Bloopers

Maybe you've noticed by now that I'm not a completely normal person :) So now I'd like to share some of the funny moments of the summer that I haven't written down anywhere. I'm sure that there are way more but these are the ones I can remember

• We were at Val d'Europe shopping centre and decided to have a frozen yoghurt for dessert. It was one of those places where you could add cookies and berries etc to it yourself and pay by weight. We had to choose from 4 different tastes and for the love of god Mr. Special could not understand what the third flavour was. The poor girl said the word about 5 times by now when he looked at me confused and said something completely different (Malibu? he said something else but I can't remember what exactly) so I joined the girl and said the word Mojito about another 5 times until he finally got it -.-
• The buses only stop here if someone has pressed the stop button (or someone's waiting in the stop obvs). There are always a couple more people wanting to exit at the same stop as me so I don't usually bother pushing the button, although I always check that someone has indeed pushed it (you can see the light). One day I was so deep in my thoughts that noticed that I wanted to exit here when the bus had stopped to let someone in. So I ran to the doors that were closed - because no one else had wanted to exit there that day and I'd forgotten to push the button -.- So immediately pushed the button - nothing - and then was about to start shouting la porte s'il vous plait! (like they do sometimes when the doors have been closed too early) but then stopped myself and only a mere quiet eeek came out of my mouth and an attempt to move closer to the driver... :D A couple of people looked at me funny. I decided that I'll get off at the next stop... (It doesn't really matter) and then to not make myself look like a fool when I got off I started walking the same direction as the bus so the people on it would think that I did actually want to still stay in the bus... The bus took too long to go past me and I had to walk what felt like forever before I could turn around and go home... yeap I'm a genius :)
• I think this happened the very next day even :D At porte de Versailles metro station there is one narrow staircase for exit - two rows: one for normal people and the other for rushing people. So for the very first time I found myself rushing past people and made to the top door just before a "slow" man. All would've been very fine if I could've gotten out the freaking door! No! They have some freaking system in place there that I didn't know about (because usually the door is always open due to someone being in front of me ALWAYS). So I pushed it, even kicked it with my foot until the man gently said pardon and easily opened the door!!!! Awkward!!! Turns out you have to push at a certain place (the middle) and it opens... Magic!
• A couple of times I've gotten a text before work starts that my supervisor is ill and therefore I have the day off :) Both of those times I've been outside the office door reading it -.- And I always read that text a hundred times to make sure it does say that I get the day off :) So I make my way back home... and scare the hell out of Mr. Special. The first time I phoned the interphone (I do not know how it's called) from downstairs - no answer (I have no idea how to answer either because it's not like a normal phone but some high-tech screen etc :S) so made my way upstairs and rang the bell. Still nothing. Then tried the door - it was locked. (It's usually open because he always has to go outside to make his phone calls :D he has no signal inside a building EVER). Damn he must be out!!!! Then I heard a Hello?!? from the flat. Success, so I stayed quiet until he opened the door terrified that it might be the landlady (he doesn't speak french).
• The second time I just went and rang the bell a couple of times. Another Hello?1?! then Jasmine?!?!? damn he got me this time?! He didn't open the door though, so I rang again and stepped away from the door, so he wouldn't see me immediately when opening the door. He finally opened the door and obvs didn't see anyone so started yelling something along the lines of: "So who's the silly begger playing games here eh? I'm locking..." by that time I was dying of laughter already so I stepped in front of the door literally scaring him sh**less :D :D :D :D :D :D :D How can a grown man be so scared? :D :D PS! I told you I'm not a normal person ;)
• One day at work the two other interns went to have lunch just the two of them leaving me with the "bosses" (or just normal people who work there full time) and then my supervisor ran out to the post office. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to wait (didn't really want to but it would be weird if I just left on my own leaving the office door open). So I did until I heard the guys upstairs saying "Should we go for lunch now" my supervisor wasn't back and I didn't want to go with just the two of them so I panicked and ran out the door :D It's less awkward to eat alone - which I didn't because the two other interns and their friend had decided to eat at the park as well...
• At work I have a perfect view to the door that has toned glass window so I can see people standing behind the door but they can't see me unless they really look inside. One day there was a weird man standing there trying to peek inside, (the other girl who is closer to the door but has her back to it said later that she heard him trying to put his hand through the letter box), then tried opening the door - luckily it was locked :) Then he rang the doorbell, the girl went to open as usual but as soon as she saw him she backed down and waited for our supervisor to come downstairs to open the door herself. So she did and stood right in front of it to ask what he wanted. He was desperate to get in the room for some reason and asked for a piece of paper (hoping the supervisor would step away from the door to get it probs), so our supervisor asked the other girl to hand her the piece of paper. The man was so close to her trying to peek through and see what and who's inside. When he got the paper he just left :S :S WTF just happened???????????????????????? 
• Today when I went upstairs to have my lunch I felt kind of funny. Thought my bra strap had fallen or something so tried adjusting it and guess what? I couldn't find it!!! I don't have a bra on!!!?!!?!! What??? How?? and how did I only notice that like 5 hours after leaving my flat????? Luckily it's kinda cold and I had a sweater on so no one could hopefully tell. I want to die right now!!! How did this even happen???????
• This reminds me of a time when Mr. Special went out to take his phonecalls and then 10 seconds later came back rushingly. He was only wearing a t-shirt and boxers!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA btw he had put shoes on though! which made it even funnier!
• In Belgium he forgot to put shoes on. Unfortunately we didn't make it far :( just to the hotel lift :D :D :D :D :D :D
• My french techer from Aber sent me an e-mail in the beginning of summer if we could meet up in Paris (just a normal procedure for him to check my progress etc), I said a couple of times that I don't really have time (which is technically true). but when he proposed a time I just didn't respond to him.... Still haven't... Hope that he forgot.... Please? I'll just say I had problems with the e-mail otherwise :D

That's it for now although I'm sure there are more happenings like those above I just can't remember at the moment ;)

Ttyl ;)

Jazzz...

