Ibis Arras

... the morning and finding a seat is a tough job, but I think I've learnt how to push my way through the crowd! I often end up sitting next to the really smelly person though or the drunk guy or in the same carriage as a beggar and his son. To get to work I have to go 24 stations, which takes half an hour or so, and gives me a good chance to do a fair bit of people watching!<br>It's fairly easy to spot the British people on the metro, they're the people that sit there staring at ...

... art" exhibition with Annabelle, the teacher in charge of me at school and a good friend. We went to see an exhibition by Peter Klasen, a German artist called "Retrospective". This was by far the most bizarre "art" I have ever seen in my life, ranging from photo collages to toilets with ultraviolet lights to a mock-up of "The Penal Colony" by Franz Kafka, a short story which I read last year for University and found most disturbing! I'm sure you ...

... of the class eventually but I can tell it's going to be an adventure working with them!<br><br>Tuesday and Wednesday were mine and Erin's days off so we chilled out, got some things done, such as trips to the bank and supermarket, went to the cinema and went out for a drink with Annabelle, and before we knew it, it felt like Monday morning all over again!<br><br>Thursday and Friday were much better days than Monday, although of course some ...

... we then went to Lille, the fifth largest city in France, by the way it is at the top of my list of places visited so far. Our hostel was based in Lille. We all went out as a group and found some really nice bars. There was a lot of dancing going on, and come to find out the next day, our professor told us we had been in the gay district of Lille. No wonder no one was getting talked to besides the guys. It was fun all the same! The next day we walked around Lille and ...

... lovely Belgian bistro, explored much of the city including the Cathedral, Royal Palace, the Grand Place and it's little cobbled streets, the chocolate museum and finally enjoyed "Gaufres aux Bruxelles" in a small café before catching the train back to Lille at tea-time absolutely warn out!<br>This week holds much more in work and play, and hopefully many chances to explore our new city and to get to know the lifestyle to which we will soon become accustomed!<br>I will keep you updated....

... the tidy brick walls surrounding them help to keep them looking sharp like a well drilled, fit and polished private, while the straight and tall sword of sacrfice is a beacon calling to us to stop by. As we roll along the Normandy country side, the enormity of their sacrifice sinks into me. <br><br>Today we are heading off to Quesnel Memorial, Bourlon Wood and the Canal du Nord with possible stops at Caix Military and German cemeteries, Warvillers and Mehanricourt Cememtery ...

... and Steyr - no need for a cocking handle of this type - only the 'tilt, cock, lock variety'. Anyway that was a fun thing to do and brought to our attention the skill of the soldiers, the necessity to keep the rifle clean and know it's actions intimately. I did OK for just picking it up. Thiepval Memorial to the Missing was an incredible sight - over 73,000 men commemorated here - mainly British and French - it was ...

... past the lighthouse I saw a man burning clothes on the cliff so asked him what that was about &#8211; he explained the actual end of the pilgrimage was here in Fisterra and the tradition was to burn your old clothes as symbol of starting anew. He had walked 1,300 kms from Lourdes to Santiago, and on to Fisterra (extra 4 days) in 45 days. He told me he felt renewed.<br>Apparently this promontory was a Celtic place of sun worship and a Christian saint, San Guillermo ...

... was our smartest move. He took us first to the cemetery where the Germans were buried...very moving, then we went to Vimy. Heather you were right...it is so hard to describe but people need to see it for themselves. The places where the bombs exploded are left there; sheep are grazing on much of the Land and people are forbidden from walking on this area as there are still 300,000 undetonated mines in the area!!! We also toured some of the ...

... and texture, morello and sweet orange marmalades, rich chocolate cakes, fluffy pastries, hand woven tablecloths, wooden furniture, shoes, CD's, cosmetics, and live animals. The fresh vegetables and fruit caught my attention, as not only did they look just picked off the ground, but the colors and exaggerated sizes of the turnips, artichokes, cherries and asparagus were enough to make anyone fantasize about ...