargo shorts and deep v-neck t-shirts. I’m talking about cargo shorts with all
the pockets - just to be clear. And I am usually the only one - even on an hour's run. I get the strangest looks when I'm out on a run, I end up looking like
the weirdo in my lulus with Vancouverite practically tattooed on my forehead. But
of course, no one out here knows about Lululemon…clearly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-32510596797354323032012-06-23T13:51:00.001-07:002014-03-18T21:04:22.501-07:00Bringing BC to Paris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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Much to my delight, on Thursday my friend Marie - a fellow
British Columbian and UBC student - hopped on a bus from Leuven, Belgium where
she has been studying abroad, and came to Paris for a three day weekend. From
stopping to smell the flowers at the Eiffel tower, enjoying a picnic in the
grass outside Sacre Coeur and walking along the Champs Elysees, we just about
covered it all!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was great to see a familiar face in a very unfamiliar
city, and we had a blast trying new and different foods. Thursday was 'la Fete de la musique', which
consisted of a citywide outdoor concert. Bands were playing all genres of music around almost every corner. From Soul to
traditional French music and rap somewhere in there too, there was something
for everyone. Allison joined us and we walked from band to band, and café to
café sipping wine and enjoying the city. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We spent most of the next day walking…EVERYWHERE. Six hours
lost in the streets of Paris, were pure bliss! Marie seemed to be totally blown
away by the number of statues around the city and we started a rating system as
to how important we thought the person was based on the size of their statue!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The picnic at Sacre Coeur was my favourite. We took the stairs
to the top coming to the conclusion that by bypassing the funicular we had already burned our calories. There were artists all over the place and the region was pouring
with tourists and locals alike. We enjoyed French bread, champagne, fruit and
cheese while looking at the cityscape below us. We finished the trip with a
walk through the grounds of the Louvre and Marie waved goodbye as she hopped on
the metro! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-6648380144836980222012-06-18T12:31:00.001-07:002014-03-18T20:58:19.708-07:00The Latin Quarter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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There is a neighbourhood in Paris called the Latin Quarter - the Quartier Latin. It
has a personality of it’s own. The streets are tiny and seem to wind around one
another making it impossible to navigate. It is highly populated with cafes, restaurants and bars that people seem to pour in and out of. The Latin Quarter is probably one of the more lively parts of Paris. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It got it’s name because Latin was the official language of the community until 1753 while the rest
of Paris spoke French! Being nearby
the university Sorbonne adds to the distinctiveness of the district. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Friday night, I decided to check it out and brought Allison
along with me. We went to a restaurant called La Bousole, which is known for
serving French fusion. It was delicious! The atmosphere was very cozy and seemed to
have all walks of life enjoying the food and ambiance. There was an assortment
of ages of people and groups eating there too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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After dinner, we decided to see what the night life is like so we
headed to a bar called Chez George. Never have I been to a bar quite like this.
Packed full of 20 year olds holding bottles of wine in one hand and glasses in the other, the bar was bursting with people dancing to 50s music - no I am not joking!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was impossible to see past the throngs of people on the dance floor so without
enough room for me to bust a move, Allison and I decided tonight wasn’t the
night to brave the dance floor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">As we hopped on the metro home, both of us decided partying was yet one more thing the French seemed to be better versed in than those of us from North America. We’ll definitely be back – we have
much to learn. </span></div>
</div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-16752463136209047262012-06-14T07:50:00.004-07:002014-03-18T20:55:39.233-07:00Finally a chance to catch my breath...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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The past four days have been a whirlwind of starting
work and moving into my apartment! Needless to say, I’m finally figuring out
the Metro system.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The job</i>:<o:p></o:p></div>
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I arrive every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 1pm and
leave at 930pm when we close. Without any training or even an explanation on
how things work, I was thrown into my first shift. I hadn’t even signed
anything yet – still haven’t actually... Very different than at home! A very casual agreement, I chat with
customers, fetch things from the back room and organize gifts on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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M. Dupuis is very nice. He is a round man with glasses and
grey hair, probably around his early to mid 50s. On Monday he and I closed the
store together and he made a point of ensuring I knew where all the dangerous
parts of Paris were. I then promised him I wouldn’t find myself near them and he
seemed pleased saying if I ever had a problem he would be happy to help. The
tone changed after that, and he started describing all the parts of France I
had to see, giving me a list about a kilometer long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mme Dupuis is a bit more strict. She, is a big woman with a big presence. She has red hair and tends to command a level of respect from all
her employees. She loves that I speak English and has had me translate a few
things for her when filling out the order sheets. She finds my French mistakes
funny and my pronunciation of some words odd, but in a ‘aw you’re a nice little
Canadian girl’ kind of way. Or at least I think that’s how she sees it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My favourite part of the job is talking with customers. They come from all around the world. I had a nice chat with a couple from Calgary, a man from
Minesota and mother and daughter from Indonesia. I find that I speak almost
equal amounts of French, English and Spanish - yes Spanish, my high school
Spanish teachers would be so proud! All the different langauges swirling
around me are nice but do make me more prone to mistakes. On Tuesday I was
chatting away with a sweet old woman from the south of France and she asked me
for an apron. I tried very hard to sell her a magnet – and it wasn’t until she
pulled me over to the rack of aprons I understood. Completely embarrassed I
apologized to her and brought her over to the till with her apron AND magnet! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the women I work with is from Serbia, and while
French is her second language she speaks it as if it is her first. She has a
masters degree in Economics from Sorbonne and stayed in Paris because she met
her husband here – it seems a lot of people meet and fall in love in Paris. There must be some truth to calling it the most romantic city in the world! She and
I have wonderful long chats and she seems to be very interested in my
