2 Weeks, 3 Cities

I find it rather funny how, although the year abroad is essentially 10 months of being in another country to improve your target language, as soon as a weeks holiday comes around the whole of the Erasmus population of said country swiftly departs to explore anywhere else in Europe BUT country with target language. So, being the very cliché of this observation, the onset of a mid term holiday meant that it was time to flee Aix for a week (or a week and a half... what lectures?)  Queue further disappearance of Erasmus grant to various flight/bus operators, hostels and extravagant air b'n'b apartments.

Baby, it's cold outside.

As winter descends upon the South of France, that being the very end of November might I add, the inevitability of Christmas also looms. Although I generally associate Christmas markets with Germany (rightly so, I am told) I must say that France seems to hold a damn pretty Marché Noël too. England, take note. You're slacking.

The hidden treasures of Provence

It's officially mid October, gone mid October even, and it is 26 degrees. Is this real life?

My inner pale white girl is crying. Oh, the woes of living in the South of France. No- I shouldn't complain, in fact I CAN'T complain because where I would probably be sat in my room right now in Costa-del-Soton (there's even now a page on Facebook called 'Is it raining in Southampton?') moping over books with 400 pages which I'd probably only realistically read 2 of, I have been exploring beautiful French towns, and hiking alongside stunning views in order to spend my Saturday lazing on rocks in what can only be described as paradise. (See first image, and weep.)

Little old me in little old Aix

I've been here for 6 weeks on Friday... how, please tell me, has this happened!?! I can't say that it hasn't felt like I've been here for a century already, but I just cannot believe that It's been a month and a half.
The most bizarre thing perhaps is that I've already booked my flight home for Christmas, and my countdown app tells me that it's exactly 73 days until I return. Which in turn means I'll be half way through my time in Aix, which is NOT OKAY.