We don't have those stateside. I have been deprived of more than just culture... I have been deprived of CHOCOLATE!
Easter is the busiest time of the years for the chocolatiers in France - French are a bit chocolate mad when it comes to Easter.
Of course, you can buy chocolate at the supermarket or the grocery, but a lot of people still like to go to the pâtisserie to get their chocolate, traditionally. I got a fish, but last year it was an egg. *shows off madly*
Tell me, how much would it cost to spend a summer in Europe?
Well, unless you're willing to swim, you'd have to take the plane, first. Which isn't totally free of course. If you ever passed by Paris, you could always sleep at my place - on the condition I'm around, because with the boyfriend we'll be out of Paris part of the summer. But Europe is worth it. I'm Eurocentric enough to proclaim it's my favorite part of the world. ;)
I really have no idea, for backpackers. I guess it depends on the places you want to visit, according to your tastes.
As you're a non-EU resident, you can use a Eurail pass, which I really recommend if you plan to get around a lot. I had crazy friends who went from Portugal to Rumania with it. And if you're under 26, you get another discount. Also, buy the pass outside of Europe, it's 20% cheaper.
Also, if you plan really in advance, you can try and find very cheap airtickets.
And if you go to Greece, there's always the ferries to get around, and you can sleep on the deck, as we did, if you don't want to pay for a cabin. It's pretty cool to wake up on the morning at Naxos or Thessaloniki, even though you're sore and sticky. :D
Argh. It's still going to be incredibly expensive. I Will Find A Way! Extra impetuous to get a job once I have my driver's license, I guess...
In all honesty, I always intended to go to Europe. Interesting things live there. I have just now come to the conclusion that I would rather do it sooner than later.
Ha, I knew that that dream I had about you coming along to Europe and staying with me was premonitory. Well, if you plan on doing Europe and want to see Geneva, we most probably will have a bed for you. We have chocolate in Switzerland, or so I've heard. ;)
As for you, Avari... YUM! And fish, too! I love fishies! *goes all Gollum*
Chocolate isn't shallow, it's Serious Business. A French docotr wrote during the 18th century that "Le chocolat est, plutôt que le nectar ou l'ambroisie, la vraie nourriture des dieux": chocolate, rather than nectar or ambrosia, the true food of the gods.
Seriously, you have a Salon du chocolat, with competitions and even fashion shows. There's an organization called Le club des Croqueurs de chocolat which is a sort of chocolate lobby which works at promoting quality, etc.
And if I could read French, those pages would be very helpful. XD I'm planning to take French in college (in preperation for my other project, which is getting the Leroux estate to cough up his notebooks so I can write the definitive work on ol' Gaston, who isn't half as recognized as he should be).
We don't have those stateside. I have been deprived of more than just culture... I have been deprived of CHOCOLATE!
This is a horrible travesty and must be rectified. Tell me, how much would it cost to spend a summer in Europe?
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Easter is the busiest time of the years for the chocolatiers in France - French are a bit chocolate mad when it comes to Easter.
Of course, you can buy chocolate at the supermarket or the grocery, but a lot of people still like to go to the pâtisserie to get their chocolate, traditionally. I got a fish, but last year it was an egg. *shows off madly*
Tell me, how much would it cost to spend a summer in Europe?
Well, unless you're willing to swim, you'd have to take the plane, first. Which isn't totally free of course. If you ever passed by Paris, you could always sleep at my place - on the condition I'm around, because with the boyfriend we'll be out of Paris part of the summer.
But Europe is worth it. I'm Eurocentric enough to proclaim it's my favorite part of the world. ;)
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I figure if I can scrounge up airfare... how much walking money I have would depend on how weak the dollar has become.
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As you're a non-EU resident, you can use a Eurail pass, which I really recommend if you plan to get around a lot. I had crazy friends who went from Portugal to Rumania with it. And if you're under 26, you get another discount. Also, buy the pass outside of Europe, it's 20% cheaper.
Also, if you plan really in advance, you can try and find very cheap airtickets.
And if you go to Greece, there's always the ferries to get around, and you can sleep on the deck, as we did, if you don't want to pay for a cabin. It's pretty cool to wake up on the morning at Naxos or Thessaloniki, even though you're sore and sticky. :D
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In all honesty, I always intended to go to Europe. Interesting things live there. I have just now come to the conclusion that I would rather do it sooner than later.
It's the chocolate. I'm that shallow.
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As for you, Avari... YUM! And fish, too! I love fishies! *goes all Gollum*
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And pretty good chocolate, at that. Switzerland and Belgium, the two paradises of chocolate lovers!
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I miss Europe the most when I buy chocolate. *sniffles* It just isn't the same.
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Chocolate isn't shallow, it's Serious Business. A French docotr wrote during the 18th century that "Le chocolat est, plutôt que le nectar ou l'ambroisie, la vraie nourriture des dieux": chocolate, rather than nectar or ambrosia, the true food of the gods.
Seriously, you have a Salon du chocolat, with competitions and even fashion shows. There's an organization called Le club des Croqueurs de chocolat which is a sort of chocolate lobby which works at promoting quality, etc.
Good luck with your projects!
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