Totally Frenched Out

From the blogger formerly known as Samdebretagne

Thursday, May 14, 2009

There's something good in every bad thing

Greetings from Bretagne, where I have sat twiddling my thumbs for the past two days thanks to the French customs office. As it is now, it's looking they're not going to release our packages today, so I'm probably going to have to head back to Paris and come back here again next week. Oh Joy. But at least I got my cds, right??

And on the other hand, I'm staying in quite possibly the creepiest hotel in all of France - I've stayed here once before and had the same feeling. There's just something off and slightly scary about everyone who works here. Like they're secretely vampires or something like that. Plus the rooms are disgusting and smell harcore like stinky man feet. They have the kind of bathrooms that don't have shower curtains or doors, and since it's carpeted, the carpet gets all wet and then it molds. I'm severely allergic to mold, so being cooped up in this room for the past few days has left me with a massive headache. But on the other hand, having two full days with "nothing" to do has allowed me to catch up on a lot of work and to take on an extra translation project, so again, pour chaque mal, il y a un bien (did I make that up, or is that an actual saying?).

And I've had a nice view from my room (though the church across the streets rings every hour and half hour 24 HOURS A DAY. What were they thinking??

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10 Comments:

Blogger Jennifer said...

Sounds like you should never stay there again!

Our church (about 50 meters away) bells ring on the hour and the half hour, 24 hours a day. You tune it out after a few weeks.

May 14, 2009 at 2:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This forced retreat may be good for you. I hate creepy hotels. Definitely complain and then never return.

May 14, 2009 at 4:36 PM  
Blogger rswb said...

Ah, practically every church in Switzerland rings every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day! I have 2 within earshot of where I live!

May 14, 2009 at 6:11 PM  
Blogger Veronica said...

well ... that's what clocks do :) They are of limited use if they don't tell the time 24 hours a day!

Our village clock is literally on the other side of our bedroom wall, and it chimes the hour twice every hour (that's 24 bongs at midnight), plus one chime every half hour. We are totally used to it, and in fact we miss it when we are away!

Sounds as if you need to find another hotel if you go there again though ...

May 14, 2009 at 6:23 PM  
Blogger Ksam said...

Man, I don't know how you guys do it! I imagine you get used to it though, like everyone has said.

But those of you in small towns know how it is - there's often only one hotel, so there really isn't the option of staying elsewhere unless I want to drive 20km to the next town (not an exciting prospect when they expect me there at 6am). So it often comes down to crappy hotel but more sleep - especially when considering the likelihood that the hotel in the next town over is probably equally as creepy!

May 14, 2009 at 6:34 PM  
Blogger Alyssa said...

I've stayed in a vampire hotel before, though that one was in the south of France. Maybe hotel ownership is what vampires do to pay the bills, eh?

May 14, 2009 at 8:47 PM  
Blogger parlez-vous-kiwi said...

Oh my goodness, sounds very creepy!

The French boys old apartment used to have a church across the road that rang every hour right through the night too... not fun!!

May 14, 2009 at 11:10 PM  
Blogger wcs said...

Vampires? Are you sure they're not... zombies?

WWVPD -- what would vincent price do?

May 15, 2009 at 9:02 AM  
Blogger Doc said...

Wait, did I read that right? You have finally got the frigging carte de sejour? That's not a joke?

May 16, 2009 at 7:08 PM  
Blogger Ksam said...

I didn't get the 10yr one if that's what you're asking Doc - it's only valid through next April. But hey, it's better than nothing!

May 16, 2009 at 8:33 PM  

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