Day 6, I think...

We started out a little different today because we had free time this morning to explore the local open-air market and do some shopping in the city of Tours where we are staying.  We arrived a bit early at the market and a lot of people were still setting up so we didn't get to see everything that was going to be there. Then we shopped our way down Rue Nationale until about noon. 

After that, we took the bus to the nearby town of Amboise to tour the castle. This is also where Leonardo DaVinci is buried and he lived up the street a little at the Clos-Lucé. Perhaps one of the neatest things going on there today was a bride and groom were getting photos taken with an old, classic car (sorry - don't ask me what kind! I was more taken with the bride's red shoes! Haha) with the castle in the background. 

Anyways, we had a guided tour with a local guide, Annabelle and then she went with us to also give us a tour of Chenonceau, probably the prettiest castle in the Loire Valley. Here we are in the garden with the castle in the background. 

Now after dinner in a troglodyte cave, we're back at the hotel and tomorrow, we will head to PARIS!!!  Woot woot. 

By the way, we are sorry to hear than you are all having a lot of rain. I don't want to rub it in your faces too much but we have had pretty much perfect weather every day that we have been here. The one time we have had rain was the first night after dinner when we were in the bus on the way to the hotel. Sometimes it looks cloudy ahead but by the time we get there, it's cleared off. Here's hoping it stays that way for Paris. :)

Our impressions

So I've decided to do the blog a little bit differently today. Since we spent the majority of the day in the bus traveling from Lyon to Tours, we didn't sightsee much today. So I'll let the students speak for themselves. 

Our biggest impressions so far:  

Caroline: I really liked the Pont du Gard because it was built so long ago and it's still standing with no help and nothing holding it together. 

Madison: I think it's weird that they don't put their bread on a plate at dinner. They just put it on the table. 

Zahra: it's beauty and it's grace and it's definitely NOT the United States. 

Emily: I liked how in Nîmes, there was pretty modern stuff and then there was a Roman arena. 

Kate: I think it's a little bit of everything wrapped up in a beautiful, little package. 

Grace: I'm going to live here. It's everything I've ever wanted in a home. 

Melissa (chaperone): I've learned quietness, etiquette and experienced old-world charm and have seen quiet, beautiful people. I'm most impressed with the old architecture. 

Adrienne (chaperone and well-seasoned traveler): Even though I've been here many times and I always love coming back, I was excited to see the author Saint-Exupéry's birthplace in Lyon. 

Libby: it's not just in textbooks; it's a real place. 

Traci (adult traveler): it's a really cool mix of old and new. 

Erika (adult traveler): I remember more French than I thought I would and I'm able to communicate with them. 

Natalie: it shocks me how much they smoke. 

Maddie: I was surprised by how many people speak English. 

Carly: I was surprised to see French people bring their dogs everywhere, like even in grocery stores and restaurants. 

Mary: I noticed that a lot of people wear long pants as opposed to shorts. They're more reserved and they smoke more. 

Taylor: I love how beautiful everything is. I feel like walking through history. 

Owen: they're not as anti-social as Americans, as in they're not on their phones as much as we are. 

Spencer: there's Mini Coopers everywhere!!  

Anna: I've noticed that people sit around a lot and don't work as much. They're really calm when they drive. 

Mia: there's a bunch of ice cream everywhere and their dogs are without leashes but they still obey and behave. 

Photo from tonight's walking tour in old Tours at Place Plumereau (which the same picture is in our French 2 textbook!)

Day 4: Nîmes and Pont du Gard

This morning, we got to tour the Gallo-Roman arena in Nîmes that's been in existence for over 2000 years. It was the site for gladiator fights, bull fights and other shows. In fact, they still use it for bullfights, concerts and other shows. After our visit, we walked through the narrow, winding streets that are typical of almost any European city and got to see the Maison Carrée (square house), which is one the best preserved Roman buildings in Europe. Here we are on the steps of the Maison Carrée: 

Then we had some free time to explore and after that, we took the bus to Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct that brought water from Uzes down to Nîmes a total of 50 kilometers. No machinery, no pumps - just a slight slope and gravity. The thing that amazes me is that it's still standing after 2000 years and the Romans used no mortar to hold the rocks in place. Once again, just gravity. Crazy!  Oh and we also saw an olive tree over 1100 years old! Here we are at Pont du Gard and with the olive tree:

The olive tree:

So now, as I write this, we're on the bus leaving Provence and heading north to Lyon, where we will stop for the night, have a walking tour and then head west to the Loire Valley tomorrow. À plus tard! See you later! 

Day 3: Avignon, Baux-de-Provence & Arles

Avignon at the Palais des Papes (before they discovered wifi):

After they discovered wifi:

In front of the Gallo-Roman arena in Arles:

Today was yet another sunny day without a cloud in the sky! Perfect weather for touring, just a bit windy! 

This morning, we left the Mediterranean and headed northwest to Avignon, famous for the Palace of the Popes, which we got to tour. We also saw the famous bridge from the children's song that only goes halfway across the river. After lunch here, where many students were so proud to use their French 1 café vocab and ordering skills and many of them were courageous and tried frogs legs, we headed toward a gorgeous part of the country to Baux-de-Provence, a little walled-in village perched on top of a mountain. Gorgeous views of the mountains and valleys all around. (My pictures from here are apparently only on my camera; I will have to post them later - sorry!) Then from there, we toured Arles which has an arena and amphitheater left over from the Roman Empire 2000 year ago. This is the city where VanGogh also painted lots of his paintings, including: 

We also visited the hospital where he stayed and painted after he sliced his ear off. 

Now we are heading off to Pont du Gard and Nîmes tomorrow. After that, we'll have some time in the bus because we'll head north to Lyon. 

We're having a blast and they're learning a lot (or at least I hope!). My favorite parts of the day are when they come running back to me and say "Miss Schilling, I got to use my French and they understood me!"

Day two: Monaco

Well, we've had a great day so far (and we still have 45 minutes before dinner). Wifi is spotty and unreliable at our hotel so if you haven't heard from us, that's why. This morning was beautifully sunny and perfect for a drive down the coast to get to Èze and our tour of the perfume factory. We learned it takes four tons of rose petals and one ton of jasmine to get one gallon of essential oil in order to make perfume. The expert perfume makers, the "noses", may work for months or years on a fragrance and to be a nose, you're not allowed to smoke, to drink alcohol or eat spicy foods because that affects your senses. They're also only allowed to work three hours a day - what a work schedule, huh!?  

After Fragonard, we toured and ate lunch in Monaco (picture below). We even got to see the line-up area and starting line for the Grand Prix which just took place 3 weeks ago here. Now, we're back in Nice enjoying more free time. Dinner is here again this evening and it's back to our hotel. Tonight we may walk 15 minutes down to a sandy beach that Natalie, Maddie and I discovered last night. 

Well, that's all for today. I hope that you are enjoying reading these updates as much as I enjoy writing them. :)

France 2015: day 1

Here we are in Place Masséna, the heart of downtown Nice. Fresh off the airplane and ready to explore! 

Ten, nine, eight...

Ten days to go until the start of our 2015 adventure.  And here's the official map of where we're going to be visiting (and, no, sorry, we're not doing the extra trip to Normandy - maybe next time!):

Along with what's shown on the map, we'll also be visiting the Fragonard perfume factory in Eze, Nimes, Arles, Baux-de-Provence and the palace of Versailles.  We've also got lots of big plans for our FOUR days in Paris, including getting city views from Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tour Montparnasse and of course, the Eiffel Tower.

So who's coming with me? :)