Let the Greek Games Begin!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Well just after a busy and exciting weekend, another week of class commenced and one full of work too. Although there were projects to be worked on a laundry to be done, there is always some time for some bonding with our group. It had been a while since we had all gotten together as a group but we finally had an activity where we got to know everyone a little more. Today we participated in an activity where we all wore our shirts that color coded us by team. Depending on what color shirt you were wearing, is what decided what team you were part of.

In our Greek Games Activity we had several challenges we competed against in teams. I was in the black team. The activities were an orange pass that you could only pass using your neck, then there was a limbo contest, and lastly we had a water balloon toss. The team who won the most points would be declared the winner. We did this in the public parc in Bordeaux and it was quite interesting to see how many French residents gathered around to see us play.

The activity was a lot of fun and we were able to get to know some more people on the trip. As of right now the Black team is tied for second with other teams and hopefully we will take the title the next time we have this event in Lyon. 

A taste of home

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Good Morning Spain! Luckily we woke up in one piece and all slept comfortably in the hostel. I did not expect to be staying in hostel that was as great as it was. I am so glad that I came to San Sebastian for the weekend. From start to finish… this trip was worth it. If there was any sign of me getting home sick, it was much better after today. We woke up early in the morning and found a small cafeteria that served all types of pastries and of course café! I had a pan de Gloria (my mom’s favorite) and a café con leche. I was the best breakfast that I have had on the whole trip. Just being able to break the language barrier and speak to everyone in Spanish was great. I don’t know if I would have been able to have gone to a strange country spontaneously without knowing the language and not getting any help.

After breakfast we walked to the river and say that a marathon was just about to begin down the main road in the town. The runners were all lined up and at the shot of the gun, they were all of. A swarm of people all began to run down the street as fast as they could. Along where the race was going on, there was a walkway that would stretch onto the beach which gave us some great sights of the harbor. The clashing of the waves against rocks was so cool and such a beautiful view.

The day was sort of cloudy at the beginning but it all cleared up by 11 am and it turned out to be a great sunny day. I would have loved to have gone into the beach but it was colder than I assumed. The lady in the restaurant told us that they usually go in the beach in the end of July to August which is sort of a bummer.

Another great thing about this town is that it brought so many memories of back home. In the city we found a grocery store that sold Goya products and there was also a cafeteria called La Habana. The feeling of being somewhere like home is really comforting and it was great after being two weeks in France.

It was just about time to head back to Bordeaux and face reality again. My escape to Spain was well worth the commute and money. I hope to someday come back in the summer and enjoy the beaches and cultures of Spain. 

I'm going to Spain!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

We started our first official day in Bordeaux with a walking tour conducted by a tour guide from the Office of Tourism. The lady was a big fan of Americans and was overly excited to be giving us the tour. The group walked around the city and we saw highlights of the city just to get our feet wet and to familiarize ourselves with Bordeaux. In our tour we visited Place de la Bourse, The church of St Pierre, St. Catherine Street, the Grand Theatre and much more. The great thing about Bordeaux is that the architecture is different and not as gothic as other cities. It combines the new with the old smoothly. Place de la Bourse

Following the tour, some people from the group were interested in going to San Sebastian for the weekend to experience a little bit of Spain. I automatically jumped on board and got my backpack ready for this spontaneous day trip to Spain. The transit system in Europe is amazing. Just being able to board a train and to travel for a few hours and being in another country is brilliant. We headed to Gare de Bordeaux Saint-Jean to purchase our tickets. The trip ended up being only 52€. We also got lucky and were able to ride first class on the train.

After a two hour train ride we reached the Spanish-French border and got on a tram that took us to the Amara (San Sebastian-Donista) stop. It was now time to find a hostel. Oh boy… it was a mission. We walked all round the city trying to find an available hostel but luckily, we found one with exactly 6 beds which were for a reservation that cancelled half an hour before we arrived. The gentleman and hostel were great; it actually reminded me of being at my grandma’s house.

Spain was exactly what I needed… people who spoke my language and were hospitable. To end the evening we drank several pints of sangria and I had the chance to eat a real meal… steak, fries, and of course…rice! I really do miss rice. This meal is just what we needed to get ready for an upcoming busy day. 

