Arrival in Strasbourg France

Hello to all that are reading this blog and are interested in this Quarter Abroad in Strasbourg France experience!

• After a LONG relatively sleepless flight "across the pond" we (myself, Alan Hing - the other instructor/chaperone, and the 33 students flying with us) arrived in Frankfurt Germany around 10:00 am on Tuesday September 26th.


• For those of you who know me well, you will not be surprised to hear that several flight attendants who admired my jewelry took me up to the first class area to speak with a flight attendant who designs jewelry and another who photographs it. I must say that someday I would like to be able to afford business class or first class seats when on a long flight. They live the life up there!


• Only one student's luggage was delayed in Newark - I stayed with her while she filled out paperwork and discussed the adventures of air travel with members of the band Dokken who are touring Europe. I will google them - they were a very popular heavy metal band in the 80's I think?


• We hopped on a lovely bus and after eating a wonderful sandwich on a baguette 90% of the crew fell asleep for most of the ride to Strasbourg.


• Our coordinator woke us as we were approaching the Rhine and the border of Germany and France. We squirreled our way through town and arrived at the Chateau de Pourtales. Thoroughly exhausted, half asleep, we arrived at our "fairy tale" castle in the middle of an incredibly huge park. We staggered to the front, collected our keys, mumbled to each other while assisting everyone up the grand staircase and went to our rooms to assess the situation. My room, I am told, is the honeymoons suite. It seems that I am extraordinarily lucky and my room contains a beautiful carved wooden framed bed, matching armoire, and a tub so deep that you can swim in it, in my bathroom.
• Warned not to take naps we puttered around and then met in the Salon Rouge (pictures soon) to share a welcome to the Chateau, a mimosa, and some snacks. We continued on to dinner in the Chateau, and then personally, I found the clothes that I wanted to sleep in and fell into my gorgeous bed.


• That is where I will leave the story for today since, again, I am exhausted after the day's activities and culinary delights. More soon : )