Antibes and Cannes

This morning we enjoyed a nice breakfast before heading out the door with Sandro and his brother.  They took us around their hometown of Antibes and allowed us to browse the stores along the small streets and alleys.  We strolled along at a pleasant pace and just took in all the sights and sounds.  From the village center we went to the port of Antibes and saw all the sailboats and yachts docked there.  The fortress-like structure that separates the water from the town actually wraps around the perimeter of the city and we were able to make our way around it.  It was nice to listen to the sound of the sea as we ambled along.  Both Sandro and his brother are great tour guides and they pointed out hidden parts of town and answered all of our questions.  As the afternoon approached, Amy (Sandro's girlfriend) joined us and we all had lunch together.  Kenny ate some pesto gnocchi and I had a salad that looked amazing but actually didn't taste very good (I think it was just the dressing that I didn't like).  Amy went with us as we wrapped up our ventures in downtown Antibes and after we dropped Lorenzo (Sandro's brother) off at home we were off again, on our way to Cannes.

I'm sure you all know this, but Cannes is where the annual film festival is held.  As we drove along the main road we were able to see many of the grand hotels that the stars choose to stay at when they come to visit the city.  We parked and got out to walk around and as we did so we saw cement handprints in the ground just like you would see in Hollywood.  Even cooler was the fact that Kenny and I got the chance to walk along and pose on the red carpet that the stars walk on on their way into the grand ceremony.  The rest of the town is lively as well and full of many expensive, name brand stores (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, etc.).  We walked along Antibes Street and went window shopping...unfortunately there's no way that either of us could afford such high end apparel.

After we wrapped things up in the streets of Cannes we sat down at a café to enjoy some drinks and a crêpe.  We then stopped at the local grocery store in Antibes to get a taste of what that is like; it's huge and super, super busy.  It was hard to stay together and I have no idea how one can successfully manipulate the place.  Kenny and I each bought a package of our new favorite breakfast treat (some sort of cracker/biscuit...it's hard to explain) and we're going to do what we can to refrain from eating them all before we get home so that we can share with our friends (no promises though).  When we got back to Sandro's house he ordered pizza and we enjoyed that for dinner, followed by some amazing homemade apple crisp.  Sitting here right now I can honestly say that I'm stuffed to the gills but a very, very happy girl.

Tomorrow morning Kenny and I have to say goodbye to Sandro and his family.  They have been great hosts and this was probably the best way we could have started off our European adventure.  Sandro will be taking us to the train station so that we can start making our way to Cinque Terre, Italy; we'll be there for a few days before making our way to Rome.  Unfortunately I don't think we'll have internet access for a few days, but I'll be sure to make an update as soon as I possibly can!!  :)

PS - In case you would like to check it out, here is the link to all of our pictures from this part of our venture:  Southern France Album.

Nice and Monaco

This morning I got up early after sleeping like a rock for a number of hours.  I went for a run in the freezing cold (literally, it was 0 degrees C) and unfortunately I got lost along the way.  I started to panic because I didn't even know the address of Sandro's house, but eventually I found it.  My body was numb at this point and I gladly jumped into a hot shower.  After getting out and dressed, Kenny and I ate breakfast before Sandro and his girlfriend got in the car with us and drove us for 20 minutes into Nice.  Old-town Nice is full of cute boulevards and small alleyways packed with stores and apartments.  We took our time looking around and stumbled upon many treasures (a morning market and a couple of cathedrals).  We also went into the newer part of town which feels like most major cities that I've been to.  There are a variety of stores, high end hotels, and even a very convenient tram system.

After Nice we got back in the car and continued driving east into the principality of Monaco.  They have their own flag and government but aren't exactly their own country...I don't really know how to classify it because it's all kind of confusing to me.  In any case, it is one of the richest regions in Europe and the drive was all along the coast, which was absolutely beautiful.  There were a large number of yachts out on the shore and the sun was shining down, making the water glisten.  Once in Monaco we grabbed lunch (Kenny and I got crêpes!) before looking around.  In the center of town there is a Christmas village setup that will be there until the new year; it was so cute and full of families.  There were also little souvenir-like shops and places to grab snacks.  

