A Day in La Ciotat

After traveling the many many hours into France, that piece of travel just didn't seem to be enough. The school I am studying abroad through didn't seem to think so either. Only one day after orientation in the US, what does one expect? That's right classes.

Here in Aix-en-Provence however? Beach day.

Obviously IAU knows how to really relax the students with a free bus trip before throwing them into intense six week courses. Alongside last minute notebook purchases a day in La Ciotat was just what was needed. There, I got my first views of such blue Mediterranean water as turned into town.

We first started the day being dropped off in the market. As we all tumbled off the bus and into the town of La Ciotat, I attached myself to another group gathering up the necessities of a great picnic. I gathered up fresh fruit into the crook of my arm and found myself easily maneuvering in a boulongerie for a baguette-- a check off my French cliche of things that of course must still be done.

The girl I was with, holding a half of a watermelon hoped someone else would get some cheese.

I couldn't help but agree.

Unfortunately once we managed to run back to the bus, quite a few of us were separated, causing a much smaller sort of picnic to take place of bread, a peach so juicy even the ants enjoyed it, and bananas. Though not perfect, French fruit somehow tastes even more amazing than the fruit back home.

Having been separated however, it was time for some wandering in hopes of finding everyone we actually came with. Taking the trail through the park where we were all picnicking, we took a wrong turn. Turns out however, that the wrong turn was actually a turn with quite a view.

Though the sun was bright and more than a little hot, it was finally off to the beach!

I am flying, Jack!

The water was a lot colder than expected. Still, I managed to enjoy the sun as I wandered the edge and climbed the rocks until the edge of the water to look out onward until it was time to get back on the bus and point the air conditioning directly at us.

The day however was not yet over, we still had this view reaching out over the France all of the students were going to be living near for the next month.