Rail Passes: How the Magic Happened

If you've been catching up on all my posts, salivating over the great pictures of Paris, daydreaming about boat tours in Strasbourg, and wondering "How can I do that?", then this is the post for you.

Here's the step-by-step process of how I made a rail pass save me loads of euros.

1. Compare Rail Europe passes to Eurail passes.

In the past, I used a Eurail pass to travel to 4 different countries with 12 days of travel.  And what a great deal that was!  However, as I was country browsing, I realized that Eurail did not have a one-country pass for France.  Wah wah. So, Rail Europe won for this trip!

2. Decide how many days you want to travel.

In talking with my sister, we knew that we definitely wanted to see at least 3 cities.  So, we knew that we needed at least 4 days of travel on our passes.  However, we really liked the flexibility of adding one more day to our trip, so we compared some options:

3. Choose your pass.

In the end, we decided on a 5-day travel pass for France in 1st class.  There were two reasons for traveling "en premiere": 1. Because we can, and it was only a $35 difference per person. 2. It would give us many more booking options, as I knew we'd be making reservations within a month of our first travel date, and there are a certain, limited amount of bookings open on the TGV (fast train) for those traveling with a rail pass.

4. Choose your cities.

If you look through other blog posts that I've written, you'll see that we stopped in Mont-Saint-Michel, Paris, Strasbourg, and Lourdes.  And we had a few great one- or two-hour layovers in other cities like Bordeaux, Montpellier, and Rennes.

5. Book your trains.

I did all of this at an SNCF (French nation-wide railway company) ticket booth, but you can do it online as well.  (Note: I just discovered this booking online through the RailEurope site, so I can't help too much with it, but I'll definitely be trying it out in the future!) 

Depending on how long you take to make these bookings and what kind of trains you're looking at, this step can test how rapidly you can adjust travel plans, how kindly you can speak with French ticket clerks, and how willing you are to spend all day traveling to see a city.  But hang in there, the results are worth it!

6. Breathe. You've accomplished an incredible amount.

7. If you're staying overnight in a city, look at booking a place to stay!  I've been really happy with airbnb, but more on that in another post!

8. Enjoy your work! I know that I did!

Congratulations, it's time to travel.

--Angie

In the Steps of Bernadette: Lourdes

As a Catholic, I grew up watching movies about Lourdes, Bernadette, and the holy water that springs up out of the ground there.  I was lucky enough to have visited this city one time before with a good friend as I was studying abroad, and I was not about to say no when my sister asked if we could go back.

At the holy water spickets

The town of Lourdes cracks me up because it is so plainly obvious that this was just a little country town buried in the mountains until it became a pilgrimage site.  You walk off the train, and immediately see nothing but hotels, restaurants, and places to by holy water containers, rosaries, and other souvenirs.  However, once you arrive at the grotto, you understand why this city has been able to be built up around this holy site.  There is something so beautiful about all of these people from different countries coming to pray to Mary. Pretty stinking cool.

Know that you were all in my thoughts and prayers while Juliana and I were there.  We were lucky enough to be there on All Saints' Day, so we found a mass, and a candlelight rosary that evening.  We also lit a few candles for you all and left them alongside the prayers of everyone else who had visited Lourdes.

Much love to all,
Angie

The Land of Our People: Strasbourg

Having recently found out that my father's side of my family came directly from Strasbourg, my sister and I knew that we had to make a stop there on our tour of France.

Look at me! I'm an Alsacien specialty!

We really had a great time just roaming the city.  We took a boat tour, walked through the cathedral, and ate lots of Alsacien foods!

Beautiful.

I loved all the signs in French and German.

This city made me giggle because it absolutely felt like a place I could belong.  Being of German descent, I've always wished that I could speak just a little German to be able to connect with people that still live where my family once did.  However, being in Strasbourg solved that problem.  I was able to roam the streets that my great-great-great (I think that's enough?) grandparents did, while also conversing with the people I ran into.  Great stop, and I can't wait to go back!

