Holidaze

So, up to this point, as I live for the weekend, my starting point is usually Aix-en-P. I love the people there so much--they're always out and about & doin' stuff. So yeah, I've made friends, it's just rather inconvenient that they are about an hour and a half away, by car. (By bus it's a whole other story, but I abandoned bus travel a little while back). With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas on the way, I am still reminding myself to be thankful for the people in my life--the loved ones I left behind, as well as the great people I've just met.

I have lost count of the weekends spent in Aix at this point, even if only to stop over there for a night en route to my weekend destination. Here's some shots of Aix adventures as of late--

Jenny and I got really excited about the Christmas decorations when they first went up

Meow=Miaou

When my Dad came to visit we met in Aix, where we hiked around Mt Saint-Victoire with our canine companion.

A few of my Aix accomplices: Leah, Lauren, Anne! I have crashed at all three of their places; sometimes I feel like I just pass myself around the Aix crew...

And, even on gray days, Digne can sometimes be worth a picture or two as well. I run along the river a few times a week (as long as it's not too cold, dark, or rainy), and it's really a beautiful scene.

the running path, along the river

But guess what?! I am far from both Digne and Aix--currently sitting at the airport in Paris, awaiting a flight to Hamburg, Germany. It will be my first time in Germany and I am terrified, considering that I speak not a word of German. That's a lie--I can say "danke!" and "Sprechen Sie Englisch?" Hopefully that's enough...I am coming off a couple of nights in Paris. I was dying to see the city at Christmastime, and it's beautiful with all the lights and what not, but honestly, there were too many people for me. It was infuriating. The whole city was jam-packed; it was literally impossible to escape crowds.

Rough itinerary for the remainder of this glorious 2-week vacation: Hamburg, Rostock, Berlin, Cologne, and Dusseldorf if I can fit it in, because I like the name. My vacation goals are as follows- learn a few phrases of German, eat sausage & shnitzel (sp?), and learn how a German Christmas is celebrated.

I am so lucky to be staying with Couchsurfing friends. It means that I will be surrounded by family on Christmas, even if it is not my own family. It still means a lot. I am kind of frustrated by the holidays this year because they are making me miss home and wish I could be back in DC, which is madness, because I should just be taking advantage of living in Europe without feeling that melancholy pull of homesickness. I just keep telling myself that I'll have many more Christmases at home, and probably very few in Germany! Better to discover the world than play it safe. Right?

Let the adventure begin! 

WHEN IS MY NEXT VACATION.

Despite my best efforts to involve myself in Digne and in France in general (joining the gym and taking fitness classes there, going to the market and chatting up vendors, getting a drink at the local bar, speaking French over dinner with my favorite professor), I have to be honest--I spend my entire life waiting for the weekend. I have wonderful adventures, even if it's just a weekend in Aix, which has become my second home after three consecutive weekends there (thanks Lauren!). I have some friends, which is nice, but I can only really see them on the weekend. Alas, in the least sad way possible (not fishing for sympathy, just tryna express myself, so if you are feeling sorry for me then just RELAX): I have never known this loneliness. Freshman year of college is probably the only other stereotypically insecure and vulnerable period I can think of, and I had the most amazing person in the world by my side, so even in the dead of a Michigan winter, I couldn't really complain.

Anyway.

I had a tough couple of weeks last month, so I feel like up is the only place to go from here. Could have been a post-vacay dip. Speaking of that vacation, let me finally get some pictures up from the rest of it (Milan, Krakow, Paris). Milan was eh; when I went as a young girl, I was not particularly impressed, and I tried to go with a positive attitude but I think that since I ended up only having one night there, I was bound to leave without getting to give the city a real chance. I still would like to make it back again, a 3rd (wait no, a 4th!) time. Krakow was a serious game-changer. LOVED POLAND. The concentration camps--we devoted a full day to touring them--were...amazing in the worst way. So much pain, I felt physically ill the whole time. But everyone should have to visit them, I think. And, as always, it was great to be back in Paris. After a quick rough patch in our relationship, I am enchanted by Paris once again. I can't wait to get back there in late December to see the city at Christmastime! What beautiful, romantic loneliness. Okey doke (my students laugh every time I say that), check it out:

Found a little café for apertivo #1 in Milan, and made friends with the guy at the pastry counter there. He made me promise to come back to Milan, which was sweet. Don't know that I can come through, but I will try. He kept pressing free sweets into my hand though, so like, I ain't gonna complain. Plus he's so smiley!

