30 degrees, Nutella and cards - Hungary at its best

I woke up and felt fine! After the last 30 hours I really needed that even though it’s our last day. Last breakfast. Last busride to school. Last day at school. It was surreal. I didn’t want it to end yet. Of course I was tired, but if I could have just slept for the weekend, I would’ve been fine!   The school was still huge and old, but I loved it and when having our presentation, knowing that it didn’t set a grade, I had fun. For the break they took us to their class to introduce to some non-englsih-speaking guys. It was weird. 

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We all went to one of the girls after school. They had a huge garden with a tent and fruit trees and benches and so on. It was a hot day. The sun was shining, it was 30 degrees. What was not to love? Oh, the bbq’ing. Haha, Hungarian food is not a favourite and I knew more was waiting at home. When not lying around in the shadow I was playing cards with some Hungariansl. We thought them Norwegian card games such as Idiot and Turn the 8. We ate some cooked meat and potatoes before going off to the mall to get some new shoes.

World’s best mom
I love my host family and with another Norwegian girl in the house things were even better. She was staying in my room and we decided to try on each other’s clothes for tonight’s "Farwell" party. I borrowed her new dress and she borrowed my new skirt from Budapest. Then I asked the family to take a family-picture with me. It turned out really well and I also posed for some with Muffin, the dog.
   We got some summer-grilled-meat for dinner and then, in the memory of me saying “The best thing I know is pancakes with nutella” we got pancakes with nutella! I could barely finish one, but got the other for night-snack later. Oh, I love my life! 


-Mari Clémentine

Hungarian Food - yes or no?

I’m not gonna tell you about the morning. It was time for another school trip to see some caves. I felt so bad, I don’t wanna think about it. We did some sunbathing by a lake and then went to see some mills. Not to interesting, at least not when feeling bad. I went home to my host family to sleep and the others went out to play paintball. Missing out again…

PICTURE

So I can use this to write about something else: The food. In Hungary food is very important and we got to taste a lot of it. Some of it delicious and some of it really horrible. Even worse, they eat a lot and I don’t so it’s been a nail-biting week. “Will-dinner-taste-good?” What’s my tips to you? Try your best! Taste new things and even if you don’t like it, pretend, cause they will be so so happy.

-Mari Clémentine

We found their weed and Palinka - Hungary

Today we started of rather later at the mayor’s office, climbing the city hall’s clock tower and looking down at the city of Pécs. Then we went to school, but working with our project tasks but my group went missing so I spent most of the day sitting in the sun talking to people walking in and out. After school we went to Arkad (the mall) for some quick shopping before we went to the botanical garden to watch some trees.

Our guide at the botanical garden was wearing a tank top, leg-long jeans and a necklace. His hair was halflong and his eyes hidden behind shades. No wonder we all soon figured out what he was smoking. Best comment of the day came from a Hungarian boy:
Guide: “And this is our highest greenhouse.”
Student: “They call it that because that’s where they keep all the weed.”
    It was more hot than interesting and we always found ourselves falling behind causing a bunch of dry, botanical garden jokes from our guide that made people giggle.

Not gonna tell you much about the evening, except the fact that I don't remember to much and it involved Palinka, something most of us will never drink again. I was told it was great fun though. House parties...

-Mari Clémentine

Castles, Spas and holes in the ground - Hungary

We got an early morning today, getting ready to go on a trip to Lake Balaton, only 4 hours of driving in the heat away! Hurra! Okey, we actually had a lot of fun.

In a hole in the ground…
First stop was in a summer village an hour from our actual destination, here we were to go deep down into a cave and row (!) through it. It all seemed to be fine until we all had to bow down and push forward with our hands, sharing a boat with two girls that was no problem, but the guys behind us had some greater problems and they nearly crashed into the walls a lot of time causing a lot of screaming and laughing. Eventually, we made it back and got out a bit more claustrophobic than before.

Castle on a cloud
Next stop: The castle. They didn’t tell us, but we soon found out as we had to climb all the way up. Walking side by side with one of the guys I couldn’t have had a much better climb, but it still was long and warm and I snapped after air when I got to the top. The view was stunning though and I would have liked to stay there some more, but as always, we had to go on.


Thermal Spa
We finally got to the thermal spa that also was a bit disappointing as the water was only 1m high, but it was still good. We were splashing around and sitting outside in the hot water. The two norwegian guys were also acting all gay (as usual, everyone here think they are) and got a lot of horrible looks from the old people around the pool. That’s when we all joined together in one big hug and started floating around.  It was great fun. You have no idea.


-Mari Clémentine

I'm on Twitter!

No, it's not a joke. So I suggest you go to my page and click follow!
---> HERE <--- 

(and listen to this absolutley awesome song while you read my stupid updates)

-Mari Clémentine

My Turkish/Hungarian Easter Egg

Hey guys!

What's up? I know you're out there reading this and I know it's rather boring because I'm not really out there myself these days. So what am I doing? Baking cupcakes in winterwonderland Norway and organizing my wardrobe back home :) BUT! I just wanted to tell you that I'M GOING TO HUNGARY  in 3 weeks! I don't know if I will get time to blog or what I will do there since it's actually exchange, but either way I'll write something for you! It also looks like I'm going to Istanbul this summer so check back later for more!

