I've only been there three times, but boy has it been interesting. I can't wait to go back. However, I know now what to expect, or what not to expect.
Adventure One: The Train Station
After 16 hours of travel I finally reentered France, the final train stop being in Grenoble. I was tired, grimy, hungry, and still had a bus ride to go. And the train was 10 minutes late, giving me only 10 minutes to find said bus and a bank machine. It was going to be interesting.
So, I step out of the train and start speed-walking through the station trying to find the bus station. Turns out its in a different building and I have to buy a ticket with limited French. Acquiring the ticket, times and directions to the bank machine was very interesting. The lady was not impressed with my accent or lack of vocabulary... At least my French skills could only get better after this!
Anyways, she told me to go to Platform 10 and wait for the bus that would take me to the town near my Bible School.
And no bus came. Great.
The next one came in two hours. Even better.
The next one came in two hours. Even better.
Time to find that bank machine and phone my ride...
An short walk later, dragging all my luggage with me, I had the money to pay for the suitcase I had shipped to the Bibleschool. Next step, phoning the Bibleschool and let them know I was going to arrive - it would just be a little bit later than planned, okay, a lot later.
I didn't have a credit card, thus I needed to buy a calling card for these French telephones from a shop in the train station. Another escapade began as found where to buy the card, bought it, and then attempted to use it. This little piece of paper
The first time I typed in the number wrong.
Fabulous.
The second time it worked and my future time at Bibleschool was secured. YES.
Time to buy a tart and chill out at the real bus Platform: 13. The Irony.
The rest is history, I got on that bus, got off at the right station, and was transported to my new home!
Adventure Two: Grenoble Runner
So, the nearest city to us in Grenoble, thus it is a great daytrip destination. Thus the group decided we would go shopping in the city for the day and really relax.
That doesn't work so well when you only have an hour and a half.
After driving the half hour to Grenoble we were ready to hit the city and go exploring. But that only works if you can find a parking spot. And so began the greatest search of the century, to find a parking spot in the city centre on a Saturday afternoon.
I started to pray.
We circled the blocks, we circled the blocks again, we went down side street, entertained thoughts of parking places where cars weren't supposed to park.
And then. We saw it.
A parking spot.
Cheers rose from the vehicle as we pulled into this glorious empty space of tarmac, and finally we were able to set foot in Grenoble, the city of freedom...
First stop the bookstore, but my mind wasn't there. It was in the music store I had seen during our preliminary exploration. And that was were I was headed.
With joy and anticipation in every step I made my way to this store of dreams.
And it was amazing.
There were 15 pianos in one room, almost all of them were Grand pianos. And there was one I could play on. They could have left me there, I would have been content. A little food, some water, and I would be at peace. But alas, we only had an hour left.
Thus I decided I would take the music with me and spent 40 Euros on new music, Beethoven (of course) and the best of Ennio Morricone, an incredible soundtrack composer.
Then it was time to slowly make our way back to the vehicle, although there was still time to stop in stores on the way - but not that much. There were some interesting stores, lots of decor, lots of useless but cool items that we looked at. However the only guy in our group was not impressed. Every time we would pause I could hear the "WHY???" being thrown up to heavens.
But we all survived.
That is, until one of our company realized she had to be back at Bibleschool to help get ready for dinner. The ride to get there was half and hour which meant we had only twenty minutes to find the vehicle, that is if we knew where the vehicle was. I had no idea, this was not the car I came in, so I was just following our stressed out leader who was following her phone.
There was only 6% battery remaining.
She started walking faster, and faster and faster.
Next thing you know we are running through Grenoble, passing stores, and parks, and trees, and people, and I have no idea what's going on, and no one knows where the car is, everything is just chaos. I think the situation is hilarious, meanwhile the guy is just doing parcour over all the different benches and chairs we pass while running towards this illusive vehicle.
Grenoble runner - kind of like Temple Run, but in France.
Then our leader takes off into a full sprint, I hope the car is coming up soon because I was not prepared for this. I'm just trying to make sure my sandals stay on my feet!
But what is this? She opens the door to a vehicle.
We're saved!
But wait, we only have 15 minutes for a 30 minute journey.
There's no way we can make it.
Little did I know how seriously this girl felt about her dinner service or how fast you could go on the Autobahn.
And we made it. With three minutes to spare.
An short walk later, dragging all my luggage with me, I had the money to pay for the suitcase I had shipped to the Bibleschool. Next step, phoning the Bibleschool and let them know I was going to arrive - it would just be a little bit later than planned, okay, a lot later.
I didn't have a credit card, thus I needed to buy a calling card for these French telephones from a shop in the train station. Another escapade began as found where to buy the card, bought it, and then attempted to use it. This little piece of paper
The first time I typed in the number wrong.
Fabulous.
The second time it worked and my future time at Bibleschool was secured. YES.
Time to buy a tart and chill out at the real bus Platform: 13. The Irony.
The rest is history, I got on that bus, got off at the right station, and was transported to my new home!
Adventure Two: Grenoble Runner
So, the nearest city to us in Grenoble, thus it is a great daytrip destination. Thus the group decided we would go shopping in the city for the day and really relax.
That doesn't work so well when you only have an hour and a half.
After driving the half hour to Grenoble we were ready to hit the city and go exploring. But that only works if you can find a parking spot. And so began the greatest search of the century, to find a parking spot in the city centre on a Saturday afternoon.
I started to pray.
We circled the blocks, we circled the blocks again, we went down side street, entertained thoughts of parking places where cars weren't supposed to park.
And then. We saw it.
A parking spot.
Cheers rose from the vehicle as we pulled into this glorious empty space of tarmac, and finally we were able to set foot in Grenoble, the city of freedom...
First stop the bookstore, but my mind wasn't there. It was in the music store I had seen during our preliminary exploration. And that was were I was headed.
With joy and anticipation in every step I made my way to this store of dreams.
And it was amazing.
There were 15 pianos in one room, almost all of them were Grand pianos. And there was one I could play on. They could have left me there, I would have been content. A little food, some water, and I would be at peace. But alas, we only had an hour left.
Thus I decided I would take the music with me and spent 40 Euros on new music, Beethoven (of course) and the best of Ennio Morricone, an incredible soundtrack composer.
Then it was time to slowly make our way back to the vehicle, although there was still time to stop in stores on the way - but not that much. There were some interesting stores, lots of decor, lots of useless but cool items that we looked at. However the only guy in our group was not impressed. Every time we would pause I could hear the "WHY???" being thrown up to heavens.
But we all survived.
That is, until one of our company realized she had to be back at Bibleschool to help get ready for dinner. The ride to get there was half and hour which meant we had only twenty minutes to find the vehicle, that is if we knew where the vehicle was. I had no idea, this was not the car I came in, so I was just following our stressed out leader who was following her phone.
There was only 6% battery remaining.
She started walking faster, and faster and faster.
Next thing you know we are running through Grenoble, passing stores, and parks, and trees, and people, and I have no idea what's going on, and no one knows where the car is, everything is just chaos. I think the situation is hilarious, meanwhile the guy is just doing parcour over all the different benches and chairs we pass while running towards this illusive vehicle.
Grenoble runner - kind of like Temple Run, but in France.
Then our leader takes off into a full sprint, I hope the car is coming up soon because I was not prepared for this. I'm just trying to make sure my sandals stay on my feet!
But what is this? She opens the door to a vehicle.
We're saved!
But wait, we only have 15 minutes for a 30 minute journey.
There's no way we can make it.
Little did I know how seriously this girl felt about her dinner service or how fast you could go on the Autobahn.
And we made it. With three minutes to spare.
