29 June 2009

Day 37

42 Kilometers.
That is a big number. I decided to sandwich a bit of walking in between a 10 and a 12 mile run to make it much more bearable. I stopped in Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises where my original itinerary had put me for a night, and found the grave of Charles de Gaulle. I thanked him for giving all the roads that I have run on which bear his name, and headed onwards only having seen one Eglise. I arrived in Chaumont around 2, and spent the day wandering around the city. Chaumont is an awesome town...but before I arrived it was just a point on my map that was another 40 km closer to Ronchamp. There is a ton of history there, and the architecture is pretty amazing. I spent some time roaming around the old city walls, finding entrances to potential subterranean tunnels/sleeping places. I'll have to go back with a friend and a flashlight someday. I stopped in the Basilica of St. Jean-Baptiste, which has an incredible interior. The organs were playing, and as I looked around at the interesting Gothic interior, I was surprised that I had never seen the little church in a class. Maybe I was asleep for that slide, but I feel like France is full of so many little gems like this. Every village seems to have a church which is older than the United States.
The streets in Chaumont are spotted with little speakers mounted to the sides of buildings, so my search for housing was encouraged by a constant oscillation of cheesy American music. When it started getting later and I started getting nervous that the streets would soon be abandoned, I approached a young woman in the street and asked her if she knew if there was anything to do in the town that evening. It wasn't long before I found out that there wasn't anything going on, and was in a car on the way to her hometown, where here parents were having a barbecue with some friends. When I got there, I explained my story about as many times as I could bear, and then spent the evening playing Petanque with a huge group of people. It felt just like a barbecue at the ranch, except we were speaking in French and throwing metal balls instead of horseshoes. It is always a bit strange to see where I start in a day and where I end up, and I was pretty happy to be at such a friendly gathering for the night.

21 comments:

  1. What a beautiful day that was for you. I wish I could see the interior of the Basilica of St.Jean-Baptiste. As fot the picture of you, it says it all (long run). Here in Québec, people play at the Petanque. Mostly elderly people.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My daughter steered me to your blog, and I will happily follow your travels. What an amazing adventure you are having...people, places, cultures. I need to catch up on your trip, as I seem to have jumped in! Safe travels.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful photo!! :):D
    Where's your smile?:P

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your french has to be pretty impressive by now...what a great way to learn quickly. Of course, I am sure your ability to instantly change expressions helps out, and all the gesticulations... Remember when you use to turn on the "fake" tears as a little boy and point your finger at your brothers, ...then instantly stop and smile, that massive smile right at them, as you listened to me scald them!!! Nothing like a few hand signals and those puppy dog eyes to get some attention!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Where you holding your breathe in that picture? I love the background though. Its absolutely amazing, the world where given and you go out exploring it and taking us along with you for the journey =)

    ReplyDelete
  6. are u ever worried that you might end up in a bad situation?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like a great evening and a fabulous little town. I feel like that too, every time I'm in Europe - just awed by how old everything is. I hope I get to live there one day.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ryan, I agree with your Mom about your puppy dog eyes. By the way, who can turn their backs on such a charming and good young man.Love you. Phula

    ReplyDelete
  9. I found your blog under "Blogs of Note" after writing my own blog.
    YOU ARE AMAZING!
    Too bad you're passing my place approximately 500 km to the West, cuz I'd love to offer you a place to stay and run one day's lenght with you. :)
    Hope you're loving Europe at least half as much as I love NYC.
    Run safely! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. i wish i can do that when i'm young as you before. anyway good luck man. all the best to you.and save journey.

    Your FAN from MALAYSIA

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hey Ryan, if you like traveling, maybe you also visit my country Indonesia. There are so many beautiful place here.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Lot of fans brother. Nice work. Shish-kebab barbecue!!?!?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm guessing you haven't heard a new song since Lil' Jon's love ballad "Yeah", but since you're in France, check out 'Phoenix'......they're like a French Vampire Weekend and they kick ass.

    ReplyDelete
  14. My son put me onto your blog and I now have subscribed so that I don't miss a day. I love to travel and wish that I had the energy (and the nerve) to do it the way that you are. I envy your freedom. Keep up the reports so we can travel vicariously with you.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, this is a great idea Ryan! I'm so lucky to have the chance to say that I lived on your floor freshman year. :) From "John Jay is my Homeboy" to this trip, you never cease to amaze me. Best of luck with the rest of your adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ryan,

    Enjoyed reading quickly a couple of your French exploits on your A to A marathon. Though at times a bit helter-skelter, you always have a happy ending. The bathroom fiasco ended with a ket to a room from the bar man. Good that you speak French. Safe travels. Will touch base later. Forrest

    ReplyDelete
  17. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  18. You should be posting more photographs of the scenery. I would love to see the buildings you talk about.

    ReplyDelete
  19. you're go to chaumont in "haute marne "? I've a friend who live in chaumont o_O

    ReplyDelete