Orientation at Chambord

The first week of October I spent a day at Château Chambord, one of the most elaborate and grand castles in France. It was built by François I. Its facade is 156 meters, contains 440 rooms, and has 365 chimneys, which are all of the spikes you see in this photo. Incredibly intricate chimneys for all of those fireplaces (right).

An outside staircase with an elaborate spiral design.These were found all over the château, in and out.

The axis of the château is the splendid double helix staircase, whose two bricked spiral flights rise independently around a central hollow column (right), and allow two persons to climb together to the terrace without meeting each other. This hollow column makes amazing light patterns (center). Since the early twentieth century, the clarity and geometrical power of the palace has been interpreted as evidence of the involvement of Leonardo da Vinci, working for François 1er in the Loire Valley since 1516.

The King was an avid hunter and many portraits of him hunting were around his domain, as well as several other oddities, which is why I found the château so weird. The modern art displayed in the château was from the museum of animal and hunt, but was very strange ranging from dead, stuffed animals wearing robes, a bear skeleton, antler designs, dirt balls with lots of natural things in them hanging from the ceiling, wood structures, dead, stuffed animals on the royal bedding, bucks fighting, etc. Many of the items were to represent the love of hunting, but many were just plain ol' weird.

Kaylynn, the Louis Vuitton design is for you! Wouldn't you want that on a bag?!

The McDonald antlers are very funny!

This is for my fire fighting buds---Shan, Jan, Linds, Cason, etc...An old fire engine and hose from way back in the day ;)

And finally, ME! Look, there I am with Helen, another assistant in the lycee (high school equivalent) in Nogent overlooking the forest and garden entrance.

And again, just being silly and look, I'm taller than the door! How exciting :)

Finally, some more

Oh my goodness! Photos begin. This is a picture from one of my schools: Collège Arsène Meunier. These are the school grounds.







This is next to the entrance of my apartment.







This is the entrance to the Col. It is in an old monestary. Very old, but beautiful. It's nice to be in such a beautiful place.








Pictures from the Château Saint Jean in my city, Nogent.






A view of the city from the château. Enjoy!

Change Your Mind--We're All Just Humans

Just a note about the French and for those of you who have second thoughts about the French, you should change your mind. First off, they are not rude (or can be just as rude any of us). Just as we Americans expect all foreigners to know and speak English, all other nations wish the same thing for their visitors. And what the French love is that we just try and they love to practice their English anyway. And, they think it is wonderful when foreigners study their language in school (it is very special to them). So, the next time you are in France, you will never have a rude encounter if you first speak French. Now, if you start off with English, that's a different story. But, that's the same for us in the states if someone just walked up to you and started speaking Chinese. How would you feel if you didn't speak Chinese? Eh voilà.

The French love to have a good time, stay out late, eat long, relaxing and wonderful meals, share stories, laugh all the time, and love to invite people to their homes, to go out, etc.

I have received endless phone numbers and emails and addresses to come for dinners, to go out, "call me if you're bored," "call me if you want to go out," "call me if you need to use the internet," "call me if you need a printer," "call me if you need a ride," "call me if need to run errands," "call me if you want to go running." And no, they are not all MEN, women too. Just again today I received a cell phone number from one of the maids to go to a country music concert in November with her and her friends. How nice!

So, the French are so nice and they've made me feel very welcome.

Baggage and Metro DO NOT MIX

This post should have been first, but at least you're going to get a feel for a very bad idea:

Baggage and the metro DO NOT MIX. When I arrived in France September 18th I was obviously completely out of it, out of my mind, and of course, running on hardly (if any) amount of sleep. I've decided for overseas travel to deprive myself sleep days before the trip that way I adjust to the time change of 9 hours quickly. And yes, it's a good idea, but only after the adjustment.

So, what I should have done upon my arrival was taken a taxi to the train station in Paris and then to Nogent. But, no, I decided I would take the RER train from the airport to the train station to save money. Well, I obviously neglected to think about what happens when you arrive in Paris and then need to take the metro to get to the correct train station?! Because with one big suitcase, a backpacking backpack, a carry-on, and a purse this was no piece of cake. Why? Because I'm only one person and there are stairs in the metro you idiot! That's what my name was for the day: Idiot!

However, the French are wonderful and ever so nice (as long as you attempt to speak French) and helpful, especially on this stupid day. My first encounter, a very tall, slender man who I thought might not be strong enough to pick up my bags picked them up, asked me where I was going and whisked my bags away with him, RUNNING, up and down, up and down the stairs I followed him. WOW! And thank goodness, relieved.

Then, I got to the train station, but of course you have more stairs to get out of the metro station and into the train station.....uuuuggghhhhh. So, because I didn't want to ask for help and was feeling absolutely stupid (yes, Idiot), I decided I would look like I was waiting for someone at the bottom of the stairs and after the traffic passed, I ran my bags one at a time up the stairs (yes, I'm sure I looked absolutely silly, but no one saw me). I did this at 3 different stairwells. Worked like a charm. Then, a girl about my age saw me and I asked if I needed help, okay, I gave in. She helped me and then walked ahead, only to see her come around the corner again to say that she was in no hurry and she just encountered more stairs. She helped me all the way to the train....phewwww.....

I was absolutely dripping sweat, exhausted, and in no condition for any other thoughts for the day.

I repeat: Idiot.

Pictures, yes, I know

Yes, yes, I know I said the pictures were coming, but as usual, yes, the computers are having problems. I hope to have more picts up before I leave for vacation (10/22).

Wonderful idea!

What a wonderful idea, as I've mentioned several times before, WINE at lunchtime, of course, just for teachers. During our lunchbreak (no less than an hour and a half and up to two and a half hours) we pass wine around the table and enjoy our scrumptious meals.

I think we should integrate this type of behavior into the US school system. Pourqoi pas?

Other strange and wonderful ideas of importance in France and Nogent:

• ladybugs everywhere! It's very strange, but I find them a delightful surprise hiding in my clothes, etc...
• But, not such a great surprise is the pooh you find on the bottom of your shoe...not fun. Dog crap everywhere--I guess I'm spoiled coming from an area where we actually pick up after our dogs go to the bathroom! Who would of thought...However, one question is, where are all the dogs? (this poor dog etiquette exists in all countries in Europe that I've visited, not just in France).
• Other fun things one will find on sidewalks all over Europe---CARS. Dodging cars on sidewalks is quite a task, but can be perfected :)
• Great way to stay in shape: mail delivery by bike, not car. La poste on bikes in Nogent.
• People walk everywhere in France. Hmmm....I think that memo didn't get to Nogent---I'm the only one I've ever seen walking, the only one without a car. But, I love it!