bastille day

yesterday was bastille day. which meant we had no class. which means we have way too much class the rest of the week.

last night we headed into the center of town to watch the fireworks. it felt like the entire city was out on the streets. the fireworks were cool and reminded me of how we basically missed the fourth of july and how i like to sing patriotic songs like god bless america and america the beautiful. it also reminded me of setting off fireworks in cupertino last fourth of july, which was incredibly fun. and slightly dangerous. it seems like every year the fourth of july is more and more bizarre. one can only imagine what next year will bring...

maginot line

sunday, we took the car up through northern alsace. we went through towns famous for pottery and then ended up in hatten, where we visited a museum/fort of the maginot line. the 3 euros we spent made for a much larger experience than we had anticipated.

baths-baths

saturday morning, we rented a car and headed off to baden-baden, a resort town in germany. when we arrived, we hiked around the alte schloss.





we had a great german lunch and then off we went to the baths, which were incredibly relaxing. the three hours we spent there just flew by.

we tried to go to the casino, but were not dressed well enough. but through the glass doors, it basically looked like casino royale. lucky for us, outside the casino was some kind of summer concert with really good food.

oh, and our car is super cute.

velocation.

on tuesday we rented bikes. 20 euro for the whole month. basically, the best possible transportation. it's so flat and biker-friendly here in strasbourg, and it doesn't even matter that the bike is a one speed :)

i only live about 5 minutes away from school by bike, which, for the most part, is a pleasant way to start the morning. however, it's so hot and humid here that after the 5 minute ride, entering our stagnant classroom is miserable.

last night i watched no country for old men with lisa. after she left my room, thunder and lighting hit. thank god. unfortunately, i still had to wipe the sweat off my body this morning. you know, because even though it's rainy and coolish outside, the air in every building is stagnant. i don't understand how europeans seem to be comfortable with non-moving air. i'm not even talking about air-conditioning, but, come on, get some vents open and moving air!

screw you la somme.

before we came to strasbourg, we were on strict instructions to, under no circumstances, allow ourselves to be put in the dorm paul appell. so after my 5 hr train ride, the 3 trams to get here (which, it turns out, could have been 1 if i hadn't followed the "instructions"), and the aimless wandering with luggage to find my street, i am told that la somme, my dorm where the rest of my classmates are already checked in, is full. no keys. "see, no keys." i might have cried. but all my friends were very positive and helped me carry my stuff up to their rooms so i could go at a leisurely pace to paul appell.

when i get to paul appell, woman is a bitch. sends me to registration. "registration closed at 7." "you have to register." so i go out and stare at the locked building and head back in to check in, now for the third time that day. i get my key to my unmarked room across from a stairwell that faces a ghetto apartment building. yay. i'm also told to register monday morning at 9am at the university. which part? i'm not sure. but it doesn't matter since i really can't register until tuesday. thanks bitch.

at around 8.30, ilana, lisa, and i head out of la somme with my luggage. our plan is to get dinner along the way to paul appell, maybe catch some of the soccer game. as we pass through the "lobby," ilana spies the desk guy who had assured her the previous night that he would "reserve" me a room. so we waited in line to speak with the man.

this man is a character. speaks spanish and some french. ilana questions him about my "reserved" room. "no, no keys. no rooms. all gone. sorry. paul appell. oh wait, but there is this one room, 317. but you don't want it, there's nothing there." "what do you mean nothing there? no bed?" "yes bed, but it's dirty." so we take the keys to look at the BAD room. it's "perfect." so i weasel my way into la somme. the building with stagnant air and no pillows and dirty floors.

oh and we can't forget about the 2 phone calls i got this morning from INDIA. the man was trying to call someone in room 315. why couldn't i take a message or get her? i'm sorry, i'm not the front desk (although i did try knocking on the door).

gastronomique.

friday night i couldn't sleep. apparently this is a new thing for me because i couldn't sleep last night either. also, i've become one of those always hot people. i'm thinking it's because i basically spent last summer in an air-conditioned office building and didn't experience summer?

lyon was splendid. and susi a great host. in the morning we stopped for a cafe and pastry in vielle lyon and then continued up the hill to a beautiful cathedral that overlooks the city. susi was able to point out every main attraction. we then made our way to the center/shopping area of the city and took advantage of the "solde," i.e. sale of the season. the first time this trip i've bought something other than postcards :)

we had a very lyonnais lunch, comprised of a salad with saucisson au briochet, this weird lyonnais bready-eggy delicious thing in a rocquefort sauce, and iles flottant. yum. also add in a bourdeaux rose and a cafe.

we did more walking around and made our way home for a short break before going to the hotel de ville for a beer. and later a crepe in vielle lyon. basically a beautiful night.

luckily i was able to pass out despite the sleep and slept the latest i have in weeks, 9am.

au revoir geneve.

it's 4pm and i'm sitting in my room, listening to jose gonzalez, and getting a bit nostalgic, as this is my last afternoon in geneva. and while in theory i'd like to go out and take in my last hours with the city, i've resolved to just sit here and be a little sad. this evening we are having our farewell fondue dinner in the old town, which will be nice, but several people have already left, so it'll still feel incomplete.

today i did two loads of laundry, since i don't know when i'll have the chance to easily do it again, and i'm slowly deciding which books and pamphlets to take with me. for lunch i ate the last of the food in my icebox and i'm currently drinking my last glass of wine. the bottle is already in the trash.

i've also been having some crazy dreams. many about the restaurant industry and people from my past life. weird. if i knew how to write in a journal, i would right now. oh man desperado just went on...it may be time to go outside.