Last Sunday Katie, Sorcha and I explored the Mont d'Arrées with the guidance of Yuna (who grew up in the area of Bretagne). We hiked around the little mountains (near a big lake that was used for the first nuclear energy plant in France! interesting tidbit). To cool off we went swimming...in a different lake! We ended the day at her parents (gorgous) house with a lovely dinner and a lot of laughing.
Katie and I spent Monday through Wednesday in the Loire Valley; my last little trip before saying au revoir to la France. We stayed in Amboise and visited the chateau there and drank some wine on the bank of the Loire River our first afternoon/evening there. Tuesday we rented bikes in the morning and biked down to Chenonceaux (about 15km). This would have been a really beautiful ride but it rained almost the whole way down there and then started to pour right before we reached the chateau. Tant pis. Katie really liked Chenonceaux. I had been there with Mom in November but I was happy to see it again. A chateau with a very feminine touch thanks to two women: Catherine de Medici (wife of Henri, I think) and Diane de Poitiers (Mistress, Henri gave her the castle as a gift and then when he died she was kicked out and moved to Chaumont-sur-Loire) Our ride back to Amboise was much more agreeable and we were all dry by the time we reached Amboise.
The next day we took the train to Blois in order to catch a shuttle to the chateau of Chambord. This impressive chateau was used as a sort of hunting lodge for bored French royalty and nobility. This chateau had a much much more masculine feel. Big rooms with high ceilings, darker colors, and even a billard room. It had also been used as a prison for a while so, no doubt, that affected the current look of the place. It has 365 fireplaces...so going up to the roof was my favorite part. In the center of the chateau is a double spiral staircase, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci. You can go up it, seeing the people coming down, but never crossing them.
We had to leave mid afternoon in order to take a train to Tours. We spent a couple hours in Tours, walking around, looking in stores, and eating some dinner before getting on the train again to head back to Brest.
The last few days I've been doing my packing, bringing things that won't fit in my suitcases into the office for future lecteurs, and other boring things like that. Thursday night however I spent the evening with some friends down in the port on a boat, yesterday afternoon I enjoyed the sun while grading exams, and last night I went to a soirée at the home of our boss/department chair. This afternoon I'm hoping to enjoy the beautiful weather in town or down by the port. I also have to turn in my internet box today :-( This is the last you'll hear from me while I'm in France!
I've had an excellent séjour à Brest and I'm a bit sad to leave. Especially during these last 3 months or so I've felt more integrated into life here; having French people to speak with, and taking advantage of what Bretagne has to offer. I've learned a lot, not just in terms of language and culture, but about myself. I've met so many wonderful people and I'm very thankful that I had this opportunity.
However, I am very much looking forward to my return to the States. I leave Brest on Sunday evening. Spend the night in Paris. Fly to Dublin Monday morning and arrive in Chicago Monday around 17h. I'm having Chicago style pizza upon arrival, getting my hair cut Tuesday morning and I have a job interview on Tuesday afternoon. I'm sure lots of hugging and playing with Maddie will be mixed in there as well :-)
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