Halloween!

I SCREAM! YOU SCREAM!WE ALL SCREAM FOR HALLOWEEN!!!

So this year I am sadly missing Halloween which has got me way down! I keep seeing all these posts about DIY halloween costumes and my longing for my favorite holiday has never been sooooo strong. Here in France they do not celebrate Halloween although I was told that a few years ago that they (I don't know who they is) tried to bring it here and it was a big flop.

I am wishing everyone back home a Happy Halloween, I hope everyone is putting their heart into their costumes and are ready to eat chocolate till their teeth rot! So get out there and... Scare a bunch of kids! Egg some houses! and Party like it's 1999!

And if you still don't know what to be for this year why not be the Eiffel Tower???

Montpellier (Part Un)

So while I'm in France I am living just outside this really beautiful city named Montpellier. Currently better known as last year's French League futbol champions.

Montpellier is a very interesting city because it is one of the only city in france without Roman heritage or Greek foundations. The city was a main port for trading on the Mediterranean where Muslim and Jewish populations flourished. Montpellier is also home to one of the oldest Universities in the world!

I haven't had a chance yet to visit museums and other such things but I have had several chances to walk around the town. I really love Montpellier because it has everything you expect from a French town; beautiful windows, narrow windy roads, cute boutiques, quaint alleys, historical architecture and many cafes, all without the huge amount of tourists.

When walking around Montpellier, you really don't feel like a tourist. You feel like one of the locals because it's not over run my tourists like some other French cities.

The shopping in Montpellier is very satisfying with all the huge staple stores like Zara, small cute boutiques, inexpensive trendy clothing, or specialty stores such as my favorite, The Tin Tin store :D

 I am a big fan of archetectual arches... I have no idea why. But I was so happy to see one right here in Montpellier. La Porte du Peyrou is a beautiful arch that stands on the outside of Montpellier's old city. It is beautiful in it's own regard. the detailing and the beautiful carvings are breathtaking. The arch then leads up to La Place Royal du Peyrou where a huge structure (I have no idea what to call it) stands which is absolutely beautiful. The pale yellow of the stone just gives it such a richness that I love. France is just full of history, it really makes you realize how much more swag they had in ancient  times compared to now. We don't even compare when it comes to ballin' out.

Place De La Comédie is sorta like the center of it all, normally a landmark used to meet up with people "Place De La Comédie? at 12:00? By the fountain? Cool?" On several occasions I've showed up at the Place De La Comédie, looking for people I have never met before, and have only seen on facebook. Great place to meet! La Comédie is the Oprah center that stands on one side of the plaza. Then off to the side there is a carousel. French people love carousels, they are everywhere! This plaza also branches out to all the different streets a couple leading you into the old town, another leading to the train station, and then others leading to shopping malls and other places.

I can't wait to discover more and more of Montpellier, I am hoping to head into the city more often to hit the museums, and maybe some tours, where I can get a better understanding of the city and it's history.

Clermont L'Herault (Part Trois)

This past week Marianne took Me and Carlos out for a walk to see this amazing little town called Villeneuvette. This town is about a five minute drive from Clermont L'Herault. We drove up and parked outside this small inclosed town which seemed rather private. The hike began and ended at the town. As we walked through the trail Marianne once again explained to us about the landscape, the plant life and certain structures we came across.

This town was particularly interesting because the town used to be a factory. From what I understood the factory produced wool. They created a really cool water system that ran through the hiking trail we were on. We first came across this huge basin that Marianne explained collected lake and rain water. From the basin, they created these tunnels/channels that directed the water all the way down to the village.  into this beautiful fountain where they would collect the water. Once again I'm so impressed by the simple yet amazing technology that was available at the time. Reading about these things is so much less impressive than actually seeing it for yourself and the complexity of it all. 

