2 weeks later...

Well it's been a busy couple of weeks since I last updated! I've been visiting all the sites of Paris, I think I have seen more of the city than any Parisian! I'm getting quite use to the metro system (it's expensive but it makes it SO easy to get around). Some favourite sites: Sainte-Chappelle (with the most amazing stain glass windows), Chateau de Versailles and Chartres (a small historic town about an hour south-west of Paris). I've put up some more photos on G-mail of everything I've been up to. (To explain this photo, I've been drinking lots of ORANGINA since I've arrived in France. I have to make the most of it, it's one of the many goodies that just doesn't exist back home! It's basically fizzy orange juice, pulp and all...I recommend it to anyone who comes over!!!)

On Monday we celebrated my birthday...again! Thank you to everybody's warm birthday e-mails! It's always lovely to hear from you. I was very spoilt - going out for lunch with Mamie, then opening a bottle of champagne with family and friends, some delicious strawberry cake and finally an evening river cruise along the Seine...Paris by night!!! It was quite exceptional and a lovely way to celebrate my 21st!!!

Next week I'm going to Taize, in the south of France for some spiritual awakening! It's a camp where thousands of youngens gather to talk about life, religion and who knows what else. I'm looking forward to the experience, my only disappointment is that I won't be able to see Cadel Evans in the final stretch of the Tour de France (not that I'm an avid cycling fan but it IS the Tour de France, after all!) !!

Anyway, it's all gone rather quickly. It won't be long before Lara is here and we start our backpacking adventure! I hope you are all well. Keep writing e-mails to let me know what you're up to!

Love from Alex

From Poland to Paris

Arrived in Paris on Friday after a lovely week in Poland with my family. They live in a town Mikolow, close to Katowice. It was good to catch up with everybody, I even got to see mum for a couple of days before she went back home. My aunt and cousin from Norway came over too so there was plenty to do and talk about!

The first weekend in Paris was very busy! My cousin, Marlene, has a lot of energy (a real Parisian girl!). It was a long weekend (for the 14th July, Bastille Day) and so she took me to visit the Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris and la Basilique du Sacre Coeur, in between introducing me to all her friends, going out for dinner, going to parties and all the rest!

On Monday we went to see the National Parade. We saw massive army tanks drive past, air shows and plenty of festivities. Many of the metro stations were closed so we did a lot of walking around Paris! It was a beautiful day but my feet were very saw when we got home. That night there were fireworks and a concert in the town square of Clamart, where my family lives. It all went well into the night and I'm glad I didn't have to work the next morning like everybody else!

The days are very long here, the sun rises at 4am and sets at 10pm. The weather is quite frustrating, one moment the sun is shining and the next it starts pooring down with rain. It reminds me of Melbourne really!
Will spend the next few weeks here with Mamie. I'll have plenty of time to relax and visit all there is to see in Paris. I've uploaded plenty of photos if you're intereseted( http://picasaweb.google.com/alrodriguez87 ). Am always happy to hear from you all so please write e-mails! Hope you are all well xoxo

21st Party!

Thank you all for coming to my early birthday/going away. I really hope you all enjoyed it. I had such a great night, the band sounded fantastic and the cake was gooooood!!!

In other news, I arrived safely in Paris on Thursday. Had a chocolate croissant in the morning and had Mamie cooking all my favourites for lunch and dinner! (I think I can be sure to have a horizontal growth spurt in the coming weeks!) On Friday I flew to see my family in Poland. They live in a town called Mikolow, close to Katowice. The plane had engine problems and ended up being 10 hours late!!! That's right...I spent 10 hours in the Beauvais-Paris airport (which is really small as it's only for the cheap airlines). The airline was however very generous and offered me a 4 euro food voucher (enough for a cup of tea...and that's it really). Mum and Roma were there to greet me at the other end though so it all went well. The weather is warm and it's really nice to spend time with my family. I really like being on holidays!

I'm here until Friday and then I head back to Paris. I'll post more photos then on my g-mail so you can check them out at http://picasaweb.google.com/alrodriguez87.