Primiere Semaine en France!

Primiere semaine en France!

A week has passed and it went by too fast. Everyday is an adventure. When we are not in school we are either discovering Castles and small towns, or enjoying the different ice cream flavors the locals create. I, my self, have tried the smooth green flavor of avocado. It's incredible how accurate the flavor is. Funny thing is that down here in Nice I have yet to eat traditional French food. With all the pizzas and panini shops this place is more Italian than French. The reason is that Nice was formerly part of Italy. However, Italian food is still very good. I never complain.

French People - I came to France with the expectation that most were unfriendly, rude non-smiling people. Yet the first French man I met gave me a warm welcoming bonjour.

A Room with a View

If I could spend one night in a home anywhere in the world I think I might chose to stay in the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.  The villa is situated on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.  I have never seen a home with more spectacular views.

What would it be like to dine in the room above and look down on the harbor or across the bay to Villefranche and after dinner relax in a sitting room looks out on this?

Or enjoy other views such as these?

Even the stairway has huge windows taking advantage of the incredible location of the villa.

This bedroom has windows on three sides.  It would be possible to watch a sunset, see all of the lights at night, and wake up to views of the sea and gardens.

Nothing could beat breakfast on the terrace overlooking the gardens.  

I would finish my visit with a leisurely stroll through the extensive gardens which are designed around multiple themes:  exotic, Italian, etc.  Of course I wouldn't complain if I were invited to stay for lunch, or a week, or maybe forever.

Monaco: The Real Life Fairytale Kingdom

There is just something about this small Principality that just gives me such excitement. I don't know if it's the clean and winding streets, the luxurious and fancy cars, the beautiful architecture, or the majestic Mediterranean Sea. Whatever it may be, Monaco has a captivating feel to it that just relaxes and calms you.

When I visited this time it did have a different feel to it. There was a lot of hustling and bustling throughout the city in the attempts of setting up for the Monaco Grand Prix. It was my second time ever visiting Monaco and my first during the Grand Prix commotion. Barricades were rising and most everything was starting to be fenced off in order for the track to be set for the Grand Prix Race. All the excitement around Monaco reminded me of my childhood and how I used to vaguely follow Formula 1 Racing.

In Brazil everyone was absolutely in love with Formula 1 from the late 80's to the early 90's and that can be accredited to arguably the greatest Formula 1 race car drive, Ayrton Senna. He was the light at the end of a dark tunnel for all of Brazil. Ayrton Senna gave hope to a nation that was going through some economic turmoil. I remember to this day when he died while racing and days later his funeral in Brazil. He was such an iconic person to all of Brazil that even to this day I often think of him and his achievements in racing. When I walked down the streets of Monaco it hit home that he once raced where I was standing, and that has always added to the charm of Monaco.

If You Can't Say Something Nice, Say It In French

By plane, train, and automobile I was determined to make it on my flight to Marrakech Thursday, nothing was going to stop me! Including the massive mob of strikers; oh, how the French love a good transportation strike. 

By foot, one tram, and six bus stops later, I finally made it to the airport just in time to discover almost every single flight had been cancelled. Thankfully, only having taken three hours to get to the airport and two hours delayed once I did arrive, two flights left Nice airport--one to London and mine. As the French would say, "Bravo!" 

Professor Madsen spoke so highly of Marrakech that Shelby (a summer 2012 study abroad veteran) and I decided we just absolutely had to experience Morocco this time around too. How grateful I am to the Madsen's for sharing their adventure with us; if it weren't for them we probably would have put off going there until further down the road, and what a shame that would have been! 

Morocco is unlike any country I have ever visited before; it is rich in culture, like most, but it also has an added aspect of a very humbling calmness that envelopes this little city of Marrakech. 

The people that live in Marrakech are a very devoted and opportunistic culture. The markets are wild; hidden within the city walls are tiny streets that are lined with different shops of all sorts. You have to watch out for the fast motor bikers for fear they may not stop if you don't get over to one side so, often you will hear someone shout: "à gauche!" 

Once you have made it through the market you will come upon a giant big square, here is where the snake charmers and monkey tamers will be: 

Just be careful because you never know who may have a snake hidden in their Thobe: 

The souks are even more fun! The souks are tucked among the riads and they are a labyrinth of sorts. Selling goods is like a game to some; they are so nice, coaxing you into their shop with how are you and where are you from, before you know it you will be haggling a price for a hand painted genie lamp or turquoise jeweled shoes. 

Amongst all the charm and hospitality, riads are scattered throughout the market streets that are an oasis away from the chaos of every day life. 

My favorite moment was sitting on the terrace of our riad, watching the sunset, and listening to the majestic sounds of the calling, sang from the rooftops and on the streets below, as the whole city joins together to devote time to something more than themselves, something that is so dear to them--what an experience! C'est bonne. 

Travel Often, xoxo

The Walk to School

When staying in a foreign country even a morning walk to school can be a fascinating cultural experience.

A mother or a father has a child or two by the hand hurrying them to school.  I overhear snatches of their conversations.  Children's voices easily speaking a language I am trying with difficulty to learn.

