One of the many wonderful things about living in France is that I get lots of vacation time. Everyone in France gets a minimum of five weeks! I think we could all learn a thing or two from the French about how to relax...haha. France, being a primarily Catholic country, celebrates many of the Catholic holidays - Toussaint (All Saints' Day) being one of them. Everyone gets November 1st off, but for teachers and students it is a two-week holiday. Having never had two weeks off before in November, I was very excited. In fact, it seemed like the perfect time for my parents to come visit. They were here for ten days at the beginning of November and we had a wonderful time together. Here are some of the pictures from their visit!
We spent the first few days in Montpellier. Here is a picture of my dad and me eating crêpes at an outdoor café at the Place de la Comédie.
This is my mom and me at a little café near my apartment on one of our daily mid-morning pastry breaks. We spent a lot of time eating on this vacation (of course!). How better to experience France than eating lots of delicious pastries!
After a few days in Montpellier, we drove down to Barcelona. On the way we stopped in Collioure, a small coastal village in France. Many people recommended that we stop there on the way and I'm so glad we did! It was breathtaking! We arrived around midday and spent the afternoon exploring this quaint little village. It was a nice warm November day so we walked along the boardwalk in and out of the many little coves. We saw lots people picnicking on the beach and even saw a few brave souls in the water. Eventually, we made our way over to the town center and found a cute little outdoor café where we ate lunch. Then, having eaten well and soaked up the sun, we headed on our way to Barcelona.
Of course, as any good tourists, our first full day we visited the Sagrada Familia. We arrived mid-morning to find the line wrapped all the way around the block. When we finally found the end, we joined the multitude of international tourists and began reading up on the church. For those who don't know, construction began on the Sagrada Familia in 1882 and an architect by the name of Antoni Gaudí took over the project in 1883. Gaudí devoted most of his life to building this church, which is now an iconic symbol of the city of Barcelona. Gaudí was a revolutionary architect for his time, but, unfortunately, was run over by a tram in 1926. However, his project is still being carried out today. The church has been under construction for over 100 years. Its anticipated date of completion is 2026 (the 100th anniversary of Gaudí's death). I visited the Sagrada Familia back in 2006 (when I was studying abroad), but I am glad I got to visit it again. It has changed a lot in the last six years. When I was there in 2006 they hadn't yet completed the inside of the church. Now, the inside is complete and looks beautiful. Here are a couple pictures of the inside:
I love the vaulted ceiling of this church. The white stone and tree-like pillars give it a bright, spacious feel. As we wandered around the church, we saw some men at work installing the stained glass windows. It was really interesting to see how it is done!
Me with the main altar in the background
Later that day, we went to Park Guëll, which was also designed by Antoni Gaudí. It is a beautiful sanctuary that overlooks the city of Barcelona. We got to the park just in time to see the sun setting over the city!
Me in Park Guëll with Barcelona in the background
While in Barcelona, we also enjoyed lots of delicious food. Here we are at a nice restaurant that served many local specialties. This picture was taken around 10:30 pm and we hadn't even eaten yet! Most restaurants in Barcelona don't open before 10 pm, but luckily there are lots of places that serve tapas in the early evening. When we arrived at this restaurant, there were only three other couples there, but as the night progressed more and more people showed up. We quickly realized that those who show up at 10 pm are considered the early birds... who would have thought it...haha!
After four wonderful days in Barcelona, we headed back to France. On the way we stopped at the Marimutra Botanical Garden, which is located in Blanes, Spain along the Costa Brava. The garden sits high atop a cliff that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. The views were spectacular!
Once back in the Montpellier area, my parents and I took day trips to nearby villages. Here I am on the ramparts of Aigues Mortes. This fortified city dates back to the Middle Ages and is still fully intact. Visitors can walk along the walls, which provide a beautiful view of the city below and the surrounding area.
We, also, visited St. Guilhem-le-Désert. It was recommended by many locals and was well worth the visit. This quaint little village is nestled into the Gellone Valley. The cobblestone streets and cute little houses were aplenty giving this medieval village a very charming feel.
The Gellone Abbey is the main attraction of the village. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The abbey was founded in 804 A.D. by Guilhem of Orange and has long since been an important stopping point on the St. James Way (a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. James of Compostella in Spain). Side note: If you haven't seen the movie 'The Way' directed by Emilio Estevez, check it out.
Me in the town square of St. Guilhem-le-Désert
On the outskirts of the village we discovered a path leading into the mountains. We decided to climb up the path and check out the view. Here we are with the village of St. Guilhem-le-Désert in the background.
During my parents' visit, they, also, got to meet my roommate, Alix, and her family. We enjoyed a nice Sunday lunch at Alix's parents' house with lots of local specialities such as oysters and smoked salmon. It was delicious!
After our afternoon meal, my parents and I visited the Cathedral of Villeneuve-les-Maguelone. It was built in the 12th century on a peninsula to protect it from intruders. This historic site is in a great location and was perfect for an afternoon stroll.
The following day, after a great vacation, my parents headed back to the States, but first they assured me they would be back again to visit me in the spring!