Taking Stock Take 2

Making : Myself to pack, no success so far.

Cooking : Nothing at all. Living in a house with Idon'tevenknowhowmanypeople and I hate communal kitchens, so no cooking for me, thank you!

Drinking : Mainly water

Reading: Blogs and job adverts. That counts as reading, right? 

Wanting: To have a job already, a nice one, not just any job!

Looking: Out of the window to check if the rain has stopped. 

Playing: Nothing really. I''m the weird person who doesn't know anything about any games. 

Wasting: Time by reading blogs and doing nothing.

Sewing: Haven't sewn anything in a long time. I should however sew the lining in my handbag. 

Wishing: To have more fun and travel.

Enjoying: All the free time I have, although I'm not doing anything productive with it.

Waiting: My hair to dry and time to be close to 5 already.

Liking: How my best friend persuades me to return back home. 

Wondering: Where I will be and what I will be doing this time next year. 

Loving: The idea of getting 2 new shirts that I tried on yesterday. Now it's just the question of getting myself out and about to go back to the shop and actually buy them. 

Hoping: To find a job soon.

Marvelling: Ok, I'm gonna skip that one :D

Needing: To pack my life together, but I have too much stuff.

Smelling: The smell of rain coming through the open windows.

Wearing: A red T-shirt won in a shot challenge by my assistant manager.

Following: Blogs, news.

Noticing: That it's getting colder and colder :(

Knowing: That I have to leave the place, which has been my home for 3 years very soon.

Thinking: About what to do with my life.

Feeling: Stressed

Bookmarking: Job adverts again and any other interesting pages I find.

Opening: Countless pages to see what's new in other people's lives :D

Giggling: I live a dull life, that says it all.

Listening: At this moment Timbaland "Give it to me" ft. Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake

Watching: Home and Away and occasionally stuff from the TV like The Great British Bake Off and A Place in the Sun...

Ems

Mont Saint-Michel

I kind of expected it to be bigger... and maybe a bit less touristy but I wasn't disappointed as some people said they were :)

We took the bus from Rennes early in the morning (9.45) to the main access that now has a brand new visitor complex with tourist information and toilets etc. From there you could choose from 3 options to get to the actual site: walk (45 minutes on a newly built footbridge), take a free shuttle bus (25 minutes) or pay for a seat on the horse carriage (35 minutes). We chose the free bus that was jam-packed with people. Even the first bus driver (who drove us from Rennes to Mont St-Michel) said that the site is absolutely filled with people and when wanting to come back with the bus be there early! so we'd expected that.

The town/island (? I really don't know how to call it properly) was absolutely lovely with its few streets filled with shops and restaurants. That was one negative side though :( Everything was aimed at tourists so it had lost its authenticity a bit but the streets that were a bit higher up weren't as crowded and didn't have any shops :) To simplify and create an image in your mind there are 3 main streets/paths - one on the very edge of the town with stunning views to the mainland and mud that people were walking on barefeet. That was lined with restaurants on one side. Second a level down in the town lined with only touristy shops and restaurants (mostly the same ones that had a terrace on the first street) filled with people. Crowds everywhere! Then there's the third level - mainly staircases connecting the abbey - the highest point - to the second street. All of them are basically an endless staircase going up to the abbey or down to the entrance gate. And that's about it. Just a lovely little tiny staircase town :)

The abbey is huge and totally worth going into :) Somehow we're always lucky with queues and had to wait there for max 15 mins before entering :) when we exited the queue was well longer than 30 minutes. So beware. That is the main tourist atrraction there and you can be assured that the people you see on the streets will probably want to go there sooner or later ;) 

That's about it really :P What you see (at first when approaching the island) is what you get. There's nothing on the "other side" of the island. 

It took us a couple of hours to walk through everything. We got there around 11 and by 3 we were done - this included enjoying a galette in a restaurant and later a coke and cake at a different café. Since we had time for our 5.20 bus back to Rennes we decided to walk back on the foot bridge, taking lots of pictures of it and marvelling at it one last time :)

Going back the bus was absolutely full and we were quite surprised that they were still selling tickets to people because there were people who had previously purchased a return ticket but they got another coach to come pick the people who didn't fit into ours so no one was luckily left behind :) Some people came from Paris for a day and had to catch the TGV back! So I think it was organised perfectly (you could hear people complaining though).

Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...

Playlist

Why is it that every time I make this post then practically right after publishing it I find new cool music that I become addicted to? And by the time comes to make another post I've become pretty much sick of them already... Because I'm that kind of person who listens to one song for a hundred thousand times in a row...

Anyway quite recently I discovered Bastille!!! Not their own songs (that everyone's heard), although they are decent as well. I absolutely fell in love with their covers! I had known that they've done a few covers before but had no idea that they even released an album full of awesome covers!!!! It wuld be so easy to just fill this post with just Bastille, but I do have some other (re)discoveries as well :( :)

Please go listen to Other People's Heartache album if you're interested. I had to make a tough choice: which cover is da best?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I'll put here the one I listen to the most... I think...

Requiem for Blue Jeans

Secondly my other big crush this month :) I just love the feeling in this song :)
Magic! - Rude

Next a song that's lyrics you must NOT listen to! Because I think they're pretty stupid :D But I love the rhytm and vibe of the song anyway and not paying any attention to what she actually says isn't hard at all ;)

Tinashe - 2on

A nice sexy song ;)

Trey Songz - NaNa

And finally a new Estonian song - I do have 2 candidates for this as well but I'ma put the newest one here :)

Oops looks like I can't find it :( Maybe it's that new :D So my second choice then, in Estonian as well (The pther one would've been in English)

Triin Niitoja & John4 - Jää

This was my absolute favourite Idol contestants on her season :) So I guess I'll like every song she comes out with ;)

This has been a good 2 months :)

Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...

