Blogs from Aix-en-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, Europe - page 9

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Just before I forget or lose the physical thing, here is a copy of a poem that I bough during the first weekend excursion: Its 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 raison De ne pas croire aux malefices D'une vie Faite de complices Ne se delectant que d'envie En denombrant les cicatrices Du beau decor de la maison! C'est a vingt ans qu'on a raison, De ne pas croire aux benefices D'une vie Faite d'artifices Ne laissant que trace de suie De regrets et de sacrifices Dans le decor de la maison! La ... read more


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 horses were grazing - seemed harmless enough to offer them a few hunks of bread right? Wrong. Seems like its part of the French sense of humor to erect electric fences and NOT put up a sign to warn people. So somehow, out of the ten or so other people that must have been sticking their hands through the fence, I happen to ... read more


Saturday - 14th of June, 2008 We 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 Marseille (bloody expensive at 4.60 euros considering the frequency and demand for that line) and then another 20 minute train ride to Cassis. French train stations have proven to be rather challenging so far - the electronic vendors do not accept any major credit or debit card that uses a magnetic strip instead of a chip and they do not take ... read more


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 welcome wagon and show them a good time. Armed with my fellow partners in crime here, David, Zach and Brian, we took two of the new girls, Kathryn and Amanda, out to a local favorite - O'Shannon's. Essentially one of quite a few Irish pubs here in Aix but it's painstakingly convenient location of just across la Place Rachelme makes it an obvious ... read more


Ahoy there! Well, dear reader, this entry was written(and forgotten about) a substantial portion of my life ago. 'Better late than never' is an excuse, so I won't say that. Nevertheless, here are some two year old musings. I arrived into a warm and sunny Marseille on the afternoon of the 16th of June. My friend, Amandine, was running late so I had plenty of time to read some more of my (rather entertaining) chick lit(White Teeth, before you ask). She evenually arrived and we drove to one of the stunning calanques on the Med coast, where we were greeted by incredibly inviting turquoise water, although a little too cold for a dip. After a hike along the coast we reached a point from where we had a view back to Marseille, over the water. A ... read more


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 and then afterwards, she also gives us a little cooking lesson on some of the foods that appear in the chosen book. So imagine my surprise when I walk in and the first thing I think is: Why the hell does this French septuagenarians home smell EXACTLY like my grandmothers back in Lucknow, India! We make the perfunctory introductions Hi Im so and so I ... read more




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