The South of France looks just like you would imagine it, except for even better. Driving from Dijon to Arles, Provence was only about a 5 hour drive, longer than expected but so worth it because of how gorgeous the French countryside is. Besides the excessive amounts of graffiti, it is even prettier than all of the photos of it you have ever seen. Truly pictures can’t even capture the beauty of the south of France, leaving my friend Caitlin to comment that after seeing it, how could you not believe there is a God. This made me think of Psalm 8:3-4, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?". So humbling to get to experience it all. I feel so blessed. Still in a mist that I get to live here for 4 months. Not just visit, but LIVE. Weird.
Thursday, 29th- We drove down and stopped along the way in Orange, a city in Provence. For those who don’t know Provence is a region of France, kind of like states in the good ‘ole US of A. We visited the Arc Romain in the city for a hot second to take pics and then we went to meet up with our tour guide at the Théatre Antiquité (the ancient theater), and it was beautiful. Absolutely huge, and we climbed every single last step. We learned all about the history and were blown away to learn that they still hold shows there. They are currently putting on Phantom of the Opera and we all were wishing we could stay just to experience it, even though the seats are still just huge giant stones.
Then we hopped back on the bus and stopped at the Pont du Guard, an old aqueduct that used to bring fresh water to all the nearby cities. Beautiful. I just was so amazed that 1- it was still standing (and in such good shape), and 2- people were able to think of and invent something so innovative so long ago. We then finished our journey to Arles and went out to dinner to a cute restaurant within walking distance of our hotel. We were right by the Rhone River, so of course it was beautiful. We had some cat callers outside our hotel that night, some younger German students who had seen our group of 11 girls and 1 guy walk in with our bags earlier that day, but eventually they gave up. I guess they realized that yelling “Rapunzel” at our open 3rd story windows just wasn’t going to cut it.
Friday, 30th- We walked to class that morning- the museum of Arles. We had another guided tour by another cute older French woman. Thankfully tours are getting easier to understand, but yes, they are still all in French. In a week it is amazing to see how far my French has come and I would be so curious to see if in December, we would be able to understand our cute tour guide Jacqueline from last week 100% instead of just 30%. Anyways, at the museum we got to see the original bust of Caesar’s head that you see in the history books, and the “Thinker” statue. Then we drove to Nîmes, another town in Provence and got a city tour. The place we ate lunch was also hosting a professional futbal team from outside of Paris that had a game there that night, so some of the girls were picking out their future French boyfriends. Too bad they never got to talk to them, but maybe in Paris in a few weeks! It isn’t called the city of love for nothin’ right? Our tour was amazing and we walked everywhere. We saw the amphitheater first, where they still have bull fights and host events like pro tennis matches now. Then we saw an old Roman temple, the hot spot for young frenchies to hang out and listen to American music, and then we walked to the Jardins de la Fontaine, one of the first public gardens in all of Europe. That night for dinner I ate “taureau” (bull), and “escargots de la mer” (conchs). Clearly feelin’ adventurous, but both paid off and were delicious. When in France!
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| L'amphitheatre (outside) |
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| L'amphitheatre (inside) |
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| Les Jardins de la Fontaine |
Saturday, 31st- We woke up early and headed straight to the “Samedi Marché”, (the Saturday Market), which is a MUST DO when you are anywhere near it in France. Such a fun atmosphere with fresh food, beautiful paintings, great smelling soaps and lavenders, clothes and bags to buy, and so much more. I was able to practice my French a ton because most of the vendors didn’t speak English so while it was still a little scary, I was happy for the practice.
I was with 2 other friends and we went to the old Roman theater in Arles and then to the old amphitheater. So much exploring! Unfortunately we couldn’t see any bull fights because they won’t happen until next weekend and we will already be off and away on our next adventure. We got to spend the afternoon at the beach Saint Marie de la Mer in the Mediterranean ocean. My friend Caitlin said it was in her top 10 best days ever, and it was a day for the books, let me tell ya. The beach was gorgeous, the water was freezing, but eventually after enough treading water my body was numb and it felt great since the weather was pushin’ lower 90’s and sunny, very different from our gloomy Dijon weather. We laid out on some of the flatter rocks enjoying the sun and the beach, and then we went and got some ice cream and headed back to Arles for dinner and packing up the bags. Back to Dijon in the morning to move in with our families!
Fun fact: I am traveling with a bunch of northerners and
have been called out several times for my accent and frequent use of “y’all”.
If only they could have come to camp with me this past summer, they might
consider me one of their own. I am learning a lot about how wonderful the
restaurant “Friendly’s” is and that apparently the water up there is never warm
at the beach, hence why they were so fearless at Saint Marie de la Mer jumping right on in. How you would enjoy being constantly covered in goose
bumps while at the beach, I have no idea, but they insist it is fun!
Things I miss from America already: 1-COLLEGE FOOTBALL. 2- Water fountains. 3- Restaurant hours posted outside the restaurant. No place has them here and the amount of times we have walked up to places and been told we needed to wait for the cook to arrive or to prepare the kitchen is hilarious. 4- The 12 hour clock, however I am getting better at knowing time with the 24 hour one. 5- Hearing the English language when I walk outside. I’m getting more used to using French all the time though, and I really am starting to think in French first… on my way to being fluent?? One can only hope and dream, (and then move to France to attempt to make it happen right?!) **I am not missing the music yet because they play American music all the time. On the bus rides I heard Earth, Wind, and Fire, “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke, “Wake Me Up” by Avicii, and almost everything in between.
Lots of love all the way from France!
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