Classes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, & Monaco

Salut!

Today marks eleven days since my arrival in France, and life has been as busy, adventurous, and beautiful as ever! With the start of classes this past week, I have begun to settle into a nice routine of reading, studying, and grabbing lots of lattes at local cafés between classes. I have stumbled across a few favorite places already (that are vegan, too!), and it is fun to greet the familiar faces of local baristas, grab a bite to eat, and soak in my surroundings during the middle of busy school days.

I am really excited about my class content as well. I am learning about water rights/distribution and its relation to Mediterranean geography and politics; historical and present immigration challenges; and sustainability, resiliency, and human rights in the Mediterranean as a result of climate change. It's all extremely pertinent to my current studies, so I am eager to see how these classes will frame my viewpoint and understanding of the region in the upcoming months.

And in other exciting news, this past week I came across one of my favorite things ever... a large antique market that is open every Monday in the heart of Old Nice at the Cours Saleya market. It is every thrifting or antique lover's dream, with stand after stand filled with the most unique tableware, furniture, clothing, jewelry, film cameras, art, and books one can find. Walking through the market provides a glimpse into the culture, style, and history of the city, and it is made even better by the accompanying music of local musicians on the streets. Not to mention the amount of adorable (and very well dressed) dogs that pass through!

I've also spent many days walking or running on the promenade, or sitting by the water and simply taking in the views. I've even enjoyed a few evening yoga sessions by the seaside, and truthfully nothing really compares! I am both very appreciative and still a bit unadjusted to the slowness of French life. Work is not as all-consuming here as it is in the United States, and people tend to prioritize balance, rest, and family much differently. There is less of an urgency to overwork or multi-task, which is a bit jarring compared to the work and school mentality I am so accustomed to at home. People tend to take an hour or two during lunch breaks to connect with friends over coffee, or use their evenings to sit and watch the sunset with family members, or stop on their walks to admire a guitarist strumming songs along the promenade. It is a refreshing adjustment and a practice I am trying to ease into my daily routine that is often so busy.

And speaking of stillness, on Friday, January 13th, I took a quick day-trip to the neighboring town of Villefranche-sur-Mer. It is a short, six-minute ride away by train, and a lovely getaway from the more bustling city life of Nice. Every corner of this town looks like it comes straight from a postcard, from the pastel-colored buildings to the serene harbor filled with fishing boats. And the water is so beautiful and clear! We walked up to the 16th-century Citadel and were able to capture some pretty incredible panoramic views of the town and harbor. The garden in the Citadel was something straight out of a fairytale, filled with date palms, walnut trees, and birds-of-paradise. We stayed until sunset and watched as both the sea and sky were bathed a shade of cotton-candy pink, perfectly accenting the coral houses and purple flowers lined across the harbor. I feel so grateful that I was able to explore such a beautiful and peaceful town so close by!

Saturday, January 14th was another day spent adventuring. I took a day-trip to Monaco, a little more than twenty minutes away by train. We visited the iconic Casino de Monte Carlo, situated right between the Café de Paris and l'Hôtel de Paris, all of which are architecturally stunning. The amount of wealth in Monaco is, of course, pretty unbelievable as well, so this trip was quite an eye-opening experience! We then ventured up to the Prince's Palace de Monaco, built in 1191 and currently occupied by Prince Albert II. Nearby is the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, famously known as the site of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco's wedding in 1956. She is currently buried there alongside other members of the Grimaldi family. This was genuinely one of the most stunning cathedrals I have ever seen, with arched stone ceilings seemingly stretching up for miles. It also has a grand organ with 7000 pipes!

Next to the cathedral is Monaco's oceanographic museum, so we spent some time exploring both the unique history of the museum and aquarium before walking out into the Saint Martin Gardens, dedicated to Princess Grace. The gardens provide a spectacular overlook of the sea, as well as all of Monaco. After doing some window shopping and taking in all of the luxury Monte Carlo has to offer, we trained home and ended the night with some of the most delicious pasta I've had thus far.

I'm now headed into my second week of classes, and am continuing to feel so grateful and appreciative of every experience I've been able to have in France. There is certainly an adjustment period, and I do miss many comforts from home (such as baking! I do not have access to an oven here!) (and my entire wardrobe!), but I am also having a great time soaking in all of the beauty and charm of Nice life. I am looking forward to an upcoming trip to Italy in two weeks, and am hoping to plan some hiking adventures up to the Alps and to nearby Italy when the weather warms up a bit :)

That is all I have for now, thank you so so so so much for reading and following along!!! ♥️♥️♥️

A bientôt,

Allyson :)

P.S. feel free to check out the gallery to see a bunch of my photos so far! If you want to!

P.P.S. I really felt like I was living out my Selena Gomez dreams walking around Monte Carlo