New Year's in Moab

This year, I did something a little different over New Year's... I went to Moab, Utah!  Now I had heard good things about Moab, and it seemed like a fun place to go, but I was also a little hesitant to see what the weather and opportunities would be like in winter.  I have to say that IT WAS PERFECT!

Canyonlands National Park

We took a long, but nice, drive from Denver to Moab in about 6 hours, with a stop for lunch in Glenwood Springs.  The drive was interesting and varied as it went through the Rocky Mountains and winded through canyons before opening up to rocky, weird hills with mountains in the distance in Utah.  Once in Utah, we stayed at a fancy-schmancy condo complete with hot tub and beautiful kitchen found on VRBO (a site similar to AirBnB and the like). 

Canyonlands National Park

The day after our arrival was our first real adventure.  We went into Arches National Park (which is only one of the 4 parks in the area).  We were all excited and impressed by the scenery of red and orange rocks, spires, arches (duh!) and snow-covered mountains in the distance.  My brother was overcome with excitement... Once in the park, we found the first pull-off stop to overlook Arches.  My brother and the rest of us got out of the car and cameras in hand, went to take our first stunning pictures of the trip.  Well it wasn't until we returned to the car that we all realized just how excited my brother was... he had left his car without even thinking to close the driver's door, simply jumping from the car and running to see the view.  Needless to say, we all had a good laugh!

Balancing Rock

Arches is really a magical place.  The sun lit up the rocks with the most beautiful colors.  We enjoyed being tourists and stopping at all the overlooks and main sights, including the 3 Gossips and Balancing Rock, before heading to the start of our hike.  Our hike took us to see 5 or 6 different arches, each unique and awe-inspiring.  There was some snow on the ground, but thankfully we were prepared with extra traction to attach to our shoes.  That allowed us to scramble up some icy bits of rock.  It was the perfect introduction to Arches and Moab.  

Top of the world in Arches National Park

The next day we had met up with some friends and made our way to Canyonlands National Park, also a 15 or so minute drive from Moab.  With the recommendation of the visitor's center, we went to the most incredible overlook hike, where we walked along the cliff edge that overlooked the expansive canyons.  From up high, we could see the layers of rocks that had been formed into canyons and spires in the distance.  After that shorter hike, we had enough time before the sun went down to go to the other end of the park and see a mysterious place, almost like a crater but with piles of different colored rocks from the surrounding area.  The informational signs couldn't give a sure answer, so we're left to wonder how it could have happened. 

Petroglyphs

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park - Can you see who's hiding underneath the rock?

Day 3 (New Year's Eve)'s adventure led us not to a national park, but along the Colorado River.  Driving through the canyon next to the river, our attention was directed to the rock wall where petroglyphs, some as old as 2000 years, were casually placed.  Without the information sign saying "Indian Art," we probably would have missed the experience entirely.  The first petroglyphs were a little hard to spot, but once we saw them, more kept popping out.  They were incredible.  Just think of all that history!  After the petroglyphs, we went to hike to Corona Arch.  This was another beautiful and unique arch with an interesting hike where we had to climb a ladder and walk past hundreds of cairns (rock stacks).  Even after all this excitement, my brother and I were still ready for more, so we separated from the group to go spend the last couple hours of daylight in Arches to see a couple more areas we hadn't previously experienced.

Corona Arch

Adventurous hike to Corona Arch

Turret Arch in Arches National Park

After a game night for New Year's Eve, we celebrated New Year's Day with a delicious brunch and mimosas, complete with champagne brought from France (ok, from the duty free shop in France).  My mom and I decided to take it a little easy and hike at our own pace.  I decided that I really wanted to see Delicate Arch, probably the most famous arch as it's on the Utah license plate.  So, the two of us drove into Arches and took this hike.  I was an interesting hike across large expanses of rock, with interesting people such as the older Asian man with 3-inch cramp-ons.  This hike was the perfect way to end our last day in Moab.  It really brought forth the awe and wonder contained in such a magical place.  I know that someday I'll be back; it gave me such an indescribable feeling of magic that I get when I'm in the heart of nature looking at the world's wonders.

