3-24-2024 Sunday
The weather has turned wickedly cold. For Saturday and Sunday, there was lots of rain and wind. I borrowed a heavier coat from Fabienne and wore several layers. I discovered that my umbrella does work but there is a learning curve in getting it up and down. I think I showed my face as the clumsy foreigner when I couldn’t get it down before getting on the bus. That was a sight. How is that possible?
(Note: Aline is the daughter of Fabienne and Francis, and Mia is their granddaughter.) Mia was involved in a horse competition on Sunday afternoon. We arrived at the place of the competition and found Mia, who was brushing her horse. To my delight, she was wearing a most interesting shirt. Another day—another devil. YAY.
As soon as we finished with lunch, it started to really rain with wind. AAARGH!! In spite of the weather, the teams warmed up and practiced. Then, it was time for the competition.
There were teams of 2 people who worked together to carry a baton from one end of the field to the other; to place a spear in a bucket; and other stuff. I was so cold and wet, I didn’t notice the games but I did notice that the horses didn’t much like the wind and rain. Mia’s horse decided that it didn’t want her on its back, so bucked her off and that was the end of watching Mia at the competition. She was OK. Just shook up. We left.
3-24-2024 Monday
At 1:00, I had an appointment for a kind of “oral exam” of my French at Alliance Francaise. It was really just a conversation with the usual…”tell me about yourself”…kind of questions. Then I was placed in level A2. There are 6 levels —A1 & A2; B1 & B2; C1 & C2. (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages <CEFR>) Basically, I am a high beginner which is what I thought. I can talk a lot but my grammar is bad! I begin classes next Tuesday.
When I walked out of the Alliance Francaise building, I wondered where I would wander. Then I noticed that my favorite place in all Strasbourg was visible from where I stood. (Joy!)
I decided to check out the Office de Tourisme at the Cathedral Square. I want to go to the history museums while I’m here, as well as other things going on so…..
Along the way to the Cathedral, I wondered where the homeless people were. When I was in Mexico last November, we also wondered about this since we saw very very few people living on the streets. In Spokane, they are overwhelmingly plentiful. I decided to start paying attention to people around me. I want to answer the question: “Where are the homeless people?”
In the square, there were a moderate number of tourists….lots of young’uns—maybe school groups(?). Some were standing around a guide. Most of the guides spoke English so I think I’ll check out taking a tour.
I also took note of the people holding cardboard signs and asking for “personal donations.” I noticed three of them…one woman was holding out her cup and telling her story to some young people sitting next to a building. The woman wouldn’t stop talking so the people got up and walked away.
Another woman was sitting close to the exit of the Cathedral with her McDonald cup. People avoided her.
A third one was with 2 dogs. I think she was trying to find someone to take the dogs….or maybe she wanted dog food(?). I don’t know what her sign said but she was the only one surrounded by some stuff. A young man was also with her.
I wandered around the square and found the entrance to the “Ascension.” I think that one of these days, I will try the 300 steps to the top. I think it will cost €8. ($8.70). What will it cost me in pain!?!
I used google to get me home. I think I’m beginning to get the hang of not getting lost. I have no sense of direction. I don’t mean I have a poor sense of direction. I have NO—NADA—RIEN sense of direction so even google fails me sometimes….I guess I fail google.
3-25-2024 A BIRTHDAY PARTY
Monday was Mia’s birthday. She turned 13! It’s hard to believe that she is now an official teenager. We went to a Brassserie/Pub. In addition to myself, Francis and Fabienne, there was Aline and Cedric (Mia’s parents); and Victoria and Yannick, (Mia’s godparents) with their 3-year old daughter.
Francis looks a little shell-shocked in this photo. And he hadn’t even started drinking.
This was my first time eating out in a real restaurant this trip. (Of course, I’ve eaten in restaurants in Alsace). I started with a picon biere. (Beer with picon liquor with a squeeze of lemon.) Since picon isn’t available in the US, I was temporarily in ecstasy.
Hmmm. Looks like the menu is all in English. Well, not all. The descriptions of the food weren’t.
Then I ate a raclette burger with pomme frites.
…and finished it off with a coffee.
Ahhhh…the joy of French cooking (even if it was a hamburger.)
Mia received a few presents. then the restaurant servers brought a lit candle BUT it wasn’t really a candle. It looked like a mini flame thrower. Happy Birthday Mia.
It was after 11:00 when I got home so another day in Strasbourg was complete in several ways.
MISCELLANEOUS STUFF
1. The McDonald’s in Place des Halles (shopping mall) is the very first one in France. Yay. Boo. Go McDo. (Just kidding!)
3. Message to you…If you choose to write a comment on the blog, please make sure that your name is there so I know who wrote it. I want to know who you are. I read them but don’t comment on most of them. Thanks.
…à tout à l’heure…
I remember the stairs at the cathedral being 365 steps, not 300. Let me know who's right :)
ReplyDeleteYes, you should do it, it's worth the push and the view is amazing.
Glad Mia wasn't hurt.
Holy Honeymoon Stage, Batman! I wonder what kinds of interesting traditions you are going to bring back with you, like you brought Rosca back from Mexico. Be thinking about that! I'm curious about your living situation--you cook/make your own meals? Are you sharing the kitchen with your landlady or does your room have a fridge or something?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm thinking you need to help Francis cook so you can get his recipes and bring them back. Then we can continue living vicariously.
Does your cousin have a farm? I guess I've never been clear about that--I ask because one of her works of art is a painting of a cow. Do they have cows?
I love the views of the streets of Strasbourg. They remind me of many other pretty European streets I've walked on myself. Also, the history of Strasbourg is great for me. Don't forget that's where my ancestors are from, too. That's why I am technically "German" but have a French last name--Balliet, not Stapleton. :-) It's really fascinating that it was almost like a "city-state" for a long time. Do the religious leaders still get paid directly by the government of Alsace, or was that just long ago?
Okay, enough questions. I'm off to work to see what dramas unfold today.
Bon chance with your first day of classes!
I need to write a blog on my living situation. Wait for that. The biggest tradition I can bring back it walking everywhere, crossing streets on the red light, riding a bicycle everywhere one doesn’t walk, and maybe pastry every morning for breakfast???? I’ll talk to Francis. He wants to make me a traditional Alsacian Sauerkraut and sausage dinner. It’s one of my favorite dishes. Does my cousin have a cow? No. Fabienne has a cow in her living room because if goes with the cow-hide rug she bought when she recently completely re-did her living room. She used to be the editor of the beauty and fashion supplements at the largest newspaper in Alsace (DNA) and that included interior design so has an eye for it. Mia, her granddaughter, belongs to a horse club of sorts and takes riding lessons and participates in competitions but doesn’t own a horse. Other cousins do own quite a few animals…sheep, goats, chickens, frogs, turtles, parrots and….?? Yes, the clergy still get paid by the government but only the Catholics, Jews and Protestants (primarily Lutherans!). This is true only in Alsace and not the rest of France.
ReplyDelete