There's No Place Like Home

Well it has almost been an entire month since the last time I was in my house for over 12 hours, and I can honestly say I have not ever been so grateful to be home.  I love it so much.

Today has quite honestly been the longest day of my life.  I got up at 4:45 Paris, France time, and it is now 8:20 Virginia time.  Well, I;m not sure if you are aware of the ti;e difference, but it is almost 2:30 my body's time, and I am so tired.

Now it hasn't been the best day, in fact I spent a good 14 hours traveling, sitting on an airplane, switching terminals, checking and rechecking luggage, all of it, it has just been going on and on and on.  I think the worst part of all of it though was when I finally got back to Virginia.

Every time one of my sisters comes back from college all of us go to pick them up and are waiting right there so as soon as they pass through they gate we can all run and hug each other.  I was so looking forward to this kind of greeting, with Ari running towards me yelling "Kelli!" before giving me a GIANT hug.  Well I sure did get my hopes up because when I walked out of that gate there wasn't anyone there.

I thought, oh it's okay, they're probably waiting at the wrong one, right?  I mean, they couldn't have just forgotten to come get me, could they?  Well they could, and they did.  I ended up waiting at the airport for about another twenty minutes after finally getting a hold of my dad.  I mean, no one would even answer their phones.  I'm not sure what happened, but that truly sucked.  And it didn't make me mad, it just really hurt, the thought that here I've been gone for a month and they just forgot to come pick me up.

Well it's all good now, I'm home, I'm fed, and I'm lying in my bed.  To the best ending that I could have thought of to the longest day of my life, this is me going off to sleep in my bed.  Night!  And America, it's good to be back.

And Then There Were None

Today marks my very last full day here in France.  It's crazy to think how fast time has gone by, it feels like just the other day that I was waiting in the Airport back in Norfolk to head out here.  I have to admit that I do miss my home and family considerabley, but even still, it's sad to be going.

I left Belle Isle on Thursday, even though I was starting to get bored with doing the same things everyday there, I still was sad to see it go.  That morning I had the chance to go up and take pictures of one of my favorite sights, some cliffs above the girl's favorite beach.  I don't think I would have been able to leave had I not gotten those pictures. 

The day was absolutely perfect.  Nothing could describe the beauty of it, not words, not pictures, nothing.  I wish that I could have just captured that perfetness and put it away. I'm thinking a little box to keep all those perfect moments in, and then I could open it on "rainy days," just as a little reminder of the good times when times don't seem so good.

I spent my last day in Nantes packing and making sure that I had everything I needed.  I wish I could have just gone and seen a little more, maybe another Church, or a castle, or even just more architecture.

All in all this trip has been amazing and I don't think it would ever be possible to forget any of it.  And to make the perfect ending for the perfect vacation I had my last dinner at a little crêperie.  And what did I have, a crêpe of course!  But what made it even better was that I got one with ratatouille.  I don't think I can describe how absolutely thrilled I was to see that on the menu.  It was even more perfect because earlier today I had been thinking about how I wished I'd had the chance to try it while I was in France.

Now it's bed time because I have a looong day ahead of me tomorrow.  Goodnight, for the lqst time, from Paris!!

Chargers

So sometimes I just want to repeatedly kick myself in the tush.  Yesterday I was out in Le Palais and I was taking some pictures so that I would remember the cute little town.  Well, with my luck, what happens?  My camera battery died of course.

Well hey, no biggy, I could just go back to the house and charge it right?  No.  I would have left the charger for my camera bck in Nantes too.  I swear I left everything in my other suit case.  Luckily, Robin was coming in today, and he was able to bring my camera and kindle chargers with him.  I can't even descrbe how much better my trip got when he handed me those.

Well, now that you know what a dunce I am, I'm going to tell you how awkard I am.

Last night Jade and Manon convinced me to go out "for drinks" with them.  I figured, okay, I'll ust go tonight and then next time they ask me I can be like "no thanks," and they won't try to push it.  I think my bain was only half zorking, because I failed to realize that it was a Friday night...

Well we went down to this little café, and all got our Grenadine and were sitting there trying to get each other to say things in our respective languages without accents.  MUCH harder than it sounds.

Well, I was wearing one of those earings that wrap up around your ear, and it was of a snake.  Well there were these three guys sitting at the table next to us, probably about 25.  Well anyway, they decided they were going to start talking to me.  Life has not prepared me for such things.

Like I understand that in college and beyond people do that, they flirt with strangers and things come from that, cool.  Well, I'm not quite there yet, maybe I'm not ready for college yet.

