just a quick note to say that I've made it to France! I'm in an internet cafe, so I can't post pictures yet, but I'll have wireless internet once I start classes next week.
Everything has been great so far -- the flight was fine (thanks to those who advised Benadryl -- it worked!), and the food on the flight was surprisingly good... maybe that's because it was AirFrance! We're staying in the hotel in Tours until Sunday, and the town of Tours is, from what I've seen so far, great. The meals have been very French and fantastic, and the tours have been interesting. We visited two chateaux yesterday (Chambord and Blois), and we'll see a 3rd today (Amboise). We also visited the wine caves this morning, which was interesting but rather chilly inside.
I'm off now to find lunch. Hope everything is going great for you!
Summer in France... ahhh.... la joie de vivre!
Bienvenue / Welcome!
I've created this blog to keep friends and family up-to-date on what I'm up to while I'm studying in France. I'll spend the first four weeks studying at Institut de Touraine (Institute of Touraine) in the town of Tours, and I'll be in Paris for the final week. (Jacob gets to meet me there!) Since I know I won't be able to speak with all of you while I'm gone, I hope this blog will help us stay somewhat "connected." Send me an email anytime -- mrs.holmes@gmail.com I'd love to hear from you!
joie de vivre
This is what Wikipedia has to say about joie de vivre, that certain "je ne sais quoi" that I love about the French:
Joie de vivre (from the French joie, "joy"; de, "of"; vivre, "to live, living") is a term used to express a cheerful enjoyment of life. Joie de vivre, as one scholar has written, "can be a joy of conversation, joy of eating, joy of anything one might do… And joie de vivre may be seen as a joy of everything, a comprehensive joy, a philosophy of life, a Weltanschauung. Robert's Dictionnaire says joie is sentiment exaltant ressenti par toute la conscience, that is, involves one's whole being."
Where in the world is Tours?
This is what the Institute's site says about Tours:
Though close to Paris, Tours has retained its personality, its wonderful countryside and its gentle way of life. By T.G.V. (High Speed Train), Tours is 55 minutes from Paris, 1 hour and 40 minutes from Charles-de-Gaulle airport, and 4 hours from Waterloo-Station in London. Tours is the capital of Touraine, also called the Garden of France. Famous for its historic and architectural heritage, Tours is also a young city : its University welcomes 30 000 students. Its lively atmosphere is particularly to be felt in its pedestrian area, only a minute away from the Institute.
Pedestrian area in Tours
2 comments:
Glad your flight went well. Sounds like your already having a good time. Again, I am so jealous! :)
Good to hear that you've made it safely to France and that you're already drinking wine! (do not mix it with benadryl though...:-)
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