When the Green Mountain State is Not Green

Hello all!

Living with a person who was born on a different continent than you means that there is never a lack of things to talk about. A common topic of interest between my French Partner in Crime (FPIC) and I is always the use of space in different countries. 

We have come to the conclusion that in Europe, specifically France, it is impossible to go for any length of time without coming across a town. All are quaint, complete with a town square, church, and local bar. People live very close together. In the United States, especially the north of Vermont, it is possible to drive for hours or days without seeing much and interaction with other humans is optional. 

While the majority of the time, my FPIC and I would like a bit more population up here in the north of Vermont (we once drove 2 1/2 hours one way just to eat Chinese food and go to a T.J. Maxx) we wouldn't have the Autumn in Vermont any other way. In France, the mountains are full of skiing resorts, touristy villages, chalets, and mountain farms, but the mountains in Vermont are completely uninterrupted. The view of miles and miles of hills covered in colorful trees is breathtaking - even to someone who grew up in New England.

 I would 100% recommend to everyone: pack a lunch, make sure you have a full gas tank and a well-functioning car, bring some warm clothes, and get lost in the north of Vermont in Autumn. 

Here are some Vermont-y photos for your viewing pleasure. 

No ski resort here.

A New England Home

The rest area as you enter the Northeast Kingdom boasts that there are 13 covered bridges to visit in the area. I laughed at this, but you can't deny that these bridges have a certain charm. 

The lovely town of Newport

That's all today folks! Until next time.

I Ain't Them There City Folk No More

Greetings again from the Northeast Kingdom!!

I wanted to share a little story from the news in my new way-up-north home. Life moves pretty slowly here, but when there is news, it really gives people something to talk about.

Recently a local man from my town decided that he was very angry with the police. Now like any person, this man decided to show the police just how angry he was, and did so in true Vermont fashion. He went over to our little police station and drove over and completely flattened, not 1, not 2, but 7 police cars with his tractor!

The funniest part of this story is not the fact that there was a rogue man seeking revenge with his tractor. It is that after the fact, the police did not have any means to chase the man with and were forced to run after the tractor on foot and used hitchhiking pursue him faster. The poor police ran after him and thumbed a ride in order to catch up with him.

The newspapers printed articles the next week saying "Angry Farmer crushes Cop Cars" and "Derby has a new Hero". There was actually a town-wide fundraiser to raise the money to bail him, so beware all. If you are in the Northeast Kingdom, watch out that your car is not squashed in a high speed chase between tractor and running cops.


To have a bit of a laugh...check it out in video...
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8510622/man-drives-tractor-over-seven-police-cars

Living on the Edge

Hello All! As usual, I apologize for the long delay in posts. In my latest "Laura Leaves New Hampshire" adventures, I have been exploring the exotic and very foreign...Vermont. Ok, yes I admit that Vermont is not  much of a stretch in a travel blog about leaving New Hampshire, but that is where I am and so the adventure continues. . :D

My French Partner in Crime (FPIC) has been very lucky to land a job in DERBY LINE, VERMONT. The closest you can possibly get to Canada without actually getting to Canada. I have found a map to demonstrate it's location (below). 

 

Photo Credit: http://www.idcide.com/citydata/vt/derby-line.htm

The town is so much on the border that the gas station doubles as customs, border patrol cars are more frequent than police cars, and it contains the world's only library that is located in two countries at the same time (and in the Canadian side has books in French). 

It was while I was dropping my FPIC off at work one day (at 7am mind you) that I really experienced this border. I thought while I was in the town I would visit this world famous library. While I was circling it, looking for parking, I drove over a single white line in the road. 

Shoot. Was that the border? 

I turned around and was immediately approached by a border control officer who told me I was going to have to go check in at customs...after my visit to Canada. 

Damn

So I made my way over to the customs/gas station and pulled up to the window. 

Me: Um, I accidentally drove into Canada and the border patrol told me to come check in here. 

Him: What was your reason for visiting Canada?

Me: I was looking for parking at the library. 

Him: How long was your visit?

Me: About thirty seconds. 

Him: May I see your passport?

Me: I do not have my passport. 

Him: What is your business in the area?

Me: I was dropping my FPIC off at work and wanted to see the library. 

At which point the officer decided that there was no point in further questioning, issued me a citation for traveling to Canada without a passport and let me go. All I can say is that I better not move to the border between the US and Mexico. I can just see me now...um excuse me officer...I just accidentally went to Mexico...

I never did get to see the library...

I do believe this is a promising start to the shenanigans of  life (however temporary) in Vermont  

 Stay tuned. 