Well of course we're in France so they start speaking to me in French.  It took my a little while to turn my brain on and explain I didn't speak French.  They then switched to English and were trying to buy me a drink.

Never have I ever had random guys hit on me, let alone really old French ones.  I was so awkward.  I literally had no idea what to do, and Jade and Manon just laughe at me.  Why do these kinds of things happen to me?

Setting Up a Tent

Last night I had this great idea, why not sleep outside?

Well originally I just wanted to sleep out under the stars, but when I asked Jade and Manon if they would like to camp out too they said "in a tent?"  They were pretty set on this tent thing, so we got to setting it up.

Now, I have been camping an inumerous amount of times in my life, and I know how to set up a tent.  Easy peasy, right?  Well I swear this tent was from another planet.  It was truly the hardest thing to set up, ever.  And I'm no idiot, it shouldn't have been that hard.

Now I give myself a bit of credit because, firstly, the instructions were in French, and as much as I learned in my French classes, "Instructions for a Tent" failed to be in the curriculum.  Secondly, I was the one who finally figured out how to set it up.

I have decided something about setting up a tent with girls however, it is much like going to summer school.  Why? I'll tell you:

1.  You are surrounded by people that have no idea what they are doing.
2.  It's pretty much a living He**
3.  It's probably the worst way of going about getting done what needs to be done.
4.  Probably one of the worst ways to spend your time.

Now, I'm not sexist.  And if I was it wouldn't be against girls, because I am one, that'd just be dumb.  However, girls just shouldn't be allowed to set up tents.  If, however, they have a father like mine, a Mr. Campsalot, then sure, they might actually know what they're doing.  Girly girls? Nope, shouldn't be done.

It all worked out though, and thankfully we got the tent up just in time before it started raining.  But I honestly think it was one of the most complicated parts of my trip to France.

Belle Isle en Mer

Sorry guys, I really wanted to keep this thing udated, but I`ve been on an island without internet for about a week now. It's this pretty little place off the coast of France, and boy is it beautiful.

I'll just give you a couple of updates before I'm out of internet privillages for now.

1. I HATE roosters.  I used to think that they only cocked when the sun furst came up.  I was sadly mistaken.  No, they don't shut up until it goes back down at night.

2. I love old people, but there comes a time when they've been alone o long and have gone a little crazy.

3.  The beach is the only thing to do here, and I've never been that big of  a fan of the beach.  Sucks to be me.

4. So i hate wearing shoes.  I think my feet might be clastrophobic.  However, I have discovered I hate people telling me "shoes are nessicary" more than I do actually wearing them.

5.  As sad as it is, the internet is a must have in my life.  I mean a couple of days, that I can handle, but more than a week? Nope, I need my Facebook, Pinterest, and Youtube time.

Wel I should probably wrap this up, and I'll try for a bit more internet time while I'm still here to update you on whts been going on, and to share some of the beauty that's around me, but bye for now from Belle Ile en Mer.

Cathedrals, Castles and Cornets

You know that you have been around French people too long when the voice in your head has been permanently changed into speaking broken English with a French accent, and when you start having dreams in French that you don't understand.

Today was another "chill" day.  Jade and I went tanning and packed for the beach tomorrow, but besides that, pretty much all we did was lay on the couch all day.  I can now say that I am very much caught up on Pinterest and Facebook.

However, we did take a break after lunch to go into town with Mr. Toth.   We went and saw the Nantes Castle as well as the Cathedral.  The Cathedral was absolutely stunning.  In fact the side almost reminded me of a Mormon Temple, but then I don't think that even the hundreds of years old castles and cathedrals can compare to the House of God.

However when we got to the cathedral there was this huge crowd standing out front, and it turns out there was a wedding that was supposed to start soon, and all of the guests were waiting outside for the doors to open.  When they did open, the three of us slipped inside just so we could see the interior.  I'm glad we did because it was breath taking.  As we were slipping out and walking towards the castle the bride pulled up in the cutest little green car.  (That's another thing I love about France, all the cars and TINY.)  Well, you know me, I LOVE weddings, so I simply HAD to take a picture of the bride as she got out of her car.

After going around the Castle we decided to put in a little bit of shopping time.  Now I thought that France was supposed to be the Fashion Capital of the world, especially Paris, but as I walk around and just look at all the people I can't help but think how strange their fashion is.  And all the stores are filled with bizarre clothing and shoes.  However, while we were out today I did find this one jacket/shirt/sweater thing.  I'm honestly not sure what to call it, but it was literally the softest piece of clothing I have ever touched in my life.  So even though it was probably not worth the price, I just had to get it, and so I now have a jacket/shirt/sweater thing that's softer than chinchilla fur.

