Man, I can't believe I forgot to post about this. It's hard having to update everyone on Skype, Facebook, emails, doing assignments in class, and then adding a blog too. I mean, there's only so many times you can tell the same story without getting tired of it. Maybe it's better I have waited since September 30 to tell you about this place, because it's been a minute since I've thought about it so you get the unabridged version.
So that beautiful photo you see above is of the Verdon river, but it is incredible because it is so light-colored and clear. It opens up into le lac-de-Sainte-Croix, which is where our tour guide left us off for the day. We were instructed to bring our bathing attire, and I was determined to go in even though the weather was less than ideal. However, when M. George let us off the bus, he informed us that swimming in that area is interdit, because it's where the boats get in the water. And, should we like, we were more than welcome to rent pedal boats (no one told us to bring money for pedal boats). Thus, I was thrilled I had packed my hammock in my backpack, and set up shop between two trees to read until we were carted away to our next stop "further up the canyon."
So that beautiful photo you see above is of the Verdon river, but it is incredible because it is so light-colored and clear. It opens up into le lac-de-Sainte-Croix, which is where our tour guide left us off for the day. We were instructed to bring our bathing attire, and I was determined to go in even though the weather was less than ideal. However, when M. George let us off the bus, he informed us that swimming in that area is interdit, because it's where the boats get in the water. And, should we like, we were more than welcome to rent pedal boats (no one told us to bring money for pedal boats). Thus, I was thrilled I had packed my hammock in my backpack, and set up shop between two trees to read until we were carted away to our next stop "further up the canyon."
So a little over an hour later, we all packed back into the bus, and drove further up the canyon. Then the bus turned around, and we left the area. No swimming. With about three hours left in our scheduled excursion, we found ourselves in Moustiers-St-Marie, a charming little town with little touristy shops and a chapel high on a hill. We headed up to the chapel, which was located on a nearly vertical incline that took an amount of effort entirely disproportionate to the 15 minutes it took to get there. It was beautiful. We signed the guestbook. Still had several hours to kill.
Not a month into my program and already tired of being dumped in little tourist towns where I am expected to buy things (don't get me wrong, this place was super cute. But we were totally expecting to go swimming), myself and some other students opted to hoof it further up the mountain, in flip flops of course (if you go to another country, be prepared for people to never tell you exactly what you are doing and what exactly you need to bring with you). Anyway, we're tough and sandals were no deterrent.
Not a month into my program and already tired of being dumped in little tourist towns where I am expected to buy things (don't get me wrong, this place was super cute. But we were totally expecting to go swimming), myself and some other students opted to hoof it further up the mountain, in flip flops of course (if you go to another country, be prepared for people to never tell you exactly what you are doing and what exactly you need to bring with you). Anyway, we're tough and sandals were no deterrent.
What was, however, a deterrent, was the extremely loud thunder that met us at the top, and the fact that we could see lightning touch the ground across the valley. So yeah, that is something that maybe indicates you don't want to be on top of a mountain anymore.
We went back down to the town, and a friend and I caved and bought some ice cream.
The star you see on the right here, is up there for some reason but I don't know what it is. If you look at the photo directly below this text box, you will quickly understand what the real question is.
(and just in case you didn't catch on to my drift, the real question is: how did that star GET there?)
We went back down to the town, and a friend and I caved and bought some ice cream.
The star you see on the right here, is up there for some reason but I don't know what it is. If you look at the photo directly below this text box, you will quickly understand what the real question is.
(and just in case you didn't catch on to my drift, the real question is: how did that star GET there?)