Sandro led us up a long trail to the palace belonging to the prince of Monaco.  The walk was worth it because once at the top we could see the entire principality...and when else will I have the chance to walk around the grounds of a palace?  We took pictures, marveled at our surroundings, and did a little window shopping at the small stores surrounding the estate.  Unfortunately we didn't get the chance to see the prince or his new wife before we decided to head back down to the car.  We drove back using a different route and got home in no time.  I think that Sandro is a crazy driver but Kenny just laughs as he weaves in and out of traffic and slams on his breaks from time to time.

Kenny and Sandro are playing on the computer and we're all just waiting for dinner.  Tonight I think ravioli is on the menu so it should be another nice meal.  I can't believe we're lucky enough to start off our trip with people who are feeding us, letting us stay in their home, and taking us around town.  We decided we could stay here for our entire time in Europe and be just fine, but unfortunately Sandro has to go back to school soon (haha!!).

Bonjour, Paris

First of all, welcome to the new version of my blog!  I'm not going to be deleting any of the posts I've already written, but it's time to change things up since I'm no longer in Australia.

Kenny and I made it to France in one piece.  The journey was ridiculously long, but now we're here in Antibes safe and sound.  The flight from Singapore was about 12 hours and again I hardly slept; even though I had my neck pillow, I just couldn't get comfortable.  Kenny was able to pass out for a bit so he was better off than I was.  We arrived in Paris at 6:05am local time and made our way to customs.  We were met with a line that snaked around the terminal and moved at a snail's pace because there was only one man working that early in the morning.  Kenny and I both made it through without a problem and from there we were off to the train station.  Luckily there is one at the airport and we were able to get our Eurail tickets validated there.  However, we learned we wouldn't be able to catch a train to Antibes from that station so the man behind the counter gave us directions to the station we needed to be at.  It only took us two short metro rides and we were there.  I have to take the time to say that I'm very impressed with myself and my ability to converse in French.  I'm definitely nowhere near perfect, but have been able to get by just fine in all the situations we've faced.

The metro took us to Gare de Lyon, a very large station.  Kenny and I had to weave through a couple of different lines before finding the right one.  By the time we got there, the train we wanted to be on was full so we had to stay at the station for a couple of hours to catch the next one.  We took the time to wander around and even dared to venture outside.  Let me tell you, I'm so glad I had my coat and earmuffs because it was COLD.  My hands and nose began to ache soon after stepping out of the station and I quickly made my way back in.  Eventually we got onto our train to Toulon and four and a half hours later we jumped off to catch another line.  From Toulon it was only and hour and a half before making it to Antibes.  Sandro, the student who came to stay with our family in 2008, was there to pick us up.  He was accompanied by his girlfriend and both were really generous for coming out to get us.  He drove us back to his house where we are staying for a couple of days.  The first thing I did was take a shower, but soon afterwards both Kenny and I found ourselves playing Just Dance and Guitar Hero on the Wii station the family owns.  Sandro's parents cooked us dinner which consisted of potatoes, cheese, and different deli meats.  There was a large device in the middle of the table that melted our individual portions of cheese, which you then poured onto the potatoes and meat.  It was something I'd never had before but it was delicious.  We sat at the table for awhile but soon found ourselves yawning and went to bed early.  I was so excited to finally get some sleep and it didn't take long before I was in dream-land.

Goodbye, Australia

The time has come for me to officially say goodbye to Australia.  My brother has convinced me that I will be back some day, so I guess it's not really goodbye, just "see you later."

