Just call me the Lone Ranger (or at least that's what my roomate calls me). I've never had patience for large groups and although I feel like I'm on an alien planet over here sometimes, I still prefer to explore it toute seule (well of course Chewy..uh I mean Moo.. is always with me ;))
Maybe I'm just getting old, but I'm over the whole staying up until all hours drinking/partying only to suffer all through the next day (or 2) ESPECIALLY when there is so much to do. Yes, I have been to the beach, but with this disgusting blister that shows no sign of going away, I'm avoiding the water/sand for fear of infection. Not to worry though, there is more than enough water here for me to stare out at and contemplate philosophical theorems. WOAH - that must be why so many famous philosophers came from around here...they spent all their time staring out at the water. Hmmmm....
Yesterday we hung around town. An american friend (not from the CEA group) and I went shopping and I spent the rest of the evening at home (yes HOME) doing HOME-LY things (like cooking, cleaning and laundry). Une semaine ici and already I'm a local. Little by little I'm giving into the French accent (or should I say pronunciation). My professor keeps picking on me because she thinks I sound funny (in an endearing way) and she makes me re-say words like I was in phonetics class and I sound REDICULOUS! You all know me, I can't fake an accent to save my life - I usually just bust out laughing. Class isn't too torturous though and that's a relief. I'm REALLY rusty (and learning NEW words).
Yesterday we hung around town. An american friend (not from the CEA group) and I went shopping and I spent the rest of the evening at home (yes HOME) doing HOME-LY things (like cooking, cleaning and laundry). Une semaine ici and already I'm a local. Little by little I'm giving into the French accent (or should I say pronunciation). My professor keeps picking on me because she thinks I sound funny (in an endearing way) and she makes me re-say words like I was in phonetics class and I sound REDICULOUS! You all know me, I can't fake an accent to save my life - I usually just bust out laughing. Class isn't too torturous though and that's a relief. I'm REALLY rusty (and learning NEW words).
Today, when my CEA people decided to stick around instead of going to Grasse - I said "go NUTS" and packed up Moo and went on my way. No idea where I'm going - just got on a train in the right direction. Grasse isn't like the other places I've been thus far (Golfe Juan, Nice, here in Antibes) where the train station is in the centre of everything. Grasse is not a coast town either - it's in the mountains...(arrière-pays) and so it's built UPwards with the train station at the bottom. After roaming around the station for a while I figured I better take a bus in the direction of Grasse Centre-ville. Good thing because it was like 3-4 miles UPhill...and I mean WAY up.
We got dropped off at museum central where I got to visit (free entry) the perfume museum (not as cheezy as it sounds actually) they had artifacts dating back to 200+ years B.C. It was pretty cool (although the smell was making me a little high). I then went to the Muse
um of Art and History of Provence which also had some really cool, really old furniture, paintings and artifacts from Louis XV among others. Still having no idea where to go or what there is left to see Moo and I stop for a bite to eat and this cute little roof-top cafe and rest a while. (Side note: does anyone know how to order a bloody coffee in France? They keep giving me Espresso!!! Not that I care - it's hot out so I guess I don't need the 50oz of coffee/day that I normally gulp down). We then ventured off again wandering aimlessly for several hours taking loads of pictures and getting to see some pretty cool sites including a XI century cathedral and a look out point showing me how REALLY high up we actually were. G
lad I conquered my fear of heights :)
um of Art and History of Provence which also had some really cool, really old furniture, paintings and artifacts from Louis XV among others. Still having no idea where to go or what there is left to see Moo and I stop for a bite to eat and this cute little roof-top cafe and rest a while. (Side note: does anyone know how to order a bloody coffee in France? They keep giving me Espresso!!! Not that I care - it's hot out so I guess I don't need the 50oz of coffee/day that I normally gulp down). We then ventured off again wandering aimlessly for several hours taking loads of pictures and getting to see some pretty cool sites including a XI century cathedral and a look out point showing me how REALLY high up we actually were. G
lad I conquered my fear of heights :) There is a CASINO is Grasse, but I'm going to Monaco - so why waste my luck here. I did peak inside though. Grasse was interesting and I'm glad I tackled it alone because I could stop and snoop and read and explore everything I wanted to see. Getting back to the train station was a little stressful as I could not find a bus stop to save my soul. When I finally found one I thought I missed the bus - pheww...nope. 
I've always been the Lone Ranger type but I wasn't too sure how I would like travelling solo. I LOVE IT! It builds confidence and you have no one else to depend on but yourself to get you out of situations (i.e. getting lost). You have to make your own fun and that's not too hard if you know where to look - and most of the time getting there is 99% of the fun.
Word to the wise though... dont pack a bottle of wine if you plan of trekking for several hours - it gets HEAVY!
St Tropez tomorrow, Monaco and Ventimiglia on Sunday! Yes you read that correctly.
À bientôt!
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