Happy Easter!
-Mari Clémentine 

Proposal in Paris! OMG!

Bonjour! Crepes mademoiselle?” The kebab-guy smiled wide when we decided to go to his shop and order breakfast. Pancakes with nutella. I’m so healthy. “Where are you from? Russia?”

I shook my head.

“Korea?” I laughed. “Norvege,” I said and he smiled. “And do you like Paris?” He liked to small talk. “I love Paris,” I said.

“Then I love you!” I laughed more. Speechless.

“Does Norway love me?”

“Sure!” And then a high-five. The food was delicious and when we went to pay he said: “You’re very beautiful. Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

“Awwwf.” His face went sad, then he lit up again. “You can marry me!” And then there were a whole lot of kidding about him coming home with us and so on and then we left Paris for the eight time. And the last time in a long time. Depressing times.

-Mari Clémentine

The Last Supper - Paris

Another beautiful day in the city. It was still cold, freezing as a matter of fact and we decided to visit the Notre Dame after a quick stop at Les Halles where I bought a lovely summerdress. Well, there’s not much to say, or much to do about nothing, because I went straight to Pont de l'Archevêché to look for my padlock, but never found it. The bridge is overflowing with locks now, even more than the first time I was there, it’s packed! So we went out for lunch at Café Dante in the Latin Quarter and then went to the (very boring, no offence art lovers) Museum of Modern Art.

I know this blogging is all bad, but after I went home I lost all the touch with my stress.

We also went out to eat that evening. The Last Supper. At our place, Bistro Duplex where we have eaten at least one dinner every time in Paris for the last 5 years or something. It was sad, so sad to know that the day after we would go home…

Mari Clémentine

Crazy Wild: SISTER ACT - Paris

No blogging! I've had such a busy weekend, so I haven't had time to post the end of our trip, but I promise you I'll post tomorrow, ttyl! But thought I could put up the sister act vid:

-Mari Clémentine

Vintage Shopping in Paris!

So as for Paris, fashion will always be linked to it when you talk about it you will always say something about fashion, and maybe vintage. Well, yesterday we went to the market at Duplex where they have everything from food to socks, makeup, DVDs and iPhone covers. “Scarfs! All colours! Red, blue, green, beautiful, ugly. Scarfs!” I don’t know what you can’t buy at the market, I don’t know what you can’t get to half the price at the market, but I love it. I almost love it as much as I love Marias!

Lalala, didn't take many pictures, but here's a YouTube vid about the district!

Marais is the one place in Paris where you can find high-end designers for less if you are patient and not claustrophobic, it’s many vintage stores out there. So yesterday we went out shopping as for myself I found a lovely denim shirt from Levis, a fur- to only 15 euro and yesterday’s treasure a denim shirt from BOSS to my father, what did I pay? 10 euro. At the (possibly) best vintage store in town: Free P Star! 

Mari Clémentine 

My name - Paris

After many years of loving chocolate, Starbucks’ chocolate chaud has become a dear love of mine and yesterday we went to our usual place to sit down and drink and write. “You name?” the man asked me after my order. “Clémentine!”

“Ah Clémentine! Un classic pour Clémentine! Did you know your name is French?”

“Oui.”

“I’m so proud!” I laughed and went on to the cashier. When I picked up my chocolate he was there again. “Le classic est pour  Clémentine!” He said to the barrista. “There you go! Merci, Clémentine!”

    Yep. A French name was a good idea after all.

Mari Clémentine

Boating around Louvre!

I don’t know why I put this song here, oh! Because today I bought Les Mis at my favourite bookstore here in Paris, Galignani, in Rue de Rivoli. Enjoy it! And go see the movie if you haven’t yet, it’s amazing!

Tuesday was another fine, sunny day in Montmartre, did I mention we live in Montmartre. Did I mention the breakfast in front of Sacre Coeur every day? It’s rather beautiful. We spent the day around Louvre and Tuileries, renting a little sailboat to play like the seven year old French boy by the fountain. I think it amused people.

In the evening we ate on a restaurant by Moulin Rouge and saw three VIP guests arrive, five cute little ponies! Some cities never cease to surprise and Paris must be one of them!

-Mari Clémentine 

Morning Mood - Paris

Met the president of Ireland! LET THEM EAT CAKE!

Bonjour, le blogg. 

I’m currently having internet-problems at the hotel, but it’ll probably be okey tonight, I hope, so more about that later.
   

Anyways I’m sitting in front of Sacre Coeur at the moment, enjoying a French baguette for breakfast. We did the same thing yesterday, sweet life. Oh, dolce vita! 

    Road Block! Sorry, dear, you can’t cross over to the Arc de Trimophe, because… of something. Well we soon found out that our road block and the guards and the band was all for the french foreign minister and the Irish president! He probably came to meet me, but I unfortunatley could not make it to the other side. I think I would make a good paparazzo though!