Taking Stock

Cooking : absolutely nothing because I'm a working gal and Mr. Special has taken the roll of a Desperate Houseman this summer ;)

Drinking : Lipton lemon Ice tea and water

Reading: the series of "Minu" books. At the moment "Minu Bangkok" - that isn't interesting at all :( The series is comprised of books that talk about a country/city, written by Estonians who live/ have lived there.

Wanting: To finally get my final installment of the Erasmus grant (yeap, still waiting!!!!)

Looking: forward to going home for two week :) Haven't been there since Christmas

Playing: Sims2 :D my biggest addiction ever I think... Sims3 is too detailed for my taste :D In addition Mr. Special has downloaded Candy Crush, Bubble Witch Saga and Farm Heroes that I must play as well.

Wasting: time reading blogs when I should actually be focused on working :( Don't judge that quick there's nothing that needs to be done urgently just perfecting the translation at this final stage.

Sewing: my button shirts together in the boob area because otherwise it'll be sooo fugly. I don't know why though because the size otherwise is perf and I don't have massive boobs :S

Wishing: to miraculously be able to speak fluent French, otherwise I'll be in trouble next academic year...

Enjoying: my last weeks in France and Paris before heading back to my "normal" life

Waiting: for the clock to strike 6PM already so I could go to Montparnasse and get on the train to Rennes for a lovely surprise weekend trip Mr. Special has arranged

Liking: my new clothes that I bought from Belgium :D I just feel so much better for some reason :D

Wondering: If I'll be the only one who going back to uni without speaking fluent french :S (only a month to go :( so scared)

Loving: my studio flat in Issy

Hoping: to return to Paris soon for longer

Marvelling: my pastel blue nails :)

Needing: to go to the dentist :(

Smelling: awful as Mr. Special once so romantically put it. He said it in such a dreamy way :) Obviously he actually wanted to say amazing :D I laughed for a long time.

Wearing: my new shoes (that are hurting me beyond belief :(), new trousers, new top and new cardigan - I'm in love with my new clothes :D :D :D never felt such a rush before

Following: blogs every day like a maniac... I clearly have too much free time in the office...

Noticing: that people here walk in the door without knocking! It's weird, luckily I see them before they enter because I have the best view to the door but since I'm not the closest one I don't have to ask them what they want ;)

Knowing: nothing apparently since I've been stuck on this for about 10 minutes now :S You know nothing John Snow!

Thinking: about my dissertation topics and collecting inspiration already

Feeling: so happy :)

Bookmarking: Blogs again, what else :D

Opening: one particular blog page thousand times a day to see if she's posted something or to see if anyone from her bloglist has posted something new. Obsessed much?

Giggling: at Mr. Specials special sayings and moments ;)

Listening: to the awesome covers Bastille has done to oh so many songs :)

Watching: Home and Away and the Walking Dead at the moment :)

PS! This was written on a Friday :)

Ttyl ;)

Jazzz...

Demerits of Paris

Paris is the capital of romance :) Everyone knows that. Everyone's seen the pictures of the amazing Parisian architecture. It truly is amazing and I like that it has been kind of conserved in a time bubble - the old typical Parisian house styles :)

Doesn't it look like a perfect walk? If you're lucky it will be. If you're not so lucky then a minute after taking this picture you'll run away from the spot trying to suppress vomit because it absolutely stinks of urine there :( (I do not a have a strong stomach at all). That's the side of Paris that you don't usually hear about but it is visible (smellable in this case) wayyyy too often in my opinion :( Especially on the banks of the river and metro stations. I once saw a woman let her child (5-6y?) pee in the gutter next to the stairs to the metro entrance. Eeew! Yuck! I understand when a child has to go he has to go but come on!

 By the smell, it even seems that it is the "normal" thing to do, under a bridge, behind the corner etc. And not just one person does it (or the homeless) because the stench is often literally unbearable! Luckily the streets are free of it :) So you can indeed enjoy a walk through Paris :)

On the streets though there are other threats - hustlers, scammers, pickpockets. -.- It may seem like ,especially if you read the tripadvisor forum, that everyone's out to get your money. A while ago I saw a post there asking for advice how to be safe. And one answer was to hide all the credit cards, cash, documents in a bag that goes discreelty under your shirt, or neckpurse or whatever thingies are invented for this. Best if not to take anything with you at all, photocopy your passport etc etc etc. A copy of an actual comment: 

If you are nervous about losing your passport on the way to your hotel, then put in the safest place you can before you leave the airport...in your bra, down your pants, in a money belt...etc.

Bring a camera that if you lose it or it is stolen, you won't feel like killing yourself. Only carry cash you need for the day and 1 credit card. Leave the rest of your cash and spare credit cards at the hotel. A cell phone is a hard one...if you loose your expensive phone that will suck, but you'll live. I think most people can do without carrying a tablet.

If you really are anxious then by all means stick to taking taxis and avoid public transport and crowds. If you stay in the tourist areas, you can get to most places for 10 - 15 euros.