More smiley men at aperitivo #2, where I was the only female in the bar (and the only person under 30). We were all best friends. Smiley old man on the right was drinking coffee with hard core liquor in it at 9:30 at night. Milanese senior citizens go hard.

The reason I spent so much time in bars in Milan was that I was waiting for a table at this really famous pizza place called Maruzzella, where the pizzas are made in ovens like the one above. It was very much the OPPOSITE of a well-kept secret/hidden gem; the wait for a a table for 1 was 45 minutes...In the end, I just got a pizza to go, and took it back to share with my guys at the bar! (one of whom happened to be the nephew of the maitre d at the pizza place.)

En route to Krakow to meet up with...

these goons, aka the A-team. Second from left is a familiar face, obviously Annebam, my twin from Paris. The rest of them (Ellen, Dana, Laura, and Josh) are her buddies from Val, where she is doing TAPIF. They were SO KIND AND WELCOMING even though I essentially just crashed their trip to Poland. It was a blast. After travelling alone for a week, it was straight up amazing to get to stop thinking for myself all the time. Followed the herd a bit, and happily. Helps when the people around you are so fun. Also, for the record, The mosquito hostel in Krakow is the best hostel I have ever stayed in, hands down. Also Poland is freezing (I did not know).

One of our best memories: taking a "Macabre Krakow" nighttime ghost+serial killer walking tour. We had a great walking guide, and the eerie atmosphere was awesome for the creepy stories he told. Also, we were generally pleased, considering that we came prepared with a flask of artisanal infused cinnamon-pear-clove vodka.

The official drink of my trip to Poland (consumed primarily by me and my male twin, Josh--DAB if there ever was one): Irish coffee. Thankfully, I was able to drink them because in Polish bars, they were made with just whiskey, en lieu of that Bailey's madness

Annebam + Polish pastries, defines cute.

Ellen is the cutest. Especially when she tries to eat a Napoleon that is as big as her face. (Aftermath=tummyache) 

Krakow, as seen from our rooftop café 

The bad thing about the Polish language is that it is literally impossible. The good thing is that it makes for endless amusement. For example, "chips"-> "chipsy" LOL (and kebab=kebaby)

Night #1, solo in Paris: a Portuguese-Parisian wine bar in the 11th. So nice to be back in ma city, if only for a night (solo anyway). The next day, I got to meet up with Alex, my pal from DC (known each other since age...4?) and it was SO REFRESHING to spend time with someone who knows me. Saved us from so much stupid small talk. 

Lucy, the adorable pup of Alex's friend Mal, who is getting her Master's in Paris right now. SO nice to have a canine companion for the day (halloween, coincidentally). My puppy Dipsy passed away recently since I have arrived in France, and I have been going through doggy withdrawal. Slash hugging every dog I see, much to the dismay of their confused French owners.  

The Galleries Lafayette at Xmastime! SO so pretty! Love SPARKLY THINGS

Vacation Part 2: La vita italiana

The view of the city from the river Po

The last of my solo vacation time in Italy was spent in Torino, with my lovely Couchsurfing host (and insta-BFF) Alice and her 2 awesome flatmates. I stayed an extra night there, effectively reducing my time in Milan to less than 24 hours--but I wasn't worried about it too much. Being in France for nearly a full year makes me feel as if anything is possible travel-wise. Italy is just next door! As you can see from above and below, Turin was beautiful. I went with high expectations, thanks to an Italian colleague who incessantly raved about his hometown, and I was not disappointed. Also, my Italian came back really quickly, I am happy to report. That is another reason I am determined to go back; it's like every word was just on the tip of my tongue, and I know that if I stayed in Italy for a few months or more I would be speaking comfortably.

Some views from my Italian-led night walk, which tried and failed to help me get my bearings

Shiny pinky statue!

Reminded me of a Parisian arcade :)



The view of the river by day, on a great morning run

A little medeival villa that you can visit, nestled within the Parco del Valentino where I ran

Italy, moreso than France, was all about the Halloween/autumnal decorations. I was lovin' it

Samuel L. Jackson circa Django Unchained, amirite!?