Thursday, April 30, 2009
Last Saturday Lisa and I went to Annecy to enjoy the picturesque little french town. We were accompanied by Canadian friend and photographer [you'll see what I mean later] Jesse. The day started off rough because the tram we were supposed to take was early, and we missed it. Our train to Annecy was due to leave at 8:02. Current time, 7:17. We decided to walk to the main train station... then a bit further, decided on a bus that came at 740, got to the stop at 750, didnt really know where the station was, so we kinda walked a bit, turned out we had to walk back and go the other way... so we ended up breaking into a jog and hurrying because at this point its like 755... we run up the street, round the corner and see the station. get to the station, walk through and get to the platform. THE platform, there's one... and the train wasnt there, sooo it was anticlimactic. we ran for nothing! but we made it!
It was a pretty ride, we changed trains... but not when we were supposed to, they changed it up on us. We ended up getting to Annecy 30 minutes early! It was a bit chilly, we walked around tryin to stay warm. We took a few jumping shots, because, well, thats what we do. And it helps you stay warm; the jumping, the laughing, the public humiliation. You know, the norm.
Saturday must have been flea market/antiques day because the sidewalks were clogged with ppl putting their wares on display. we saw everything from china to books, from stuffed animals to antique guns, furniture to hats. I was tempted to try and haggle for something i didnt need. my argument being "It's used, isn't it? I'm not paying full price. There's a newer model anyways." i didnt know if that would make them laugh or hate me. They are French you know... that's one heck of a grudge.
walked around the city, saw the castle on the hill. then decided we needed lunch. decided to get steak frites... oh man, what a lunch. first, they got our drinks wrong. we wanted demi-peche, which is beer w peach, and we just got peach water. lame. then our steaks came out and they were not at all cooked in the middle. like they had thrown them on a hot fire and cooked only the outside. the middle was rare and cold. so we sent them back. when they came out, one side was cooked, an done side was cold. it was so stupid. but the fries were really good!
It was a pretty ride, we changed trains... but not when we were supposed to, they changed it up on us. We ended up getting to Annecy 30 minutes early! It was a bit chilly, we walked around tryin to stay warm. We took a few jumping shots, because, well, thats what we do. And it helps you stay warm; the jumping, the laughing, the public humiliation. You know, the norm.
Saturday must have been flea market/antiques day because the sidewalks were clogged with ppl putting their wares on display. we saw everything from china to books, from stuffed animals to antique guns, furniture to hats. I was tempted to try and haggle for something i didnt need. my argument being "It's used, isn't it? I'm not paying full price. There's a newer model anyways." i didnt know if that would make them laugh or hate me. They are French you know... that's one heck of a grudge.
walked around the city, saw the castle on the hill. then decided we needed lunch. decided to get steak frites... oh man, what a lunch. first, they got our drinks wrong. we wanted demi-peche, which is beer w peach, and we just got peach water. lame. then our steaks came out and they were not at all cooked in the middle. like they had thrown them on a hot fire and cooked only the outside. the middle was rare and cold. so we sent them back. when they came out, one side was cooked, an done side was cold. it was so stupid. but the fries were really good!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
So, only in Switzerland can you find newspaper stands that aren't locked...
There is a small slot on the side where you leave your money, and in return you lift the plastic covering and take your paper. It's an honor system... and it seems to work. There are always papers left by the end of the day, and everyone pays!
The Swiss also don't litter or stare at eachother on the bus...
"Take a big bite into 100% beef, with streaky bacon, melted cheese slices made from delicious Emmental, slices of tomato, crispy lettuce, onion and Big Tasty sauce...need we say more?"
Streaky bacon? SOLD!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Together again. After 10 long days of separation. I think you all know what that means... There's gonna be a little more of this...
Some more of this....
And DEFINITELY more of THIS!
hopefully we can find a photographer and I can keep my eyes open!
Some more of this....
And DEFINITELY more of THIS!
hopefully we can find a photographer and I can keep my eyes open!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Lisa's back so i'm not so so alone! We wandered around today hoping to score some sunshine... but every time we sat down the sun ducked behind some clouds and didn't come out until we got up to leave!
arc en ciel!
flower clock
our sleeping arrangement. ha.
hippo guarding his side of the bed!!
arc en ciel!
flower clock
our sleeping arrangement. ha.
hippo guarding his side of the bed!!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
microscopic kitchen
entertainment corner!
big bed, down everything
massive bathroom for european standards
the dining room, livin room, front room
entrance to the Parc des Bastions
Jumbo Chess anyone?
Genevas Famous Jet d'eau... and a rainbow... awww
funny money
the famous flower clock... i'd never heard of it tho!
It’s been a while since my last post, apologies. Near the end of our sojourn in Clermont things were pretty hectic, and now that I’m in Geneva things are equally hectic as I figure out this city that will be my home for the next 4 months.