Ummm.... just chill for a second eh? :D Putting your passport in your bra? Isn't that a bit too much??? Bring the camera you use normally - don't go buying some crappy camera that'll take crappy pictures because it might get stolen. Just keep an eye on it always and don't leave it lying anywhere on its own (common sense?).  Same with your wallet - no need to hide it in your buttcrack to avoid it being stolen. Just don't make it ridicoulously easy to spot and steal. I always carry everything in a clutch cross body bag that doesn't even have a zipper and yet I still have everything... Miracle. I do restrain from keeping it on my back where I can't see or feel when someones tampering with it. But that's it... If you are Richie Rich by all means stick to taxis - but be aware they might be dodgy as well! Best to just stay in your hotel for the entire trip and just look at the pictures on the internet...

The (sad) reality is that indeed there are pickpockets in Paris. Not denying it. But no need to crazy over it, just be aware of your surroundings and don't flash cash or phones around every 5 seconds and you should be fine... You don't see any Parisians walking around daily with their moneybelts, using only taxis etc. They are actually reading books (on public transport) and not watching their belongins like a hawk... So chill, you'll enjoy the trip much more :)

Has anyone ever seen how those moneybelts are even used? Hilarious me thinks. Everytime you have to pay for something you show your hairy stomach (I've seen men doing it) to everyone and take forever to pay for something because obviously you can't leave the register before putting the change you were given back to the moneybelt and then hiding it under your shirt, tucking the shirt back into you pants etc. Not attractive at all.

I have mentioned the petition girls and the Monty players in the Eiffel Tower post (I hope) so I'll just say when you see them just ignore them and then you can be paranoid and clutch all your belongins in your hands because they are professionals and usually just distract you with their petition while their accomplice steals you blind (seen it happen myself - luckily they managed to get the phone back from the girls).

When you've succesfully dodged all the scammers and yelled NON! to everyone that even glances a look in your direction (hey! they were only trying to help you find what you're looking for, no need to be rude!) you'll find yourself in the endless queue to go to the Louvre/Versailles/Eiffel Tower/Catacombs etc etc.  :) Should've brought a book like all the other Parisians.

Then the day is finally over and you can return to your tiny overly priced appartment that you basically sold your kidney to afford :( Look on the bright side though, at least you are in Paris and not living in the Banlieue (ew, that's like 5 minutes further with the metro, how can people live there?), somehow you've managed the impossible and gotten yourself an appartment (okay it's actually a studio but who cares?), never mind the fact that the inside isn't as nice as the outside :( And you have to take your luggage up to the fourth floor by a narrow spiral staircase. Fun! :) And then you find out you can hear absolutely everything your next door neighbor does and says :) Totally worth it though :) Time to chillax, oh wait... where could I get cheap furniture????

Other than that I think Paris is absolutely wonderful and it holds a special place in my heart and I wish I could've lived in Paris (not 5 mins from it) this summer and that I would not have to leave so soon.

Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...

Public transport in Paris

Hopefully this will actually be a useful post :) On my way to work and back I take the metro and tram (more interesting than sitting in the bus for the whole journey I think in the morning) AND the bus (on my way back then because it takes me up that stupid freaking hill (although I lose my precious exercise :( about 2 000 steps a day)). So I think I know a fair share of the subject :)

The fastest way to get around is the RER because it has fewer stops than the metro so it moves faster between them. Metro is very frequent :) All the bus stops are equipped with an electronic board to tell you when the next bus is coming :) Very handy I think. The bus might look like it's full when it acutally can fit another 20 people in there because sometimes people are stupid! Happened to me once - I decided not to push myself in and wait for the next one - 8-10 minute intervall, I wasn't in a rush, then I saw that the back of the bus was freaking half empty and the next one is coming in 15 minutes grrr. Should've pushed myself in!!!! To add insult to injury we then were stuck in a traffic jam for god knows how long... The metro is a better option ;)

Tickets

There are different types of tickets available in Paris: single journey, a "carnet", Pass Navigo weekly, Pass Navigo monthly, destination tickets for the RER, Mobilis one day pass and Paris Visite for up to 5 consecutive days. At least for me this is already confusing... :S So I suggest you first think how many times you will actually use the public transport to figure out wich of these options is actually beneficial (there is no point paying 6.80 for a day pass if you're only going to use the metro 3 times that day). I worked out that the best option for me (using the transport three times a day for 5 days) is the Monthly Navigo Decouverte (I had to write my own name and put my picture on it myself - the "real" or "proper" Navigos you are issued your card with everything printed on it already - but that's for the Parisians who actually live there), meaning my weekend travels - sightseeing - would be "for free".

All the ticket machines are in English and Spanish (and in some other languages as well) so don't be afraid to use them. In some stations the manned desk is only for information and can't sell you any tickets!

Zones 1-2 cover the Paris area and metro lines and usually tourists don't wander further than that :)

• A single ticket costs 1.70 and you can use it for one single journey on all the transport types, even if it means changing between them (I think there's an hour limit). Meaning you can first take the metro, then exit and go through the RER (only Paris area, zones 1-2) gates with the same ticket to complete your journey. Cool eh? :) NOTE: It won't work on metro and bus/tram connections (I've tried :(). But you can transfer from bus to a tram or another bus if needed :) (haven't tried it though... but it says you can).
• There's a lot of confusion with the "carnet"  ticket and on forums I've read many stories of people who have been conned because they don't know what it is. It's just ten separate single journey tickets bought together :) for 13.70, making the price of one journey only 1.37 - keep that in mind when calculating the costs :) - we got this for Mr. Special since he mainly travels on the weekends.
• Pass Navigo Decouverte - 20.40 a week and 67.10 a month for zones 1-2. They are useful if you travel more than 2 times a day (2*1,37*7=19.18) every day! NOTE: this is ALWAYS from Monday to Sunday (not 7 consecutive days) or 1st to the last day of the month.
• Destination tickets are used for the RER to get to Versailles, Disneyland etc. They have fixed prices for every destination depending on the zones. If I remember correctly Disneyland was about 7 euros from Les Halles one way, Versailles is cheaper coz it's closer :)
• Mobilis one day Pass is 6.80, that equals 4 normal tickets :)
• Paris Visite (I have no idea what they are or what they look like) is 10.85 for one day (obvs the Mobilis is cheaper but this gives you some discounts when entering certain museums and stuff...), 17.65 for two days etc (you can google the other prices if needed - the official ratp page has this info in English :))

