Arles and Avignon

***Sorry but there are still no pictures...the public library blocks a lot of websites***

Last weekend I went on an overnight CSB/SJU trip to Arles and Avignon.

Friday night a bunch of us went out to this discotheque where we met a bunch of guys who are studying in Aix en Provence. They were all from the US and there were even a couple from Minnetonka!!! It was a crazy coincidence. We ended up not getting back to the college until about 2:30.

We left Saturday morning at 8:30 and drove for a few hours. We stopped at a few touristy spots; like the salt mine (or whatever they call it) and an old Benedictine monastery. Then we got to Arles. We dropped our stuff off at the hotel and then after a group tour of St Trophime we were free to explore the city.

Sharon, Sarah, Caitlin and I went to the Roman amphitheater, a museum of the history of the area and a museum of Picasso, Goya and a few other people. We met the group for dinner...the best dinner EVER! We had a first course of half a mushroom and ham pizza and salad, then we had a huge piece of lasagna, and for dessert we had flan. We also got bread and wine with the meal. It was amazing and so much food. After that we walked back to the hotel and watched a little French TV before bed.

Sunday morning we woke up and had breakfast at the hotel (the first time in a month that I've had my coffee in a cup!). Then we got back on the bus to go to Avignon. It took about an hour to get there. We got tickets to see the French papacy palais and after a really fast tour through the building we had lunch. Delicious crepes with eggs, cheese, mushrooms and ham. We got on the bus again at 1:30 and drove to a vineyard for tasting. We learned a little about the process of making the wine but the factory wasn't working since it was Sunday. Then we had a tasting; the white they gave us was delicious: fruity and citrusy; the red was not good: it was peppery. I bought a couple of different bottles (one of the white that I tried and one of their house wine that is not exported at all).

After the wine tasting we got back on the bus and headed back to Cannes. We didn't get back until dinnertime and after that we started a game of poker (not for real money) in the bar on campus.

Monday I started my theater class which was really scary but I ended up doing fine (although I apparently have a hardcore Spanish accent). I play the part of an old lady with a hat. I don't really understand it all but I make fun of another character because he falls down a lot.

This weekend Jessie, Sharon, Caitlin and I planned a trip to Strasbourg. We are really excited about it and are planning on seeing the only concentration camp in France and also doing a tour of the Kronenbourg brewery, along with other things. My next entry will include info about that and all of my new classes.