Paris to the Riviera

View from Sabine's Apartment

Spent Paris with my best friend Sabine. Much of our time spent was in anticipation for our future journey...The French Riviera. While visiting a few key sites, the louvre, the Notre dame, and walking around the cute side neighborhoods. One day while walking through Paris we stumbled upon a free exhibit. . . I like everything free so we decided to check it out. It was very unique and interesting art, but the best thing was once we got to the top level and an American artist was so giddy to hear my accent. We talked with him for 15 minutes and he was obsessed with getting the chance to speak his home language. One of his pieces was breathtaking, a view from Lake Como, Italy. He told us that if he were ever to propose to someone it would be there. . . after traveling the whole world. Sabine and I decided we would have to add Lake Como to our Italy trip.

Free Art Exhibit, Met the American who suggested Lake Como Italy Trip

 I was later introduced to friends at "The Wall" considered a very international bar. My last night we went to a park to watch an open air film "Benjamin Button". Munching on cheese and sausage and smelling fresh greenery in the air. We decided to continue the night out in the bar scene, and I soon realized how attached Parisian men are on the street. Good to have a real Frenchie with me to shoe away the creeps! We even met a group of Asian Canadians, whom Sabine helped navigate in the right direction safely to their hostel. Compassionate and helpful frenchies are hard to come by. I definitely enjoyed my Paris trip, but didn't need to make sure I hit everything since I will be returning at the end of my journey in November. A lot of the Paris shops were on holiday (something very non-American, closing down shop for the month of August. . . but something very European. . . I soon realized this would be a trend in Italy too). 

Epic sunset view of the Eiffel Tower

Sabine and I in front of the Seine River

Notre Dame in the Distance

I was too excited to leave Paris and head to the South of France. I studied abroad in New Zealand my Junior year of college at the Uni of Otago in New Zealand. I had an experience that not many achieve on their study abroads, creating such a close bond with Kiwis and other Europeans studying abroad. Our semester was one that lived in infamy. Getting the chance to reunite with such an amazing crew, I knew we could have been in the middle of the desert and we would have an epic time-Granted our setting was just as sweet as the people. So Sabine and I trained it to the Riviera...although there was a crying baby on board somehow sleep was achievable. We landed in St Raphael late to realize the bus system had closed for the night. Becky picked us up and we headed to what would be our home for the next week. La Pine de La Legue, to relate to an American concept would be an upscale trailer park. Each caravan has its own yard and the whole community includes 3 pools with slide, put-put course, restaurant, club, and is connected to another stream of restaurants and shops. We had 2 caravans for the 6 of us. Lauren and Liam in their love shack and us girls comfortably situated in the main Grainger caravan. First morning I took a run and got quiet lost through the community. I somehow found my way back to enselato district, after falling on the ground and running my heart out to Nicki Minaj. Pooling it, beaching it, drinking it, and eating cheese tended to be the routine of our days.

Headed to Frejus Plage

View from Med Sea Beach

I took my first steps into the Med Sea and was awestruck by the crystal clear water...reminding me so much of the Bahamas. We had brought snorkel gear and some day old bread to lure the fish. After obliviously sinking the bread under water I stuck my head under to begin the snorkel adventure.shriek.a big ass fish in my face. We were giggling like children amazed by how responsive the fish were to treats. Like dogs wagging their tale for a fetch. The amazement continued as I began to sprinkle bread in the water. I twirled and hundreds upon hundreds of fish were circling around me. As if I was the light of a marine chandelier. It was the first high I achieved in Europe. 

Dynamite Sister for Life. 

The rest of the crew arrived that night and it was rage time, turns out reminiscing makes the clock tick faster and we missed free entrance to La Sirene by 3 minutes. Rude frenchies wouldn't let us through. I forgot I was in a different country and began to take the lead. Persuading is usually my strong suit. It really wasn't worth the trouble. When I had sneakily gotten in only 7 youngsters were dancing on the floor. *Side note. . . you can drink when you are 16 in Europe* We headed back to the caravan, had an ultimate munch fest, and then got complained on by a neighbor and quickly dispersed into our rooms. We all spent a day at Frejus Plage. Curry dinner. 