The key is to know roughly how many times you'll be using the public transport and then work out the cheapest single journey option :) When we go sightseeing on weekend we usually don't use more than three tickets - 1st to get to the first location, 2nd to the second location and finally 3rd to get back home :)

I've read some stories when a stranger has offered "help" and then "bought" the tickets himself from the machine (just inserting a random card in the slot or something) and then demanded money for them giving you a worthless ticket (that's either been used or is only a single journey when you wanted a carnet). Don't buy any tickets from random people! You can ask and accept help but think: would a normal person actually buy tickets for you??? I wouldn't... 

When there's an accident or the metro isn't running normally it is always said so on the screens in every station (only in french though :() and there is always someone there to give out information how to get to the place you need to go, if this line isn't working for some reason.

I recently found out that when using the Navigo monthly pass I can go to all zones with it on weekens and during school holidays -.- I'd seen the ads for it on the bus before but never really thought of that for some reason... Could've saved money going to Disneyland and Mr. Special's tickets when we went to Malmaison. pfft I didn't even try using my pass! (coz I knew it was in the third zone and my Pass only covers 1-2).

I think that's about it...

Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...

Weekend Belgium Trip

It was too cold :( Too cold :( had to wear my jeans basically all the time :( :( :( :( :( :( :( That were broke on top of it all :( :( :( :(

Anyway Mr. Special had organised this trip because he just LOVES Belgium (and every other place he's been to.. he's a serial lover ;)) and when we finally got to Oostende late on Thursday night all I wanted to do was get to the hotel and all he wanted to do was stop every 5 seconds and just sigh with happiness -.- :D

I think Belgium is more of an old peoples destination :P (because you mostly see old people perhaps). For some reason that's the vibe I got from it, though they did have a music festival while we were there :) Everythings just so nice and comfortable. They've got it all figured out (like old people :D). Don't get me wrong I liked, I really did. How can you not when all you can ever smell are either waffles or chocolate? (A nice change from urin-stinking Paris...)

Brugges was lovely and cute + we got to see people in special outfits on horse carriages :)

Brussels was way too crowded... we looked for a nice place to eat for way too long until we found a proper Irish Six Nations Pub :P We did want to go somewhere more Belgian but that just sounded wayyy too good to walk past. Then  we got into the Royal Palace for Free!!! And wawawiwau was that great. Can't even compare to Versailles (Mr. Special even mentioned that when writing thanks on that paper -.-). 

Then we got to take the metro to Mini-Europe :) That was great fun :) Kind of like the Mini-Netherlands we went to in the Netherlands :P Estonia was represented by the Fat Margarita :) and the Baltic chain... that's it??? While freaking France and Italy had god knows how many little models :( not fair :( Mr. Special has obviously been to Paris with his eyes closed because when we were in front of the Sacre-Coeur model, he exclaimed happily oh that's in Russia! So I showed him the mini Arc de Triomphe and asked if that's in Russia too? No -.- Oh so that's the thing in India!?!?! Facepalm since when is India a part of Europe?? I do despair at times ;) :P The best part of it was probably in front of Mount Vesuvius when there was smoke and you could feel the "earthquake" as it was "erupting". Kids loved it :)

Oostende was a nice beachy town :) I would've enjoyed it much more if it had been sunny and warm though :( So instead of freezing our arses off walking on the promenade we went shopping yippikayay :) I got a new bag - my old one is going to break any minute :) So perfect timing :)

Going home we had a little heart attch because we had to change the train stations in Lille... yeap train stations not just trains!!!!!! Luckily I noticed that before leaving, but Mr. Special was adamant that they were the same station (because Google maps). But they're freaking NOT!!!! 20 minutes to go when we looked at the departing trains in Lille Flandres when we noticed that our train isn't on there! Luckily there were signs to direct us to the Lille Europe station :) (Mr. Special obvs didn't see them, asked where the hell am I rushing to and then when he was standing next to the biggest sign ever asked me where do I see any signs for that station?!?!).

Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...

Rural Versailles

Versailles's grounds cover over 2 000 acres of land and beyond the Palace there is a totally different atmosphere :) The crowds just seem to disappear a bit ;)

On Musical Fountains days (summer Tuesdays and weekends) you have to pay extra to get into the gardens :( So a nice stroll through the gardens towards the Trianons was out of the question + I wasn't too confident that we would've had the time for all of that because on top of it all it was a Fireworks Saturday (extra ticekt again) so the gardens close around 6PM already... That left us with the petit train - the little train which is a hop-on, hop-off kind of shuttle service between the Palace and the Trianons. (I must say here that a lot of people didn't get the concept and just stayed in the train for the whole round (you're only allowed one round) and only got off for 2 seconds to take some photos when it stopped, confusing people at those stops who wanted to board the train :D You could see it especially when we came back no one got off at ANY of the three stops. 7.50 for that is too much imo :D + I think one spanish family actually had tiny fight coz at the last stop they kinda wanted to go out but couldn't make their minds up so stayed on, but then as we were already moving pressed the stop button + they didn't look very happy and obviously they weren't allowed to descend the train at a random spot). 

