Streets of Marseille

The garbage collectors in Marseille are on strike over the increase in retirement age from 60 to 62.  The result is that France's 2nd most populated city becomes the world's largest garbage dump.

It is very windy in Marseille

People like setting the trash piles on fire

No time to post more, gotta catch a train to Lyon

Avignon

I left Sunday morning at 9:30 AM.  We took a very small Citroen Saxo.

There were 5 people:

me,

a belgian who speaks french, german and dutch,

a german who speaks german and enlgish

a spaniard who speaks spanish

and a colombian who speaks spanish and english

everyone is learning french except for the belgian, because it is his native language.  It made for an interesting trip though, because if someone wanted to express themselves, it was often necessary to play telephone with 3 people.  Luckily everyone had one person on the trip that they could communicate with, without difficulty.

On the way to Marseille on Sunday, we stopped in Avignon.  The main attractions are the bridge and the   former court of the Popes.  I encourage you to click on the links to learn more.

Lunch consisted of a baguette with ham inside.

Something funny: On the way to Avignon, I saw a sign that said "ferme aux crocodiles".  The first translation that came to mind was "closed to crocodiles" but the Belgian explained to me that the correct translation is "Crocodile farm".

Famous bridge due to the song "Sur le pont d'Avignon"

Gate leading to the bridge

Courtyard of the Popes

View of where the Popes used to live

Just got back to Grenoble

My four day adventure is over and there is a lot to talk about.  For that reason, my next four days of posting will probably just be my reflection of the past four days. I need to go to bed, but here is one picture.

The small car we took, Citroen Saxo.

First Vacation

      Next week is my first vacation.  I will be headed to Marseille, Nice and Monaco.  I have already heard that Marseille is like a war zone due to strikes, we may have to avoid it then.  I haven't done too much this weekend, just stayed around town and studied french.  I did receive some Jiff peanut butter and will be putting it too good use on my road trip tomorrow.

View of the mountains

The Bastille

The Bastille

Above the Bastille

Along the "B" line

Some of the steps climbing the Bastille

First pictures using my phone

While I was returning from the public library to return books, I walked through Grenoble's very modern research park and took the pictures with my phone.

Snow suit, 5 euros used

Pharamceutical building

Looking down the street

The buisness school

Looking from the buisness school at the train station and old town (in the background).

I apologize for the delay

The internet quit working recently.  However, much has happened since then.  I swam the 50m butterfly and the 50m freestyle in my first swim meet at the university here in France.  I easily won my heat and probably overall but the results haven't been posted yet online so I cannot be too sure as there was one other swimmer in the six heats who also left his competitors way behind.

Other than that, I bought a cell phone here in France.  It is 9 euros for the Samsung Galaxy Teos with the android OS.  The data plan is 1 hour of talking per month with unlimited text and internet.  It comes with bluetooth, GPS, FM and AM radio, WIFI, 3G+ calling and a 3 megapixel camera.  The data plan does cost 22 euros per month.  However there are no roaming charges anywhere in the EU with this phone, so I should always be able to find hotels, places to eat, or attractions on demand.  I can also check my mail, and train schedules now on the road as I travel.

People have been asking about the kitchen.

Kitchen is symetrical, 8 hotplates, 4 sink-tubes, 2 actual faucets. Cleaned everyday also.

From the top of Venon

The total time for the trip was 5 hours, of which approximately 4h20 were walking.  At the very top of the village there is a church, a war monument and a restraunt.  Because I reached the top of the town at 1PM, I ate at the restraunt.  The whole meal cost 13 euros ($18).  It included bread and two courses.  The price is a bit expensive, but it is important to experience the local food every so often.

Some houses in Venon from the church's view

The church

First Course

Second Course

War Monument, "The children of Venon who died for France"

Everyone was friendly in Venon... except for the geese.

Venon

On Friday I decided to buy a coffee maker from IKEA. After walking to IKEA, I deicded to continue on walking to the village up on the mountain ridge.  The whole trip was approximately 10 km (6.2 miles).  

More cars

Peugeot 107 rear

Peugeot 107 front

Ford Kuga (the euro SUV)

Standard Ford Focus in Europe