-Angie

Where else than Paris?

As I take you through my three days in Paris with my sister, I thought it'd be easier to navigate in pictures.  Very few things we did were out of the ordinary on paper, but the fact that I was able to do them in great company made them each new and entertaining again.  So, here goes...

Trying to remake the classic ESQ picture that originated when I went to Paris with my 5 fellow music majors.

Inverted pyramid inside the Louvre. Classic.

She's so purty.

Just so much love.  So, so much love.

NERD ALERT: Found Stravinsky's fountain!

Life goal: Accomplished. Baguette sword duel in front of the Eiffel Tower.

In case you couldn't quite see the details.

Hey, look! The Arc de Triomphe!

Hello, Versailles! You'r'e looking quite elaborate today!

OMG Selfie in the HOM!

When the fountains dance, so must I.

Marie-Antoinette's house was almost as beautiful as we are.

Snack time! Macaroons and fancy hot chocolate, anyone?

Giving our art opinions.

We made it to the top of the Eiffel Tower!!

Quick stop at the Moulin Rouge.  Note: no dancing here.

All in all, this was a great 3-days stop on our journey.  I don't think there's any big site in Paris that we didn't see, or any pain that my feet didn't feel, but it was all very worth it! And there will be a blog in the very near future on how to make it all worth it without spending too much of your hard-earned cash flow.  All of the important things!

Lovesies to all,

Angie

Making the Most of 1 Day on Mont-Saint-Michel

Hello, interwebs!

You have one day on Mt.-St.-Michel.  Weather conditions: chilly, but dry.  Budget: as cheap as possible. Objective: kick that one day in the butt. GO!

Stop 1: Just get a view of that beauty.

Check this guy out!

Can it get any better? Ok, time to go home...

I mean, seriously, people.  Just seeing this abbey/prison/"Wonder of the Western World" is worth making the trip.  Upon seeing it for the first time, my sister gasped.  Literally gasped.  Maybe it's just because we learned about this beauty in French 1, and it's stuck with us ever since, but this was like seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time.  You can imagine its beauty, but then you see it and realize your musings ain't got nothin' on reality.

2. Climb up, catch your out-of-shape breath, and realize that people actually live up there.  What?!

Nice back garden, bro.

Apparently there are 30 residents up there.  Or so says Rick Steves.  Nothing says "good morning" like hundreds of tourists outside your window in the morning.

3. Attend a mass in the abbey.

You'll get a free sticker!

As a Catholic, attending this mass was unreal.  The music was heavenly.  There was something so effortless about the way that the religious were singing clean, simple harmonies that anyone, regardless of background would enjoy.  And then you realize that people have been saying mass in that exact space for over 1000 years, and you feel wonderfully unimportant and incredibly blessed.  I'm telling you, people, go hear these voices.  You won't forget it anytime soon.

And if nothing else, going to mass gives you a free ticket into the abbey!  Well, ok, sure, they give you these silly stickers to keep you out, but there were a ton of people just chilling after mass, long after they were intended to be.  (Luckily, my sister and I fell under the "gratuit" category because we're both under 26, and temporary European residents. Woohoo!)

4. If possible, tour the abbey.

Or just go to mass, and then take your sticker off afterwards...but you didn't hear it from me!

You'll get to do cool things like this...

Get stuck in the jail for idiots!

BONUS: Stumble across a free concert.

As we were winding down our day, we noticed music stands going into the smaller, parish church.  And where's there's music paraphernalia, there's a music teacher. So, we sat down and waited to see what was happening. It turns out Orquestra, this Brazilian (I think..), youth string ensemble was playing an hour-long concert as a stop on a tour.  The players were all between 12 and 21, and it was some of the highest-quality, most-entertaining string music I've ever heard.  So, when you all go to the Mont, keep an eye out for music stands!

The quality is terrible, but you get the idea....

And there it is, take the shuttle bus to the train station and head on your way.  (And if you have an extra hour, get a couple drinks with other young travelers!)

