Meghann's Visit!

Last Thursday morning, I went to the train station to pick up Meghann.  Before we left home, we promised to visit each other.  I went to visit Meghann in March over St. Patrick's Day, and she came to Strasbourg on Thursday to spend a long weekend here.  We had a blast!

When Meghann first got here, we walked around town and had lunch at a rooftop cafe that overlooked Strasbourg.  The weather was clear, sunny, and, dare I say it, hot!  After lunch, Meghann went back to the apartment to sleep (she only slept for two hours in the span of 24 hours, she was pooped) while I went to school to make up a test that I had missed twice due to surgery.  Afterwards, we walked around the city some more until I had class at 6 and she came with me.  Unfortunately, she came to creative writing, which is a class where I sit with other Anglophones and we talk all class and don't pay attention.  Woops.

Thursday night, after dinner, we went over to Jill's apartment and watched a movie.  It was pretty chill since Meghann was still so tired.

Friday morning, Meghann went with me to the doctor, which took a long longer than expected so by the time I got out, we had just enough time to go home and have lunch before I had class in the afternoon.  While I was in class, Meghann went out in Strasbourg on her own and went to the markets to buy food for the lunch she was making for my family the next day.  She bought everything she needed and used the French that she knew to get buy.  She had no problems except she accidentally bought a kilo of mushrooms and it ended up being a comical amount but I am proud of her just the same. :)

Friday afternoon, Meghann and I went to l'Orangerie park after I got out of class.  We went with a baguette to feed the ducks.  The weather was beautiful again and the park was blooming with foliage and flowers.

Friday night, we went out to a bar and had a drink with Jill.  It was another relaxing evening, my favorite kind. :)  Saturday morning, Meghann started cooking lunch shortly after breakfast.  She made home-made Focaccia bread, a spinach, roasted pear, and walnut salad, bruschetta, pasta with mushrooms and a white wine sauce, and then a lemon cake for dessert.  She did an excellent job and my family really appreciated it.

I forgot to take a picture of the salad until after we had served ourselves..woops!

Meghann with my host family at lunch :)

After lunch, Meghann and I went out to walk around since it was hot and sunny outside again.  We went up to the cathedral and climbed 330 stairs to the top of the tower.  The view was amazing.  Unfortunately, I forgot my camera at home so the only pictures are on Meghann's camera and she has yet to post them *hinthint, Meghann*

Saturday night, Meghann and I went to see Dom Juan by Moliere which was put on by the National Theatre of Strasbourg.  It was reallllly good.  The set was very simple but really well done and the actors were great.  Meghann understood most of it, too!  I knew French would come back to her quickly :)

Sunday we woke up relatively early to make it on a boat tour of Strasbourg.  It was sunny and clear again but since it was still morning, it was chilly in the shade but we still had no reason to complain about the weather.  The tour was really informative and we learned a lot!

At one point on the tour, something gross happened.  I was sitting in the boat and listening to explanations of what we were seeing when all of a sudden, I felt something wet on the side of my lower lip.  I thought it was some water splashing up or someone messing with their water bottle, but when I took my fingertip and wiped it off, I noticed that it was a brown, liquid smear with a little seed in it.  "What the hell??" I thought, "Did I just get pooped on by a bird? On the mouth?????"  At first, I didn't know what to do.  I felt kind of like throwing up, and I kept thinking of where it would have landed if my mouth had been open.  I checked my neck and shoulder, but they were clean.  The bird had only pooped a little and I was lucky enough to be the landing spot.  I didn't want to cause a scene so I wiped it on the side of the seat next to me.  Then I felt so gross.  I was too embarrassed to tell Meghann at first because I knew she would laugh at me.  I later did tell her and she laughed at me and it is still funny.  My life is a joke.

After the tour, we walked around some more until we stopped at a restaurant for Chinese food.  After lunch, we walked to the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum of Strasbourg.  It was pretty cool, and afterwards we sat on the rooftop cafe and had fresh lemonade (so fresh that they brought us a glass that was 1/3 full of pure lemon juice, a small bottle of water, and sugar so we could make it ourselves).  It was really nice to sit outside and enjoy the view.  We made our way back and stopped at place de la Republique to sit in the grass and soak up some sun.  When we got back, we rested for a while until we went out to the movies on Sunday night to see True Grit.  I was glad it was the original version, I don't know if it would have been nearly as amazing if it were dubbed in French... a western in French would be weird.  Either way, it was an incredible movie and I loved it, I'm glad I finally got to see it. :)

We got back late on Sunday night and we went to sleep shortly after.  Monday morning we woke up early and I walked Meghann to the train station around 5:45 AM since her train was around 6.  I was sad to see her leave!

I had so much fun with her while she was here and I'm so glad that she loved Strasbourg.  :)