En Haute!

On Sunday I had a lot of free time because I was stuck in Limoux due to the strike. I was supposed to be at the beach in Mèze, but no, I was in Limoux. Anyway, I decided to climb up this hill to see if I could find I good vantage point of the city. Here are a few of the pictures I took...

I was amazed to find when I got to the top of the hill endless fields and vineyards. As far as the eye could see! It was absolutely gorgeous. It was sunny. There was a wonderful breeze. I could have explored up there forever!

PS. I really like this picture looking down the row of grape vines with the mountains in the back. Isn't it lovely?

Marché and Fête du Vins à Carca

I've never seen so many types of olive in my life! YUCK!

The fête du vins is a type of festival where all of the caves reveal their wines for the new year. There was a degustation (wine tasting) at each one of these tents. There must have been at least 30 different caves present!

There was also a band walking around town to celebrate the fête!

Each vendor that sells eggs always has their LIVE chickens at the market. I don't know if this is to show what stock the eggs come from or if they actually are selling the live chickens. Maybe I will ask some day.

YUCK! Oysters. Lots and lots and lots of Oysters. Those plates are there so that you can taste them raw before you buy them. I'm not sure I could ever try this...ummm, delicacy.

A weird mellon that I have never seen before. It is in the shape of a pumpkin, but brownish green instead orange. I will have to ask what it is called. I've had it in the cafeteria before, though, and it is very good! Much sweeter and juicier than most cantalope I have had.

Canal du Midi (à Carcassonne)

Directly in front of the Carcassonne train station is a lock for the canal du Midi. I saw a boat in it the other day, it was pretty neat. This picture is looking down from the bridge at the lock.

Looking over the lock at the harbor--I know harbor isn't the right word, but I've lost half of my vocabulary it seems.

Around the town: Part 4

There are recycling stations like this all around town...and I've actually seen a lot of people using them. Yay for making an effort to recycle!

Looking down a street in Limoux.

Another pretty view of the bridge.

Another dam...I think

In my exploring I ran accross a path along the Aude...I'm not sure if I was allowed to be down there, but I decided to explore anyway. It was a gorgeous day and I had plenty of time to kill. I found this dam, well at least I think it is a dam. I asked Françoise about it when we went to Montpellier for the stage and she told me that the area has a lot of flooding problems--especially in the Spring when all the snow melts in the mountains. (At least, that's what I think she said...but my French comprehension is still sketchy in places, especially when new vocabulary is involved)

But then my common sense cut in...it can't be a dam if water is flowing over it, can it? Doesn't that defeat the purpose?

In short, I have no idea what this is or what purpose it serves...but if you recognize it and know the answer, please tell me!

A lovely photo.

Ma chambre!

My shower. It's small, but it's all my own! All the other students share communal bathrooms.

For the shower to work, you have to push this button. Then you have water for about a minute, and then you have to push it again. It's annoying and keeps me from taking long showers. I think that is the point. Yay for water conservation!

My sink and my cleaning stuff. Boooo for having to clean your own room. Yay for having somewhere to stay for free!!

Yes, you flush the toilet with that funny little button on top. A lot of the toilets I've seen here are like that.

My desk, window, and TV. For the first couple weeks my TV was broken. It's fixed now, but I still only get two channels...and only those if I put the antena out the window! hah.

My bed...kind of made. You can't really tell in this pitcure, but the reason part of the covers is (part is singular right, geez I can't do English grammar anymore) up is because the power cord for my laptop run from my wall accross my bed to my dek. Oh well...

My bookshelf! Yay for books!

Obviously, my desk.

FRANCE BEAT NEW ZEALAND!!!! then lost to England. But it was fun while it lasted!

My meal tickets for lunch and dinner, which I eat in the cafeteria during the week.

Brocante!

My school has an exchange program with a high school in Maine. Last year several students came to Limoux for two weeks, this February several students and two professors from Limoux are going there! Maine! In February, brrrrrrrrrrrr!! To raise money for the trip the students held a brocante, whicj is much like a yard sale or flee market. Here are some pictures!

A student taking money from a customer!

Their sign! Very artistic!

That's Virginie and a student trying to find out how much the tea pot costs!

Shopping Center (these are for Matt)

The other end of Leclerc. I tried, Matt.

I tried to take some pictures of the shopping center, Leclerc, for Matt...but they really didn't turn out that well. It's a big building and doesn't really fit in the lense. Also, I felt rather silly taking pictures of it. All the shoppers where staring at the silly American...



The McDo at the shopping center in Limoux. They are everywhere! Even in France. Although, one really does have to admire their marketing strategy and the way they adapt their image and menu to suit the culture and country they are in. McDo menus even vary by the different regions in France. So adaptable!

In France they don't give you bags at the grocery store--not unless you want to pay .50-2€ for them. I think this is a FANTISTIC idea. Instead everyone buys one or two bags like the one above, and takes them with them each time they go shopping. Alot of people also have a type of small cart on wheels. The cart is better for long distances--most people walk to the market and gorcery--and also for older people because you can pull it instead of carrying all of the weight. Maybe being the inspired PR professional that I am, I'll write a long letter to Wal-Mart explaining the pros of initiating a campaign like this!!

Around the Town: Part 3

It's fall in Limoux! How gorgeous!

You might not be able to find a trash can in France, but more than likely you will be able to find one of these stands that distribute bags to pick up after your puppy. This in the country where free public toilets don't exist. When I lived in Tours they even had little police guys who went around on scooters with these little things that sucked up dog poop. Dogs are everywhere in France. Everyone has one, and they take them everywhere--including in stores!

These posters are allllllll over town. There are trying to get people to boycott CocaCola products. They read: Let's not finance death!


This clown bush is in the center of one of the main roundabouts leading into town. The people here are very proud of their famed Carnival. Also, manicured shubbery in general seems to be pretty popular here though not normally in the shape of a clown. hah.