Of course we had to stop for a refreshment.  Ever time we go out we have to get something, and today it was ice cream.  There is this one ice cream franchise across Paris called Amorino.  Omigracious.  It is literally the best ice cream I've ever had in my life, and that includes Iceburg.  Now if you know anything about my love for ice cream, you'll know that I sweat by Iceburg, and I sing it's praises all the time.  My favorite part of Amonino is the when you get a cone (cornet) they scope it to look like a flower.  Literally the coolest way to eat your ice cream.  However, I probably shouldn't have gotten any, because that will make today's desserts number to three.  Sorbet after lunch, ice cream while shopping, and dessert sushi rolls (nutella and strawberries, can you say yum?!) after dinner...  Gosh, I'm thinking a diet is going to be in order once I get back from France.

And now this is me signing off, saying "Bonne nuit!" from Nantes, France!

Lazy Days

Today has been a lazy day.  I don't think people always understand the power behind a lazy day.  A day in which you have a whole world of possibilities but choose to take the time to relax, those can sometimes be the best.  To take the time to reflect on your life, plan for the future, to think, to explore the expanses of your mind, to dream, to consider, that's the best way to spend a lazy day.

I've just been sitting here writing a few post cards and writing in my journal, listening to country music.  Jade is out at some appointment so I've had just a few hours to do nothing and it's been great.  And this is what I've been thinking about, relationships.

Now I know that I'm always the one to complain about being single, because honestly, it sucks.  But at the same time I've decided it's pretty great.  It's funny, while I sit here and listen to all of these songs about relationships, and love and being alone, it really hits home some of my own feelings.  At times I feel just like Hunter Hayes when he sings "seems everybody's got somebody but me," but then at other times it's so great to just be free.  When you don't have someone, you can do and be whoever you want to be.  You don't have to worry about how they might feel about something you do, or if they'll like how you look.  Who cares?  Life is short, so live it out loud.  Bob Marley once said "some people feel the rain, others just get wet."  I want to feel the rain, and if for now I feel it by myself, then that's great.

I have decided I'm okay.  I like who I am, and until I enter the next chapter of my life, I'm going to live in this one, and I'm not going to keep rereading past chapters, because then I'll never get to the next.

Just my thoughts on where I am right now, and I'm glad I got to take just this bit of lazy time to think.  I needed it.

We're Here!

Sorry it's been a couple of days, but let me catch you up.

On Monday night we went for a night boat trip on the Sienne. It was absolutely beautiful, I don't think I've ever seen anything so beautiful.  Also after that boat ride I have decided that I do indeed like Paris, I just like it much better at night, on a boat, where you can't smell the smoke or see dirty streets.



I think my favorite part of that night was that there were these live performers right there along the water.  This little quartet was playing, one on the piano, one on the violin, one on the bass, and one on the accordion.  After our boat ride Mr. and Mrs. Toth danced to their music.  I'm pretty sure it was one of the cutest things ever.

A little bit down the pier from where the quartet was playing there was another piano, just sitting there for anyone to play.  Jade and I went over and we played it for a little while.  I sat down and played one of the only songs I know.  I've been thinking, what would you do if you knew that I had played and sang our song beneath the Eiffel Tour in Paris, France?

 Yesterday was our last "day" in Paris, it was really only our last few hours, and then we were off to Mont Saint Michel.  The night before I had decided that I desperately wanted to buy my sister a painting from the artist market.  Luckily the Toths were kind enough to oblique and they drove us back to Sacre Cœur so I could get one.  The painting I got is beautiful, and hopefully my sister will think so too so it will have been worth it.

After going to the artist market we headed out for this beautiful castle on the sea.  Well sometimes it's an island on the sea, and sometimes it's just a little hill surrounded by farmland.  It was absolutely gorgeous, and it was full of little nooks and crannies.  Going to places like that make me wish that I lived at a different time in a different place.

I got my dad and brother these awesome little daggers at on of the gift shops, words cannot describe how excited I am to give the, their gifts, it's gonna be amazing.

For dinner we stopped to get these famous omelettes from Mere Poulard, a restaurant special to le Mont Saint Michel.  I was super excited, famous food?  How can you go wrong?  Well I got my omelette and it turns out it's like a soufflé.  I'm pretty sure it was the strangest texture to an omelette ever, but surprisingly quite delicious.  Just goes to show, you can't judge a book by its cover, or an omelette by the fact its been souffléd.

