Mon Voyage en France!

Traveling to France

My senior year of high school, there was an exchange student in my calculus class who was from France. Her name was Milie and she stayed a year and graduated with us. It happens that she is now in a business school in Lille, France, which is just across Belgium from Nijmegen. The second she found out where I was studying abroad, she invited me to visit her in Lille. The last weekend in September, I took a train to visit!

Paris

Saturday morning we woke up at 5 am and took a bus to Paris. It was a 3 hour ride through the French countryside. Once we arrived in Paris, we bought a metro ticket for 4 euros that we could use all day long (we definitely got our money’s worth out of it). The only thing I told her I had to see was the Eiffel tower, so we did that first. It was a very interesting moment, walking up to it. In a way it felt so familiar considering I have seen so many photos of it and trinkets made to replicate it. It looked exactly how I expected it to. Also, in a way it felt strange to see it. All I could think was, I never imagined I would actually see the Eiffel tower in real life. I hadn’t planned to go to France before that weekend and I had no idea that I would end up in Paris until we planned it a few weeks before. What I learned from the Eiffel tower was I was lucky to be there to see it. It was beautiful and tremendous and I tried to soak in every moment with it, just like the Rocky Mountains or the beach in Florida and just be thankful for my opportunities in life.

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

The Louvre & The Louvre Pyramid, Paris, France

Next we saw the Lourve and the Lourve Pyramid, Montmarte, Place de la Concorde, Tuileries Garden and then ate at a Bistro Milie recommended (Le Competior). We went to see Notre Dame de Paris and walked up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. I will also admit, I had no idea what most of these things were and had to look up the names before blogging about them. The architecture was what amazed me the most. All of the buildings were different shades of white and creams. All girly and ornate, with black rod-iron balconies with flower boxes full of pink flowers. I decided that I loved Paris.

Paris, France

Tuileries Garden, Paris, France

Hotel de Ville, Paris, France

Lille

After Paris, we took our bus back and arrived in Lille at 9 pm, just in time for the Renaissance parade! Milie’s apartment was just across the street from where we were dropped off by the bus but of course the street blocked off for the parade. We soon accepted the fact that we weren’t going to cross it so we stayed to enjoy it instead. The floats were huge, bright and colorful on the back of semi-trucks. There was loud music and confetti cannons as well as half-naked dancers with feathers and glitter. The parade marked the beginning of a series of art events that will last until mid-January. Although we were super hungry and Milie was sick, we still were able to enjoy the parade.

Sunday morning we went to a bakery to get bread for our dinner later and a muffin for breakfast. I saw a little coffee shop that I had heard about on Pinterest called Notting Hill Coffee so I figured I had better try out their coffee. We walked around the market in the middle of the city and Milie gave me a tour of Lille. The architecture in Lille was beautiful as well and there was a lot to see. Most shops were closed because it was Sunday which was a bummer considering France clearly has great shoes. There were many shops with windows full of cute shoes that taunted me throughout our walk. We did find a store that was open that was full of things made in France. I decided I needed a French souvenir so I bought a pair of socks because socks are just about my favorite thing ever.

 Notting Hill Coffee, Lille, France

 Hotel Carlton, Lille, France

Place du General de Gaulle, Lille, France

I would most definitely recommend traveling to Lille, France. The architecture is wonderful and the streets are alive with locals.

Never say no to food

Friday night we made quiche which I had never had before. We also had stinky cheeses and different kinds of meats that Milie told me were all typical French foods. Saturday in Paris, we went to a lovely French Bistro called Le Competior and I had a Steak with potatoes and salad on the side. I usually don’t like steak but this one was amazing. Milie informed me that most French people don’t cook their meet like we do in America. Knowing this because she lived in America for a year, she ordered my steak cooked for me (thank goodness). After, I ordered a banana split for desert and she ordered a gourmet tea. I learned that in France a gourmet tea or coffee comes with all kinds of little deserts as well. My banana split was just as wonderful as the steak and I was feeling quite happy. Saturday evening once we were finally home, we had Chicken Cordon Bleu from a box with pasta which Milie said was a typical college student meal. Sunday I got a muffin from a bakery and for lunch we had steak patties and zucchini. Of course, I loved the food once again.

Trains, Trains, Trains

I was able to set up trains online in which it told me exactly which changes to take in order to get me to Lille. On Friday I woke up at 4:45 and biked to the train station for my train at 6:17. From there I went to Roosendaal, Brussels, Tournai and then to Lille. Everything went very smoothly and I was there before noon. Expecting my journey home to be just as simple, I left Lille ready to make my 6 changes on my way to Nijmegen, getting home just after midnight. I arrived in Tournai at 6:30 and my train was supposed to leave for Brussels at 6:44. I looked at the board and under that train in bold letters read something in French. I could only assume it meant canceled and my heart sank. Apparently, they can just cancel a train last minute just because. I still had many more stops to go and I would miss them all if I didn’t get to Brussels on time. I searched for anyone who looked like they spoke English and even asked a few. I got a lot of blank stares and some no’s. There was a huge line for the window where I could get information but I finally found a girl who spoke English but she didn’t know what I should do. I decided my only choice was to take the train in an hour to Brussels and ask for help there because it is a bigger station and people would be available. I rode the train for an hour to Brussels feeling sick. The second I got to Brussels I ran off the train to the nearest information desk. I told the man my problem and he said the last train for the Netherlands already left. He sent me to the Thalys desk where I repeated my problem to a woman. When speaking with her, I was so nervous and overwhelmed I could have thrown up right there. Thankfully, she told me that I could get on the last high speed train to Amsterdam and then from there take a train to Nijmegen that would arrive after 2 am. She was able to switch my ticket for free. I got on the Thalys train and sunk into my velvety seat that would be my home for the next two hours. I realized that I had never been on a high speed train before. I also realized that even though it was inconvenient, I was still going home that night. While abroad I am learning that there are certain things in life that are completely out of my control. There is always another option, and it will always work out. Yes, I am stuck on a train in the middle of the night, but I am traveling at high speeds through the Netherlands completely on my own. A month ago, or even a year ago, I would have never imagined doing the things I have done here abroad!

Lille, France

Thank you to everyone who is reading my blogs. I try to post as often as I can, but my main priority here is my schoolwork. I will be posting in a few days about my trip to a Dutch theme park as well. Then I am headed to Brussels, Belgium this weekend and you can look for a post about that trip shortly after!

Also, thank you Milie for hosting me for the weekend and being such a fantastic tour guide. I was lucky to have met a friend like you who showed me living abroad isn't as scary as I thought. I probably would have never considered going abroad if it weren't for you doing it in high school. I enjoyed learning about France and it's history as well as seeing a little piece of your "real life"!