Hey! Puy de Dome!

Hello! Puy de Dome! People tells me I must go Puy de Dome since I stay in Clermont-fd. So, in my last week in Clermont-fd, I went to the tourist center and asked for more information. It's really easy to get there by bus! In my last day in Clermont-fd, I went there. When I arrived in bus stop, there were already 3 persons. There, I knew M, an Iran artist.

Honestly, I know it isn't cool, I've some fear toward Islamic country because of the stereotype about female right. Female needs to wear burka or  people may think her easy and female tends to be conventional. But M breaks my negative stereotype. She doesn't wear burka. We talked a lot from when climbing up the hill. In Iran, boys and girls are in different class except university. In Taiwan, boys and girls are in same class. And I saw some M's creations, saw her taking photos, filming the video. She also likes film camera! When I travel alone, I'm seldom alone. Nice to share a piece of life with travelers passing by.

Puy de Dome is famous for the volcano geography. When we climbed up, it was just like climbing up a ' normal' hill. We were around beautiful plants and heard the birds singing.  On the top of the hill, we saw the volcano geography covered by green plants. It's beautiful! In Taiwan, there are volcano geography. I only saw few of them. pity..... Puy de dome is also a good place to try parachute. But I only sat on the grass and saw people doing that. One day, I'll try it!  In the afternoon, it rained and even hailed. I was glad that I brought an umbrella with me. I saw the passerby's ' it hurts!' face. I started to feel how lucky I was that I lived in a raining-a-lot-in-winter city for 4 years and have habit to bring umbrella with me.

Is hailing normal in France?

In the end, share the video of the birds singing after raining. Good days!

FB page: Coucou je suis ici
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Flickr photo album: Iron Blue
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Days in Florence, see the church and the view.

See Florence from the hill 

 I've seen many beautiful churches in Europe. And it seems that visiting churches becomes a habit during my travel. In Florence, I see my favorite 2 churches. One is Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, the  most famous one in Florence. The other is Basilica Di San Miniato a Monte.

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is in the center of Florence. You can just follow the crowd and arrive in front of the church. lol Near the church, there is a tower. The ticket cost about 10 euros. Because I love this style of church. I still climb up the tower, see the view and decide my next direction. Inside the church, I doesn't see many golden decorations like the ones I see in France. But this doesn't mean that it's nothing to see. Instead, it's simple but elegant. For the churches in France, we can find something interesting in windows. Here, you can find something meaningful on walls.  :)

Fake David in the parking lot, on the hill

Basilica Di San Miniato a Monte is on the hill. The view from the hill is gorgeous! There is a fake David statue in the parking lot. Frankly, it's funny. Behind and around the the Basilica,  it's churchyard. The graveyard in Europe is totally different from the ones in Taiwan. Here, you can feel the love toward the tomb's owner, you can guess what the most important things are in their life. In Taiwan, what the tomb looks like is more related to the religion. Everything in the tomb has its own reason. My dad once told me some when I was little. I didn't keep it in mind. I should keep it in mind! Or I can tell you now. 

Taichung Park
origin:http://taiwan.net.tw

I also go to the Medici Palace, the museum which has a David in front of but no real David inside. It's a beautiful museum. You can feel the Medici family' s influence toward this city and also  see the fine drawings on the wall. Why people at that time always draw with the similar themes like seasons? Because of this museum, I know the Florence's symbol,  lion. Why the city in Europe always has its own symbol? The symbol seems to has kind of importance. Taichung is the city I am from in Taiwan. It has the symbol, too. But the importance is not like Florence's. Taichung's symbol is an architecture in Taichung park. Taichung park is the oldest park in Taiwan. 

During my stay in Florence, I meet a chinese girl. There is '' two China concept" between our chat. We think Taiwan is our own country, They always think Taiwan is just their small city. Well... it's really weird. I never know China, PRC govern Taiwan, as a Taiwanese living in Taiwan over 20 years. A city can has its own independent military, justice system etc? Come on! Don't joke. Taiwan is a real country. If you don't believe it, just go there and you will see. If you meet a Taiwanese, please don't call us Chinese. It's offensive! If you are German, I keep saying you're French. How would you feel? And don't tell us the reason, you look alike. Well... This kind of vocabulary is about the nationality! Not the appearance, understand? For us, western people looks alike, too. So, let's respect each other.  The chinese girl is  nice but how can I put up with people  who takes Taiwan as a city and knows the complex political issue between 2 countries? It's a pity to lose a chance to get long term friendship.Well... I'm pretty sure that if she keeps saying Taiwan is a city, one day, I will yield at her. So, why makes myself angry?

My Friends is the hostel I stay in Florence. The owner is really nice. She treats us like friends. The location is just near the train station. Before you get Florence, owner will send you an email to tell you how to get the hostel. Just follow what she tell you, you can find where it's easily. The only imperfect thing is there is no hot water for my last day in this hostel.

Anyway, good days in Florence. Good days in the place you're now! :)

FB page: Coucou Je suis ici
Flickr: Iron Blue
Instagram: Coucoujesuisici

I love Rome? or I love the travelers here?

