Marseilles

The last weekend in May, I went to Marseilles to visit Amber Veldt for the weekend. I left work a little early Thursday, which wasn't a big deal since the kids were busy taking their oral English exams. We visited the city Thursday and Friday, went to Aubagne Saturday, and visited Monaco Sunday. I flew out on Monday morning. The flight from Madrid was about 1.5 hours long, after which I had to take a 20 minute bus ride to the city itself. The ride cost more than 8 euros, which is pure highway robbery. In Madrid, I can go on a ride like that for less than 2 euros. I wasn't feeling that well Thursday, so we took it easy that evening, going into the city after a few hours of rest to see the sunset over the water and visit Palais Longchamp. We wanted to see the sunset from above the city, but since after waiting and waiting for the bus, it didn't come, we settled for watching it from the marina. Palais Longchamp was beautiful on the outside, but inside there is a collection of mangy stuffed animals. Apparently not very well kept. When we got home Thursday evening, we warmed up some curry chicken on the stove and put some snails in the oven. Second time to eat snails...though I have to say that Angelita's tasted better. As we were turning in, tired as can be, a small gecko scurried into the room from the open window and disappeared behind the heater. We brainstormed how to get rid of it, but coming up with nothing, let it be and went to sleep.

Friday morning we awoke around 8 and were out by 9:30. Crepes for breakfast made by Blandine, and eggs and coffee compliments of Amber. Once in the city, the smell of the harbor reached us before we reached the ferry to buy our passage to Chateau d'If. The fish market, complete with eels and strange fish, stretch along the font of the harbor. When we got to the ticket counter, I saw, to my surprise, students from ECA in Madrid. The senior trip was a cruise, and one of the stops was Marseilles. Lynn, Bryan and William Calderwood, as well as the French teacher Marie and other students were all there. We ended up seeing them all about 4 times throughout the day. Amber and I said goodbye to them for the moment and boarded the ferry to Chateau d'If, the fort/prison where the "Count of Monte Cristo" takes place. It was interesting to see and the boat ride was wonderful. Afterwards, we took a train up to Notre Dame de la Garde, eating lunch and sightseeing along the way. The church impressed me with it's beautiful and detailed interior. We missed the return train, and so walked down the hill to the tram to go back to her home there. In the evening we made tortillas, fresh limade and limonade, and had a water fight with the boys.

Saturday morning we got up to go to Aubagne, where Amber takes viola lessons. We stopped by an artisan market, and bought some Marseilles soap. We smelled so many different soaps that by the end, we were both sneezing up a storm. We walked to her conservatory, and then I went back toward the old center to wander the cute streets and shops. We got home around lunchtime, ate, packed, and left for Blandine's sister's (Mariel) place halfway between Marseilles and Monaco. It's near Cannes, and they say that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie live just on the other side of the mountain (that I took a picture of). That evening the home's owner, Marcelle, made us pizzas cooked in a stone oven. It was a loooong French dinner, but me not understanding French may have contributed to my sense that it was never ending.

Sunday morning we, Blandine's family, our hosts, and Amber and I, got up at 6 am to catch the train to Monaco. I was so sleepy after the late dinner that I snoozed in the car until the train station. Once in Monaco, I believe my favorite parts were the aquarium museum, the changing of the guard, and just walking around the idyllic, fairy tale city. Midday, we ate a picnic in the park and got scolded for touching the sacred grass. After lunch and seeing the palace and such, we took a bus to the Monte Carlo to see the casino. I stepped in to see the lobby. It was absolutely beautiful, not ruined by the slot machines that were further in.

Monday morning we got up around 6 again to head back to Marseille and catch my plane. The whole family that Amber stays with there took me to the airport, and I said "au revoir" to everyone, and gave kisses. I may have picked up a few French words, which I'm sure I've lost by now. I have said "merci" on accident a few times, though.

Marseille

Grumpiness and relaxation

Yesterday I was a grump, so today it was good to relax. After getting back from ECA, I saw Siete Almas (Seven Pounds) with some friends. Interesting movie, though one that left me in a somber mood.

Today has been a quiet day full of cooking, cleaning, taking a walk, writing a letter, and putting some things in order. A friend came over to eat chili and cornbread with me, and then stayed to do some work. It's very nice to be with someone, without talking much, just to be.

This evening I'm getting ready for sharing a thought in church tomorrow since we have "culto libre," an open service with no prepared sermon. The youth are leading it this week. I'm very intimidated, but it will be fine I'm sure. What are they going to do? Eat me or something?

I was looking over the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette and saw this article about a Bible class for adults with special needs. It is wonderful to see God working in this group's lives.