Delicate Arch with mom

 

 I wish everyone a Happy New Year full of adventure, health, happiness, friends and family.

Delicate Arch - the symbol of Utah

Year in Review: 2015!

Another year come and gone... but I'm happy and thankful to say that my life just keeps getting better!  My adventures keep evolving and I am excited to keep seeing the world from all different angles and places.  I usually like to sit down this time of year and reflect on what life has brought to me.  So here goes.  

In 2015, I...

• Started the year as a language assistant in the sunny south of France where I worked two whole days a week.  
• Watched the scenery as my mom and I did a loop around the Pyrenees in France and Spain.
• Stumbled across the best Carnaval celebration  in Huesca, Spain.
• Tasted 13 different wines in one go. 
• Made my own paella and creme catalana.
• Had the cops called after a potluck dinner got a little too loud.
• Felt grief in a nation I call home after attacks in Paris.
• Took my first trip to the UK and loved being the tourist.
• Didn't understand a word from someone speaking English (Liverpool!). 
• Drank tea and lots of it.
• Felt like I would burst with delicious cherries after the Cherry Festival in Ceret.
• Discovered the Via Domitia and Napoleon's route through the Pyrenees.
• Said goodbye to Perpignan.
• Reveled in the Colorado wildflowers.
• Went raspberry picking.
• Got my first restaurant job over the summer.
• Tried Korean BBQ and beef tongue with someone special in L.A.
• Said goodbye to the condo I considered home in Winter Park.
• Rediscovered the serenity of nature.
• Hiked in the Pyrenees, Rockies, and Chartreuse.
• Moved again and again.
• Applied to many jobs and study opportunities, and was offered the perfect one: teaching English at a university in Grenoble.
• Started my classes at the university with teaching English to masters students in IT, undergraduate students in urbanism studies, and a random mix of others.
• Founded a monthly pub quiz with 3 friends.
• After two years, finally went home for a white Christmas and some much needed family time.
• Brought in the new year in Moab, Utah where I was overcome with awe.

It's been quite a year, always with ups and downs, but I feel that I'm right where I need to be.  I'm proud of my accomplishments and look forward to seeing what life brings next.  I feel fortunate to call so many different places home, and I know one thing for certain... home is where the heart is.  I'll always have so many places to call home because so many people and places are in my heart and thoughts.  Of course, Colorado and my family will always be top of that list no doubt. 

To everyone that has taken part in my year, I am thankful for you and for the experiences I've had with you.  I wouldn't be where I am without you.  Cheers to many more adventures to come!

Grenoble

Cooking School in Barcelona

Wine Tasting at Mas Baux Winery in France

Snowshoeing with my brother in Evergreen, Colorado

Being the tourist in London

Ziplining with Dad in Omaha, Nebraska

Hiking near Silverthorne, Colorado

Family in Arches National Park, Utah

Happy 2016!

Loving the View

Work is still keeping me busy here in Grenoble.  There are two weeks of classes left and lots of grading to accomplish, but soon I'll be on break.  I'm excited to say that after being away from home for the past two Christmas seasons, I'll be returning to spend the holidays with my family in Colorado this year.  So I'll finish classes on Thursday the 17th at 5pm and prepare for my 10am flight the following morning.  I'll be back for two weeks.

Things are going well in Grenoble.  Teaching has had its difficult moments (and by teaching, I really mean just figuring out all the administration and grading), but I find it quite rewarding.  I've gotten some nice feedback from a couple students, and that sure feels good.  It's quite the change from my first day when a student looked me over and walked out of my class before even giving me a chance to speak! 

I feel like I've been able to talk about some exciting things this year, which keeps classes all that more interesting.  I enjoy being able to talk about advanced subjects like the street artist Banksy, short films, Buy Nothing Day (a way to protest Black Friday), and the Tiny House Movement.  I look forward to continuing to push the box next semester.  Next semester's schedule isn't quite finalized, but it looks like I'll be switching some of the extra classes I've taken on from IT students to students studying alpine geography.  I'm figuring out what exactly that is so that I can cater some subjects to their interests!

