A weekend in fairytale-city!

So, I've been here a month. I can actually hardly believe I've been here that long! But, being in Paris for about a month sometimes necessitates a break from the hustle and bustle of big city/parisien life.  This past weekend, I was able to catch a break in the fairytale city-Strasbourg.  Now, I say fairytale because if Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty were filmed with real scenery and people today, it would be there. Anyway, back to trip details. I went with 5 of my great IES pals, and we actually met up with another group of 4 a few times from our program (they also chose it for a good away weekend).  After taking the early-bird special train Friday morning (arriving at 10:00ish, left at 7:30am), we deposited our unnecessary items at the hostel (best hostel EVER) and set out to explore.  The nice thing about Strasbourg, among many other things, is the fact that you can walk from one end to another in about 30 minutes at the most, not possible at all in paris. By about 11, we were ready for lunch and stumbled upon a restaurant that introduced into the alsacienne delicacy, tarte flambée. HOLY JOKER, BATMAN! Think about this...thin, crispy crust that is light, nothing like pizza, then some fromage frais, a little brebis, some emmental melted, throw a little cooked lardon (bacon) and some onions and mushrooms et Voila! Delicious meal. Also, it doesn't hurt to have a beer or glass of wine.

After a scrumptious first lunch, we decided to find this cathedral everyone had been raving about. Well. There is much to rave about. First the stone is red, so different from anything I've seen before! Second, there is a crazy astronomical/doomsday/judgment clock that is both creepy and amazing complete with crazy lookin' babies and a cock that crows. Second, the stained glass windows have some amazing patterns that have a very clear german influence in addition to french influence.

After that we made brief rounds at the Archaeology museum before going on our fabulously warm and comfy boat tour.  Now, as I mentioned before, we all got up around 5 to make our 7:30 train, so by 4pm, we were pretty tired. The best place to repose a bit? Warm, covered boat tour in the canals of Strasbourg. While I did take many pictures, it was an hour and a half-ish, so naps were had, it was all part of the package.  After the boat tour? More naps in the best beds ever. Our hostel was fantastic. Free breakfast in the morning, super comfortable beds and adjustable heat in the room. We also had fresh towels and extra blankets, soooo great! 5 digits up to Ciarus! After naptime, it was again, eating time, more tarte flambée and some spaetzle, mmmm...I have missed you german-esque food! Now, don't get me wrong, the french love their butter and sugar and that's all fine and dandy, but the germans, they love meat and potatoes. Oh, how I have missed that. They also love butter and sugar, so...yeah, on to Saturday!

Ok, saturday was a big day.  The highlight of which I will mention in a second. But...we went to the cathedral again to see the giant astronomical clock presentation, which, "bref" told us that the we're all being judged by creepy babies, death, jesus and a cock that crows. Great! Ok. Now here's the highlight...CHOCOLATE MUSEUM!!!!! Ah! I know, you're freaking out, too.  Chocolate+museum+chocolate again = the ultimate happiness. So, as we progressed through the museum, the presence of the chocolate aroma became more and more evident.  Eventually at the end, we saw a the world's best sign: Chocolate Demonstration, and watched a french lady make bunnies and storks and such, and then we heard the world's best words: "est-ce que vous voulez en goûter?" or "would you like to taste some?" uhhh...YES.  So we filled up on large chunks on white, milk and dark chocolate. After all of this, we still got a free gift of chocolate praline truffles. best.trip.ever.  For the rest of the we did some more walking around, discovering and taking in the scenery, ate another tasty, filling alsacian meal, and a few of us decided to go out and dance at Jimmy's bar. An absolutely fantastic choice, actually, so fun!

Sunday, we had to leave around noonish, so Sarah and I got up early to walk around a little, and it was completely dead and quiet. It felt like we were by ourselves on a movie set, it was so quiet, but absolutely splendid.  Before the train left, I walked around Petite France for just a little bit to see it before departing (it's the oldest and prettiest part of Strasbourg).  All in all, a trip that served it's purpose perfectly: we got out of the city and were treated to something new and different and yet still incredibly French.  Amazing.

Everything happens for a reason.

I have always been someone who has gone back and forth on my opinion about fate and chance, but there is one thing that is true for everyone everywhere and that is that everything happens for a reason.  This entry will be short, and not really about Paris, so I'm sorry for that. BUT, I promise pictures are on their way now that my storage device has arrived (thanks mom and dad!).

So, everything happens for a reason. My dearest dog Charlie, my longest and closest companion in my life thus-far, passed away Tuesday.  There are many great stories about him, which I won't go into now, but his qualities as a dog and friend were very special.  The reason I'm writing about things happening for a reason? I found out this morning about my pup, and guess what I had waiting for me in my mailbox when I arrived at school? A care-package from my parents and a letter from my grandpa.  Now. This may seem "small" as a "sign".  But, just knowing that I was going to open it, find my favorite cookies from mom, and a special letter from both my parents and grandpa, was splendid.. After finding out this morning and later, totally by chance, having comfort immediately here? Unbelievable.

I also must say, that my friends at IES have been truly wonderful.  I love you all, and I appreciate your love and support.

Dearest Charlie-dog,

May your bowl in the after-life have a never-ending supply of dinner scraps, may you always find a good carpet on which to scratch your back, may there be grand lakes in which you find a number of sticks larger than your body and endless sandy beaches on which to dig vast holes, may you always have a cozy blanket to sleep on at night with a down pillow for comfort, and may you forever be able to get the tennis ball (or 8) from under the couch.

Rest in peace, old boy, you will be forever missed,

Love, Kelsy

PS. I ate a crèpe with nutella and banane in a toast to Charlie as he very much loved all things decadent :)