So, as most of you know, France is a country where vacation is nearly as important as good food and good wine. It may be even more important. Well, I'm taking full advantage of my first week of vacation in France. This week is thanks to the Toussaint holiday (All Saints Day). While November 1st is a Saturday, we get an entire week off to recharge our batteries until the Vacances de Noël, which begin on December 19th.
This week brought not only vacation, but also the definitive arrival of fall weather and the time change, which, as you may have noticed, takes place a week earlier in Europe than in the USA. Parts of France were covered in snow yesterday, but I only got to experience a very, very cold rain.
Monday, I went to the Forêt de Brocéliande with Sarah and Cynthia, the other two English lecturers. The forest is where the legend of King Arthur takes place and it is around 30km southwest of Rennes. It is also where you can find the fountain of youth and Merlin's grave. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to get to either of those two places, but I plan on going back soon.
I'm spending the rest of the week in Dijon, which is kind of my "hometown" in France, since I've spent the last three summers here and have quite a few friends here. The train ride down to Dijon from Paris was absolutely amazing. The sky was mostly grey, but the sun made a habit of regularly peaking through the veil to shine down onto the gorgeous landscape that is Bourgogne. In the summer, the rolling hills, covered in trees and pastures, are a vibrant green. The fall, however, is even more gorgeous. The leaves are bright orange and yellow and the pastures still green, though now with hints of gold. Absolutely spectacular!
It is good to be here and see the city in a different season and catch up with my friends and colleagues at the university. I'm staying with my friend Julien, who I've known for three years now. Tonight, I'll have dinner with Stéphane and Sabine, who I would have liked to have seen more, but a little time is better than nothing. That just means I will have to come back in the winter.
This week brought not only vacation, but also the definitive arrival of fall weather and the time change, which, as you may have noticed, takes place a week earlier in Europe than in the USA. Parts of France were covered in snow yesterday, but I only got to experience a very, very cold rain.
Monday, I went to the Forêt de Brocéliande with Sarah and Cynthia, the other two English lecturers. The forest is where the legend of King Arthur takes place and it is around 30km southwest of Rennes. It is also where you can find the fountain of youth and Merlin's grave. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to get to either of those two places, but I plan on going back soon.
I'm spending the rest of the week in Dijon, which is kind of my "hometown" in France, since I've spent the last three summers here and have quite a few friends here. The train ride down to Dijon from Paris was absolutely amazing. The sky was mostly grey, but the sun made a habit of regularly peaking through the veil to shine down onto the gorgeous landscape that is Bourgogne. In the summer, the rolling hills, covered in trees and pastures, are a vibrant green. The fall, however, is even more gorgeous. The leaves are bright orange and yellow and the pastures still green, though now with hints of gold. Absolutely spectacular!
It is good to be here and see the city in a different season and catch up with my friends and colleagues at the university. I'm staying with my friend Julien, who I've known for three years now. Tonight, I'll have dinner with Stéphane and Sabine, who I would have liked to have seen more, but a little time is better than nothing. That just means I will have to come back in the winter.
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Any pictures of the Forest? I have always wanted to go visit the Paimpont forest - how is it? :)
RépondreSupprimerI'm jealous! Do you get to visit Sebastiano?
RépondreSupprimer