My family made it to the airport early this afternoon after walking around Circular Quay one last time.  My brother and I checked in easily but our parents had trouble because they exceeded their luggage allowance.  They actually had to go buy another small duffle bag and rearrange everything to make it work.  Despite the hassle, we all made it through security in plenty of time and sat at the United gate until it was time for my parents to leave.  I was sad to see them go because the past two weeks have been great, but at least this time I know that we'll only be apart for a couple of weeks.

After my parents were off Kenny and I took our time wandering to our gate, stopping at stores along the way.  We finally boarded our first leg and after seven hours we're now here in Singapore.  We don't have long before our flight to Paris leaves and all I can hope for is that I can sleep when I get on the plane.  I got a few minutes here and there on the way from Sydney but definitely not enough.

We'll arrive in Paris at 6:05am tomorrow...talk about an early start.  From there we'll get on a train and start heading down towards southern France where we'll meet up with Sandro, a boy who came to stay with our family for a couple of weeks a few years back.  It will be a really nice way to start the trip, with home cooking and a nice bed to sleep in.  I'm really excited to kick off this adventure...should be an amazing trip!

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas this year and is able to spend the holiday season surrounded by people they love.  I feel extremely lucky to have my family by my side even though I'm halfway around the world.  We spent the morning cooking breakfast and lounging around before swapping a few gifts.  Kenny got UGG slippers and some Under Armour gear, Dad came away with some new movies (Rango and Up!), Mom got some PJs, and I received a MasterChef cookbook (so cool!) and UGG earmuffs for Europe.  It was a wonderful morning and I was stuffed to the gills after uncontrollably eating my way through the monkey-bread we had prepared.

After I digested a little bit Kenny and I went downstairs and around town to all of the souvenir shops we had seen.  We both had some leftover cash to spend and wanted to see what we could find.  I was surprised at the number of people out and the large amount of shops that were open.  It didn't really feel like Christmas and I saw people heading out to the beach and eating at cafés like any normal day.  It was really nice outside which didn't go along with the "White Christmas" thing I like to picture in my head.

In addition to breakfast, my mom prepared a lasagna, salad, and her famous "nibbles" for dinner.  I can honestly say that eating that made my day and I have been waiting all year to have her food tickle my tastebuds.  Dinner filled us all up and it took some time for our stomachs to settle.  After some time, Kenny and I took advantage of the nice weather and went out to walk the Harbour Bridge.  I knew it was big from glancing over at it from afar but being on it made me realize that it is absolutely ginormous!!  I wasn't completely comfortable walking along but I made it all the way down and back, taking beautiful pictures of the Opera House along the way.  That view is definitely something I'm going to miss.

It is getting really late and we all have flights to catch tomorrow afternoon.  We are mostly packed and I think the plan is to just get up and get everything organized before leaving for the airport.  I am definitely going to enjoy one more serving of lasagna before we have to get rid of the leftovers.  I can't believe the time is finally here; I am leaving Australia, Kenny and I are off to Europe, and I will be home before I know it.  It has been a year full of lessons learned and I know I'm a better person for having gone through this experience.  It had its high points and low points, but overall I am very satisfied and am thankful for the opportunity I was given.  It will be hard to say goodbye to a city I have grown to love and to my parents for another short while.  I'll be anxiously looking forward to being reunited once again because these past two weeks have been nothing but amazing.  I love my family and friends so much and can't thank you all enough for the support you have given me.

I plan on writing one more installment at the airport tomorrow if I can get internet and then after that I will do the best I can throughout Europe.  I don't know what our internet situation will be from day to day, but I will take advantage of it when I get the chance.  After tomorrow the layout and background of the blog will be different but I will continue to share my experiences as I travel the world and get acclimated to my new life back in California.

Happy ChristmaHanuKwanzika!! :)

Christmas Eve At Bondi

This morning I got up lazily and finally made myself some oatmeal for breakfast.  I thought I was the first one awake but apparently my mom had gotten up before me and had already made her way over to the grocery store.  Once I realized this I thought she might need help getting everything back to our suite so I called her and eventually my dad and I went over and helped her carry up all the bags.  She had gone to the store to pick up the things we'll need to cook up breakfast and dinner for Christmas tomorrow.  By the looks of things we're going to have a day full of food.