We luckily had read the small print stating that you are allowed to get off at the stops and visit the trianons and then later catch another train back. And seeing as we stepped out some of the other hesitant people got off too :D (before I was talking about the train we took to get back to the Palace). There was a little queue to get into the Big Trianon, but nothing compared to the Palace queue :) More security and metal detection gate :S Is safety really such an issue? The garden of it was really nice and you could see the big canal or lake or whatever they call it from there as well, so I wasn't too bummed that we couldn't go to the actual garden :) there was a sign pointing towards the Little Trianon but since we didn't know how far it would be we decided to get the mini train. Guess who far away it was? Freaking 2 minutes on the train if not less :D We could've walked!!!!! But now you're smarter aren't you? :) A slightly longer queue now for the Little Trianon and The Queens Hamlet... I'm so sick of people already!!!!!!!!!

The Little Trianon was also crowded inside so just made our way in a queue through the house :D (Slight exaggeration). And then went outside to look for the Queens Hamlet which was supposed to be a 10-minute walk away :) Through the lovely mazey estate :) Highlight of the day for sure!!!! No questions asked, it was the most idyllic place ever! (On the way there we saw a couple of river rats too, and swans and then fish who were so desperate for food that they were on top of each other half out the water to catch the bread crumbs people were throwing them while fighting with ducks). You couldn't go into any of the buildings though :( (Expect the hunters cabin which was converted into a toilet). If you walked further along you reached the farm that still has animals :) yay saw rabbits and fluffy chickens, donkeys, goats etc. Awwww.... my new favourite place now :) And on regular days (when the fountains aren't working) it should be free to get to... If you take the walk through the gardens... I think... Because normally the gardens are free...

Anyway I was happy as larry now :) And we decided to make our way home :) which was completely free for some reason :D (Mr. Special had bought a return ticket HAHAHA fail) But all the gates were open and the staff there told everyone that the (last?!?!) train is about to leave hurry up, No! you don't need to buy a ticket just get on!!!! The train was PACKED to the fullest. literally, luckily there was some room on the very last carriage for us and a couple more people :) Everyone were confused about it being the last train though... Who knows...

Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...

Mother of crowds

a.k.a The Versailles Palace

When I first visited the palace 5 years ago at the end of October in the middle of the week, we (me and my sistah) just walked in. Literally just walked in :D Not even a one person queue. Obviously there were people waiting to buy a ticket and people inside the palace :) I'll stress that again: I just waked up to the security area, showed my ID (to prove I was under 18 to get in for free) and got into the palace in the middle of the day...

Oh how times have changed... Well maybe they haven't so drastically if you do go there on a weekday off-season. But we went on a Saturday in August (Boom! Pow! What? Are you crazy????? Why??? OMG???!!! Waste of a day etc etc etc). And since I am lazy bugger and not at all a morning person we got out of the flat at 9.30 :D (hey, it's only like half an hour journey + waiting for the train). The palace opened at 9 and all the suggestions and reviews online say get there EARLY! or late (although I would be too worried to not get enough time to visit the palace if plan to go there an hour before closing). So we got there about 10.15 and seeing the queue I immediately regretted not waking up earlier... Although I don't think it would've mattered that much, we still would've had to queue bc I don't believe for one second that we would've been the only geniuses getting there by 9... Luckily it was a nice cloudy day :) Otherwise I would've died :(

There is a lot of complaint on-line about this queue that it is badly managed, no access to water, not under a roof etc. Ummm yeah I agree BUT the biggest problem they have is that it is too popular and running in its maximum capacity. There weren't many people queueing up alone so why can't just one of you go into town (5 mins away) to get the precious water? Or better yet bring it with you before hand. There were loads of people eating either their homemade sandwiches or McDonalds burgers (again 5 mins walk away). Newsflash you don't have to starve there with your whole family, one or two or three of you could go and get some food, while someone is still in the queue holding a place for y'all. Then it is criticized that you make your own snake queue and there are no special ropes etc for that. How is that a problem? It makes it easier for one of you to leave the queue to get food and then come back! Makes queue jumping easier... well yeah BUT you have a big whole in your face that is capable of making sounds and if you're really lucky it'll even manage to utter a few words along the lines of "Excuse me! The end of the line is over there". We had one guy trying to join the queue behind us and the ladies who were initially behind us piped up and said that it isn't acceptable. And I for once didn't just watch it from distance but did say clearly that he wasn't with us when he claimed to be... And guess what happened? He left...

As with the rain or blazing hot sun. Do you really want them to build a roof over the huge courtyard? Blocking the view to the Palace? They could sell tickets with a time slot to control the queues and the crowds but can you imagine what'll happen then? I think it'll be sold out for months in advance. And what happens to all the under 26 European citizen who get in for free with no ticket. When can they go? Anytime? That could work though... :) Finally a suggestion that might actually be of use :) although that would mean the end of impulse decisions to visit the Palace...

By noon we were in :) So not that loooooooooooong of a queue :D I was expecting worse to be honest :D Inside is another nightmare -.- On one hand people are complaining that there is only 2 security gates and that's why the queues are long and on the other hand that there is far too many people in the Palace. Take a moment to think now... I came up with this: If there are for example 4 security gates the queueing time would be reduced by half (yay) BUT there'll be twice as many people inside (oh shit, health and safety blah blah blah). What the hell do you people want then? I think 2 security gates are sufficient having to shove my way from room to room inside the palace... (I'll add some pics soon I hope). Oh and the audioguide which is for free (yay) is pretty crap :D I personally can't remember anything that was said there - I didn't have any room to listen to it anywhere either... And in my humble opinion... I'm not impressed with the Palace of Versailles at all. Not really worth the hassle :( The rooms are too empty (mostly filled with paintings or sculptures) for my taste. This time I think I managed to see some more furniture than 5 years ago :D So unless you really really really really want to go, I'd suggest avoiding it in the high season you wont miss much ;)

Now the Trianon and the Queens Hamlet is a totally different story that I'll tell you tomorrow coz I think this post is getting a bit long ;)

Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...