Siblings, Cells, and Chili #2

Mom...look, pictures of the apartment at the end of this post! (Oh, and even though it says Monday, it really was posted on Wednesday, October 22)

Friday:
Big/Little Sib Day at ECA. I went and helped out at the school during the morning, and then enjoyed their festivities during the afternoon. There was a cookout and then field day type activities shared between big and little "siblings", paired up by the school. Unfortunately, there were too many brownies, so I was forced to eat two. The second was just as delicious as the first. I enjoyed seeing the kids dressed up like their "sibling" and the camaraderie between the older and younger ones. I put some pictures on the link below so that you can enjoy. I also met the piano teacher for the school, a Korean lady living in Spain. She said she'd help me find a song for the piano to play, and I'm going to play on the school's piano each Friday. I'm very happy for this opportunity to not go a year without making music. As a picture I have says: Music tastes like happy.

At 8:30 this evening, the célula (literally, cell, or our small group) for the older young people at the church began. There are about 9 of us, and three Americans within the group. One is Alba (Dawn) who shares the responsibility of leading the group with another girl (Sara), and the other (Kristen) is an conversation assistant like me. It was wonderful to meet the group. In a small group, I can actually participate some. We made collages, which I enjoyed too much, and planned for the year. We will alternate Bible Studies with movie/dinner/game nights. The only bad part was that after a few hours listening very intently to mostly follow the conversation surrounding me, my brain hurt. Literally. Hopefully I'll get used to concentrating so hard and won't get a headache every time!

Saturday:
I finished planning lessons and activities for the week, bought crayons, and made photocopies at the book/paper store. This afternoon, Angelita's daughter, Maria Ester and granddaughters Raquel, Mar, and Stefani came over for lunch. In the evening, we went to a church in San Fernando (next town over) to see a mime. I liked the way he interpreted Psalm 23 and explained the mime to us.

Sunday, Chili Round 2:
After Sunday school (since the Calderwoods forgot to tell me that they were going to first service and I went to class instead of service), I went to their house to eat lunch. Lynn had invited me along with some of the other single people from their school. Since Becky and I arrived earlier than the rest, which happens when you ride with the host, we made ourselves useful chopping vegetables to munch on. Lynn had made chili and taco soup and a delicious apple crisp. I really enjoyed talking with the others. After everyone left, I stayed and watched "Stranger Than Fiction" with Lynn. I didn't go to youth group, but I feel more rested after this Sunday than I would if I had. Perhaps it was the long stretch in English; perhaps it was the long talk Lynn and I had outside over a cup of tea. They took me home when they picked Andrew up from youth group.

Apartment

English and the Feria Medieval

When I walked into the American school in Camarma with Lynn, I felt like I had transported back to the United States. The school is organized like an American school, and everyone there spoke English (except for the Spanish teachers, which I didn't meet till later). Fridays begin with chapel, and one of Lynn's sons, Andrew, had drawn the straw to help lead singing that week. After chapel, classes started, and while Lynn went up to her sixth graders, I grabbed a research project an elementary teacher, Stephanie, wanted me to do. I involved organizing a time line: putting Bible scenes in chronological order, writing approximate dates on the back for teacher reference, and putting titles on the fronts. I had several bids for my time, including recess duty, but hers was the first! Later that morning, I snuck up to Lynn's class, since they were making chocolate chip cookies as part of a math lesson. Mmmm.

After school, I went with Lynn, her husband Bryan, and their oldest son William to the Medieval Festival in Álcala de Henares, about 10 minutes away by car. All the vendors wore period clothing, sold a variety of crafts and delicious food (though not all period), and there were games and period music as well. I liked seeing the falconer, the man pedaling to make the carousel move, the burro rides, and the old part of town. Álcala is one of the oldest cities in Spain, I believe. It was a roman city that became Visigoth city (it's mentioned in the medieval España book that I'm reading, and that's what it says). I tried a little sandwich called a pincho moruno in which the meat had been grilled and had a sauce that was delicious (paprika, garlic, bay leaf, other secret recipe things), rosquillos de Alcalá (treat the city is known for), and Bryan and Lynn treated me to some of the most wonderful ice cream I have ever had. I was excited about the tea stall...probably a hundred of loose teas to choose from, and so I got some to make at home. I also thought it was interesting seeing things from not just the Spanish medieval culture, but also from the Arab culture, which would have been predominant in Spain at the time.

Saturday I cooked, went back to Alcalá on the way to Camarma to see the festival's demonstrations (blacksmith, clay cooking, metal working, Moroccan tea tent). From Alcalá there is a bus that goes to Camarma that comes every few hours. In Camarma, Becky, a teacher at ECA (the American school), met up with me, and we visited and watched a movie at her apartment for a few hours. I must be becoming popular, because while I was gone, I missed a phone call to go to a movie with some of the young people from the church.

Sunday was one of the united services with the churches in Canillejas and San Fernando, two nearby towns/suburbs. In the afternoon, I couldn't find a ride to the young people's group, so I got the wonderful task of figuring out how to get myself there. I was going to take the bus, then train, then another bus, but I got lucky and someone saw me standing out at the last bus stop and picked me up. Phew. I got a ride home too, which is good because I wasn't sure how to get back to the train station.

So ended my week and weekend. Each day I get a little more comfortable, meet more people, and learn new things. I'll catch you up on my week this weekend or maybe tomorrow.