Mission Mont-Saint-Michel: Accomplished.

Where to Start?

After a week of traveling France with my sister, knowing exactly where we had to be each day, I'm not sure that I'm ready to go back to my daily routines just quite yet.  I loved knowing that every day we'd discover a new city, new food, new people, knowing that we'd get lost at least thrice (until I was finally smart enough to let Juliana take over the directions), or just be able to chill together in beautiful French cities.  So, here it is.  Today's our last day together, and rather than spending it blogging, I'm going to spend it hanging out with my bestie.  But know that this is a promise that I will update the cyber world of our travels, although I'm not quite sure where to start.  So, how about here?  With one of my favorite pictures from the trip.

Just two sisters and a tower.

I've been lucky enough to take many wonderful trips in my life, and this was certainly one of them. So, cheers to sisterhood, cheers to family, and until next time...

Peace,
Angie

My First Big Trip!

I just wanted to get you all excited for the big stuff that's going down this week!! My little sister, Juliana, is flying over to Nantes, and we'll spend next week hopping around France together!! Can you tell I'm excited?!?!?!?!!!

Here's what our itinerary looks like:

10/26: Hello, Juliana! 

10/27: Let's go to Mont Saint-Michel!

10/28-30: Paris!

10/31: Strasbourg, the land of our people

11/1: Lourdes!

11/2: Trains back home!

11/3: Juliana leaves. WAHHHHHHHHHH

There you are kids.

Stalk away.

Lovesies,

Angie

The Nest

In Nantes, there is a 37-floor skyscraper named the Tour Bretagne.  Pretty cool.  Even icier is that there is a bar located on the 32nd floor that has an observation deck that allows you to drink and creep at the same time.  So, basically it's like every other bar in the universe.  The only distinguishing factor between this bar and the majority of others in the world is that I went there with my friends Ali and Mike.

Those are my friends. Proof!

Decent view, eh?

And if that wasn't reason enough to go there, the bar is called "le nid" (the nest), and is set up as a giant goose nest.  HILARIOUS!  The seats are all broken eggshells, and this guy is even there to greet you:

Looking painfully unimpressed.  Yup, he's French.

This place was really a lot of fun, except for the fact that we didn't get seats because we came at the high noon of pre-dinner drinking (also knowns as 6-8pm).  But it was fun all the same, and it would definitely bring a great place to bring kids!  We saw tons of mini-Frenchies sipping on their limonades.  Chic.

Much love to all! Thanks for reading!

Angie

Song of the Day: 93 Million Miles

I really love music.  Like a lot.  Like so much that I studied music and how to teach it to others for the last 4 years of my life.  In fact, this year marks the first time in over 8 years that I'm not devoting at least one hour of my day to become a better musician.  Crazy.

So, I've decided to add a little music to this blog.  From time to time, I will post the songs that are getting me though this year.  Ok, "getting me through" might be a bit of an exaggeration of my situation, but there are most definitely songs that make me smile, remind me of the important things in life, or feel like a little hug to my ears.  And who doesn't love hugs?

So, here goes:

My song for today is Jason Mraz's "93 Million Miles."  Mr. A-Z is one of my all-time favorite artists.  Not only is he a phenomenal singer, he's also a clever lyricists with a sensitivity to life that I think just about everyone can relate to. 

This song is all about growing up and exploring life, and the adventures that may come with that.  However, he reminds us that no matter what your situation, regardless of where you go and what you become, "you can always come back home."

I love my home of Indianapolis, but I am quickly falling in love with the tiny town of Savenay that I'm living in.  However, I don't think I'd be as quick to enjoy where I'm at if I didn't have a solid base, a place that I know no matter what I do, I can fall back on.  And that comes from all of the friends and family (whether they be located in Indy or not) who I know are there for me, regardless of where I am or where I'm going.

That's pretty cool.

So is this song.

"Just know where that wherever you go, no you're never alone, you will always get back home."