In other news, the snow has arrived around Grenoble and the ski resorts are open.  I'm waiting until after the holidays to check out the snow myself, but I had friends show me pictures of the beautiful slopes.  It's been cold and sometimes wet in Grenoble itself, but today was beautifully sunny.  Check it out for yourself! I snapped a couple quick pictures on the way into my office this afternoon.

Vacances de Toussaint

I'm on vacation now!  A week of vacation came as a much needed break.  With my new job, I've been working really hard and learning a lot more about teaching.  My time commitment for teaching is definitely a lot more than the past two years, mostly due to the fact that I have more lessons to plan and grading to do.  French grading is based off of a 20 point scale, and besides that, I must follow a consistent grading system for each language level.  In other words, I have to determine the language level of each student (grammar, vocabulary, etc) and give them the corresponding grade.  I'm sure it will get easier, but I collected about 150 papers before the break and am making my way through them quite slowly.

During my break, I've been slowly working my way through those papers, but also taking some time to enjoy myself, eat good food, find some delicious pastries, get outside, watch a couple movies and spend time with people I care about. 

Yesterday I had some visitors come into town, and we made a day of eating and exploring.  We started with a quick walk through the center of town, with its winding pedestrian streets, and then we made our way to lunch at an Indian restaurant.  It was delicious! I had a chicken curry that was really great.  From there, we decided to explore the touristy thing to do in Grenoble: go to the Bastille.  The Bastille is the fort situated on a mountain overlooking Grenoble.  It is in a very strategic location to look over the valley below.  

We took the "bubbles" up to the fort and were welcomed with a beautiful view.  The surrounding trees were changing color and we could see all of Grenoble.  It turned out to be quite cloudy so we couldn't see all of the surrounding mountains except for one white peak jutting above the grey clouds.  We read the informational panels at the top of the Bastille with information on the Olympic Games in the 60's, the rapid expansion of Grenoble (it's a relatively new city and has really grown in the past 60 years), and even about the role of Grenoble in nuclear physics.  

We also explored the surrounding area and found a walkway on the backside of the Bastille that tunneled into the mountain.  In fact, an entire path was dug through the mountain with strategic windows looking onto the Bastille.  Troops at the fort had created this tunnel to help regain the Bastille if it was ever taken by enemy forces.

Eventually we made our way back down the mountain to find some pastries and warm drinks.  I enjoyed a raspberry tart and hot chocolate.  The time changed last Sunday, so night was falling quite quickly.  We called it a day and made it back home.  It's now time to get back to work soon, but for now I'm enjoying my little taste of fall break.

Snow on the Mountains

It's been really cold this week. 

Today the clouds went away, and the sunshine revealed new snow on the mountains!

 

Annecy

My new job has been keeping me really busy.  I've been teaching some interesting topics, and feel like my students have been enjoying them too. I've talked about everything from the street artist Banksy to an event aimed at reinvigorating Colfax Avenue in Denver to internet coming to the Amazon.  Having such a variety of classes this year is really keeping me on my toes.  I also gave out the first graded homework assignment last week, so I'll receive them all back in the next few days.  I'm now on a mission to find the perfect cafe where I can hang out for an afternoon and work on grading!

I feel like I've been working pretty hard lately, so I was excited for the opportunity to join a couple new friends this last weekend to take a day trip to Annecy.  Annecy is a cute little town an hour and 40 minutes north by train from Grenoble.  It's best known for the lake it sits next to and the little canals running through town. 

