Advent, Visits & Snowfall

After weeks of planning to do so, I finally decided to treat myself to the 10eur Lindt advent calendar which had caught my eye every time I had gone to Monoprix. Low and behold, they had all sold out. For weeks I had wanted to buy one and now that I had finally given in to the chocolaty temptation, there were none left! Nevertheless, I settled for a huge Milka calendar. While not exactly cheap, the size of the chocolates are great and with a 15cm long (and very thick) Santa Claus to be eaten on Christmas Eve, it’s definitely worth the investment!

 

Milka Goodness!

 

 

On Thursday evening, a large group decided to go out. As I hadn’t been out in several weeks, I decided to go to! Pia’s friend Sian (also a student in Cardiff) had come from Grenoble for a few nights and after drinks in her room, we then went to O’Pogues. Before even getting there, Catrin and I had decided we were both hungry and wanted to go and buy some chips – we knew places would be closing soon. Later in the evening when O’Pogues closed, most people went on to Opera but with friends coming the next morning, I decided to go home and get some rest.

 

Alex and I

 

Pia and I

 

Alice and I

 

Sian, Catrin, Pia, Jessie, Beth, Sandra, Alex & Charles

 

 

On Friday morning I did some work before going to meet Rach and Beth at the bus station, two friends from home who had just flown into Geneva and were coming to visit for the weekend! It was sooooo good to see them and have visitors and we had a fun weekend planned! After coming back to Arpej to drop off their luggage, I then took them for a tour around my little town with an important stop at the Boulangerie for the first of many pastries that were bought over the weekend. I showed them restaurants, monuments, huge castles and cathedrals along with ancient passage ways. We also popped to the SNCF boutique to buy train tickets for our trip to Lyon the next day. Using my rail card, I paid 8.80 each way while they both paid 13.50. However once again, the price was more expensive online (17.50) and I’d have thought it would be cheaper online as there are no personnel involved, no buildings to pay for e.t.c, but that’s obviously not the case! I also took them on the trek to University to see the view of the town from up there. As it was November 30^th, all of the shops were putting up their Christmas Decorations and displays – Chambéry was finally welcoming the arrival of the Festive Period!

 

In the evening we went to La Taverne, the restaurant everyone from Cardiff had visited when our lecture came to visit a few weeks ago. I had the same meal again – Caesar salad, duck and potatoes, chocolate fondant cake and ice cream: Delicious!

Rach & I

Saturday morning was an earlyish start as we caught our 9am train to Lyon, which took 1 hour and 20 minutes. The previous week had rained and rained after there being no rain for several weeks previously. Luckily, prayers were answered and we were presented with beautiful blue skies and sunshine although it was a freezing 3 degrees. During our 2 week intensive course we had spent a few hours in Lyon but somehow had remembered my way around the main part of the city. We spent the day exploring the town – churches, monuments, buildings, cobbled streets and shops. We had lunch at the same Italian restaurant we had visited in September (Salmon pizza again yum!) We also climbed the hill-come-mountain to visit the Fourvière Cathedral which sits high above the city and offers amazing views.

 

 

Fourvière Cathedral

Place Bellecour - The wheel has been situated in preparation for the 'Fête des lumières' taking place next weekend. Everyone is going apart from Anya and I who will be in Paris!

 

The River

 

STARBUCKS! A Coffee To Keep Warm

 

 

 

A Look Over Lyon

 

 

Upon our return to Chambéry that evening, we were all quite tired and spent the evening watching Christmas Films – it was lovely to get into the Christmas spirit a little!

 

On Sunday morning I woke up and checked my phone. I saw on Facebook that an Italian student had posted (in Italian) a status about snow, I opened my shutters and it was SNOWING! We quickly got dressed and went out to enjoy the first snowfall of December and the first I had seen in Chambéry! We walked the short distance to Buisson de Rond park, near the ice rink (and which I never knew had existed until Lauren had told me that morning!) We walked around in the snow (which was falling heavily) and enjoying an hour of fresh air after an evening at Arpej. An hour later, we returned for a hot chocolate and watched another 2 Christmas films all wrapped up as snow poured down – very Christmassy!

Snowfall From My Balcony

 

 

Enjoying The Snow

 

 

Beth, Rach & I

 

 

That evening the three of us went for dinner at Le Hatien, a Chinese restaurant Naomi had recommended to us. Anya had been working on her history essay all weekend and so I thought it’d be a good idea to come and take a break from it all along with having food cooked for her. It was good food and even came with a free apéro of some disgusting alcoholic drink too. Following this, Anya went back to continue work and we went to O’Cardinals for a few drinks.

Beth & I

Monday morning came and we went for a quick look around the Christmas marked which had opened the previous Saturday. While lovely, it was FREEZING cold and I didn’t have enough layers on at all. It was also very quiet and I think it’d be much better to go back one evening or on a weekend when I’m sure there’s a real buzz around the area. We then went for a hot chocolate, back to Arpej and then I took them to the coach station for their connection back to Geneva airport. It was SO nice to visit and we had such a great weekend together J!!

 

Now that December is here, the Christmas lights have been switched on and Chambéry is in full ‘run up to Christmas’ mode. The lights are so pretty and really add to the atmosphere when you walk around in the evening and there’s an aroma of mulled wine floating through the freezing air – I definitely need to go and take some photos and properly experience the market before I go home for Christmas. I have 2 exams next week and 2 the week after, and then 2 exams after Christmas. As a result, I find myself using much of my spare time making notes and revising. However, the next exciting thing to look forward to is... PARIS!

 

Naomi went last weekend and brought back a map and tons of information for me and so her, Anya and I (Anya is also going to Paris this weekend) are going for coffee/hot chocolate tomorrow to catch up and get all of the useful information. Cat, one of my flatmates from Cardiff will be travelling down to meet me for the week as a late celebration for her Birthday and I plan to do as many of the Touristy things as possible – I just hope the weather isn’t bad for us!!

 

Last night I placed my deposit for accommodation in Valencia. Friends from Cardiff there had recommended a company and I found a great room in a flat of four that comes with its own little conservatory with a desk to do work and a window seat looking out over the city. I’ve also recently heard from the University with regards to modules and so now it is time to begin the whole process again for Spain – I will be living there 2 months today which is a crazy but exciting thought, more to follow of course!

 

Until the other side of Paris,
À bientôt!