weekend trip - part 2

THURSDAY: Le Havre - Étretat

We left the host family at around 1030am
To search for the bus to etretat
Luckily all the buses we required
For the rest of the trips
Were in front of the train station
We had time to take photos of their schedule
So that we wont missed any bus

Although it was public holiday
There were buses to etretat
After buying some stuff to munch
We boarded the bus
Really cheap ticket at euro2
To go another city! Not internal bus!
And 2hrs later we arrived at etretat!

Etretat is a small town near the sea
The only bad news - it was raining the whole day
And we were staying only for a day!
Being near sea + rain,
It was really cold
But we managed to walk around town,
Pebbles beach,
And climbed the famous cliff
No shopping for me
As stuff are touristy and expensive
A raincoat coat is euro60!
But husband was happy with food shopping

Strange that everywhere we went had a casino
A trend near sea? 
Hehe
And the next trend is
Everywhere is selling mussels&fries
Fish soup and crepe
I guess seaside cuisine?

Our hotel room was simple
With free breakfast in room
So we took advantage of it
Reminds me of our venice trip

We decided to splurge

And look for a good restaurant for dinner

Despite good online recommendations

And pricer than others

We were disappointed by the food

And reminded ourselves 

that price does not equal quality&taste

Being a small town with rain

Nothing much was open after dinner

We decided to rest 

And prepare for our next journey the next day

Oh the hotel had a thin blanket  

we thought will not be enough to keep us warm

But it was so warm

That we sweat as we slept with windows opened

We should ask hotel 
about where we can buy the blanket!

weekend trip - part l

In may 2014,
There are 3 thursdays that are public holiday
Husband and I decided to go for a short trip
For 7-11 may.
However,maybe because is long weekend
The train and airtickets were really expensive
So we decided to just go the northeast of france
Normandy area - le havre, etretat and honfleur!

It didnt matter to me 
That these places were near paris
About 2hours train rides away
And Parisians wont stay for more than 2days
I was happy to explore france
Especially on budget
Hehe

Wednesday :paris - le harve
We took an evening train
After husband ended his work
And I made sandwiches for dinner
To be munched on the train
The train was not crowded 
And we arrived le harve around 9pm

As the day is long
Sun was still up
That I didnt felt it was late
But maybe because is close to sea
Where the seine merge with the sea
It was colder that paris

Thank god that husband printed the maps
We quickly located our host family
Is our fast time staying with a host
As we wanted to save money
Husband friend suggested for us to try
Airbnb, a website where people can put up
Their room for rental on nightly basis
And for le havre,
We only have a night to sleep,
Seems too expensive for hotel,
I managed to find this young couple
Renting their room at euro30/ night
So we decided to try!

I think we are very lucky to find this

The apartment was spacious

Well decorated, clean

And they even provided towels!

Just a little weird they had friends over

And we hid in our room

Haha

We settled down

And went for a walk

But nothing much to see

Except some pubs, small garden,

Small part of seine and a casino!

But we were prepared that 

there was nothing much in le havre

So it was a terminal for us

To go etretat and honfleur 

In the next few days

So we ended the night early

And look forward to our day to etretat!

bank account - part 2

After our visit to the bank
We were supposed to receive updates
And letters
Maybe is the public holidays
Maybe inefficient staff
We only received letter
After 1 week
Not in 3days as promised

Another week went passed
And husband emailed the staff
Who claimed all was done
We finally received the letter for card collection

I had to go alone to the bank
As husband was at work
I was praying the staff understands english
But got husband to teach me in french
That im to collect my card

All was well at bank
With my broken french
The staff checked for my card
But didnt find it
I realized all letters were written 
As yishan garde
So told her to try garde
And I got my card!

The staff never asked whether I wanted
The account or card in my maiden family name
So everything is my husband family name
No wonder husband wanted me to add
His family name into my sg id and passport
Is really the norm here
I guess I will do that when my passport is due!

A step closer to be resident!

simple (sinful) dinner

First try at making quiche Lorraine
Shouldnt use my 2pc baking tray
That the content leaked
And I left with a think quiche
But taste alright
Need to improve!
And a fattening carbonara too...
Since both used the same ingredients!

bank account

Finally after much pestering
Okay didnt pester too much
since I needed my visa
Before I can open a bank account
so we went to the bank!

Most transactions in paris
Is done using their debit/credit card
From buying metro tickets
To shopping
To ordering macdonalds
So far I have been using my sg card
But I do incurr some expenses
From the sg bank exchange rate
Since I do not have an official document 
Of my home address
A bank account can doubles as that document
Or I will always need the huaband
To write a letter that im stayimg with him

Anyway we made an appointment
To see the bank consultant
On saturday morning
To complete the many tasks:
- open an account for me
- open a joint account
- new cheque book and card for him

Some difference compared to sg banks
1) An appointment is required
- It seems we cant just walk in
2) we were assigned to a bank officer
- where we met her in her office and she can reply us whenever we email her
3) need to pay extra to have points collection
- Probably every credit card in sg provides the ability to collect points when you spend and exchange for stuff, here you need to add on few euro/ month to enjoy the benefit (like a membership)
4) non-investment / fixed joint account needs to be reviewed for tax
- Maybe is the same in sg but only affects those with many zeros in their account
5) self collection of card
- A letter notification will be received to return to bank for card collection at bank
6) personal internet pin
- internet pin provided via post, no extra toggle
7) overseas bank transfer
- Has to go down bank to meet with assigned officer to add overseas account for transfer
8) giro is payable
- monthly charges of euro1.25 per automatic transaction

Seems to be a big difference 
From sg banking
maybe im not well versed in sg banks
But im glad everything can be done online
And less visits to banks in sg

Since thursday is a public holiday
I do hope to collect my card tomorrow!

my baking adventures

Been baking this week
Thank god for internet recipes
And my sister's whisk machine
That I can try more recipes!

So I made:
Chocolate & pecan cookies
Eggless vanilla cake
Macarons

They dont look fantastic
But husband says they taste great
So does his colleague & friend!

I guess I need to practice more
But constant eating sweet stuff
Is not good for the weight
-,-"

marathon in paris

We didnt run a marathon
But watch and followed the marathon
Is the annual paris marathon
And they will bypass our apartment
I was a little bored to think that
We will be standing there
And stare blankly at people running
But I was so wrong
The street was full of people cheering
Musicians, bands, clowns,
Firemen using their ladders to watch and cheer
And people holding strange items to cheer
Eg a really big teddy bear

Is nice to know all these
Were not arranged by the organizers
But people who volunteered on their own
To perform and cheer the runners..
So the moment we step out of our building
We were staring at the runners!
So cool for the first class view..

I was very surprise to see the water station
They have sliced oranges and bananas
Freshly cut for them
I only remember having banana
After my yellow ribbon run 
Haha

We followed the trail for about 3km
To Bastille
Where we got distracted 
By a big sunday food market
Hehe

Thereafter I took my first bike ride in paris!
Basically bikes are on street
And you can rent them
I think to promote less driving
With most roads closed for marathon
I decided it was a good chance
For me to try cycling in paris

Not a good experience for me
Im scared to squeeze on the right side
Whenever a car pass
In the 1 lane street
And you need basic traffic knowledge
Eg cars from right has right of way
As bicycles are only to be on road
Not walkway
Despite really few cars
I was so nervous
And happy when we were home
After 15mins 
-.-"

I think cycling on roads
Is not for me..
I shld stick to walking
Or learn skateboard
Or get a skate scooter

Good sunday!