After traveling to umm... Quite a few different countries, there are some things I've realized have become a sort of tradition for me. There are the obvious tourist things like collecting pins and postcards. But then there is something that I didn't really realize I did until my last trip up north on the coast.

It seems that I've gotten into the habit of having to get a picture of me standing in every single body of water I come to.

Waterton

The Chattahoochee 

 The seine

 the canal in Venice

Annnnnd....

 the ocean on the north of France.

That is it!....

For now!

Saint Malo / Mont Saint Michel

The other weekend I travelled to the Bretagne region of France and forgot to write about it, so consider this my apology.

First off a little geography lesson. France is comprised of regions (like states or provinces if you will). Paris is in the Ile de France.

Paris is in the red shaded area. It was a 3 hour train ride to the blue circle where saint malo is located. And mont saint Michel is in the Normandy region (the purple circle). So what's so special about that place anyway, you ask? Well, for one it's gorgeous.

It's right on the coast with a couple of islands like the one above, which can only be reached during low tide.

If you are a boat lover then this is for you.

It's a cute little town.

Mont Saint Michel

Originally it was a burial place for the arch angel Michael.

In the 10 century, it was just tomb on a hill. After many years of monks, nuns, and other religious people pilgriming there...

Little places of settlement started being built on the right side of the hill, and the abbey started being built with the monks monastery.

And finally we arrived to this in the 20 century. With the cathedral on top.

Naturally protected by the tide, you could only cross during low tide and even then it was risky with the soft ground and quick sand in places. 

The inside of the abbey was cold and dark.

Typical travelling tidbit

Why arrive early when you can be frantically toeing the line between right on time and drastically late? Where's the fun in sitting for 30 minutes while you wait for the train to depart? Although there were many things I could (and should) have done, being one of the early birds just wasn't happening for me today.

Literally 73 seconds after I jumped on the train the slam of the doors put my beating heart to normal tempo. 

Originally I was going to have lots of time, but considering I missed the first train that was going to take me to the main station, I had to wait for twenty minutes for the next one. Put simply, the whole thing could've easily been avoided if I had gone to sleep before 1:30 instead of watching a movie. However, I only got 3.5 hours of sleep when I was rudely awoken by my alarm clock playing Fall Out Boys for the second time. 

It's an unbearable hour, five o'clock is. The birds are awake but the sun hasn't fully risen. Every creak in the house is ten times louder. And as you grope your way around in the dark you find that the furniture and all the objects have conspired to make you trip and stub your toe causing you to mutter unsensical cursings and prayers to keep everyone asleep.

I was alright for time, up until my boots grew legs and hid themselves. When I had to look for them that was the moment I missed the first train.

Then there were problems at the counter when I had to print off my ticket, but nevertheless, I made it on time with the help of the ticket office cheering me on.

This was the first time I travelled by train outside of Paris. The trip took 3 hours, but I really didn't want it to end because I was quite comfortable and fast asleep. I have to admit, I enjoy travelling by train.

During all the excitement of Italy and saint malo, I forgot to update you guys on a very important subject. Drum roll please!...

... I am officially enrolled in the University of Lethbridge! I registered for all my classes two weeks ago, I have a roommate (but no place to board just yet) and I am ready for the next chapter of my life.

It took a while to be ok with going to Lethbridge, considering it's so close to home, but eventually that became the reason why I'm so excited.

When I left my little niece was only eight months old.

But now... She's walking, talking, and getting into all kinds of trouble.

And I missed out on a lot of that. So this next September I will be living pretty close to Brittney and her family, and just in time for my new niece or nephew. You can guess where I'll be spending a lot of my time at.

Pentatonix concert

Somewhere in that crowd is me accomplishing another thing off my bucket list. (Go to a concert). Like many other things once you've had one you have an urge for more. This one concert has fuelled a flame that was non existent before. I hadn't realized how fun being stuffed in a crowed room full of screaming sweaty fans who all have a love for the same music can be.

If you don't know who pentatonix is here is a link.

http://youtu.be/lExW80sXsHs

They consist of five talented singers. And all their music is done a Capella.