During our walk, Marianne showed us more of the plant life and so I got to do one of my favorite things in life which is trying new fruit. YUM!!! We came across these little red ball looking fruits growing on the trees, named Arbouse (Arbutus). I really like the taste, it was very sweet, seemed like a fruit that would be good as a jam. When I came home I read up a little about it and it seems like it's not a commonly eaten fruit and although it needs modern investigation it doesn't have much nutritional benefits. Along with the yummy fruits the landscape was quite amazing! Absolutely beautiful! The mountains, the greenery, and the fog just went so beautifully together. Really makes you appreciate the beautiful world we live in! 

At the end of the hike Marianne took us into the small town to show us a little bit around. We ran into one of her friends, a 70ish old lady who used to be a professional ballet dancer! She invited us into her home which ended up being a blessing because I took one step into her home and died by it's gorgeousness. Literally my dream home. I immediately began taking photos  in hopes that one day I can have a home that looks the same. The pictures bellow do not do the home justice but you can get an idea as to how beautiful this home is! And to imagine this isn't even the half of it!

This community is very unique in that it's almost completely unaccessible to tourists and is unaccessible by car. All cars were parked outside the community. I didn't know this but not having drivable roads in a neighborhood makes it that much more beautiful. The roads and alleys are much more well maintained and the absence of parked cars just adds to the charm of the town. Definitely an ideal place place to live. I now have a reason to pursue a life of wealth.

Clermont L'Herault (Part Deux)

My landlord, Marianne, is this amazing, older woman (I have no idea how old but I would guess 60s) she has been so kind in trying to show us all that this small town has to offer. Yesterday she asked my house mate Carlos and I if we wanted to go for a walk... I had no idea i'd be going for a two and half hour hike up a mountain.

The views from the top were beautiful. You could see all the villages that lay below. As we were walking, Marianne explained that at the times of Shepherds, this trail and mountain were a common route and area to keep sheep. Through out the trail there were these little stone huts that still stand, where shepherds would come to rest, lay out tools and or do whatever shepherds do. They are really cute and cozy, but we noticed that on this warm sunny day, that these little huts insulate cold air very well. Marianne then told us that during the winter time she would come here with her children and the huts were nice and warm and protected them well from the cold. It's crazy that these little huts, from their simple design could be so versatile, makes you wonder about how much energy we put into making all these complicated machines when simple design can generally do the trick.
 

Throughout the whole mountain there is so much wild plant life to see. Whenever I travel I'm always so envious other countries that have fruits, veggies and herbs, growing wild anywhere and everywhere. You just don't come across that living in a Toronto suburb. As we strolled, Marianne showed us all the olive trees, that Clermont L'Herault is famous for. Wine and Olive Oil are Clermont L'Herault's two biggest industries. Along with Olives, we saw thyme growing everywhere, fig trees and other various plant species.

From atop the mountain we were able to look down on all the little villages that surround the H'erault area. In the picture bellow, I'm standing right above the town that I am currently living in. Marianne, was able to point out exactly where the house is but I can no longer make out the different homes. 

I am really beginning to fall in love with this little town. I've always preferred big, busy cities but I am developing an new appreciation for a small town kinda life. I am very lucky to have Marianne and her eagerness to show off her village. This town that I thought would make me feel trapped is getting bigger everyday! 

Clermont L'Herault (Part Un)

So I'm gonna talk a little bit about the town I'm currently living in, Clermont L'herault. It's a small town in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France. It's a small town of just over seven thousand, and is about 32.49 square kilometers. Clermont L'Herault is an ancient city dating back to... I'm not really sure, but the church dates back to the twelfth century which means this town is really old!

The tiny red dot is Clermont L'Herault

The town doesn't have much but definitely ideal for those who enjoy living a simpler life. The other day my roommates and I went to see a film at the local movie theatre which consisted of once viewing screen, and two vending machines as concession stand. The film we went to see was quite nice, it was called La Vierge, Les Coptes et Moi.. which means " The Virgin (Mary), The Copts, and Me... The film is about a young Christian Egyptian film maker who decides to go back to his families town in Egypt to create a documentary about the sighting of the virgin mary that occurred decades before. While there he becomes attached to his family and the rest of the villagers. While there he decides to make a film, recreating the sighting of the virgin mary, with the help of his family and the other villagers. The movie was very very cute and very fun to watch.