After getting back and unloading everything I went for a run.  By the time I got back my parents had gone down to the quay to get tickets out to Bondi Beach.  I showered quickly and then Kenny and I went out to join them.  We grabbed a fast lunch and then we all piled on the bus out to the beach.  It took about 40 minutes to get there but it was worth the trip.  It was a beautiful day and I'm glad we took advantage of it.  My mom and I were the only brave ones and we made our way down to the water.  It was cold but very refreshing after standing in the sun; I couldn't believe I was enjoying on the beach on Christmas Eve.

Our trip home was fun because there were a bunch of Swedish guys on board the bus who were singing along with a guitar.  Even better was the fact that most of the people on the bus were wearing Santa hats or reindeer antlers.

My family is currently gathered in the living room of our suite enjoying the movie "It's A Wonderful Life," one of two films we see each year on Christmas Eve (usually at the old theater in downtown Sac, but obviously we couldn't do that this year).  After it's over we have to get to bed so that Santa can come and fill our stockings.  Christmas is finally here and I can't wait!!  After all, it's the most wonderful time of the year :)

Museum, Market, and Manly

The day started off much earlier than the one before and I went to get breakfast with my parents.  We ate down by the quay outside at a small café.  I had a fruit salad with yogurt in an effort to begin cleansing my insides...let's just say that I haven't really been keeping up my exercise regimen nor have I been looking closely at what I've been eating.  After breakfast we intended to go to the grocery store to get the items we need to cook Christmas meals but we got sidetracked at the bank.  I needed to head in there because it was time to close my Australian bank account and convert my remaining money to USD.  It took WAY longer than I had anticipated and they had me moving all around the bank and from line to line.  It was kind of frustrating but in the end everything was taken care of.  I no longer have my account but I do have a good amount of USD in my wallet.

Because the bank took more time than planned, we ran back to get my brother from the hotel instead of heading out to the grocery store.  We wanted to make it to the Sydney Jewish Museum before it closed at 2pm.  We were able to do so, but again it took us much longer to get there than we originally worked into our schedule.  The walk was really long but we finally made it in time to move through the museum for a little while.  The bottom floor displayed a timeline of the history of the Jewish people in Australia while the upper floors were dedicated to the Holocaust.  No matter how many times I read about those events and the horror that occurred, I am still shocked that such things could have happened.  I enjoyed my time browsing through the museum but unfortunately we didn't get there early enough to really take it all in like we had wanted to.  However, Hanukkah Harry was there and Kenny and I each ended up with gifts on our way out the door :)

From the museum my dad split off to check out a war memorial we had walked by earlier while Kenny, my mom, and I went down to Paddy's Market in what I can only assume was Chinatown.  It was a crazy experience and I'm not too sure if I liked it but I'm still glad I did it.  We spent a couple of hours there before getting back to the hotel so that I could get a workout in while Kenny went to the pool.  After everyone was showered and clean, we made our way to Circular Quay to catch the ferry out to Manly.  This was one of my favorite experiences when I came here before and I was not disappointed this time either.  Not only was the ride amazing, but Manly itself is a great place.  We strolled along the beach before finding a nice place for dinner where we ate good food and enjoyed the company among us.  After dinner we walked around the other side of the peninsula before heading to the wharf to catch a late ferry back to Sydney; the ride itself takes just over 20 minutes.  Back in the room we all just plopped down at our computers for a bit before going to bed.  All four of us are set-up at the table looking out to the Opera House and the bridge and because we're all trying to steal the internet off of the hotel next door, sometimes one of us (usually me, go figure) gets dropped from the network.  Super frustrating when I finish a blog entry and then can't publish it and then am forced to go back and write it all again. Yeah, that just happened.