Paris

Paris is the most amazing city I´ve been to. I absolutely loved it. The city was so beautiful. I expected the French to be rude but it was the opposite. The only rude people I ran into were taxi drivers, and they weren´t even French. We were all a bit worried as Americans in Paris who, between the 10 of us, could not figure out how to say "Hello," "Goodbye," "Please," and "Thank you" in French. We were always responding in Spanish, trying our hardest to speak French. But all the Parisians spoke English and they didn´t seem bothered to have to do it. I was so impressed by their attitudes, it will be a long time before I say anything bad about the French again.

I had one day in Paris and when I left, I felt that I did not miss a thing. We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We had lunch in the Park beside the tower. We got on a double decker bus and rode around the city. We went to the Louvre, we did the Louvre, in 35 minutes. We got back on the bus and rode to Notre Dame. We didn´t go inside but they say the outside is much nicer anyway. We then got back on the bus riding around and just looking at the city. Everything was just so surreal. Our last stop was the Arc de Triomphe. While there, we made dinner reservations at a nice restaurant and then hoped back on the bus to the tower. From there we went back to the hotel and changed for dinner.

We rode the Metro back to the Arc, where we proceeded to run across the street to the center of the roundabout the Arc is on. Later we found out we are supposed to cross under a tunnel (no wonder we were honked at). From there we could see the tower sparkling in the night sky. Something that is more spectacular than I could have ever imagined. We went to dinner, which was much more expensive than we thought (we had looked at the lunch menu). 500 EUROS for dinner, between the group. It was some pretty good Salmon.

We took the Metro to the Eiffel Tower stop and the tower had already started sparkling for the last time that night (it sparkles every hour, on the hour, for 10 minutes, from 10pm to 1:10am. We saw it at 10 from the Arc). We ran 4 blocks and made it just in time to see the finale. It was something I would expect in a movie, but I got to live it.

Leaving Paris was sad. I had the time of my life. I now know why Sabrina Fairchild didn´t want to leave. It was hands down, my favorite city I have ever been to and I would return on a moments notice. I returned to Salamanca broke, and I do not regret anything about that. Maybe that I didn´t bring back a post card, but I have memories, much better than any postcard.


"Once upon a time, on the north shore of Long Island, not far from New York, there was a very, very large mansion, almost a castle. And on this very large estate lived a small girl. And life was pleasant there and very, very simple. But, then one day, the girl grew up and went beyond the walls of the grounds and found the world."
-Sabrina

Santander and Such

¡Holá Amigos!

The past weekend I went to Santander, Spain. It is a town on the northern coast of Spain. It was a wonderful and well needed vacation. The town and the beach were beautiful. First thing we did when we got there was go to the beach. The beach at night was peaceful. We took a bunch of pictures (which I don´t know how to load, sorry) and afterward went to a little Mexican restaurant. Nothing like being in Spain to make me miss Mexican food.

When we woke up the next morning we went straight to the beach, again. The beach was so cool. Off to one side there were a lot of old, big buildings and on the other it was rocky. I, of course, climbed the rocks and went exploring. It reminded me a lot of Hawaii the way the rocks were so jagged. On the side with all the buildings there was a set of stairs that I climbed up, but they didn´t go anywhere. I assume there was at one point in time a house there, that was destroyed, and turned in to a playground. I wish you guys could see the pictures because it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The water had a blue/greenish tint to it. But it was different than the blue of Hawaii or the green of the Gulf. For lunch that day, I had some of the best shrimp I have ever had, it was so fresh. I don´t even know if Shrimp is near Spain, but it was great. That night we got dressed up and went to the casino, which was really underwhelming. I had ice cream under the casino. It was chocolate truffle with black sprinkles. ¡Gotta love the black sprinkles!

On the way home we stopped at a couple of little towns. One of them looked like a little Dutch town in the mountains and the other had a festival going on. It was nice to see little towns. Any little town in the mountains of Spain that feels like being at Elkmont is where I want to be.

