Visiting Aigues-Mortes

Aigues-Mortes is a really neat fortification used by the crusaders. It used to be a very important port for France. In French, it means "Dead Water."

The ramparts of Aigues-Mortes

There were lots of sweet shops in Aigues-Mortes. At La Cure Gourmande you can go and fill a paper bag with all sorts of different little cakes, yum!

Another view of the ramparts

Beautiful, old streets

A nice church that we visited

The inside of the church, very ornate! The swirly columns reminded me of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.

It's a bit hard to see, but that white mound in the distance is a mountain of salt that has been extracted from the sea. I thought that was pretty cool!

Visiting Collioure

We visited Collioure this weekend because my host brother had a gymnastics competition in a nearby city. Collioure is really close to the border of Spain, and also right along the Mediterranean. It was very beautiful!

A nice view of the village

Looking down into the little cove

Isn't it picturesque?

I love the streets, I think the painted houses are so pretty!

The sea is so beautiful...

A Trip to Balaruc

My host mom and I took a little trip to Balaruc one afternoon. It is right alongside the ocean and famous for its mineral baths.

My host mom told me that the man playing the guitar is a famous French singer who was born in Sète which is across from Balaruc

That's Sète in the background!

The water was so beautiful!

A beautiful old street

The water in this fountain was taken from a natural hot spring, it was super hot!

Exploring Montpellier

This was my first time going into the city by myself. Everything went smoothly and I had a great time! I got a pastry for breakfast and tried to do some studying in the Parc du Peyrou.

A panorama of Place de la Comedie, the main square in Montpellier

My first time trying the Mille-feuille Pastry! (While I'm in France I'm trying to taste as many pastries as I can :) )

Breakfast in front of the Place des Martyrs de la Résistance

Montpellier's Arc de Triomphe

Parc du Peyrou

A Little Trip to Nimes

Last weekend my host parents and I took a little trip to Nimes, a nearby city. It has a lot of neat Roman architecture. I also got to see part of a bullfight while I was there, but I didn't get pictures. It was quite an interesting experience, though!

A pretty fountain

My host father and I outside of the ancient Roman arena where the bullfights take place

The symbol of Nimes: a crocodile and palm tree

An amazing Roman temple that is over 2,000 years old. It is one of the best preserved Roman temples in the world! 

Arrival in Montpellier

I met my host family in person for the first time last Thursday! They showed us around Montpellier, which is very beautiful.

An interesting statue near the sea

In the old part of Montpellier, so pretty!

Visiting the Parc du Peyrou

A pretty park near my host family's house

Although it was very difficult at the start for me to get used to living in a different place with different people, I am starting to settle in and enjoy my time here. Thank you all for praying for me, it is greatly appreciated! :)

Last Day in Spain

On our last day in Spain, we left Toledo in the morning and spent the rest of the day in Madrid.

The train station had Moorish architecture, very pretty

The view from the balcony of our hotel room of Puerta Del Sol

The beautiful Crystal Palace in Retiro Park

The statue is of Columbus

Fourth Day in Spain

All of these pictures are from Toledo. It is a very beautiful and old town!

Walking through the streets of Toledo

A beautiful bridge

A view of the city from outside

Trying suckling pig

Visiting the bell tower of a cathedral

Because of the crack, the bell hasn't been rung since the 1700s

A pretty view of the city from the tower

The impressive Monstrance, used every year for Corpus Christi. The part in the middle is solid gold!