Paris

So I'm getting on a night train tonight and riding to Paris to meet up with some of my friends from the States... expect pictures of Paris Christmas lights sometime next week :)

I need six eggs... that's too expensive!

The last weekend of September, I traveled to a small city called Carcassonne... it has proven to be my favorite city thus far in all of France. Unfortunately, when I visited I didn't have a camera. Last weekend, I was able to return to Carcassonne... this time with camera in tow. Pictures... here we go!
I mentioned in the Nice post that pretty much every city in France has at least one big fountain. Above is the fountain in Toulouse, and below is one of the fountains in Carcassonne

This is the first view that you get of La Cité (the oldest part of a city). Carcassonne is a medieval city, completely surrounded by thick stone walls... basically incredible! The youth hostel that I stayed in is actually within the medieval city. So cool... the rest of this post is just pictures from around the city. It looks awesome, but what makes it even cooler is the fact that this is a completely functional city! People live here within these walls! And work here! Gah! It blows my mind! Anyway... more pics.















And of course the post wouldn't be complete without a blurry self-image with a weird facial expression that i really have no way of explaining...



Until next time... salut.

ps -- points to whoever identifies the title of this post :)

Nice in review

Nice was splendid. Truly, it was great to get far far away from the university and relax. So I know why you're here... you want pictures. Let's get going.


Palm trees... among my favorite things.

It seems as though every city that I've visited in France has at least one large artistic fountain...

Classic emo/myspace picture. Me and the Mediterranean.

Castle Hill by day and by night. Once upon a time there was a large castle perched on top of this hill, but it was destroyed by the bastard son of some king or other. From on top of this hill, you get incredible views of the sea, the city, and the mountains (those pictures coming up soon).

The Promenade des Anglais by day and by night. The Promenade des Anglais runs for 5 km along the Mediterranean shore. During the the day, it is full of people walking, rollerblading, skateboarding, and biking. At night, it's slightly more peaceful. On the other side of the roadway you find all of the casinos and resort hotels.

One of the remnants of the castle on the hill...

The paved paradise and put up a parking lot... from the top of castle hill.



More views from the top.

un petit papillon. The nice kind. Not the spoiled little white dog kind.

Public restrooms.


La Vielle Ville (the old village) by day and by night. Really cool, kinda medieval...


Weird head statue / office building... very strange and confusing.



Smart Cars are everywhere here.


Out one side of the train window...


Out the other side of the train window...


Back safe in Pau...


Yikes. I'm late for class. Gotta go!

la mer...

For as long as I can remember, I have longed to see the Mediterranean Sea. I'm not sure why exactly, but I have. So when I woke up this morning and looked out of the train window to see the sun beginning to rise over this miraculously blue body of water, my eyes started to water. It's truly remarkable how beautiful the riviera is. I hiked a little this morning up to the ruins of the old castle in the town, and from the top of the hill I was treated to this awesome view of pure blue as far as I could see. After staring, enraptured, for a while I turned around only to bit hit by a perfect view of the Alps. Words can't describe, and I will have pictures to post as soon as I return to campus Sunday night. I'm awestruck at the beauty.

I think I could probably live here?

Tomorrow I'm going to go either to Corsica or to Monaco. Haven't yet decided. I definitely do not want to return to school Monday morning.

And a special note to Jessica... the next post will be all in French for you, and I expect you to be fluent by the time I get home (Christmas) so that I have somebody to talk to ;)

Till next time...

-bevan

ps -- french keyboards suck.