So far, Switzerland has been everything I love about France, and has lacked all the things that drive me crazy about France.
1. It’s not an uncommon site in any French supermarket, fast food place, or any service driven place in general to be highly understaffed at the register. Yes, only at the register. At a store there will be tons of workers milling about the aisles, but only 2 of the 6 registers are equipped with personnel that slowly serve the ever-lengthening line of customers. In Switzerland, the registers are stocked and the people are efficient…. I think they get that from the German side…
2. For those of you that speak French you are aware that the way of saying 70 [soixante-dix], 80 [quatre-vingts]and 90 [quatre-vingt-dix] is a game in arithmetic. The seventies are sixty-ten, sixty-eleven, sixty twelve and so on. The eighties are even worse with four-twenties, four twenties and 1, four-twenties and 2 etc, and the nineties borrow it from both; four twenties ten, four twenties eleven, four twenties twelve. You can imagine the trouble when it comes to handing out phone numbers…. Quatre vingt douze… is that 80.12 or 92? One may never know… but the ever savvy swiss have looked back to their Latin origins and have adopted the system of having a DIFFERENT WORD for each number, like every other romance language out there. Good-bye soixante-dix, quatre-vingt and quatre-vingt-dix ! Hello septante, huitante and nonante. I think it goes back to the efficiency thing...
3. In France dog crap is a part of life. The “crottes de chien” that decorate French towns and cities alike are an accepted part of la vie française. After spending months and months watching my feet when I walked as to avoid stepping in doggie do do I have come to love the fact that the swiss do not share this custom with their westernly neighbors. Instead, they offer free plastic bags everywhere and remind owners to clean up after their dogs… maybe this ‘trend’ will catch on one day in France.
4. They have good chocolate and cheese here too!
5. The French like to stare. It’s a part of their culture. I don’t know if its an innate curiosity or something that has been passed from parent to child, but I do know its irritating as ever when people stare at you without shame in public places. You get on the bus and everyone stares at you like you have 3 heads and are speaking in tongues…well, I guess English is strange enough for the French… but its not even like it’s a quick look… its at least a 60 second total evaluation. Weird. The swiss respect peoples’ private lives and personal space. They do not stare, they do not harass celebrities, and they do not even look in people’s apartment windows as they are passing. There is a sign on the bus that says ‘respect the privacy of others. Don’t look at the other passengers’. Maybe this is a bit much… but its definitely better than being stared at!!
So far, Switzerland has been everything I love about France, and has lacked all the things that drive me crazy about France.
1. It’s not an uncommon site in any French supermarket, fast food place, or any service driven place in general to be highly understaffed at the register. Yes, only at the register. At a store there will be tons of workers milling about the aisles, but only 2 of the 6 registers are equipped with personnel that slowly serve the ever-lengthening line of customers. In Switzerland, the registers are stocked and the people are efficient…. I think they get that from the German side…
2. For those of you that speak French you are aware that the way of saying 70 [soixante-dix], 80 [quatre-vingts]and 90 [quatre-vingt-dix] is a game in arithmetic. The seventies are sixty-ten, sixty-eleven, sixty twelve and so on. The eighties are even worse with four-twenties, four twenties and 1, four-twenties and 2 etc, and the nineties borrow it from both; four twenties ten, four twenties eleven, four twenties twelve. You can imagine the trouble when it comes to handing out phone numbers…. Quatre vingt douze… is that 80.12 or 92? One may never know… but the ever savvy swiss have looked back to their Latin origins and have adopted the system of having a DIFFERENT WORD for each number, like every other romance language out there. Good-bye soixante-dix, quatre-vingt and quatre-vingt-dix ! Hello septante, huitante and nonante. I think it goes back to the efficiency thing...
3. In France dog crap is a part of life. The “crottes de chien” that decorate French towns and cities alike are an accepted part of la vie française. After spending months and months watching my feet when I walked as to avoid stepping in doggie do do I have come to love the fact that the swiss do not share this custom with their westernly neighbors. Instead, they offer free plastic bags everywhere and remind owners to clean up after their dogs… maybe this ‘trend’ will catch on one day in France.
4. They have good chocolate and cheese here too!
5. The French like to stare. It’s a part of their culture. I don’t know if its an innate curiosity or something that has been passed from parent to child, but I do know its irritating as ever when people stare at you without shame in public places. You get on the bus and everyone stares at you like you have 3 heads and are speaking in tongues…well, I guess English is strange enough for the French… but its not even like it’s a quick look… its at least a 60 second total evaluation. Weird. The swiss respect peoples’ private lives and personal space. They do not stare, they do not harass celebrities, and they do not even look in people’s apartment windows as they are passing. There is a sign on the bus that says ‘respect the privacy of others. Don’t look at the other passengers’. Maybe this is a bit much… but its definitely better than being stared at!!
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