Au Revoir, la France!
Trip Start
May 24, 2006
1
18
Trip End
Jul 11, 2006
Avignon, France
Monday, July 10, 2006
It is so frustrating that I have not been able to update my blog for you! Anyway, Mom and I are currently on the TGV to Paris...my final goodbye to the city of light! On Saturday, we endured the day of hell to travel from San Gimignano to Avignon. We left San Gimignano by bus at 7 am and arrived in Avignon at 12:30 am, after passing through Florence, Milan, and Nice. I have to say, though, that the train ride(s) was amazing, especially the train between Milan and Avignon. We passed through much of the Riveria, including Cannes, Monaco, Monte Carlos, and Marseilles. The train track ran right along the sea, and it was a great tour of Southern France.
On Sunday, we explored Avignon, which is, like San Gimigano, a walled city built in the Middle Ages. It was also home to the Pope for a quite a bit of that time period, and the huge Palais de Papes (the pope's palace) is still a formidable sight along the edge of the Rhone river. Avignon is also famous for its bridge, as in the nursery rhyme "Sur le pont d'Avignon, l'on y danse, l'on y danse" (on the bridge of Avignon, we dance, we dance). Part of the bridge remains, so Mom and I checked it out too.
I guess we were lucky enough to be there during Avignon's famous theater festival. The streets were packed with tourists as well as actors and actresses who were trying to get you to come to their show. However, the people and the constant party left the city dirty and smelly, which was only worsened by the very HOT weather! At any rate, the festival made our visit pretty lively, and this atmosphere was augmented by the World Cup craziness. In case some of y'all in Ohio weren't aware, France played Italy on Sunday night in the final game. Mom and I were convinced that we were the good luck charm, since France and Italy had both won when we were visiting Paris and Rome. But, I guess our luck ran out, because France lost in a heartbreaking shootout. At the beginning of the game, Mom and I went for a walk, and we happened onto a park where the city of Avignon had set up a HUGE television (it was the whole side of a semi-truck) and most of the city was spread out on the lawn, cheering ardently for "les bleus."
Well, that's all folks! Tonight, Mom and I are planning a moonlit stroll down the Seine river and maybe a crepe to say good-bye, and then we'll be off to the airport in the morning. I don't think I have enough perspective right now to fully explain what this summer has meant to me. Leaving home by myself and coming abroad was certainly difficult, but living in Dijon, even if it was only for 6 weeks, gave me real taste of what life is like in France. In many ways, this experience has disillusioned me...France is far from perfect! But on the other hand, I have become so completely comfortable here that I can almost call it home, and I love the culture, the land, the people, and the language in a much deeper way. My French is 1000 times better than it was when I first came. I have received numerous complements from strangers on my French, although the occasional waiter or waitress will still switch to English once he/she hears my accent.
I hope you have enjoyed reading my journal as much as I have enjoyed writing it. It has been such a comfort and joy to me to know that so many people were keeping tabs on me while I have been so far from home! The last time I left France, I didn't know if I would ever be back, but this time I know that I will. And next time, I hope that all of my family can come with me!
Gros Bises! (Big Kisses!)
Kate
Comments
Welcome Home!
Dear Kate:
Just a line to congratulate you on your journal. I am so proud of you. I actually felt like I was on your trip with you. Granted, right now, my schedule doesn't leave me much time to catch up, but it was a good time this morning to find the blog and catch up. As you probably know, one of my memories was the trip with the band to London, Paris and Rome, so I could picture you and your Mom in those places that we had visited and play concerts. It was a long time ago, but still the memories will always be with me, especially in Paris where we lost one of the band members who went to the movies to see 'Woodstock' That kinda of dates me, doesn't it? Anyhow, certainly not at your level of talent, I really enjoyed your blog and I am so glad you had such a great experience. Sorry I didn't or couldn't write more often, but my thoughts were with you and your Mon alot. I hope we can catch up with you before you go back to school and while all the things you didn't write or couldn't write will still be fresh in your mind.
As Always, Love
Grandpa Guth