24.10.07

Les Vitraux

Sorry it's been such a while since I've updated. Things have been good here in Chartres. It's gotten really really really cold since we last spoke, but I guess that's to be expected with the swans and all. What? You haven't heard? Oh, well according to BBCNews the arrival of the Siberian swans in England this early and this fast means that we're in for a harsh winter. That noise you hear right now is my uncontrollable excitement... followed by sarcasm.
In other French news the transportation strike is over. The trains and buses were supposedly on a strike last week. I say supposedly because I knew nothing about it until someone from the US mentioned it to me. (Rather reminiscent of my knowledge of the riots in 2005.) That should speak volumes about the success of the strike. The were protesting President Sarkozy's decision to cut pensions for government workers. But that poor man has had his own troubles. He and his wife, Cecilia, are getting divorced. The magazines here are all over it, interviewing Cecilia and analyzing facial expressions and body language from the past few months, but to be honest I don't think anyone in France was really all that surprised.
But on to the more personal stuff. This is my last week of teaching before our first 2 week break. I know, rough, eh? In an attempt to get away from the cold and see a place I've wanted to see for several years I have planned a trip. You'll know soon enough where to, but let's see who can guess. (Note: Immediate family and significant other are not eligible to play as I've already told them.) Here's three hints: 1) France 2) Cathars 3)Warm So that's where I'll be for a good portion of next week. But last weekend was nice and sunny, still cold though, and I went walking around the town to do some exploring. I ended up at the cathedral to enjoy the windows in full sunlight and thought you might enjoy them as well. :)
A bientot mes amis!





5 comments:

jessica said...

YOUR cathedral has the rose window? THE rose window? I'm so jealous ....

Potted Farm said...

Not quite sure what you mean by "THE rose window", but almost every gothic cathedral has at least one rose window. The term actually just refers to the shape. The rose window that points east towards Jerusalem usually has a saint or other religious figure in the center, to which the cathedral is dedicated. Like a million other cathedrals in France, the one in Chartres is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, hence Le Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Chartres. (The Cathedral of Our Lady, Chartres).

The Un-Ashtangi said...

I'm not prepared for a harsh winter. I'm not homesick at all but I hear that it's been in the 70s back in NYC and that makes me want to be there.

Safe travels and enjoy yourself.

nicole said...

I won't guess, since you already told me! Have fun and see you on the way back sometime!

Anonymous said...

J'adore the photos! Je vais les montrer a mes classes lundi. Je devine que to visites Carcassonne. Si je suis correcte, quel est le prix...un voyage gratuit en France??! Bonnes vacances, professeur! Je continue a travailler ici a CHS...:(
Mme N