In Paris, there’s always the feeling that adventure is just around the corner. Train stations located across the city only heighten the allure with the promise that with just a swipe of your credit card and a mad dash to a waiting train, a new country too, could be just around the corner.
I love trains because they are quick and clean and always carrying interesting characters, but I most love trains because they carry me out of the city and into the French countryside. You see, getting to know a city is one thing – like getting to know someone’s dominant personality traits, but getting to know a nation’s greater countryside? Well, that’s like seeing someone’s heart and soul.
Similar to the United States, much of French heritage is rooted in its wide open spaces. Paris may be what is most shown off to the world, but it doesn’t take an expert to sense that for many French people, their deeper sense of self – from food to culture to family – is tied to land somewhere outside the great capital.
For my last trip to the countryside, my parents and I took a train to Vernon and Giverny to visit Claude Monet’s famous country home. The first time I visited Giverny, the home and gardens had only just opened for the season the day before. For the first hour that I was there, I was but one of only a few to wander the garden’s lily ponds and bridges. This time though, it was high tourist season and my parents and I agreed on a game plan: make our way decisively to the bench.
Did you know that Giverny has one perfect bench? If you’ve been, I bet you know just the one. At the back of the lily pond garden, at practically the furthest point from the entrance, stands a willow tree. And under that willow, whose leafy strands wiggle down to the ground, sits a bench that offers a view of the entire garden. It was on that bench, safely tucked away from the pushy hoards of camera touting tourists, that we agreed on one thing: if Monet ever saw what had become of his tranquil painting space, he would most likely roll over in his grave.
Monet’s heart was most definitely tied to this bit of country. As much as he may have traveled to Paris, it’s here, in his backyard, overlooking Giverny’s green hills and under a crisp, clean blue sky that Monet would tell you this: Paris may be the city of light, but it’s the country that was its spark and who today, still fans its great flame.
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For past countryside adventures, read about the Jura Mountains, the French Riviera, the Loire Valley and Normandy.
Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.
This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.
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Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.
Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass’ favor.
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