Some people are carrying freshly baked baguettes home for breakfast.  Others are sitting in the sidewalk cafes eating their breakfasts or drinking their coffee.

 The man at the fishmarket is dumping melting ice on the sidewalk.  I've learned to walk down the other side of the street so that I don't walk in water that I'm afraid will make my feet smell like fish. Many people are walking dogs of every description.  I join everyone else trying to avoid what they deposit on the sidewalk.

The buildings I pass are old, ornate, beautiful.  The plants exotic. The advertisements chic.

 Small cars race about and the many motorcyclists dart in an out of traffic.  I pass numerous businesses, hotels, and restaurants. Nothing like what I see on my morning walks at home.

 I love to be out in the morning with everyone else who is hurrying about beginning their days.  I feel a part of things.  I feel a little bit French.

Back in France!

My french experiences? Well I've lived in France before in a city called Toulon during my junior year of high school. It was amazing and I definitely wanted to go back to study abroad again. Thanks to UVU's french program, I was able to study abroad once more! This time in a city called Nice. It's still in the same south coast of France so you can bet there was some similarities. I've been to Nice before but it's still a beautiful city regardless how many times anyone visits.

Plenty of things to do around the beautiful city and lots of great food. Nice is practically perfect except for the high prices in everyday things, but that's typical and expected in France. Don't worry about that too much because you have more important things to do, like touring around and enjoying yourself at the beach with the clear blue waters and beautiful weather. 

Want to sit back and relax after the day at the actilangue school is finished? You can relax on the beach or take a stroll on the promenade des anglais or walk around within the city streets and get to know the beautiful city. You can also tour around to neighboring areas! UVU's french study abroad program has plenty of stuff planned out to do and even on days where nothings planned out. You can plan with your group some additional things! There's always an opportunity to be up to something when you're out here in Nice!

Castles and Friendly French Men

Is that a draw bridge? But really?

This past last week we've been going to lots of old medieval towns with remnants of towns and villages. There's just something magical about seeing the old ruins not being torn down, but built upon. They're trying to keep the history that those bricks and mortar have lived to seen. (The drawbridge has been added, sadly. Right Tammy?) 

These photos are from Entreveux, where we hiked up to the top to the castles ruins. 

On top of the castle

Hiking up there! 

I just, these archways.... 

This was part of the little town that was built beneath the ruins. 

These are from St. Paul Vince

This was in a Cathedral. They took tiny pieces of glass and created Christ's birth. So amazing! 

Here's our friendly French man! We walked into this little shop because he was painting and it was so BEAUTIFUL! The French love their privacy, so Gus asked him nicely in French if he could take a picture. He could hear his American accent and began to speak to us in English, and said of course he could. He then told us how he gets his inspiration for his pictures. This shows that the French are changing, and are becoming a more open culture, little by little. Meeting him was quite wonderful! 

"Act natural."

J'adore la France!

Let's see.. Where to start? I LOVE FRANCE! Basically everything here is awesome! I absolutely love the architecture and all the scenery. I keep taking pictures of the buildings, roads, signs, and alleys because these things just aren't so beautiful in the US. I am also just taken away with how beautiful the water is in Nice and Monaco. I could just sit and stare at the water all day! The food has also been delicious, specifically the gelato which I have eaten every single day since I arrived! And today we went to Entrevaux and hiked up to the Citadel which was great. The hike was a little tough especially in the sun, but it was totally worth it when we got to the top and could look down and see the whole town and the river, absolutely amazing landscape! And as far as the culture goes, I think that people are much nicer than I was expecting. Although I am still confused why one of the vendors said he was closed and then we walked by again 30 minutes later and he was clearly open.. Haha.

France: Here we go!

 I really wish that you could see all the beauty that is around me, and even out my window! It's amazing! But sometimes I'm glad that you don't get to experience jet lag....

This was before I got on the plane...

This is after three plane rides and three layovers. 

BUT then this moment was the best....

Here we go! Flying to Nice, France. 

I still haven't gotten over the fact that I live in France. Every morning I wake up it's another adventure. Where it's trying to order your food or getting called the "American" in class. It's all wonderful! 

My walk to school. I love that everything is in walking distance! And look at that beautiful scenery. There is art everywhere here! 

We visited the coastline the first day we got here. It's only ten minutes away from our apartment! 

Unbelievably blue water..

This happens to be on top of a castle as well. NBD. 

Our first day was to Vielle Ville which is one of my favorite places to walk around. I'm dying over all these statues, big doors and bright buildings. 

This place has certainly met my expectations and has exceeded them. I keep on expecting an explosion or some kind of love story to start because all of this is straight out of the movies guys. 

Sorry if I say that EVERY single photo is beautiful and out of a fairy tale. The only reason why is because it is! Being able to be in this city and be able to grasp at least a little bit of what people are saying is quite possibly the best. Being able to experience that is probably the best. I'm not the best french speaker out there, but when someone says something to you, and you can speak back, it's like using a muscle to get up on a snowboard or learning how to swim. It's amazing what we are able to accomplish! 

But real quickly...let's touch on the subject of ice cream....

#YUM