university degree. Throughout the day, she helps me along with
developing my French, correcting little mistakes as I go. It is great to have
someone who understands how communicating in your second language can be a bit
nerve wracking at times but she understands. Apparently everyone she speaks to
asks if she’s Italian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The apartment</i>:<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is my own little corner of Paris. At 20m squared,
which is just under 200 square feet, it is very tiny! The apartment is on the 2<sup>nd</sup> French floor - the 3<sup>rd</sup>
floor in Canadian terms - and my view is all the white roof tops that seem to be connected. I usually leave
the windows open to get a nice Parisian breeze. It is conveniently situated right next door
to a Patisserie. This is both fantastic and far too tempting as I get a whiff of
freshly made bread and pastries every time I walk through my building door.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I live in the Bastille neighbourhood - or the 11th arrondissement - which is known for being full of
young people between the ages of 20 and 30. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all seem to live in the cafes,
restaurants and the streets. I am actually sitting at one very lively café as I
write this sipping on a café au lait. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All in all it has been a crazy past few days, but I am
finally able to catch my breath. I feel much more at home and as soon as I am
wireless in the apartment things will be perfect – although I don’t mind the
excuse to come to a café every day to check emails! <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-31811191747787095302012-06-09T12:19:00.001-07:002014-03-18T20:48:38.212-07:00Allison squared<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="file:///.file/id=7027107.19"></a><a href="file:///.file/id=7027107.19"></a>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
What would you do if you met someone and when you told them
your name they said, “That’s my name!” Well, that happened to me a few days ago
at my orientation. I was talking to this girl who’s also part of the SWAP program
and when I told her my name, she informed me that was her’s as well. I was surprised
at that response so I clarified saying mine was Allison Tanner. Well, she said,
I’m Allison Traynor. It’s almost the same! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You just can’t make this stuff up. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It gets weirder, so apparently she is also a runner and is
studying international relations. She’s from New York and has become my first
friend in Paris. She is here on a year's exchange so she’s been here for a bit longer than
I have. It's nice to meet someone so similar to you on the other side of the world!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-57797636324532262712012-06-08T13:34:00.002-07:002014-03-18T20:46:58.058-07:00GO!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And did it ever ‘GO’!! Yesterday, I had plans to open a bank
account and meet with an apartment agency, and ended up landing a job as well!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It went like this… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was having a bit of a rough morning. I had been looking
for the bank for almost two hours when, almost like in a movie, the sky opened up and it began to rain. Hard.
You know when you think it couldn’t get any worse and then you see your
reflection and realize it’s worse than you thought? I was beginning to resemble
some sort of drowned rat. Now I know what you will say, how can a Vancouverite
let this happen?! Leave the house without rain boots or an umbrella on a day
with a chance of rain! Rookie mistake, I know. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regardless, the rain washed away my plan to make my
meetings and replaced it with the urgent need to find somewhere to dry off.
That’s when I saw a perfect little patisserie to duck into. I ordered a coffee
and a pastry, sat near the window, and tried to dry myself with the napkins the employees
had given me. Once I was a bit warmer, I pulled out my cellphone only to see it
was out of service – just my luck!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I swapped out my French sin card for my Canadian one just to
see if it was working and that’s when I noticed an email from my orientation
partner, Xavier, at SWAP. He emailed me to let me know a store owner had called him
frantically searching an employee to start immediately for a few months. When Xavier
mentioned me he said he wanted to meet me today. I explained that I was on my
way to two other appointments and I wouldn’t have time. Xavier insisted I go and meet with Monsieur Dupuis. I
polished off my coffee and ran back onto the streets to find the
bank.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I managed to find both offices, landing an apartment in the
process and quickly made my way to the gift shop. Monsieurs Dupuis was waiting
for me and said “Vous êtes la Canadienne?!” All I had time to say was "Oui!" before
I was hired.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am now employed at a little gift shop directly in front of
the Louvre. It is a family-run business and they own three gift shops in a row
all of which seem to sell the same things. It is a husband and wife and their
daughters work in the stores, as well as employees from all over the world. The
only common language is French, however, so I guess I’ll be getting a lot of
practice! I’ll be working only 3 days/week (Monday –
Wednesday) allowing me to travel most weekends or just enjoy Paris on my days
off!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I start this Monday, wish me luck!!<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019552166618580517.post-65511782551125226772012-06-07T11:56:00.001-07:002014-03-18T20:42:59.932-07:00Ready, Set...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Contrary to popular belief, Parisians are extremely helpful! Although I should add that looking helpless, dazed and confused might have lead to some 'pity-help' from people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finding my hotel for the first few nights was a challenge in
and of itself! I was a metro virgin with two very heavy suitcases. Thankfully, a
woman saw me looking at my map and not only gave me her metro map, but also
carried one of my bags for me to my next train. On our walk, she explained the entire metro system to me! After that it was a breeze until I arrived at my stop, and after 16 hours of travelling I was a bit lost. Once again some very nice Parisians helped me on my way.</div>
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<br /></div>
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table.MsoNormalTable
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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
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<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">After many a wrong turn, followed by a rusty
"Excusez-moi..." to every person I met, I eventually made it to my
hotel and was able to prepare for my orientation the next day. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Orientation
was fantastic, I got lots of great information and it made me confident enough
to go straight to a phone company and register for a French phone number!
Discussing phone plans, options and payment schedules is never easy in your
first language, let alone in your second; but some how I managed to stumble
through it and landed my first international phone plan.</span><!--EndFragment-->
</span></div>
Allison Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04200988894484474438noreply@blogger.com0