The Irish President is the small one to the right :)

Mari Clémentine

If you're tired of Paris, you're tired of life!

“To say that one is tired of Paris, is in fact to say that one is tired of life!"  – Savage Grace. It was actually originally said about London, I think, but who cares when it’s true! I know I sound like a dumb American richbitch, but I think I have fallen in love with the city, as so many others and saying goodbye to her for a year won’t be easy, but at least I’m going for winter break. So TOMORROW Paris will be mine again.

    And now a lot of people might ask: What do you do there? You must have seen everything, sweet Jeez it’s the 8^th time! Well, firstly, I haven’t seen everything, I’ve never been on top of the Eiffel Tower, I’ve never been to Versailles or Musee Carnavalet. So what do I do?
    I live.

\

    Every day in Paris is like the day after you’ve been magically cured for pneumonia, finally being able to breathe again. I often go out walking, writing in parks or taking photos. When I get really tired I go to Starbucks or other cafes to sit down for hot chocolate. Sometimes I eat crepes de nutella for lunch. I visit museums, churches, bridges and statues. This year I’ve promised myself to visit Pere Lachaise Cemetery which I’m really looking forward to.

     You see, my dear readers and friends, Paris is a dance. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast, but it’s always moving on. Touching, or not touching. Fancy old-fashioned or dirty and in-time. It will be whatever you want it to be and who can resist that?

-Mari Clémentine

    

Favorite Destinations 2013: Paris (part II)

My favorite place in Paris is located on the top of Montmartre, yes, I you’ve been visiting this blog before, you already know, Sacre Coeur. I didn’t come there until 2010, and then I had already been to Paris 3 or 4 times. It’s this white “castle” raving over the dusty and grey part of the city. High over the rooftops, suddenly it pops up like a little part of heaven. There sure was a stairway to heaven, and we had to climb it. It was a long way up, but at last we reached the top and the view was stunning. It could rain, snow, be full storm, it wouldn’t matter, the view will always be beautiful. It’s the top of the city, but feels like the top of the world and the cozy streets of Monmartre behind it will always be enough for me while in town. I could stay there forever, and now we always stay in the area and we always visit Montmartre. 

-Mari Clémentine

Favorite Destinations 2013: Paris (part I)

Paris has become a second home to me, visiting the city at least every year it’s a highlight, a delicious break, it’s like dessert. I first saw Paris at the age of 11, sick and tired I spent way too much time in Disneyland, but we came back. Again and again and I fell in love, again and again all the way from the Eiffel Tower, to Sacre Coeur, down to the Statue of Liberty and the Montparnasse tower.

    Sitting down at the steps of Sacre Coeur I know I’m at home and in the right place. From there you can spot the Eiffel Tower, Montparnasse, Notre Dame, Les Halles, all of Paris at your feet. “Elle est tres belle,” a man said to me. My French had always been bad so I just smiled at him and agreed. Paris sure was beautiful. It would always be, cause it made me feel peaceful and in place. At home. 

-Mari Clémentine

Favorite Destinations 2013: Rome (Part II)

Castle Sant'Angelo at night - love.

My favorite place in Rome is located on the northern side of the Tiber, or actually more or less over it. Stunning at day, but beautiful and extraordinary at night. We would always visit Castle Sant’Angelo and the Angel Bridge. I would sit down and watch the building and the people at the edge of the hottest summerdays in the city, they would meet up and drink wine and laugh while tourists would snap photos of each other and then run on to Basilica di san Pietro which you could just see from the bridge.

    It was a warm place and a mystic one. I couldn’t help myself from falling into deep thoughts every time I sat down on the bridge or climbed the stairs to the top of the castle. The Vatican had always seemed both beautiful and at war to me. I guess this was the best place to gain balance between religion, art and science. On the top of Rome, the beginning. 

-Mari Clémentine

Traveling XXLedition

"The forbidden city" - Beijing, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I haven’t been travelling much lately (okey, so I did go to London,  and I'm going back to Paris in February, anyways..) but these days a great journey is about to commence and it has stood a little in the way of, well, travelling in the way I know it. I don’t want to jinx anything so I choose not to tell you, my dear readers about it, but I can say so much: it involves Italy or France.
   So for the next weeks I thought I could tell you a little about my favorite destinations in Europe: Rome and Paris. Maybe my awesome Asia-trip to China, Vietnam and Hong Kong will be mentioned. I just don't know... There's so much to tell you about my "great journey" and I can't tell you about it just yet!! Stay tuned for more :)

-Mari Clémentine

Travelling.

It’s the feeling you get when you order hot chocolate at Starbucks, the man asks for your name and you answer: “Clémentine,” and hi says: “Oh, yes…” because you do it every day. When you feel so sorry for the dogs belonging to the man begging on the corner that you buy them food. That’s when you’ve fallen for a city and started to make it your own. That’s when the real journey begins. When you smile and they smile. When people in the little shops knows what you’re going to buy, before you buy it, when people come over to talk to you randomly on the street, when everything’s new and you need help to explore. This is when the journey begins. Love.

Mari Clémentine