A Flawless Trip So Far

A "snowy day" near Frankfurt

Hello Loyal Followers! I come to you now with an update on my trip thus far.

My flights were fine, and even though my connecting flight departed a bit late as it was waiting for the snow to get better for landing in Frankfurt, I arrived at the same time. Their “snow” issue was laughable. I could still see the grass and the ground for the most part, but I suppose it was more of the visibility that was the issue as it was rather cloudy. I took a few trains to get to my friend’s apartment where I would be staying (one train was canceled completely, probably because of the “snow” leaving me to wait on a platform for almost an hour with a boatload of Euro-teens who just got out of school). Overall, it was an easy and average trip with the exception that my bag actually arrived!!! 

I had the best night of sleep in at least a month. I finally did not have to think about anything or plan anything. My brain tried to make a to-do list against my will, but it quickly realized I had nothing that needed to be done! The next day I finished my conference paper and resurrected the Sloppy Joe recipe for my newest victim. It was also a hit even though it was as messy as ever!

We did not have any sort of grater/shredding tool, so I had to use a veggie peeler  for the carrots, thus the extra messy batch of Joes.

The car ride from Frankfurt to Luxembourg City was quite quick as we were doing an average of 160 km on the highway. We stopped at a rest area while still in Germany to grab some lunch. The food was actually pretty good – all homemade relatively speaking.

Pretty posh accommodations!

We arrived at the hotel and goodness was I grateful to have my room paid for by the conference! It was 270 € a night! It was a lovely room and it had the best breakfast I have had in Europe! After checking in we had a trip to Dalheim, known as the Pompeii of Luxembourg and one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. The weather was cold and windy, but the tour was nice. We had a group dinner which was mostly light things: French fries, diced potatoes, salad, slices of meat, and a dessert. 

The next day the conference began, the theme of which was focused on bathhouses in the Roman Period. As springs are often found near baths because they provide a natural and local source of water, I was asked to speak about the typical objects found in springs. The paper, though very different from others presented in the conference, seemed to generate some interest and I had many good questions. It was also a great conference because I met some very wonderful and interesting people (especially a French girl from my session who I geeked-out with on Roman religion!) from different cities and countries! I can keep adding to my “people to visit” list!

Snowy ruins in Trier

Yesterday the last of the conference attendees made a trip to Trier in Germany to have a look at the baths there. Another cold and wet day, but it was an interesting tour and I learned some things that I missed last year when I saw the sites. 

I stayed in Trier with a friend, then hopped a train in the morning to connect with my Frankfurt-friend who dropped me off in Mainz. I just got settled into the Römisch-Germanische Zentralmuseum (RGZM) where I will stay for free in their guesthouse and use their library for the next month. They sure do have a lot of books which will keep me busy for a while…

I like the contrast here between my swanky hotel room above to my modest, but comfortable room at the research center 

I am leaving soon to meet a friend (The German) from my Vix excavations for dinner, so for now I will say Auf Wiedersehen!

Bringing Sloppy Joes to Dijon

For my final day in Lyon I actually left the city to visit a small town called Vienne. The city had some well-known Roman ruins and a nice museum that contained mostly mosaics and wall paintings from the many houses excavated in the area. After I returned to Lyon in the afternoon, I relaxed and stayed in for the evening.

I caught a train the next morning and worked my way back to Dijon. My good friend, Sarah, in Dijon left her keys with a friend so I could stay at her apartment. I grabbed those and then met up with my friend Clement with whom I would be excavating. We had an important mission for the day: grocery shopping. I promised him two weeks prior that I would make a traditional American dinner for him and his family the next time I was in town. Trying to decide what a traditional American food is can be tricky as most of ours are modifications of other culture’s recipes which tend to add extra fats and sugars. I proposed Mac and Cheese, a standard for me, but he vetoed this one. My next idea, which I did not describe to him until we had purchased the ingredients, was for good ol’American Sloppy Joes. He seemed intrigued by this but I think perhaps had difficulty imagining it since eating it on a hamburger bun made it seem like it would be more of a hamburger. Anyway…

The next day I went over to his mother’s house and began cooking. I really like a recipe from Martha Stewart’s Everyday Foods which is what I used for this one. I had to substitute ground turkey for ground beef since there is not really that much ground meat in France. I picked up some coleslaw to eat with it which I was surprised to learn is well liked in France, though a bit different from ours at home and not as good as what my boyfriend’s mother makes (you have ruined me, Carol!). After an hour or so of preparation, cooking, and simmering, the Sloppy Joes were ready.

I explained how to eat it and that the purpose of the meal was to get it all over your hands and face. I said that is also why I chose this meal because it would be something so un-French. I also showed them my special technique of squishing down the bread in the center of the bun to accommodate more of the slop; they liked this too! I was a bit nervous because I wanted them to like it but had no idea if they would. After a few bites, the laughter began and I was pleased to see them take not only seconds, but even thirds of my Sloppy Joes! I was so happy that it was a success! 

We left shortly after for the excavations which began that Monday. I am two weeks into the excavations now and am happy to say that while they are quite different from last year, I think things are way better. We have only had a bit of rain one day which is completely different from last year. Many of my good friends did not return this year with the exception of Clement, and then The Hobbit made a last minute effort to come, so I have the two of them again. I have become closer with the French students this year than I was last year which helps a bit with the language. My roommate this year is a really cool Austrian girl that I actually met two years ago when visiting Vix and who I excavated several ditches with last year. I am not really excavating this year, but rather, am helping to document all of the new features at the site (for example, a wall or posthole after its discovery). After two weeks, I have drawn over 150 of such features (mostly postholes). The best change this year though has to be that all of the teams are mixing. Last year it was quite divided and so the Austrians stayed with the Austrians, the Swiss with the Swiss, the French with the French, and the Germans with the Germans. This was different from day one and everyone has been talking, sharing drinks, and doing things together. I have met some really great people so far and am enjoying the excavations tremendously as a result (as I have not blogged in two weeks this should be your proof!).

Ok, now that you have all had a bit of an update, I am off again to enjoy one of my evenings in the beautiful weather and good company I have found in France!