Mosquito attack

The end of June / beginning of July were absolutely horrendous times for me due to freaking mosquitos!!!! It was partly my fault because I just have to keep the window open - I don't have any air otherwise but omg, omg, omg. At times I looked at my skin and all I could see were red spots - huge red bite marks. Plus I think I have a small allergy to them as well because on my skin they look really bad. I even tried sleeping in a duvet cover, still I had my legs bitten! How? Mr. Special was absolutely freaking out thinking we had bedbugs and whatnot :D Mosquitos aren't that common in the UK - lucky bastards.

So we tried killing them. One day I discovered red smudges on walls. On WHITE walls. In a flat that isn't ours. The fudge have you done?!?!?!?! Are you crazy?!?!?!? Why on earth did you decide that it was a good idea?!?!?!?!?!?!? Then I saw him trying to kill them on the ceiling by waving some newspaper in their faces. Obviously that didn't kill them. You know what it did?!?!? Leave freaking black print marks on the ceiling!!!! On the WHITE ceiling!!!!!! -.- -.- -.- 

We had a serious problem. One night he captured them into glasses and let them go outside. 7 mosquitos in the flat. Got rid of 5, oh look 5 more to go. 3 more out the window. 6 still in the flat -.- Got rid of three, 3 more to go, dinally got rid of them :) Still hear the buzzing sound -.- Where the hell are they coming from????? The windows were closed at that time obviously, I'm not an idiot

Then he had a sick hobby - he captured the mosquitos into glasses and left them there to day for days... :D Well I guess it's better than staining the walls... Then he fastened the killing process by first spraying a lot air freshener into the glass and then capturing the mosquitos... He must be bored... Haha but it worked!

Then he bought some electrical scent diffuser that's supposed to keep them away. It was time for them to disappear anyway :D :D Or not... there weren't any for a couple of weeks but now they've come back for some reason!!!! Only a two but still!!! Die already!!!!!

Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...

Antisocial :(

That's what I am... I don't mean or want to be but I am... I have a couple of good friends and that's it... yes obviously I have other acquintances as well but no one to just be like hey... haven't spoken to him/her for god knows how long, I wonder how he/she's doing etc and just continue with small talk. NO! Or some people you just meet at parties and converse with them there etc. Probably bc I don't go to parties :D I don't know why I don't have those "meaningless friends" to be honest :D I just don't have anything to say to strangers and that's why I don't make friends easily, I just literally sit there in the corner and am quiet (yeah it's awkward for me too :D).

Sometimes I literally HATE talking to people, seriously shut up and let me get on with my things :D Although at the same time I want to be apart of their conversation, I do want to be their friend but can we just not talk to each other at the moment? thanks (true story happened to me at work one day) :)

Anyway this was supposed to be a post about my internship :D So... practically all the other interns have left now :( It's just me and Greece, so more awkwardness to follow porbs during lunch breaks, or maybe maybe maybe I don't have any other choice than to actually start talking to them (I do wish it was so :D). With lunch there is a funny tendency here that I noticed: before I came they ate chinese quite often, when I came the closest supermarket was the food source, then the Japanese restaurant became more popular (once a week), then we started going to Subway and since it's located in a shopping centre we now go to that shopping centre for lunch, totally having forgotten the supermarket and Japanese :D

Work itself is pretty much done... If you've translated the sentence there's not much else you can do with it is there... :/ Just to tweak it a bit and that's what I'm doing... Technically that website should work just fine in Estonian now :) Although I'm pretty sure that when I actually see it in real life I'll cringe and be like what an idiot is responsible for this?!? :D Anyway the patterns for the sentences are now done :) And I've translated a flyer into Estonian as well... well still having trouble with 2 or 3 sentences (finding the right word you know) but overall it's done.

So I now mostly fill my day by reading blogs and hoping that there's a drama :D I so want to watch a good old latin american soap opera but I think watching series while at the office is pushing it :D

That's about it... I can't wait til the internship is over but at the same time dreading the last day because I'd have to say nice words to everyone (not that I'd want to say negative things but it's weird if so far I've only uttered like 20 words in total to them and then on the last day start praising that wow everything was awesome and so sad to leave if you get my drift).

10 weeks done 3 more to go :) Time flies so fast.

Ttyl ;)

Jazzz...

Soldes and shops

I know I'm hopelessly behind with this post bc the soldes in France are long over... :D Better late than never eh?

What I think is funny about them is the fact that they are regulated by the government - certain dates (about a month) for every shop at the same time twice a year... It starts with a minor reduction (up to -50%) and then for the next two weeks the prices drop every week for what's left of the merchandise :)

Since the shops close quite early ~7PM and none of the big shopping centres or even indepent stores are near where I live (and I finish work at 6) I didn't get to enjoy the soldes that much :( good for my wallet probs. But on some weekends I did manage to get a look at what they were offering and got myself a couple of dresses :) Now I absolutely love dresses but the trouble is I rarely wear them... I'm more of a pants girl :( Trying to change my ways though!

For me the absolute nightmare was finding shoes! In Estonia we have special shoe shops that sell practically every brand there is. Here every brand has their own shop god knows where, and most of them are a bit too expensive (for me at least) like Minelli etc... I just need normal shoes for about 20 euros, is that a lot to ask for??? Or am I looking in all the wrong places? Been to three big shopping centres and found nothing, they have Ecco, Geox, Minelli, André (they're actually good :P), Footlocker (dafudge is that????? The womens section only has about 5 pairs of trainers and that's it?!?!?!?!?!?! Obviously I'm exaggerating but that's how it feels like). But I just walk around and can't see any shoes that I'd want :( why is it so hard? So went to H&M and got two pairs of sneakers there... 

