Mont St. Michel et St. Malo

Today was a day of great adventure!  We got up very early and went to the university to catch a bus for the northern coast.  Driving through the villages was interesting and I even started appreciating the different architecture as we went from the Anjou region through Brittany and Normandy. 

Our first stop was Mont St Michel.  You could see it from far away it was so big!  And climbing it was not fun.  But the view of the coast and of the bay was awesome.  The tide was way out.  The Abby was cool and so was the village that surrounded it.  We picnic-ed next to the bus to save time and then got on the road for St Malo.  El’s mom seemed to especially like going there.  She had been there years ago and was excited to return.  It was still quite cool though and I’m glad she didn’t bring her bathing suit.

We walked around the walls and went to the cathedral and saw where Jacques Cartier is buried.  (I guess he had something to do with Quebec because I overheard Mme. M. telling some students about it).   Then we ate mussels.  I wanted MEAT, but no—we had to have a specialty of the house.  Then we went to the beach.  It was a very good day and I was quite tired by the time we got back to the apartment.

Today began with a quick breakfast.  El’s mom is getting better at making the café au lait but still won’t let me try it.  She says I’m too young!  I say that caffeine and milk make for a great kitty!  We walked over to where the marché takes place and it was next to a park!  That was fun and pretty.  I got to play in the dirt in one of the planters.  We also visited some of the old parts of town and went down by the river.  Mrs. M. said maybe next week we can actually go to the other side! 

Then we had dinner with one of the students, Jill, at a French fast food place.  The lady there was super nice and Jill let me sit on the table and check out her French hamburger. It was sliced roast beef not ground and was on a special bread bun.  She let me taste it and it was awesome!  Mrs. M had something that was mostly vegetables.  Smelled good but too healthy!  Then we went home and rested because that night we were going to the Puy du Fou.

The show was fantastic!  It had lots of actors like a Cecil B. De Mille film and lots of action!  Jousting and canons and fireworks!  The students liked playing with me and helped Mrs. M. not lose me.  We didn’t get home until 3 am.  Glad we took the nap.  Tomorrow we will mostly rest.

A trip to the enormous Carrefour

Mme. M needed a fan because her apartment gets too stuffy with the door/window closed.  I told her not to buy too much since she had to carry it all on the bus but she didn’t  listen.  She took three bags.  I knew we were in trouble.

The bus took us directly to the Carrefour.  It was huge like a strip mall.  We walked around a bit making sure we found the little fan and had great luck.  Found a small one at a great price.   But then we found another item so Mme. M. got a cart.  BIG Mistake.  It didn’t look like much in the cart when we checked out but was a little heavy.  Just walking to the bus stop made her shoulders hurt.  I wanted to help but she wouldn’t let me.  Afterwards, when we finally got home, we both took a cat nap—get it?  I am leopard.  Lol.  After we made lunch it was time to go to work.  After meeting with students we walked around downtown again.  We helped students find what they needed and then we left for our dinner as they went home to theirs.  It was our first dinner out in a café/brasserie.    I think Mr. M. might be a better cook, but the choices were interesting!

First night in Angers

We finally made it to Angers!  El’s mom, Mme. M, had some great help from her former student KB who lives in Paris.  Between them they got all the students to the TGV on time and even helped the other TN student get to her destination.  El’s mom didn’t sleep much, but I did.  I made sure they got all their luggage off the train before it continued on to Nantes.  The studio I share with Mme. is nice.  We currently have the door open and the doves or pigeons or some kind of bird is making a lot of noise.  I may eat one for dinner one night! 

I’m having giggle fits watching El’s mom put everything away when she’s so tired.  She keeps yawning!  I’m going to try and help her stay awake at least until nine.  Maybe I’ll make her some instant coffee.   

Sapphire in Paris

Sapphire takes over the blog:

El’s mom had no trouble with check in but did embarrass me a little during security.  After putting everything in the bins and sending it through the x-ray machine (me included), she proceeded to the body check and kept setting off the alarm.  At first it was her cell phone that she forgot in her pocket.  Then it went off again.  The security personnel took her headband.  It still went off.  It wasn’t her glasses or her earrings either.  It turned out that the wet wipe in her pocket was lined with aluminum and that is what set it off.  It was actually a little funny by the end. They wouldn’t let me take a picture of it. 

There were no problems with the gate or the flight and the group we were traveling with even picked up an extra student!  She was on both the flight to Atlanta and the flight to Paris!  The more the merrier!

I’m now watching a boring story about an orphan girl turned governess who keeps kissing this guy named Rochester.  The sound is not great—but oh well.  Dinner will be served soon—I can smell it.  I hope we’re having wild game!

Sapphire leaves for the airport

It's time!  Sapphire says goodbye to El and promises to write and post as often as she can.  El promises to make sure Sapphire's friends are safe here at home.  Sapphire also promises to take care of El's mom.

Sapphire, the snow leopard, is traveling...

Sapphire

It’s less than 24 hours now before departure and Sapphire, the snow leopard, is ready to get the trip started.  She’s pretty much all packed and knows she will be too excited to sleep tonight.  She is going to miss Elisabeth, her owner, but is very happy to go with Elisabeth’s mom on this journey.  Elisabeth picked Sapphire to watch over her mom while she travelled because she knows Sapphire will do a good job.  The little leopard is proud of the mission.