Groceries, Old Roads, & Destroyed Tires...

welcome home.

I picked up a few groceries in Ebensburg after visiting my sister and her boyfriend tonight. They've been watching the turtle since I left for my trip. He's looking good and I appreciate their fantastic babysitting services.

En route back to my house, I decided to take the familiar old farm road instead of spending more time on the highway. Generally, the path shaves about a minute off the over all drive time. It has a few more curves and isn't always in the best of shape, especially during winter weather, but I like the old road just the same.

Winding through the curves and bends, I came across a rather unpleasant situation. In the 2 months since I drove the old road, an enormous pot hole developed. Unaware of its existence and busily watching for deer and other suicidal critters through the rain, I drove right over it.

I thought, "That's going to leave a mark," as my passenger side wheel slammed into the broken pavement.

Of course it did. Minutes after my run in with the damaged road, the tell tale vibrations of a flat tire began. As I was relatively close to home (about a mile and a half), I chose to keep going. The tire got flatter and flatter as I went, but my speed was reduced and I made it.

Parking in the driveway, it was time to assess the damage caused by the pot hole. Of course, the tire was completely destroyed by a combination of trauma and abuse, but other than the shredded rubber, there wasn't any damage that I could see. A quick trip to the garage should have it taken care of in no time.

Reflections

The time has come for me to return to life in the US. As I sit in the airport, reflecting on my 6 week journey throughout Europe, I feel very blessed. With all the amazing experiences and fabulous people and pets I got to know along the way, I know this place will always have a warm home in my heart.

I never knew time could move so quickly. The tapestry of my life is fuller and a lot more colorful since going international once again. Each experience, the bitter as well as the sweet, combined to create an interesting and memorable adventure abroad. Looking back, there are only 2 things I would have changed if I could. I would have scheduled my return flight for a later date in order to spend more time in the beautiful and peaceful Ambialet. The other, well, my friends and family at the priory know what it is.

Jenn in Europe 2010 has come to an end, but the real journey has yet to begin. I wonder what my next adventure will be...


To my new friends and family in Ambialet,
Thank you all for inviting me into your lives so openly. My first European experience was truly amazing, and I have you to thank for that. We shared many laughs and shed a few tears, some checked out while others checked in. It's been quite a ride and I look forward to seeing you all when you come back stateside. I'll see you at the reunion, don't forget the "French soil"! Take care!
Love, Jenn





Special Shout-Out to Jay-Z: I love you too, buddy. Thanks for all the walks and good times! :) I'll miss you.

I can't believe I'll be leaving tomorrow...

that's all for today. It was another fantastic, beautiful day here in Ambialet. Dinner was spectacular once again. There is really nothing else to report.

I just can't believe this journey has reached its end. :(

Sad Day at the Priory

Brun got hit by a car today. She will most likely have to be put down. Jay-Z is having a very difficult time wondering where she is. It has been a sad day, indeed. :(

Mel Brooks Night in Ambialet

It was another magnificently lazy day in the peaceful village of Ambialet. Plus, dinner was fantastic. Bernard, you are amazing! Tonight's meal was pork with a side of green beans. Yum!

After dinner, it was time for the first ever "Mel Brooks Night" in Ambialet! Compliments of my dad, Mark Lynch, we spent the evening watching Space Balls in the common room. It was fabulous and a perfect end to a lovely day. :)

I'm thinking that we should definitely have a Mel Brooks party when everyone gets home. Who's with me?

glad to be back in ambialet

Paris, Dublin, Mont St Michel, Normandy, Nantes... all were amazing. Still, I am happy to be back "home" in Ambialet. It's just so peaceful here. I love it!

What A Night!

We woke up this morning and a few of the students and I decided to visit the church on top of Mont St Michel. The price for admission was rather steep... especially because I bought my ticket before learning that it was supposed to be 3.50 euro cheaper for youths. There's a useful tip for you: If you are between the ages of 18 and 25, make sure you have identification with your age on it and remember to tell the person at the ticket counter. As I was unaware of the youth discount, I ended up paying the whole 8.50 euro for my ticket. Too bad, I had my ID too. Live and learn, right?

Price aside, the view from the top was spectacular. I recommend stopping by if you're ever in the area. It's no Ambialet, but it's still pretty awesome and you'll get some exercise.

After leaving Mont St Michel, we (Mom, Dad, Lori, and myself... the other 2 vehicles abandoned us) visited Omaha Beach in Normandy. It was a surreal experience. For such a scenic location, Omaha Beach sure has a dark past. Then again, how many places on this planet don't have a dark past? Not many, I suspect.



After a few hours of driving and watching a beautiful sunset from the road, we reached Nantes. In true Lynch form, we got ridiculously lost in Nantes. Bad directions and terrible traffic combined for a rough trip to the hotel. At one point, after trying to help, I decided to just check out. The decision was for the best.

Ah, Hotel Trianon. Sounds pretty nice, huh? Don't let a fancy name fool you. The place is a flea pit. My room was disgusting and my towels smelled like aftershave. Still, the sheets were clean and I had the room to myself. After a few weeks of sharing a room with my parents in Paris, Dublin, and Mont St Michel, it was nice to have my own room... even if it was in a flea pit hotel.

After the terrible traffic and getting lost in Nantes, I was ready for a good hard drink. As fate would have it, there was a beautiful neon sign that read "BAR" directly beside the flea pit. To make a long, uncomfortable story short: Bar Le Moorea is NOT A BAR!!! It is a brothel and I never did get my drink. How could we have possibly known this place wasn't a bar?

A few quick quotes from the evening, John should appreciate these: "Oh look, they have a red light!" "cinq personnes s'il vous plaît." "Champagne 200." "Let's get the Hell out of here."

Useful tips from today:
Always have a map and proper directions. A working GPS is better.
Never get panicky when lost. Tempers will flare ad it is not worth the drama.You WILL find your way, eventually, even if you have a bad sense of direction.
Bar Le Moorea is NOT A BAR!!! If you are looking for a drink in Nantes, find another place!