A week end in Strasburg

The Cathedral

This week end was a long one, with Monday blank holiday, well for me it didn't change anything since I'm currently unemployed but I decided to leave to Strasburg with a friend. We wanted to go somewhere, quite close, in France since she had not yet all the ID documents of her new car, so on Friday evening, on the phone and on internet we made our choice. I had been to Strasburg quite a few times, but never more than one single day. It is located in the North East of France, very close to Germany: you just have to cross a bridge (by car, bus or foot) to get to Kehl, Germany. Strasburg is also widely known for the Cathedral, the "Petite France" (meaning "Small France") district and the European Institutions.

@ Chocolate Museum

So we left, on Saturday late morning, we drove around 2-3h, including lunch stop and time to get lost on our way to the hotel, her GPS not knowing the hotel's street. Our first thing after settling in the hotel was the visit of the Chocolate Museum which was located just nearby. It was a bit expensive, €8 (but at the hotel they gave us a €2 discount voucher) but quite interesting. It's all starting with a small movie about the chocolate's history, told by a male voice, almost sensual! ^^ Then, a small exhibition, some nice phrases about chocolate and it's ending on a workshop. The hostess is explaining and demonstrating how to make a casting and then we got to taste chocolate at different stages of production, from crushed bean to dark chocolate. And of course after the gift shop, with everything around chocolate. But you get a little chocolate gift.

Place Kléber by night

After, we went to the city center, did a few shopping in the old town, went to see the wonderful cathedral. It was already night, and the lightning of the monument was really nice. Then, we met some friends of my friend and went to restaurant. It was an Italian restaurant, Papa Lisa, it was very nice, nice food, got a pizza with Parma ham, mozza and gorgonzola, quite big and very cheap.
Then, with my friend we headed to our hotel to get changed. We then met in the old city some people, there's a website called OVS (Urbizz in English), people organize events (clubbing, restaurant, walks, exibition, whatever,...) and other people can join, not knowing each other, very nice concept. So, before leaving we  went on the website and spotted a night in club, so we decided to join. The club, Le Seven, seemed quite nice at first. But, the DJ didn't play the songs in their whole, got from one style to another completely different, and it was over crowded, they kept on letting people in whereas we could barely move inside. But the people we were  with were very nice, we all in all had a great night.

Our Alsacian lunch

On Sunday, we went first to the city centre late morning, had a nice walk. We stopped in a great restaurant, Le Caquelon, it was very nice inside. We had some typical Alsacian food: one was a "Croûte au fromage à l'alsacienne", it was bread soaked in white wine with bacon and lots of melted Munster (very strong smelly cheese, delicious, specialty from this part of France) and the other a "Poêlée de roësti Campagnarde", minced potatoes with onions, chopped bacon, egg, cheese and ham. It was delicious, the Munster was very strong, just as I like it, but too strong for my friend. And plus it was cheap! ^^
After lunch, we kept on walking, along the canal to the "Petite France" district, it's among different canals, very cute, with typical alsacian houses, so lovely.

Petite France

Later on, we went to another OVS event: Bowling and Flammekueche. I suck so much at bowling but it was very nice, lots of fun, the locals were teasing us, calling us "The Strangers", since people from Alsace have the reputation to be quite chauvinistic. Of course, I lost! Then, we went to restaurant to eat flammekueche. When the first one arrived, I wanted to use fork and knife since we were in restaurant, but no way! I got yelled at! That's a crime to eat it with cuttlery, gotta use your hands. They were very good. After that, we went in a bar/club and had a very nice night out.

On Monday, we went for lunch at my friends' friends, had a nice time, before getting back home. We had a very nice time there, met some nice people, and weems they expect us to come back, which we will of course! Plus, it's a very nice city, might try to see more of it next time, like European Parliament and Commission.

Some more photos.


==Greetings from Metz, France==

A nice walk in Metz

I love walking, so yesterday I decided to go for a nice walk, under the sun, the weather was nice, fresh air, some wind. In Metz, there's a trail I like to take, starting near my place, taking me around the city centre.

I started walking along the Canal, towards what we call the Plan d'Eau (here the Moselle river is looking like a small lake, surrounded by large lawns and play areas), then along an amateur harbour, continuing towards the old city, a wonderful place indeed! ^^

After that I took a part of a trail called "Circuit des Remparts" (Ramparts Trail) which takes you, as you can guess out of its name, along the old ramparts of the town, walking along the river Moselle or Seille, immersed in nature inside the city. That's really very nice. I ended the Ramparts Trail at the "Porte des Allemands" (Germans Gate) and then to the rail station. It took me about 2 hours, and it everytime I'm walking in my city it reminds me how beautiful it is. Well, that's not something I forget but I'm still amazed, even after 27 years ( I was born and raised in Metz, left and came back a few times since the age of 19).
Here are some pics.

