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Looking back on some of the trip highlights, we won't forget the glorious food.


Forrest Cobb writes the following:

« Bon Anniversaire : A French Birthday Party »

After arriving in Aix aboard the TGV, I was soon whisked away with my new family (for two weeks at least) to a beautiful resort at the base of the mountain known as Les Baux. After a wonderful afternoon poolside, playing cards with French teenagers, the boys and I went back to our room to “suit up” for the evening’s festivities: a Birthday party for their much-beloved grandmother. We all put on our jackets and ties, and paraded—somewhat stiffer than how we’d walked just an hour earlier out at the pool—to the cars. A short drive to the restaurant ensued, where we gathered around the table for the gift-giving ceremony.
I did not realize that, at least in this family, you receive gifts from the Birthday-girl/boy. Even though I had only been with the family for a couple of hours, I was presented with a small bottle of olive oil. I was struck by how welcoming these people were, on an occasion that Americans usually use to celebrate themselves. We enjoyed a delicious four-course meal—which included rabbit and lamb.
I was replete by the time dessert came around, but I couldn’t refuse the Birthday cake of course. This turned out to be the most surprising part of the entire experience. Instead of the cakey, half-inch-of-icing-cakes Americans enjoy, their Birthday cake was closer to custard or a flan. With a fruit filling and topped with whipped cream (some things don’t change), it was nothing short of decadent, and all of this wonderful food ensured hours of pleasant sleep that night.
Although very different from American Birthday celebrations, the French Birthday party was an enlightening experience, and I am honored that I was invited to join in their family’s celebration!"

Au revoir -- but not adieu!

The time comes to leave Aix, but we will surely see our new friends again. We hope they will visit us in Atlanta, and we shall definitely return to Provence. As we say "au revoir," but certainly not "adieu."

Cassis and the Callanques

We were really lucky with our timing to Cassis. Leaving the school bus stop around 8:35, in order to catch the 9:11 train to Marseille, we changed trains and arrived in Cassis a little before noon. The local bus was waiting outside the station, and a good thing, since the port and beach are a couple of miles away, down steep roads. Our four-hour visit was well worth the effort, though. Our first activity was to take the one-hour boat tour of 5 callanques, picnicking on the boat. The rest of our time was free for the beach, and we arrived back at school in plenty of time for the farewell party.

Mont Sainte-Victoire

Our last Friday of the trip, we headed outside Aix to the Montagne Sainte-Victoire to do a little hiking and watercoloring. The trail was a little harder than imagined, and hikers are told to stay on the trails, since it's easy to get lost, even for the more experienced.
Mary Beth Bird writes about Mont Sainte Victoire:

“Friday morning, we all met together as usual in front of the chapel in school. After taking the bus to town and eating some nutritious energy food (like nutella crepes), we took a bus to the mountain. The bus ride itself was quite a challenge due to the numerous amounts of extremely curvy roads. Alive and a little queasy, we arrived at "la maison st. victoire", a little guide building that had maps, information about the mountain, and a small restaurant. The guide told us to take the black path that would eventually lead to the brown path for a medium difficulty climb of the mountain but with ambiguous signs, we ended up on the yellow path, which meant climbing. So after attempting to find different easier paths, we gave in to our growling stomachs and sat down and ate our homemade lunches, most of which consisted of french bread and ham, although there was one PB & J. We sat and ate and were told to appreciate the silence of being on the mountain, which really was incredible. We descended the mountain and attempted to use watercolors to paint the mountain. I am no Cezanne, but some of the other students’ paintings were close. We then went back to "la maison" and watched a surprisingly high-tech video on the history of Mt. St. Victoire. After the video, we had a lot of time to spare so the kids decided to try another path of the mountain. We scrambled through prickly bushes and climbed over rocks, but got pretty high and a great view of the land. Although it was clear that the kids had made the wrong decision for we returned sweaty and covered with dozens of tiny yet extremely painful scratches, while the teachers enjoyed some cold frozen yogurt.”

For a collection of photos from Mont Ste-Victoire and our visit to the beach and callanques of Cassis, check out our site: http://westminsterinfrance.shutterfly.com

Avignon, Glanum, and Les Baux

On Wednesday, we had the treat of enjoying our very own bus to Avignon. We zipped up the A8 and were dropped off just below the Palais des Papes. Forrest knew a shortcut for going up the hill, which avoided the stairs. The tour of the palace was audio self-guided, so people finished at different times. Back down the hill, to go across the Pont St. Bénezet, or the Pont d'Avignon. Great view of the city from below, as well as of the Rhone. The bus then dropped us off in Les Baux, where we headed straight for the food at the Bautezar, highly recommended for both the view and the cuisine.

Aix by Night

La Nativité scenes

Scenes from the courtyard, which serves elementary, junior high, and high school students; a technology class (sixième, or equivalent to US 6th grade); a French class (quatrième, or equivalent to US 8th grade).