Liege, Liege, Liege....it is such a funny words for Americans to wrap their tongue around if they have never taken French or been in a Europe. However this story is not about the city of Liege or how many Americans do not know another language outside of English. This is a story of a small Midwest girl traveling and studying in Europe for an entire year and the events that make life, well, interesting to say the least.
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1/25/11 - 1/26/11
It all started on a LONG plane ride, not being able to sleep due to a redhead toddler (boy)...umm lets just say he need some "nite nite" pills so I could get some Zzzzz's in for the day/night. Yet life is never as easy as we wish it to be. After touch down and getting the luggage, myself and Eleah (the first of four new best friends) are sitting at Stella Artois having our first breakfast beer waiting for the third's (Katie D)flight to touch down (4th is on her way here) so we can catch the train. As we go sluggishly down two escalators with a loads of luggage (emphasis on Katie) to find the train station. Needless to say attempting to decipherer the poorly written train ticket we missed the first train. So after waiting 20 minutes for the next train we got to know one another a bit more. After realizing what trains we needed , we were well on the way to Liege and by the second train we made a friend who was origanlly from Canada, lived in Ohio for a bit, now lives in London and doing business in Liege for a couple of days. After FINALLY arriving in Liege, our next problem was finding out where City Living was located. We were told that City Living was not far from the train station, LIES!!! WARNING!! Don't believe people who say that when you arrive from another country and have all of your luggage with you. Yes it is not far if you are walking is a light backpack or purse, but will two heave suitcase (regardless of the size), it's a Long Walk (I personally suggest a cab!).
Sooo. We are now at City Living resting our very tired feet when we see the room. Well let just say its tiny and has no personality but a GREAT view from the window where you can sit on the ledge. But overall it is a nice setup, it just takes a little getting use to it (especially the bathroom/closet/whole). After resting for a while we all go out to eat and sight see for a bit. We all settle on this tavern by the old St. Lambert's Cathedral, where ordered some coffee (Irish and Hasselt - it has gin) and yes it was strong! After venturing around that area pricing phones and such, we head back to the City Living (Katie D's place). Here Eleah and I found this cute B&B/ Hotel (because the only hostel in town was closed). This hotel was styled off of Old Hollywood (Hotel Les Acteurs).
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1/27/11
It started off by smelling the smoke (cigarettes) that was in the room left over from the previous renter and the shouts from the street. Eleah and I had about 30-20 minutes to check out (yes we slept till about 10:30am and went to bed around 9:30pm). As we are stumbling along we come across this cute little bakery. I had my first cup of Cafรจ and a Belgian Waffle. Must say it was DELICIOUS! From there Eleah and I went where our feet took us and it took us about 5 miles in the wrong direction when we decided to find the apartment we are renting for the semester. Once on a mission, we set off to find the allusive apartment. And did you know that there are TWO Quai Orban in this city, I bet you didn't. Okay, so they are not exactly the same but they are close. After another couple of hours trying to find this place, we decided to meet back up with Katie D. so we all could go to Eramus (check-in for University of Liege Exchange Students). From there we wandered, getting lunch and phones for over here. Upon getting back to Katie D.'s place we rest and charge up the laptops ( and I start writing the beginning of this big hairy monster of a story). So we sat and sat eating left over food, skypeing and Facebooking (yes it has gone international). Once acquiring a local cab company, Eleah and I load our lovely belongings back into a car and zoom off to our new place. After some interest translation problems, we are now starting to get settled in this city called Liege.
So I wish you all well and I will post soon. But this letlagged body must get some sleep before I start learning some structured French (or get yelled at for not knowing any..lol).
So Bon boyage or Auf Weidersehen!
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