==Greetings from Metz, France==

Aaaah, Paris...

I came back from hell Paris yesterday afternoon, back in Metz and job hunting life!

This was quite something, Sunday was nothing special, watched TV, surfed the net. On Monday, I went to my 2 first exams, on lunch break I met my ex flatmate/workmate who was taking the same competitive examination. We were working  and living in the same place in Dublin, and we're trying now to get same job! That was nice to see some familiar face!
The exams went ok, we had a translation French to English, I hate this, when I am talking in English I am thinking in English but when translation, as it's not my mother tongue, it's hard sometimes to get away from French...

As Tuesday a big strike was planned, I decided to book a taxi when coming back to my hotel, I phoned around 15 taxi companies, ruined my credit for nothing! They were either fully booked, or they did not take any bookings on striking days. So I went on-line to see what was the forecast for the suburb train and metros I had to take: there was a few trains planed for the part from hotel to connection station, then the metro I had to take was driving normally. But it was forecast, I would have worried less with a taxi. So I woke up at 6:15am, didn't take my breakfast at the hotel (I thought I'd rather loose €4 than getting late), got a nice guy helping me pulling my huge suitcase to the train station (yep I was travelling with heavy luggage: 1 suitcase of 24kg and one of 11) and another one lifted it in the stairs (there are very few stations with lifts or rolling stairs in Paris), didn't pay any ticket since the doors were open and anyway the counter was closed and the machine didn't accept coins, notes and electron bank card which was all I had. But I was quite worried as you often need a ticket to exit the stations.
So I had a train at 7am, got squizzed in an over packed train, got insulted since I wasn't getting off at each station. But I was in the middle, there was space on the left and on the right, and even if I got off my suitcases would still be in the middle, and sorry I don't lift down and up 35kg of luggage at every station.
When I got off, I could exit with other people who had a ticket, then could buy a metro ticket and ride to the examination place without problems (except the suitcases but as always there are nice people helping me).

So I arrived there at 7:30am, nice, since I was due at 8:45am for my exam... Got time to breakfast at McDonald's, took my exam which went well. I'll get the results on Dec 16th, if I pass I'll have oral examination late February/early March.
After this, I went for lunch. I first waanted to go to MacDonald's and take away since I could hardly see me handling the tray and my suitcases, knowing it'll be full around noon. So, I ended up in a restaurant, I was in the "business park" La Défense, so if you're ever over there I can advise you "Bistrot Romain", it was very nice, better than a fast food since they open the door for you when seeing you with all your crap, I can sit,  eat good food, quite cheap. I paid €20 for a three course meal, very good, the service was excellent.

Then, I headed to the train station to take a train home. I had booked a train leaving at 4pm but it was cancelled so I took the one leaving at 2pm, after 1h30 I was eventually in Metz! But with the strike, the demonstration and the soccer match (France vs Luxemburg), the buses not striking were stucked in traffic jam, so I decided to take a taxi as they could avoid the roads stucked. It was cheap (around €7) so I'll keep this in mind if one day I don't want to go home on foot after a night in town.

So I'm quite happy to be home (I would also be happy to go back to Dublin), now I can enjoy some time with friends and family, start job hunting again, flat hunting might start soon as well.


==Greetings from Metz==

Of course...

Yesterday, I had a look at French news, great news: Big strike on tuesday 12th of October!

Fantastic!
That's just the second day of my exam and the day I'm supposed to take a train home... I hate those fucking strikes, just because of lazy bastards who don't wanna work and piss off those who wanna work!

That's gonna be fun & expensive, to be sure to get on time at my exam I'll get a taxi, then I'll have 4h before my train, if it's not canceled... if it is then they'll have to find a solution for me, when I'm paying 50€ for a train ticket, I expect to arrive at destination without spending more... And the funniest thing is that I'll have over 30kg of luggage with me...

What a wonderful welcome home from my country! :s



==Greetings from Dublin==

Nancy, France

Place Stanislas

Nancy, located in North East of France, is the city where I lived and studied during 6 years. 6 awesome years, full of parties and great memory, where I always enjoy going for one day or more to meet some of my closest friends.