Liam and I in the Frejus Port

The couple and I spent the following day walking to the port of Frejus and finding a different beach spot close to a park. I could spend hours in the med sea...floating out into the deep waters. There is something so peaceful and secure about the sea, knowing you can see the animal creatures and having no hidden fears about shark attacks. One day we spent at a nearby salt water lake. We rented paddle boats, unluckily there was none with slides for immediate rent. But I achieved that thrill by jumping off the bridge. Something I had wanted to do since I set sight on it, and once the beach boy affirmed it could be done, but that the police didn't approve, made it even more irresistible . I had a few seconds of conflict before jumping, but once I saw so many people watching me...I took a deep breath and leaped. Then I looked down, body stiffens I couldn't breathe. Next a mighty hit to the water. My ass was in pain, and my head a little bothered by the impact. But damn, that high again. In a nearby paddle boat I heard young girls chirping "I want to do it Mom"...the mom rolled her eyes and looked at me, I smirked and said "you only live once", she laughed "you only die once too". For a second I swore it was my own mother speaking. Another day at the clear blue fish beach...more tan. It was real hot though, I wonder if those rocks absorb the heat more. But a 30 second walk brought me to a nice shower, which saved the cumbersome journey to the water, super refreshing. 

Checking out the Market in St Raphael

We went to the night market in St Raphael. I got randomly kissed on the check by one of the polynesian night show dancers. All of our time spent at Becky's house and I only spent about 40 euros for food. Guaranteed I gained a few lbs from eating so much bread, cheese, and pâté.

Our French adventure ended and Liam, Sabine, Caitlin and I were off to explore Italy. Becky recently got a killer job with a travel agency and was off to Sri Lanka, not a bad life eh? We made it to the train station. .  but of course as nothing goes easily there was a fire on the track and we had to bus it to another station. The bus was late, the driver was jerky and we were all a bit stressed and pissy. We made it to the station with minutes to spare. . . turned out to be a routine of our journeys-but hey gotta live on the edge, right? Once safely on the train I was excited to explore Italy. . .  but would always remember the French wasn't the best at their hospitality and not the most welcoming of folks. I hope the rest of the journey changes my opinion of Europeans.  

Uni of Otago Scarfies Unite 

These are my friends.  . public transportation can be tiring ;) 

More to come post ITALY!!!!!

What better to do after graduation. . . but EXPLORE

Hey y'all, I'm Nora. An adventurous young adult from Northern Virginia with a southern influence from the great city of Charleston, South Carolina. In my recent years I've had the opportunity to travel from Costa Rica to New Zealand and Australia. Before graduating from College of Charleston I realized there was still so much more I wanted to see. So my parents bought me a flight to Europe-dated August 16th, 2012.

I worked long hours all summer while living in the Hamptons- which was not all the glamor the esteem makes it out to be. Thick New York accents and demanding city folk is definitely the stereotype of the summer crowd. But after the daily task of swiping hundreds of customers' black credit cards unabated, I was able to kick it with genuine, local, people. And after the grudge of a long day, there was always some beer and friends to put a smile on my face. I met some great friends that will last a lifetime, realized I can only handle the retail industry part-time, and stacked that green $$$. I even lived with some Irish friends for the last few weeks of my stay to prep me for my European adventure :D

Now its August 16th. I've spent two days at home. I have one backpack that I want to fit three suitcases worth of clothes. I'm about to take the best adventure. And it still doesn't seem real.

Stay tuned to the rest of my trip. I'll do my best to update when I can and show you how Europe looks like through this crazy girl's eyes. If you know me, then you well know I will get into some interesting situations and will have some great stories to share. I'm not afraid to talk to people and love candid conversation-some Europeans will ignore me, some might yell at me, but I hope I find a rare few who will help make this a real, authentic experience.

Adios Y'all

Spread Your Wings and Fly