Now I'm going to get on my soup box for a minute here.  On the bus from Mt St Michel back to the parking lot there was this family with this little boy, no more than three years old, probably closer to two.  Well it was late and I'm sure it had been a long day for the poor little boy so he was a little fussy.  However all of the other passengers were getting upset by his fussing.  What makes you think that you have the right to get mad at a two year old that way?  Were you a perfect child that never fussed? I highly doubt that, so don't get all uptight, it's okay.  It just makes me angry when people act like that.  Just grow up.

We then drove to our hotel a little ways away.  It was so precious, this little old fashioned building on the corner of town.  Our room was little but very nice.  My favorite part? Now don't laugh, but it was the bathroom.  It just had one of those perfect tubs, and so of course I had to take a bath.  It was probably one of the most relaxing things I have done in years.

I ended up just passing out on my bed last night, I was so tired, and I'm glad I did because today was another long day.

We went to Saint Melo, a Pirate Village.  It was so cool, lots of cute little shops and these tall beautiful buildings.  We got to take a tour or a merchants home, I think the staircase in the front alone was worth the walk that it took to get there.  A "déjeuner" of what looked like crêpes but cooked until it was crispy; and then we were on our way to Nantes.

And that's where we stand now, well sit.  And after much journeying we have finally arrived back "home."  We're here.

Le Livre de Mormon

Paris has been amazing!  I can't believe today is my last day and I'll be on my way towards Nantes tomorrow.  However, I'm so excited to see Mont Saint Michelle tomorrow.  

Here are some things I have decided about France:

1.  It smells, like bad.  Everyone smokes, and there is no air, all you breathe is cigarette smoke.  Most disgusting things ever.  It's even worse than New York.

2.  If people eat as much as we have been eating these last few days, I really don't understand how they're all so skinny. I feel like I'm going to die of liver failure.

3.  If you ever want to make money by playing on the side of the street, don't do it in Paris, everyone else is already here.  However, if you don't want to stick out like a sore thumb, Paris is the place to be.

Yesterday was amazing.  We went and saw Notre Dame, and the Sacre Coeur.  Both of which, for those who don't know, are churches, big, gorgeous churches.  I was simply amazed by the beauty of the churches, and I think that if I actually went to church that looked like they do, it would take a few hundred Sundays for me to stop paying attention to all the detail and to pay attention to the service.

I also got to go see one of those little markets with all the painters.  It was such a cool thing to experience.  I have heard of little markets like that, but it's crazy how talented the people all were.  These tiny little canvases with these amazing works of art, it's amazing.

Today was a lot of fun.  We finally went to go shopping beyond hitting little souvenir shops along the way to wherever we were going.  However, even better than the shopping was what happened right before we got to the mall.

We were about two blocks away from the mall, and I was thinking that it would be really cool to see missionaries in Paris, when low-and-behold there they were.  Two elders walked by, and it took me by surprise.  I honestly thought it was the coolest thing ever.  I literally ran after them so I could say hi.  luckily they both spoke English, and I'm pretty sure at least one was from Utah.  But so I got to talk to them for a little bit and they gave me a french copy of the Book of Mormon.

I gave it to Jade and her family, and I hope that they will read it, and who knows what will happen.  :)  Perhaps she and her family will read it and it might touch them in a way that they can't deny, how cool would that be, halfway around the world and I still had the opportunity to do missionary work.

We Are Here!

Yesterday I left for what would begin the biggest adventure of my life thus far.  I got up at seven yesterday to finish packing for my trip.  At one we got in the car and we all headed over to the airport.  I said my goodbyes, and then I was on my way.





I made it up to Newark, New York and then I was stuck there for hours.  I sat down to a meal of clam chowder in a bread bowl, and read my book.  After waiting in that airport for three hours it was finally time to go.  I got on the plane, and then I was headed out, across the sea, halfway around the world.

At this moment I am sitting in the Pacific Hotel in Paris, France. I can't believe I'm really here, I've been waiting for this trip for over a year now, and now I'm here.  It's absolutely beautiful, the City of Love really is all it's cracked up to be.

When the Toths picked me up from the airport, first we went back to our hotel and dropped off our luggage and then we went out to start seeing Paris.

The Paris Opera House, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tour, and the Champs Elysées.  It was such an amazing view and I just wish I hadn't been so tired so I could have appreciated the tour around Paris more.  But today was just the beginning of what's going to be an amazing three weeks.