Next Stop...Bordeaux

Friday, May 15, 2009

It is time to say goodbye to Paris and get on the road to Bordeaux. Bordeaux is known for their wineries and smooth combination of the old with the new. The group loaded up the buses early in the morning to make the 5 hour trip in great timing. As you know most Americans over pack on trips so it’s not too hard to believe that our coaches had a trailer attached to be able to accommodate our entire luggage. Can you believe that?

Along the trail through the French countryside, we made a stop at the city of Tours. Tourine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French and for the famous Battle of Tours in 732. Our pit stop entailed a break for lunch and exploring the area for a little while. I was able to make it inside the Tours Cathedral which was just amazing. The cathedral was built between 1170 and 1547 and is currently undergoing some renovations but it does not hinder the beauty of the church at all. 

Soon after our visit to Tours, we made it to Bordeaux where we checked in at the Mercure Hotel which was an aged hotel in the outskirts of Bordeaux. It was great that the whole group was finally together under one roof. In the lobby, there was a freaky manikin which we named Dorothy which sort of freaked us out. Each day someone would move her somewhere else.

To end our evening, we road the tram to the center of the city to have dinner. My first impression of Bordeaux was its beauty of the city and its history. I am excited to see more and be able to spend a week here. There are also talks of going to San Sebastian, Spain as a side trip tomorrow. 

3 stations in one? Wow!

Thursday May 14, 2009

Our group was scheduled to go see the France 24 international news station located in the outskirts of Paris. France 24 is a true news hub that broadcasts its programs over the airwaves and over the internet. France 24 is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the public-funded holding company. The channel counts 520 employees including 260 bilingual journalists representing 35 nationalities and  over 1,000 correspondents throughout the world. We were given a tour around the station to see the newsroom of the three stations broadcasting in English, French, and Arabic. This multimedia newsroom is a completely digital and provides high quality video on the internet, cable, and even iphones. 

Although the station is subsidized by the government, they claim to not be biased. They are an independent news station that is able to broadcast freely without any interference. This was a big concern since being subsidized could have jeopardized their integrity. It is very interesting to note how this industry works especially with a subsidy which may be the solution to the tanking industry in the US. 

Once we got home, it was time to continue my mission of going to see more sights in Paris. I headed to highest place in the city where the Sacre-Coeur Basilica sits on. It was a beautiful church where you could see all of Paris. The street you need to take to get to the top is full of shops and tourist places. A major thing to be aware of is scams. I know of two people on the trip who were scammed. A vendor selling wristbands ran off with someone's change and another lost a bet gambling on a scam. You should be very careful when going through the area and be smart about possible scams. 

Insight into a travel journalist...

Wednesday May 13, 2009 

Today we had the chance to be able to have a visit from Eleanor Beardsley who is reporting from France for NPR since June 2004, following all aspects of French society, politics, economics, culture and gastronomy. She provided us with some tips on how to be able to report from places that we are unfamiliar with. Being from the US, she married her husband who is French and came to work and live with him in Paris. She is a great story teller and told us about a few stories she has done such as meals children receive in French schooling as opposed to the US, she covered Obama's visit to France, and even Sarkozy's election. It is always nice to have someone who is experienced offer advice to those who are new at the industry. One of her major recommendations is not to be shy but be assertive and make sure to try your best when finding a new angle to stories and breaking away from mundane stories. 

Beardsley has found that the French culture is very relaxed and not necessarily for the worse. One observation that struck her when she was ordering photos from Walgreens for her mother in the US, she looked at the hours and thought it was horrible the store was open from 8-10 everyday. Things we take for granted are not the case in France. In fact most stores besides cafes and restaurants are closed on Sundays and most boutiques are closed Mondays too. She has also observed that jobs like collecting garbage or cleaning the streets are not frowned upon as in the US because of the benefits and pay offered by the government. She has noted many important differences that make you take a step back and think about our lifestyle. 

Following the meeting with Beardsley, I went home to relax a little and wanted to treat myself to a delicious dinner. I went out with a few friends to a little cafe near the Place d'Italie and order a rack of lamb. I have tasted this dish before but there was something about this one. Accompanied with a bed of rice, a rose wine, and some bread.... it was a perfect match for me. One barrier we did have though was trying to communicate with the waiter as he didn't know very much English but he was attentive and as helpful as could be.