There are only 3 Primark stores in Paris and the one we went actually had a queue in front of it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it! We queued for ten minutes to be let in the shop! :D HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Amazing. Luis Vuitton and Primark are the only two shops that I've seen people queueing to get in! The sad thing is though that the first time in ever there wasn't anything I would've wanted from there. Oh the irony :(

Yes very information, I know :D

Ttyl ;)

Jazzz...

Autolib

A couple of weeks ago Mr. Special decided he's going to look into hiring the autolib electric cars in Paris. They have stations everywhere and you can hire a car for up to 4 hours in the Ile de France area. Perfect for people who need a car occasionally or can't afford to buy one :) At first I was a bit sceptic because they're not going to give a car just to anyone. Turns out they do :D He just needed to scan in his passport, drivers licence and bank card and voilà :) Easy breezy CoverGirl (That's my slogan now, I say it alll time! -.-)

Let the stress begin :D It was me stressing not him, he was excited. The first time we took it around the block for an hour. He's just tooooo slow! Because the sign just says end of the 30 zone, what comes after that he doesn't know, so he just drives with thirty... Luckily we don't live in an area with heavy traffic :)

Then for obvious reasons he doesn't know how far we are from the curb. I don't know it either because I can't drive and to me it seems that we are already half way on the pavement anyway. Only once or twice did he start driving on the left side of the road (no other cars were there obviously). Once he started yelling on a junction where do I go? Where do I go? :D

So I just sit there clutching my fists reminding him to keep on the right side of the road while at the same time expecting to hit the curb (twice we've done that) or even worse a parked car... Then he freaking stops in the middle of the road (he doesn't actually stop just slows down but so suddenly for me) and the car jolts... The fact that the last time I was in a car we had a crash doesn't help here...

So we get looks and beeps all the time :D But it's not catastrophic by now he knows the normal speed limit is 50, and the last time he only got cursed at was when he stopped before a roundabout with a green light... :D So I was like yay finally I can relax in this car :) And we can actually go somewhere - so far we've just been driving around randomly for him to get used to the traffic. And then parking ruined EVERYTHING. Parallel parking to the right... A small parking space... Need I say more? He knows how to park to the left but to the right is mission impossible.. He just manages to park next to it :D This was the fourth time we'd taken a car (so he's done it 3 times already) but there was a bit more traffic I think and he just LOST it. OMG just relax, take deep breaths etc (I kept my mouth shut obviously). Finally in rage he just drove over the curb separating the parking stations and parked that way... Later some man had come up to him and said that the parking there is hard due to practically no space, so chill and dont worry too much, no one does it perfectly :D

Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...

Erasmus grant saga

I'm officially pissed off!!!! Yeah I'm still waiting for my stupid money!!! Well 30% of it but still. At first (in the meetings) it was said that we get our money in two installments: October and February... What a load of bs. I got my first installment in November sometime and then was told that we get the rest of the money when we submit all the documents - the certificate of attendance that is signed on your last day of placement. The fact that we get the second installment of 30% after the placement is done is already ridiculous, the money is meant FOR the placement (obviously) and as far as I know all the other students got their money 100% in the beginning of the year or atleast before it ended.

My placement ended on the 28th of May... The last document was signed and e-mailed to them on the same day by the university coordinator (I think that this is where the dog is buried - see when they now look their records there is no e-mail from ME that includes the document, not that the e-mail or the document itself have my name on it...). I was used to the fact that things take a looooooooong time and since no one else had gotten their grants a couple of weeks after that either, I wasn't worried. I e-mailed the office at the end of June, just in case. Turns out that they haven't got my last document, when and how did I send it? E-mailed them back immediately with the date it was sent and added it was sent by my host uni and not me personally. No answer so I thought everything is fine (a logical assumption I think).

Until last Thursday when Rebecca told me she got her grant. And she finished her placemnt mid-June. Nothing for me though... When I checked the e-mail I had finally had some answers (a month later from my inquiry). First Dear student, you haven't supplied ANY of the documents!!!!! - this included the one we signed in April-May 2013 and left a hardcopy in their office. (How did I get the first installment of money then?), then a couple of minutes later dear student hadn't provided the last attendance document. What????? What is finally missing then? And can't you even spell my name? Or to whom are those e-mails directed (I was listed as the only recipient). Okay so resent the e-mail with the document (luckily I had foreseen a fudge up and asked the e-mail to be forwarded it to me in May) and asked if there is anything else missing. Then forwarded an e-mail from February with them saying that everything's fine (getting that was a headache as well -.- coz obviously they have other things to do than answer you - unless you send an angry e-mail). Got an automated e-mail back saying their out of the office a couple of days -.- typical....

A week later no answer... Hello?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Is it fine now or am I gonna get another e-mail in a month saying that oops too late too bad no money for you? Is it hard to answer saying that everything's fine or not? 

Where can I make a complaint? This is not normal! And practically every time there's a different person in the office or answering e-mails (When they actually answer any e-mails) (Emma, if you had applied for the internship and gotten it I'd probably have this rant about you :D).

Now sent another e-mail asking if everything's okey and got an answer in 5 minutes that yeah, they will be forwarding my details to the finance office on Monday (can't do it today because the finance office is under stress - you don't say, who isn't under stress when dealing with the uni?). Why couldn't you answer the e-mail I sent last Friday then?

Well lets hope now that I see that money in the near future (Rebecca said she got her first installment late because she hadn't provided UK bank account details - mine came on time :S but we'll see if this time I'll be as lucky or will this prove a bit of a problem to them - oooh so complicated have to process it a bit more).

Why is it so hard????????
Ttyl ;)

Jazzz...