I like every morning waking up in Rome. I enjoy taking a few walk, get in a café and get a delicious bread as my breakfast. And walking randomly and finding myself just near some historical sites. In the afternoon, I like hanging out with people I met in downtown hostel, eating delicious ice cream together or seeing the beautiful Rome at night together. Life is simple and amazing. Do we really know each other  for 1 or 2 days?

I can't forget the afternoon I help make mexican food. E talks to P, Mexican, in  spanish and interpret what they talk. I don't feel awkward even though I can't understand spanish. Is people who speak spanish all like them, friendly and vigorous? The mexican food I learn isn't spicy at all. This breaks my stereotype.

I still remember the Canadian, C, who has the world map tattoo in  wrist. When I introduce Taiwan, I look at his tattoo and find Taiwan in his tattoo clearly. He even know the complex political relationship between Taiwan and China. He isn't used to kiss people's cheek to say hello. This remind me that the days I just came to France. I prefer keeping people in distance. And when shaking hand, Canadian doesn't say anything. If you keep talking, this will make Canadian feel strange. haha!

I've also met people from Philippine. When he told me that he has worked in Taiwan, I start to think some serious issues. I don't know how to react to him. Now, I just feel that I was so stupid. I should just chat with him and don't think it too much. That's enough...Next time, I want to become friends with people from Philippine and also show my appreciation, thank you for being willing to work in Taiwan and for bring your culture, delicious food here. Well... I become too serious now...

I love Rome. The reasons making me love Rome aren't just the historic sites, the delicious bread nor the delicious ice cream. It's also the travelers I meet here.

Facebook Page: Coucou Je suis ici
Flickr: Iron Blue

Snowboarding, trekking in Chamonix!

First day in Chamonix
The weather is really good! It doesn’t rain. It’s about 4 degrees. Compared to Taiwan, it’s really cold. But I don’t feel cold. Maybe it’s because the weather here is dryer. From Clermont-FD to Chamonix, it takes looooong time. Before I come here, I’ve decided to learn skiing here. However, my knee hurts. It never happens before. It’s so weird. I even tried to find a doctor for this. Well… there was no doctor available on Friday… Therefore, I only did some google search for this and learn how to stretch myself out. It works! It doesn’t hurt that much. Thanks for the one inventing Internet!

I meet 3 wonderful girls from New Zeeland! I regret that I don’t squeeze some time to visit New Zeeland when visiting Australia. Anyway, I will be there one day. It’s nice to meet them. I see an independent girl whose waist injuries but she still deals with everything on her own. I don’t see any pain appearing on her face. What a wonderful girl! If I were her, I would sleep as much as I can until I can see the doctor! Umm…I’m not wonderful…I see 2 cool, vigorous skiers. Before next vacation, I will do too much exercise or my knee tragedy may happen again…

Second day in Chamonix
I do some trekking. I always do trekking with family. This time, I do it alone. I never enjoy the view because I always talk before…lol This time, I take photos, see the beautiful view and stepping on the ice. There is only some snow on the mountains and few snow on the ground. It’s still early. But I’m satisfied. It’s not easy to see snow in Taiwan at all. Taiwan is a tropical island… Here, I can feel stepping on some snow, see the snow view and, the most important part, it’s not cold! To be honest, it’s perfect for me!

When I do trekking, I see many local people doing trekking with dogs. France is really animal-friendly. I never see mad animal and people who hate animal. When dogs stay on the train, rare dogs wear equipment to prevent them from biting people or stay in the cage. The dogs always stay beside its owner patiently.

The only shortcoming here is that the wifi in hostel and Macdonald never work…I don’t book train tickets for Italy yet…

The other backpackers call New Zeeland girls Kiwi. Umm… am I beef noodles or other specialty? Do they know bubble tea from Taiwan? Anyway, just don’t call me sushi. I can’t speak any Japanese…

Third day in Chamonix- learned snowboarding, next parachute?
Snowboard day! Even though I’ve decided not to do any snow sport, I still go to the ski school and ask some information. And I ahead to the trekking place. I don’t want to do trekking anymore! I start to find shop to rent the equipment. The snowboard is rare than ski board… I go to 3 shop and find the most suitable one, not expensive, not too far from ski school etc.

It is private lesson. The group lesson isn’t available this afternoon. Umm…I can learn it faster in private lesson, right? It’s interesting lesson! I learn to do some cross and turn. It’s not difficult but need more practice. If you play skateboard, it would be easier. After this class, I want to play skateboard! Last time I played skateboard is my first time to play skateboard. Haha… Skateboarding is totally different from inline skating… I learn inline skating by myself. But I can’t learn skateboarding on my own… it’s weird or normal? This time, with a coach, the situation is better! I should stay here for whole vacation!! Maybe I should study here!

I send postcards to family and friends, too. This reminds me that I forget to contact friends in Rome!! There is always friends in hostel, right? T.T

3 days in Chamonix, I speak 3-day English.

*total cost for learning snowboarding: about 200 euros (include the snowboard, jacket, pants etc.)
*the beer of Chamonix: Chamonix de blond (if I don't remember it incorrectly)