~Laura 

One of the more obvious Canadian/american divides...more official then where I was driving around. lol 

Photo Credit: Memphipogo's Blog http://memphipogo.wordpress.com/photos/

On the Road Again

Hello all!

The adventures of "Laura Leaves NH" continue as my French Partner in Crime (FPIC) and I are relocating again. This time from the Basque Country to Vermont, USA. Although, admittedly Vermont is not that far away from New Hampshire, we are determined to make the best of this opportunity.

It is very sad to leave Pais Vasco. Last week we packed up our apartment and tried to do all of the things we have come to love at least one last time. I have compiled this list of things that everyone should do when moving away from this region. This list can also double as recommendations for those visiting for the first time.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE LEAVING:

1. Eat some torilla de patatas (Spanish omelette made with potatoes).

2. Visit the beach.

3. Say goodbye to all the barmen in the bars on your block.

4. Take a ride through the mountains.

5. Eat some more tortilla de patatas, but this time in a sandwich.

6. Visit all the elderly people who frequent the bars and buy you cider.

7. Watch your last soccer game in the bar.

8. Eat some last tapas from the bar.

9. Realize that this is the last place you will probably ever live where a glass of wine is 45 cents.

10. Realize that you probably spend too much time in bars.

11. Realize that you will never really learn to speak Basque.

12. Dispose of your collection of umbrellas that have been destroyed in the crazy Basque wind/rain storms.

13. Stock up on bags of fried corn (very tasty!)

14. Eat some more tortilla.

15. Swear you will be back again.

In our panic about leaving Spain, we also drove like mad to the east coast to visit Barcelona before we left the country. This is a very fun city! We stayed in a hostel by the beach and shared a room with some Spanish girls and a few guys from Israel and visited all the sites! I highly recommend going to see Gaudi's works here (Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and my favorite, Casa Batllo) but also would caution about walking around at night. It's the first place where I have ever been happy that I had a man with me for protection.

Below are some photos!

First, the famous unfinished (expected to be finished soon, in 2050 or so, haha) Sagrada Familia.

Second is the Barcelona coast at sunrise (which we only saw because we had to move the car out of the paying parking zone before they started charging on Monday morning. Totally worth it though.)

That's all today friends! Until next time!

Backpacks

Ok so I know I have blogged about backpacks before, but... backpacks excite me.

After hoofing it over Peru with a little LLBean school backpack and feeling ridiculous, I made it a goal to find a proper backpacking backpack before my next adventure. While cleaning a friends attic one summer I found an old abandoned Northface backpack that suited me well. I made it to and from Nicaragua and to France before its years in the attic caught up with it and it ripped straight up the side. I tried to sew it, but no success.

After that, I abandoned the old Northface and wandered around Spain, using again my little purple backpack.

But!

Over Christmas a wonderful thing happened. My French Partner in Crime (FPIC) and I made took the long trip up from our little apartment in Eibar to his parents house in France. They had seen my old abandoned ripped and dry rotted backpack and surprised me with a new one! It is the most beautiful thing! Sturdy, with lots of pockets and straps and is the perfect size.

I dream about this backpack sitting in my closet while I work in the old basement mailroom in my school. It teases

me when I open my closet and to get out clothes for work. But now! It will be making it's debut, as my FPIC and I continue our tour of Spain and take on Barcelona! I am so excited. Stay Tuned. :D

Isn't she beautiful? :D

An Ode to My Favorite Shoes

In Boston's old city, they began their bright story,

by walking for charity,

they marched miles, forty.

Past the Charles and Fenway, and by jamaica pond,

to Canton and Roslindale and then journeyed on.

For stop two, headed west, pit stop San Fransisco

traveled north to the redwoods,

in yosemite did a disco.

They hiked past the half dome before continuing north,

then paused in Seattle to see the fisherman's wharf.

Then they changed their direction by voyaging south,

caught the sands of north Chile,

to seek public health.

They heard babies hearts and gave children candies,

then took a long break to trek up the Andes.

Checked Peru and then Canada soon of the list,

dodged riots enroute to Cuzco,

and awed Machu Picchu's mist.

Montreal's nice in March though there is quite a chill,

these shoes biked all the bridges and sleded the hill.

Off to France these shoes wandered for a new kind of pace,

run around through the Alps,

and gazed on Mt. Blanc's face.

They raced the french cows to prove all their power,

After, strolled by the seine and viewed eiffel's tower.

On the way down down to Spain, a glum event did transpire,

These shoes found a hole,

And were forced to retire.

Although it's quite sad because my shoe's life was neat,

I'm lucky this time, as I still have my feet.