Le printemps est arrivé!!! finalement!

Cours Mirabeau :) SO beautiful!

Loving the green trees against the buildings!

blue skies! ok there are some clouds but I don't mind them!

Place des Augustins...I live here! well just to the right of this picture....

I live on the top of this building! You can't see my terrace form the ground but it is up there I promise!

Brittany en Bretagne...Normandie...et Mont Saint Michel

Hello! I just got back from a long weekend in Normandy (Normandie) and Brittany (Bretagne). Lots of pictures!!!

Let's start with Bretagne! Brittany en Bretagne...awesome! These are from St. Malo :) It is right on the coast and absolutely beautiful! The north of France is so different from the south!

The tide was out so you could walk on the beach and explore the natural pool!

St. Malo is a very old town...it is surrounded by a wall that not only used to protect the city but is also used to keep the tide from flooding the city streets.

Beautiful!

Next...La Normandie!

SO much history!! I loved it!

This is the flag and the cross of the Resistance en France during the war (WWII). 

This is Juno beach...

and just past the beach up on the ridge, you could see the bunkers built by Germany to protect the coastline.

Ok now I'm going to be a little nationalistic...The following pictures are of Omaha beach and the American cemetery. 

Merci de la France...

Can you picture what happened here on the 6th of June, 1944? The very small pieces of "rock" you see in the water is actually pieces of the landing vessels that still remain.

The beach is massive...try to imagine 43,000 infantry landing here. Operation Overlord was designed to literally over-run the German occupation and liberate France. It was well executed but the casualties were in the thousands. Difficult day for all but in the end it was worth it. Paris, and therefore France, was liberated by the 25th of August, 1944.

So many American men were lost that day. To the American military, this was one of the "longest days." The cemetery may be in France but the French government "gave it" to the United States to honor the fallen men.  

This is at Point d'Hoc. American Rangers scaled these cliffs during the bombardment of the French coastline to destroy the German artillery. Yes during...the bombardments would occur and the Rangers would go in trying to reclaim as much ground as they could. The Germans never expected men to climb the cliffs! As I said...a little nationalism: there was a family that questioned why everything was in english at these sites...it is because without the help of the United States, France would be Germany right now! I am so glad the US helped...now I get to study in France and learn French ;)

Absolutely stunning!

This part of the coastline is riddled with "holes." As you can see, they are literally all over the place as a result of the bombardment. This hillside held German anti-aircraft artillery...

...in bunkers such as this one. Many still stand but others lay in complete ruin.

Ok...I can discuss the historical happenings for forever but here are a few pictures of Le Mont St. Michel...

Sunset after walking around St. Michel :) It was beautiful! I love France!

Le Mont Saint Michel...so bizarre! Literally is in the middle of nothing but a bay. The entire top half is a cathedral and around the bottom are various hotels and shops. Very cool to see! It is also the number 1 most visited site in France by the French...lots of people all the time!

  

It was a cloudy and rainy day but you can see the Bay...it just goes on and on and on and Saint Michel is right in the middle of it.

I really enjoyed my visit to the north! I spent the weekend seeing and exploring history and speaking nothing but French...just the way I like it!

:)

Bises de la France!

Montpellier, wine tasting and des nouvelles!

Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't posted...I have been busy with school and planning my future travels!

A few weeks ago I took a trip to Montpellier. It is about 2-3 hours from Aix-en-Provence. I wanted to check out the town because it has a great university that I may apply too. Nerd trip...yes! Montpellier is definitely a town for students with its bars, clubs and parks. It was beautiful! I loved it! Its centre ville is just 30 minutes away from the Mediterranean and it is full of "south of France" charm....meaning lots of cute little streets. I had lots of fun wandering around, getting lost, and checking out the university area. So...do I like it more than Bordeaux? I still do not know! I love both! My current plan is to apply to both and then decide...plus thats in the future and I still need to enjoy the present!! Check out the pictures... 

Yes...That is a painting on the side of the building! Cool right! Optical illusion!

Main center square in centre ville

beloved Bordeaux...I don't know what I love more...I did fall in love with this city!

We had a CEA wine tasting out in the Luberon. Wine...only one of my favorite things!!! It was a beautiful day and spring had finally arrived! I must say that I have enjoyed experiencing all the seasons but I have been ready for some sunshine!! We even got to have our tasting outside in the gardens...awesome!

This is my roomie....Gaby! We were loving the sunshine! :)

The chateaux....so beautiful! The gardens were just starting to bloom too!

Yummy....I love this picture! I love all wine now...the benefits of living in France ;)

Les nouvelles...(the news)!

I have finalized the plans for the rest of my stay in France! This weekend is a long week-end for me! No classes Monday so I am headed to Paris for the day, then Normandie et Bretagne! I am so excited to see the north west of France and see all the history! First thing on the list...D-day beaches! You guys know me and my love of WW2...so excited! My spring break follows just a week and a half later and I am going to Croatia with the roomie! I have 2 whole weeks off so after Croatia I am going back to Bordeaux! yay! Thanks to a family friend/my mentor, this August, my family and I will be hosting a French girl for two weeks...her family lives in Bordeaux so I am going to meet and stay with them for a few days! Very excited!! Merci beaucoup!!! :)

Classes end two weeks after spring break and I will then prepare for my DELF B2 language exam. I am also going to spend 3 days in Nice to see Coldplay with my friend Kat! We can't wait!!!

I cannot believe how quickly the year has passed! It isn't over yet but I can't believe that it is April and I come home the 15th of June...Just in time (literally) to celebrate my sister's 19th birthday and my brother's 17th! yay! France has taught me so many lessons and I have changed and grown in more ways than I can explain. I love it. Simply amazing...I love my life! No matter what the future holds, France and French will be apart of mine. I love it way to much to ever let it go!!! One thing I can say is....suivez vos rêves...follow your dreams. Dreams are there to be realized and they show you who you are. So, vas-y! Find your dream, live it! Make it happen! I did, and it will forever influence ma vie. I am going to enjoy these last 9 weeks here in my beloved France but for me, it will never be au revoir, just à bientôt. :) 

Je ne sais où je suis née mais ici j'habite maintenant. La France...vous détenez les clés de mon cœur