You know your frame of reference has shifted...

...when you consider taking a 2km hike in the pouring rain to actually be a really relaxing day off. And by you, I obviously mean me. Okay, so I wasn't just taking that hike for the hell of it, but it was to go see this absolutely amazing chapel designed by Le Corbusier in the tiny town (with a big hill) of Ronchamp. Google image search Le Corbusier and Ronchamp, and you'll see this funky chapel that is made all out of concrete (Mather wishes it used concrete like this). Anyway, that is where I was yesterday. A few days ago I began to get really really exhausted, but I delayed coming to the current town of Mulhouse for a day (actually, not really out of choice, but because of annoying train schedules) and now I'm feeling much more with it and well rested. Also, it is cool I ended up coming here today because they are having a dance festival in the streets today. Sort of fun. I went to 4 museums today..pretty crazy. Even though I am not intrigued by cars, the car museum here was amazing.

I didn't really like Belfort, the last town I was in, as it didn't really seem to have anything special except for this enormous lion carved by the same guy who did the statue of liberty. BUT the hotel I stayed at had the absolute sweetest kindest AMAZINGest owner i've ever met. Funny story to get a sense of how personable she is:

So I had called to make reservations, but it ended up that I would arrive a day later than I thought I would. So I called back the next day to change the reservation, and when she heard my voice (and more likely my terrible accent) she was like, "Is this Alizia?--she kept calling me Alizia. But anyway, Ic hanged the reservation;all was well. So when I arrived the next day it was painfully humid, and thus rained the following day when going to the chapel, but I was totally sweaty and hot and the tourist office gave me ridiculously outo f the way directions to get to the hotel. So I am shlepping along with my backpack and side pack, and according to my map I should be getting close to the hotel, when a car slows down as it comes from behind. The sound of the braking car alarmed me and I looked and saw a woman roll down her window and then said, "Alizia?" I was totally confused and shocked and then realized it was the hotel owner. I guess she wasnt expecting any other sweaty backpackers that day and assumed it had to be that girl with the bad french accent coming from the direction that the tourist office poorly gives. She identified herself as indeed the hotel owner, and offered to give me a lift the rest of the way. Unfortunatly I didnùt fit into the car with my backpack (such cruel fate) but I walked the rest of the way and she was waiting at the door for me. We had many conversations, and it is because of her kindness that I made it back from the Le Corbusier church without having to wait at a trainstation (read: hut on the side of the train tracks) for 5 hours. Before I left to go there she insisted on giving me the number of her friend who was going to be in Ronchamp that day and maybe he could give me a ride back. I took it, assuming that I would just take the train, but when the train arrived at the schedule time, AND DIDN'T STOP, I called Kim (the owner's friend) and he arrived within 45 minutes to drive me to the hotel. All in all, I would return to this crappy town only to stay at this hotel.

She told me I should come back and visit her with my 'mari et enfants.' so i guess i wont be going back for awhile.

Also, in the vain of my cow entry, something else occured to me. So my biggest communication problem in french is actually taking down numbers because it takes me a second to figure out what the number is. This made me think about the English names for numbers, and it occured to me that 'fifteen' 'sixteen' 'seventeen' etc. are just six-ten, with ten being spelled weird. When I had this thought, I got mad at myself that I had never thought about that before.

Anyway, off to do actual Let's Go writing. If you are still reading this blog, drop me a line...i love getting emails.