The past couple of days have been busy with school and everything. Today is the first day of a long weekend. Tomorrow is the day honoring the Saint of Salamanca so there is going to big party, with fireworks. I love a good fireworks display. And then I leave Friday afternoon for Paris. I am looking forward to this trip. Hopefully in one day we can go to: The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower(at night), Versailles, and maybe walk past the Arc de Triomphe. I think we are going to have a real nice dinner Saturday night in Paris. Hopefully I can eat some Escargot (only if i´m lucky, I guess).

I hope America is treating you well. Hopefully with everything going on in España I will be able to return to Salamanca and there will be food on the table.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/06/11/protests.fuel.ap/index.html

Until Later,
Love Alice

Suprise!

This morning I found out that the dog that eats at the table also poops in the house.

The Simpsons Hablan Español

I am beginning to become less and less home sick the longer I am here. One of the biggest problems was the language barrier. My house mom helped Laura (my roommate) and me study last night which was really helpful. I am still not able to say much but I am able to understand so much more. We watch European news or the Simpsons (in Spanish) while eating our meals and watching TV really helps with my comprehension.

The architecture in Spain is really amazing. The buildings are solid solid Spanish marble. It´s beginning to warm up here and I would love Ice Cream from a "Spanish Marble Slab Creamery." But alas, the Spanish people have been unresponsive to my idea. This is a picture in front of a typical building in Salamanca. It´s so amazing to wake up and wall out my front door, which feels like it is in downtown New York city and walk 15 minutes and be surrounded by buildings that are hundreds of years old.

I have yet to completely embarrass myself in public, I feel My luck is running out and only will result in a better story in when the accident occurs. I was double fisting two Ice Cream cones today, that is about the funniest thing I have done while here. I miss TCBY and happy hour from 2-4 at Sonic, but the Spanish is ice cream is good, and I am not complaining.

I am getting along well with my home stay family. The mother is a decent cook but she always thinks its funny that I don´t want seconds. Ketto (the cat) likes to sleep on my bed and if Laura lets her in the room, she stays on my bed. I feel this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Ketto and myself.

Thanks for Reading,

Alice Ann

P.S. To the inquiring mind that wants to know. I don´t know why there is a handicap button next to the word verification box. And I wish I had a pair of wed cwops. Yellow and pink wish I had wed cwops too.

Send Me Mail!

my address is
Alice Mayo
c/o Cortes Lazaro
C/ JORGE I, 9, 1(degree sign) H
37003 Salamanca, Spain

Alice Gets To Salamanca

I have a Spanish Cell Phone. I ran out of out going minutes but can receive calls. My phone number is 011.34.67 212 9404. From a cell it is only about a dollar a minute to call me. So worth it. I got to Salamanca safely after 2 Nights in Madrid and 2 Nights in Toledo. I met my home stay family and I am not sure if I like them or not. The mom gets frustrated that we can´t understand Español and just repeats herself in English. She is the only one in the family who speaks English. I guess it is good that she speaks English but I would rather her not, that way we would learn better.

I got real homesick last night but I think I am better today. It is just hard being away from my family and friends and my pets. They let their dog eat at the table and it is disgusting.

I just booked a Flight to Paris for a free weekend June 13-15. I am going with about 10 other people from the UTK in Salamanca trip. It was about 270 US Dollars but I a trip to Paris is worth it.

I am getting along well with the people in my group, and making friends well, but I am learning that I don´t like to be away from my friends and family.

I am having a ton of fun.

Much Love.
Alice

Kate's House

I am hanging out at Kate's house and putting off packing. I hope she learns how to do HandStands while I am gone. It would be such a waste if I get back and her feet are as land locked as they are now. I am somewhat nervous about going to Salamanca. I hope I get along with my family and my roommate. Off the the front porch, thats all for now.

Much Love,
Alice