We arrived around 11:15 on Saturday, and little did we know that a huge festival was happening!  The small street were packed with people enjoying the market stands, food vendors, and music players.  We walked and explored for a while, picking up cheese and sausage samples along the way, before meeting some others for lunch.  It was difficult to find an open table since so many people were in town, but eventually we managed.  Without even ordering, the waiter brought us tartiflette, the menu of the day.  Tartiflette is a regional dish that I've also seen in Grenoble.  It's a heavy, mountain-type food of potatoes, cheese (lots of cheese), pieces of ham, and onions.  It was certainly delicious, but I don't think I could handle it every day.  The tartiflette was followed by a large slice of apple tarte.  Also delicious and a nice dessert.  

With full bellies and happy souls, we continued exploring and went to Lake Annecy.  Along the lake, we could see some golden leaves, showing us that it is indeed changing seasons.  I feel that autumn doesn't have the same feel or smell here compared to Colorado, so it was nice to see a little bit of something familiar.

Eventually we made our way towards the chateau and then to a free exposition of animated films.  We even made our own! By then everyone was starting to drag a little, so we picked up a hot chocolate before hopping on the train for our long ride back home.

It was nice to start exploring this region.  Wherever I go, I think its important to get to know the region that I'm staying in.  Traveling is wonderful, and while I do enjoy going all over the place, when I explore my local area, it makes the place feel just a little bit more like it's where I belong.

Grenoble Sunday Stroll

I'm enjoying my new apartment here in Grenoble.  I finally unpacked and stashed my suitcase, did some shopping for bed linens and food basics, and started exploring my neighborhood.  I'm living with three French girls about a 20 minute walk from the center of Grenoble where all the action happens with bars, cafes, and winding streets.  I'm right next to two tram lines, which is convenient to get to the university, even though I'd like to get a bike to take advantage of the chance to get some fresh air.  Grenoble itself is very flat and bike-friendly; in fact, it's supposedly the flattest city in France!  So after my first payday, a bike is one of the first things on my shopping list.

Even with Grenoble being flat, the surrounding area is picturesque with mountains closing in the city on all sides.  The city is considered the capital of the French Alps region, and Stendhal, a 19th century French writer, once said of Grenoble, "At the end of every road there is a mountain."  To the north is the Chartreuse mountain range, to the south and west is the Vercours, and to the east is the Belledonne.  I'll admit that I cheated and looked that up just now, but soon I'll know it by heart.  It seems to be a right of passage to know which is which when living in Grenoble.  I get a peak of the Belledonne from my bedroom window when it's not cloudy.

Today is Sunday and I decided to have a nice afternoon stroll.  I walked up the main street (in fact the longest street in France - or it would be if it didn't change names a couple times) and past the fruit and vegetable market that I explored yesterday.  I kept going all the way to the Isere River which runs at the foot of the Bastille, a small fortified mountain that is one of the main tourist attractions of the city.  I crossed the river where I thought I would find a flea market.  Alas there was nothing (the website I saw the information on must be outdated), so I stopped by the supermarket there and picked up a couple things to add to my hoard of fruits and veggies at home.  I continued along the quay, pondering over which pizza restaurant I'd be trying first and when that would be.  There must have been 25 in a row!  I continued meandering along the river, eventually crossing a bridge back to the old city.  Being Sunday, the shops were closed.  However, people were still out and about getting lunch or walking around.  A couple outdoor markets were starting to put their unsold goods back into their vans.  After getting lost and finding myself a couple times I headed back to my apartment (hopefully soon it feels more natural to say "home"!).  At foot of my apartment, I stopped in the bakery and picked up their promotion: 3 croissants and 3 pain au chocolat for 2 euros!  Yum yum.

Now I'm in the for rest of the day, thinking about what I should make with my fresh ingredients.  I'm also trying to prepare myself a bit for the six classes I start this week.  I started my first two last Friday at the IAE business school where I am teaching English to masters IT students.  It started a little awkwardly, but then felt good once we got going.  I hope that the rest of my classes starting this week just keep getting better and better as I go along.  Besides the IT students, I'm also teaching undergraduate students at the urbanism school and a mix of both undergraduate and masters students at the language center on campus.  The language center caters to non-majors, so I'll be teaching students from all different disciplines.  Here's to the start of a good week! Wish me luck!

Bisous,
Danielle