It's a middle-sized city, very nice to live in, offering a lot. Culturally speaking you sure can not miss our local pride: "Place Stanislas", former Royal square, made by command of King Stanislas, King of Poland and Duke of Lorraine (the region). It's been renovated a few years ago and is only pedestrian now. In the middle, stands a statue of Stanislas, as a thank to fight against Germany to remain French. In 2 corners are 2 fountains one representing Venus and the other Jupiter.

Venus Fountain on Place Stanislas

On the square, also stands the City Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Opera. It is also surrounding by fences in steel, piece of art of Jean Lamour.
 One of the exit of the square is an Arch of Triumph, leading to Place de la Carrière at the end of which stands the Governor's Palace, now military premises. 
This square is often the theater of lots of even, in summer time, don't miss the light & sound show on the walls of the city hall, it's very nice and quite impressive.

Just next to the square is the biggest park of the city: "La Pépinière". You can find there nice lawns, a small zoo, big lawns for people to play, lie, and so on, kid play area, concert stage, sport field,... It's nice for a walk, there are also lots of events there all year round. Like the jazz festival every october.

Craffe Gate

In the same area you'll find what we call the Old City, with remains of Middle Age like Craffe Gate (remains of ancient remparts), St Epvre church (the city's biggest), the local museum (Musée Lorrain),  the citadel,...


But Nancy is also known for having a lively night life, as a students city, parties are going every night. There are tons of pubs, restaurants, bars, clubs.

Flower clock in La Pépinière

Don't miss the "Rue Gourmande", "rue" means "street" and "gourmand" means "fond of good food", it's not its official name which is "Rue des Maréchaux". This nickname is due to the fact there are almost only restaurants in this street. My top 5 restaurant in Nancy are (not only in the "Rue Gourmande"): Le Bouche à Oreille (cheese), "L'Epicerie" (local), La Boucherie (meat), "Le Bistrot de Gilles" (classical cuisine) and "L'arrosoir".

As for pubs & bar, I do like "The Garden" and "Hemingway" for their cocktails, want some beer? Go to Phoenix Bar, MacCarthy or Opéra Café.

Saint Epvre Chruch

As for clubs! Oh my! "Le Chat Noir" has been like my 2nd house for a couple of years, it's normally for people over 25, all kind of music. I recently discovered "L'endroit" which is very cool, 2 rooms one more 80's the other more latino, when I went around Easter only one room was open so it was a mix of all, unforgettable night with the guy from clock room doing a strip tease at the end. But I still had no opportunity to go back.

Some other interesting stuffs can be the all time indoor market, just next to it is an outdoor other kind of markets for bags, shoes, clothes and so on. The mall "Saint Sébastien" offers a wide range of shops, including Disney Store! ^^ Every April is the fun fair in the city centre.

Fun Fair

And the "Jardins D'eau" (Water Gardens) along the canal are very nice too, especially in summer time of course.

Well, going to Nancy should be a pleasant experience.


==Greetings from Dublin== 

Metz, France

Saint Etienne Cathedral

Metz, situed in Northern Eastern France, is my hometown. It is located close to Germany & Luxemburg, around 60 km away from each border, which makes it very convenient since those 2 countries offer some items which are way cheaper than in France. Go to Luxemburg for gasoil, cigarettes, some alcohol; and Germany for clothes, shoes, cleaning products and some other items. Plus both countries are vey nice places, where you can have pleasant walks.

Saint-Pierre-Aux-Nonnains Church

So Metz is a middle-sized city, quite old since it  was founded around Roman time, it has been during years the target of wars between France and Germany which were both claiming the ownership of the city. With a rich history it makes it a very nice tourism spot for those interested in history and architecture. Our cathedral for instance is known for stain-windows made by the painter Chagall. The church Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains is the oldest one in France. The old remparts offer nice walk around the city.
But the new pride is the brand new Centre Pompidou, a museum of Modern Art, very interresting, here are somes photos of my visit to the museum.

"Roches" District

Though it is a wonderful city, it is not the most exciting place for night life, but not dead and you can have fun all night long. We do have nice bars like Bulles Bar, Bar Latino or Pop White. As for restaurant, you can find a wide range of nice, good and affordable restaurants, my top 5 would be: Canada'Venture (canadian cuisine), Le Bouche à Oreille (Cheese),  Du Côté de Chez Yves (all kind of food), La Boucherie (for meat lovers) and Si Señhor (iberian cuisine).

As for clubs, I like Madison Club, you gotta be at least 25 years old, it's around 15€ the entrance with a drink, located near the rail station. Also Les Loges, outside of the city but free entrance and cloack room.

To cut it short, go to Metz, it's really worth a visit! ^^



PHOTOS

==Greetings from Dublin==