http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/kabirseth/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from kabirseth en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:50:11 +0000 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:50:11 +0000 Finally. The most highly anticipated weekend of this summer was on the brink of fruition. Amsterdam that perverse Mecca for virtually all young voyagers throughout Europe titillated by the prospect of legalized marijuana among many other narcotics the Red Light districtlive sex shows and the birthplace of Heineken and Amstel. My own pilgrimage there would serve two fold obviously observe n http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Netherlands/North-Holland/Amsterdam/blog-304788.html Alright. It's been a week and a half since I've been meaning to really describe the weekend of the 27th and 28th easily one of the most fun 48 hours of my life My memory is definitely failing me right now so thank God I had the foresight to scribble down a few notes all those days ago Hopefully they will be sufficient enough to jog my timeaddled recollections. Thursday 27th June 2008 So cl http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-296612.html The Friday before last I was somehow duped into going to IPN again although this time I'm honestly glad I did because that night I just happened to meet Hakan Zetterstrom a 25 year old hailing from Lund Sweden who has been studying here in Aix for the past year or so completing the last of his studies in Economics before moving on to do his masters back home. Anyways the reason I'm mentioning http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-294579.html Tuesday 24th June 2008So literally as I was about to begin writing this Michele bursts in and without even peeking her head in or saying hello says Ferme la porte si non il va claquer scaring the shit out of me. Basically she wants me to keep the door to my room closed at all times so that the wind doesn't slam it shut Personally I'm one who hates it when people keep their door shut fo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-293629.html Having finally mentally chained myself to my chair I think I'm finally prepared to relatively accurately recount the complete insanity hilarity wonder excitement and ultimately even sadness that has colored one of the most memorable weeks of my life. On some accounts time and alcohol have blurred my memory slightly but I will do my best. As a side note I'd like to mention that I'm writin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-293317.html Just before I forget or lose the physical thing here is a copy of a poem that I bough during the first weekend excursionIts called ' Vingt Ans' by Jean Vertex thought the title was particularly fitting for me and what I'm doing with my life right now. I'm going to keep it in French for now because the meaning would obviously be lost in translation.C'est a vingt ans qu'on a raisonDe ne pas croi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-291195.html The title of this blog is a story in itself Anyways it's Friday the 20th of June and as soon as class is over and we part ways with our hangovers we rendezvous at the bus station to make our ways down to the fabled Marseille beaches. Up till that day I had gotten mixed reviews about it ranging from gorgeous to an absolute shithole so I really was going with no expectations at all Anyways http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-291189.html Well it's only been a few days and already I'm struggling to remember everything that I've done I suppose I'll pick it up again from last Wednesday the 18th of June CEA along with the guidance of our adorable director Vivienne organized a cherry picking excursion to a farm just 20 minutes outside Aix. However just before we get to the orchard we decide to stop by a small paddock where some http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-291172.html Unfortunately the title of this blog much sums up the beginning of this week Monday the 16th of June onwards pretty accurately. My program just welcomed a new flock students undertaking a 6 week program here at Aix although at a different school. However quite a few of them would also be moving into the Mirabeau Apartments at 62 Rue Roux Alpheran with me so I figured I'd take the form of the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-289333.html Saturday 14th of June 2008We finally get our act together and make the much anticipated journey to Cassis a small coastal village township situated just east of Marseille. Contrary to my opinion it was not in fact named after the black currant that takes the same name in France which is actually native to the Burgundy region. The quickest way to get there from Aix is to hop on a bus to M http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-289317.html Tuesday 10t of June. Nothing of much consequence really happened today except for a visit to the home of Marie Francoise an elderly lady here in Aix who has volunteered to read to a bunch of us students every week. The twist on what would undoubtedly be an extremely boring and tedious visit it takes 20 minutes just to walk there...uphill is that she only chooses books that are about cooking an http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-288076.html Alright so the bloody Internet at the Mirabeau Apartments decided to pack up about and French efficiency dictates that it will take at least eight working hours to repair... which translates to about 3 days and counting. So before I forget everything I decided to bite the bullet and head down here to Carrefour Cafe just down my street Rue Roux Alpheran. Very nice outdoor seating with one hour of http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-286517.html As predicted I'm useless at updating this shit as things happen. As a result I'm going to have to rely solely on my memory to recount the last 4 or 5 days which have unfortunately been blurred in several places and times due to far too many preouting gin and tonics. Anyways here goesTuesday 3rd of June was the second day of classes. To be honest these classes are a little dull and its far to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-285148.html So here we are. The first time I have actually sat down to pen my thoughts in god knows how long and in all honesty I'm pretty excited to see what will emerge I was actually hoping I would get around to doing this a few days ago so I guess I'll make up for it by providing a quick executive summary of the past week. I arrived in France on the 29th of May ready to embark on a 2 month long immersi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/Aix-en-Provence/blog-283019.html