Kathryn's Visit

Kathryn came out to visit this week, it was really great to see her again! We went to a fair thing in Aulnoye on Sunday, which was really good, lots of little stalls showcasing local produce and things. We found one selling Champagne, and they let us have a taste, it was quite nice really (coming from someone who doesn't like Alchol!!) and Kathryn brought 2 bottles for her birthday. The weather wasn't brilliant, but it was mostly inside which was good! On Monday I had to work, I was in Stivenart but even though the teacher was doing English, there wasn't actually anything for me to do, in fact I spend the whole afternoon reading 'Guiding' magazine and have planned loads activities for Brownies when I go home!!! We went for Pizza in the little restaurant in Aulnoye, which was nice.

On Tuesday we went to Paris. I've been to Paris twice since I've been here, but not really done any of the 'Touristy' parts, so we went to the Eiffel Tower, saw Notre Dame, climbed the Arc de Triomphe and walked down the Champs Elyesée. It was kinda cloudy at the beginning of the day, but by the afternoon, it had brightened up and was really nice!

Whilst I was in Paris I brought my Interail Pass for Italy, and tried to book my night Train to Rome...but (horror!!) It was fully booked!! Instead I'm getting a train to Milan and then changing on a train to Rome, fortunately the train gets there 50mins after the night train, so I can still meet up with Lauren, the other assistant coming with me. But unfortunately it gets to Milan at 5:38 am!!!! I am really not looking forward to waking up that early! And I have a hour wait in Milan too!!! Not looking forward to that part of the trip!!

Anyway on Wednesday we went to Reims. I'd brought the tickets earlier cos we had to leave at 10am, so we went on to the platform remembering to 'composter' our tickets, which I'd given to Kathryn, I thought I'd been really clever getting out the tickets beforehand, so we didn't have to rummage through our bags at the station. We had to change trains at Charleville Meziers, and when we got there, we were looking for the train when a guard came up and asked where we were going, I showed him the tickets and he looked a bit confused, it was then that I noticed I'd only gone and 'Composted' the return ticket!! Luckily the guard was very nice and changed it for me, but I did feel a bit silly!!

Reims was really nice, we looked round the Cathedral, which had beautiful stain glass windows, and then we walked to a Champagne Cellar which was really interesting, seeing how they make it and leave it to settle for at least 5 years. We had a taste at the end...I didn't really like it though!! We were really hungry so we went to find somewhere to eat, unfortunately the Champagne Cellar was outside the main town, so we walked for ages before we eventually found a Mc Donalds! We ate in there, and then walked out and round the corner and came to a square with about 5 Cafes!! We had a little wander round the town centre, and then got the train back to Aulnoye.

On Thursday Kathryn went home, but before she went, we went for a walk round Aulnoye, so she could see the Hotel de Ville and one of the schools, then we went into Lille, and wandered round there, before going to Flunch for lunch. Then it was time for Kathryn to go :( but we'd had a really good time!