Elections, Hair Dryers, and Radios.

Salut! Well things have just been as typically uneventful as usual, but craziness still manages to abound. I finally visited the great store of Cora, France's version of wal-mart but way better somehow. France also created the supermarket concept... I forget which store exactly but they definitely had the grocery store and general store thing going before good ol' Sam Walton decided to create his mini-paradise. Tons of fun at Cora, as I now have a hair dryer and a radio (yay!). I can listen to the news now and not feel so completely out of the loop of current events. And speaking of, yay- Ben is in India and has a cool blog at http://vanmeterinc.blogspot.com/. Check it out! Otherwise, it's been great to listen to the France go on about the American elections and talking to various Americans, and also French people who live in the States.

As for my other current events, Kristen came to visit for a few days and we had fun exploring Metz, chatting, and exploring Luxembourg (that took one day!). Unfortunately, I forgot my camera and hence have no pictures for you to see of the beautiful fall foliage in the Vallée de la Pétresse. But as it's only a 45 minute train trip, I will totally be going back to visit! And not surprisely, I didn't have time to see everything, so I will still have things to explore when I go back! I was going to try and spend a day in Sarrebruck (Saarbrucken) this weekend, but I think I'm going to wait for some weekend or free Tuesday or Wednesday. Amelia and Liz are coming to visit this weekend, so that will be fun to have more people around!

And finally, election day plans! This whole 6 and 7 hour time difference thing has proven to be a bit of an obstacle, but we have made plans to hang out in one of the Irish pubs (there's like four or five in Metz)... Danny has graciously agreed to let us stay there even after he closes, until the end of the elections or at least until he decides he's too tired and kicks us out. Yay! We have some place to watch the elections! That's our major victory for the week... now if we could just get the CAF to come through soon! I have to pay my rent!

Well that's about it on the Metz scene. The rainlooks like it might be letting up... but we'll see! Apologies for nothing truly insightful yet on my blog, but my best to everyone! Ciao!

Quick Note.

About to head off to a new film with people, so this will be short and sweet... I hope. But figured it was about time to actually write something. Kristen came to visit and we had a fun time wandering Metz. We also went to Luxembourg for the day, and it was simply gorgeous! More later! Sorry for the summary. Ciao!

Place St. Louis. How cool would it be to live here! 

Cool sun dial in Metz. 

New and hopefully better picture of Cathédrale St. Etienne. 

Pont des Allemands. Very cool bridge. 

Stained glass from inside St. Etienne. Still working on getting decent photos of the Chagall windows. 

Cathédrale St. Etienne from Place de la Cathédrale. 

Enjoying fondue... poor student style! 

Land of Plenty. Nearing the end of the fondue night! 

The view from my room, on a beautiful early autumn day. 

St. Ségolene, just next door! 

Circles.

Honestly, tonight I just don't know what to say. I've been in Metz for three weeks now, and I still feel as if my entire life is composed of circles upon circles. I need this piece of paper to get the next but I need the next one to get the last one... At least there's a cafe around the corner, eh! Well they are kicking us out of the lab! Quelle surprise!

Amelia and I loving the Paris Metro System!