Day 4

Booked our tickets to Avignon, Provence and Amersterdam. Looks like we get/have to take the slower train down to Avignon because we did not reserve our seats and Saturday is also the first day of break for the region.

After we finished up booking our tickets we headed out to Ashley's favorite hiking trail for a nice little walk and picnic with Champagne,of course. The older French women that we encountered did not even act like we were doing anything weird, most would give me a bad look in the States. We saw tons of ducks and spring was in the air all of the mallards were trying to mate with a hen and Ashley was not happy and wanted to Bagettue them but it was across a little creek so they were safe from her.

Ashley is obviously better at making Bagettue sandwiches than I am.

After the great day of walking and eating we headed back to Ashley's apartment to pack for our journey the next day but I took an amazing nap. We then headed to another assistant's farewell gathering for food and good company.

Day 2

Things I have learned so far...

1. Jetlag sucks... I powered through yesterday a 40ish hour day, right now I am exhausted at 10am because it feels like my 3am, and I got at least 11 solid hours of sleep.

2. French pasteries are awesome in their own way. They are extremely beautiful almost to the point of where you do not want to eat them (yes even you would think this Al). BUT they are not as sweet as American pasteries. I had my first one last night and was super supprised when it did not taste like a bunch of sugar. If you know me I do not crave sweet things, but love salty things, so this was a pleasant supprise that I personally really enjoyed!

3. Today our plan is to explore Troyes a little bit more and have a Kabab for lunch, the Turkish Fast Food. Then Ashley will be teaching her last class here in Troyes. I am going along to meet her teacher friends and will go to the final class which they are playing Scattergories. After we are done teaching we will grab a Baguette. Ashley still thinks we should use it for food I am convinced that it is for protection on the way home. We will end the day with a little bit of climbing at the gym where Ashley has been climbing. I am super excited to try out my new climbing shoes!

Day 1

I have finally made it to Europe without any problems or delays! I found Ashley waiting for me at the terminal and we both hurried to get on a train into Paris.

Here we are on the metro heading out of Charles De Gaulle. Our train from Paris to Troyes was not till 12:13 so we went across the street and had some coffee and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Once back in Troyes we headed to Ashley's apartment to drop off my bags then out to see the beautiful town of Troyes. I forgot to grab the camera on the way out the door to buy food but I'm sure I will get some more pictures tomorrow when Ashley is at class or when we explore even more.

So a quick update on the paper chain Ashley made....

IT IS DONE! I ripped the last one down she did not have time the in the morning before she came to get me from the airport to get it so I thought I would take the liberty to get it down.

Tonight we are having a 5 course meal prepared by the hostess with the mostest Miss Ashley Brown! I will let her take a quick break from preparing food to explain each course.

1.Apéritif- The french start off their meal with a drink...due to my location I choose a delicious bottle of one of my favorite Champagnes.

2. Entrée- Appetizer Tomato Mozzarella Salad paired with a Riesling from Alsace.

3. Plat Principal- Main Course Lamb with Potatoes and Green Beans paired with a red wine from Bordeaux.

4. Fromage- Cheese Course! Comte and Chaource with a fresh baguette. Which Dustin almost ate on the way back home and almost had to use it as a weapon on a cyclist coming full steam at us but the cyclist chose well and went into the street before being baguetted (Only Dustin uses it as a verb).

5.Dessert- Pastries that we bought from my favorite boulangerie/patisserie Gérard