Postcards from Montpellier - 4

A week that disappeared before I knew it - my mind is bursting with impressions of this last week! From the first signs of homesickness and insomniatic nights spent tossing in that ridiculously narrow bed, my ears tweaking at the slightest sound outside my dorm room...to visiting new places, exploring hitertho unvisited quartiers of Montpellier, evenings out with colleagues and shopping...I'm scared my budget for the month is going to be terribly strained with the shopping I've done this past week! Ah well, we only live once! ;-)

Visited Aigues-Mortes on Thgursday after class - yet another mediaval city, but not half as impressive as Carcassonne...what was impressive was spotting the pink flamingoes in the "aigues-mortes" (dead water...so called because of the high salt content in the water) and the beach that we visited later via the sand dunes shaded by pine trees...a pristine, gorgeous beach not far from the "naturalist" beach, and no before you ask I didn't go à la nature!

Bid adieu to my Spanish colleagues on Friday - dinner en ville, followed by a promenade en centre-ville browsing through books on sale (yes, at that time of the night since the Estivales de Montpellier is going on), listening to music and watching people tango...glad I met them and hope to stay in touch!

Saturday, 14 july, la fete nationale, I was at Avignon...and I fell in love! No, not with a français, with the city sillies! It's gorgeous..I'd go as far as saying the beauty of the city is sublime...the magnifique Palais des Papes, the humbling Cathedrale, the impressive Pont d'Avignon and the Rochers...yes you can see I was duly impressed! I wish I could have spent more time there, but well, there's always the next time! :-)

Later in the evening I was at Port Marianne to watch the fireworks organised for the national day - spectacular event, followed by drinks at Cubanito, a bar en ville with my colleagues! Returned late to crash in bed till late Sunday morning...spent the entire day at the beach (Palavas) and a café à la Saint Tropez...and I do believe I've tanned badly, but who's complaining? :-)

Was most amused at the sight of 40-50 year-ols sunbathing topless...20 year-olds I expected, but women of that age? Ahem...yes, I know it could be called cultural shock; it was nevertheless vastly amusing to see a swelte 50 something blond sunbathing topless next to a fat, out-of-shape, balding 60 something ;-)

A brand new week, with fewer people at the institute and vaguely interesting modules..I'm now counting-down to next Tuesday when K will join me...ah, for some real company!