Florence

Friday morning, at 2 AM, Meg, Jacqueline, and I boarded a bus for Florence.  After 7 bumpy and restless hours we arrived tired and disorientated but excited to be in Florence.  When we made our hotel reservations we were under the impression that we would be able to check in upon arrival but were informed that we would have to wait until 3 PM.  So we left our bags at the hostel and set out to explore Florence.

Duomo

Our first stop, and pretty much only stop of the day, was the huge outdoor Florentine market.  Hundreds of booths selling scarves, jewelry, and every leather product you would ever want.  Naturally, I indulged and bought a leather jacket as well as a few gifts for people back home.  Amidst the market lies the Duomo.  It was one of the largest and most decorated buildings I think I have ever seen.  Tired after spending money and walking around all day we headed back to the hostel to check in, shower, and rest up before starting our night.

Duomo

Jacqueline and me on Ponte San Niccolo

Friday night we had plans to meet up with one of Meg's friends from Le Moyen who is studying in Florence for the semester.  She didn't live too far from the hostel so we were able to walk to their apartment.  

Street artist

When we got there we had appetizers and met Meg's friend Kat and her two roommates, who also go to Le Moyen, Libby and Laura.  For dinner we went to a restaurant Moyo where we had an aperitivo, which is basically a drink and buffet style appetizers for really cheap - perfect for college students like us!  After dinner they toured us around Florence and showed us some of their favorite places.  We were all exhausted from our trip to Florence so we ended the night early and returned to the hostel for some much needed sleep.

Meg and me on Ponte San Niccolo

Saturday was spent relaxing and recovering.  After a leisurely morning, we left the hostel around 3 went to the market again and walked through the streets of Florence.  Later that evening we met up with Meg's friends for dinner and drinks.  Towards the end of our night they took us to a place known as the "secret bakery."  It is essentially a hotel bakery where the workers sell fresh pastries "secretly" to the public and then pocket the money they make of their sales.  The pastries were hot out of the oven and so delicious!  

Outside the secret bakery

Sunday we went to the Ponte Vecchio and then to Meg's friends for one last visit.  We then had lunch at a small Italian restaurant where the pasta was amazing but the bread paled in comparison to the baguettes we have become accustomed to in France.  Around 5 we headed to the bus station where we boarded our bus and 7 and a half hours later we were back in beautiful Nice!  

We loved our visit in Florence but we missed the blue water, warm weather, and fresh bread of Nice so we were happy to be home, even if it was 2 AM and raining!

Florence from the Ponte Vecchio

Aix-en-Provence and Marseille

This weekend we went to Marseille, one of the biggest cities in France with a population of close to 1 million.  We left for Marseille Saturday morning at 8 AM so Friday was spent in Nice.

Thursday night Meg, Jacqueline, and I went out to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Pasta Basta.  We overheard the people sitting next to us speaking English so naturally we inquired if they were from the US. As it turned out they were from Los Angeles and were in Nice for a few days on a food and wine tour organized by the Tobin James winery in Pasa Robles, California.  We got to talking and by the end of the night they had paid for our dinner so we felt that we at least owed them a tour of Nice.

Friday morning we met up with the couple from the night before, Steve and Carla, as well as the owners of the winery.  We took them to Parc du Chateau, a castle in Nice that overlooks the city of Nice, as well as through Vieux Nice.  They were all very nice people and we enjoyed being able to show people where we live!

View from the chateau

View from the chateau

Saturday morning I got up before the sun and set out for Aix-en-Provence.  After a 3 hour bus ride we arrived in beautiful Aix.  There we visited the farmers market and walked through Vieux Aix.  After lunch we took a walking tour of Aix which highlighted places where artist Paul Cézanne lived and painted.  After the tour we boarded another bus to Marseille.

Jacqueline and me in Aix

We arrived at the train station in Marseille and then walked, for what seemed like an hour, to our hotel to relax and change before dinner.  We ate at a small restaurant by the port that had crepes and omelettes.  After a delicious meal we headed to the opera to see Andrea Chénier.  It was preformed in Italian with French subtitles.  I had never been to the opera before so it was a new experience for me.  I don't know whether I'm too young to appreciate the art of opera or if I was especially tired that night but my first impression is that maybe the opera isn't for me.  Finally it was time to return to the hotel and see what Jacqueline had in store for us the next day.

The group at the opera

Montpellier

Two weekends ago Meg, Jacqueline, and I visited Montpellier, a small town about 3 hours west of Nice.  It is one of the first college towns in France so we were able to meet a lot of young people who were our age.  Meg and I traveled by car with her host parents and Jacqueline braved the train by herself.  We all arrived there Friday night at our lovely Hotel Majestic.  It was less majestic and more minimalist but for 20 euros a night and located just off the main square, it was perfect.  Tired from school and traveling we decided to go out for dinner and head to bed early.

Meg and Jacqueline in the main square

Saturday morning we rolled out of bed around noon and started out day at the market located in the Montpellier's downtown square.  The market featured food, music, and crafts.  We spent the majority of the day shopping around the market as well as making our way though the four story mall, Le Polygone.

That night we went out to a few bars and our first discotheque!  It was a lot of fun but very exhausting!  It was open until 5 AM and of course we had to stay until it closed.  The next day we had to be out of the hotel by 11 AM so we were a little tired to say the least.  All in all it was a fun time and we hope to return soon!

Breakfast Sunday morning

When I returned Sunday night I met up with Mom and Dad.  I spend the night with them Sunday night and then walked around Nice with them Monday.