Lovesies,

Angie

They Sell Plastic Barrels of Wine in France

And we bought one.

Ya, a barrel.

Glug, glug, glug.

The quality was crap, but there were 6.5 bottles of wine in that thing!! For only 8 euros! WHAT?!! 

Let a Man Do the Cookin'

I have been so blessed with the presence of two of my great friends this week!

Ali and Mike, and a real French chicken!

After two weeks of meeting new person after new person, it has been so nice to be around people who have known me for more than October of 2013.  (Ali and I have been friends since high school, and were roommates for 3 years in college; that girl has no option but to know me well!)

So what do you do in a tiny town like Savenay for a week with two people who have been travelling through some of the greatest cities in Europe for the past two weeks?  What can I offer them that no one else has?

This!

 Food, I tell you! And copious amounts of it! We are on a mission to try as many cheeses, wines, and baguettes as possible this week, and we are succeeding.

Mike and Ali really are the best guests ever though.  They are ok with just hanging out while I teach during the day, they don't complain when you tell them you live in a high school, and (most importantly) they cook!  Very well, I might add.

Mike made us clams last night.  Uhhh yum.com.

Overall, it's been a great few days.  I am so grateful to have such great company here, and I am loving ever minute of it. I mean, how could you not when you end every night looking like this?:

All the foods? Check.

I Went to Saumur

And here are a couple pictures I took:

Hey look! A chateau!

Baguette sandwich for lunch while staring at that chateau? Don't mind if I do!

It was a great weekend!! And Then The Train Broke Down.

See y'alls soon!
Angie

Another Day, Another Document Trouble

If you're blissfully unfamiliar with the French bureaucracy (like I was about 3 months ago), then count your blessings.  It feels like since the moment I arrived, I've been filling out paperwork, copying my passport, and visiting the secretary to ask what I need or hand in something I've just completed.  Really, it's quite entertaining...or something like that.

Today alone, I've been in communication with multiple professors, the French consulate in Chicago, as many of my fellow assistants as possible, and 2 different secretaries just trying to figure out one document in particular.  Without getting technical, it's a formal request to stay in France that I no longer have to make.  (Worry not, I've loads of others to request.)  However, it seems like no one other than other assistants are up to snuff on who needs what and where it goes.  All in all, it's been loads of fun, and I can't wait to have it over with.  But it has me wondering... what other countries are like this?  Is France especially annoyingly out-of-sync in their communications between departments or is that pretty common?  I'd love to know if you've had any experience with this.

Until next time,

Angie

I've Finally Found Someone Just My Type

And Then The Train Broke Down

This weekend, I was able to visit a really good friend who's living in Saumur, France. (Check her blog out here.)

This is more or less the path I took. Thanks, Google Maps.

It was a great weekend full of a chateau, pre-made baguettes full of deliciousness, chocolate flan, watching the TV show "Arrow," chatting with the locals, searching for churches (that I'm still not sure really exist), finding other churches with attendable masses (because the church actually existed), watching men fish on the Loire River while waiting for the newly-found mass that's an hour after the originally-planned-upon mass, watching Yvlis' "The Fox" (hilarious, by the way) and finding bikes!! All in all, it was a great weekend, and I'm forever grateful that I had a few moments to hang out with a great friend.

But like all good things, this weekend had to come to an end, so I boarded a direct train back to Savenay, ready to prepare an introduction of myself to present to my students on Monday.  About an hour into this hour-and-a-half trip, there was a strange noise from atop the train.  At first, I thought "Santa! Is that you?" sure that it was the sound of little hoofprints atop our train!  Alas, it was but our train breaking down, which meant that we would not be moving for the next 2 hours.  Finally, I made it home after an unexpected stop in Nantes, and I couldn't have been happier to see my roommate and apartment. 

Once again, I've been reminded that our plans are only made to be broken. I did, however, make it home safely, so there are no complaints coming from me!

Lovesies,

Angie