Strasbourg - The Xmas capital of the world

The snow has melted and the river is in flood which translates to very cold temperatures, below 0 most days though local culture means that one does not talk about the cold. One just gets out and gets on with it in the freezing cold. I have become quite dependent on my possum wool clothing and duvet coat.

                                               A beautiful river town - Strasbourg

                                                    How's this for close neighbours

A visit north to Strasbourg took me to an old European captial, St Nicholas town, the famous Xmas markets, a very spectacular Gothic Cathedral and more snow and cold. The train trip was amazing with nothing but white countryside forever. Besancon has its own version of Xmas markets where one must drink mulled wine just as one must see the Eiffel tower when in Paris.  

Snow and cold in Besancon

All part of the immersion experience

Snow and cold in Besancon

No one, absolutely no one told me it would be this cold in Besancon. Winter has come very early with huge dumps of snow of snow in some regions of France. Here the view from my balcony is white roof tops, trees and streets, a real fairyland. I took a train to a small town in the Jura on Saturday where the snow was knee deep and the temp was -6. Tasted the local specialty, saussison de Morteau and played in the snow. They don't talk about the weather here even though the rest of France leads the TV news with reports of cold and snow. My Khatmandu jacket is the only thing keeping me warm and a very well heated appartment in town. It will be -10 by Frdiay!!!!!

Countyside and river, Besancon and Franche-Compte

 Over a month has gone by and I have just realised that today is 10/10.2010 suddenly I am aware that time is going fast ..End of semester assessments are in  10 weeks time.  We have a mid semester 10 day break in 2 weeks time and I am heading off to Rome with S. Mackinnon in tow who is venturing out on the OE that us mature ladies are famous for and write books about.

I have been out in the region sampling wine and cheese and out on the riverboat over the past 2 weekends.
Its all very intensively done here and is very regimented, all done with much love and tradition. Each round of Compte cheese weighs 40 kilo and takes 400 litres of milk and and a minimum of 23 cows to make. The wine from the Jura I'm not that taken with, especially "vin Jaune". The riverboat ride I will never forget. We went through 2 locks(a first) and and underground canal(400m). The canal goes under the citadel and has its own amazing history including a phantom.??

Riverboat-Verdette Battant

The warm balmy weather has returned which brings the Bisontins(Name for the people of this region) out into the streets, parks and on the river. I miss the feeling of being close to the ocean, the river will have to do.
Study continues to be a challenge except for the oral which is top of the class at present. My transactional french has come back very quickly and my written continues to be a trial for all who have to put up with it.
This week I get a language partner who is a local and we get involved in some sort of language sharing activites all organised by CLA. I have been advised to get a TV installed, my next project for this week.

Photos are a bit touristy but I actually enjoy taking them. This little defense tower has been turned into a restuarant.

                                               Part of Vauban's architecture along the river

                                                            Some of the Citadel from the river

Study, study, study in Besancon

Life has settled into real pattern and most days are huge with lectures at the Centre du Linguistique Appliquee de Besancon, study for assignments, and tryng to meet daily goals.  The study is proving to be a real challenge for this old brain that is not accustomed to immersion learning nor has a background in formal language learning. The lectures centred on culture and history are fascinating.
I still have time for sightseeing in this beautiful city that I have fallen in love with. I am fascinated by the old city centre and if I ever go missing thats where I'll be. Vauban's Citadel (see pics)and other old military structures deserve many visits. The citadel high up above the city and the Doubs  river give the impression that they still protect the city. This weekend I am off to visit a chateau, a winery and a fromagerie.
Yesterday in class I performed an impromptu presention on New Zealand, talking it up as much as I could when lots of questions were asked. It didn't seem as interesting as Besancon to me.

The cold is suddenly here with freezing mornings and evenings, colder that an Auckland winter already, and I'm preparing for whats to come. The heating magically turned itself on last night, and like the weather its not something I have control of . Take a look at these amazing pics of the citadel.

                                                                              City in background
                                                             

View from ramparts

There are monkeys(big ones) living down there!

River Doubs from the top

More from the ramaprts

These are real and in the citadel

The beginning of a very big adventure.

This adventure, sojourn, in Besancon began such a long time ago I can hardly believe I am making it my own now. I am still trying to work out were North is, why the sun is so bright, why the earth is still shaking in NZ and  how my brain will cope with remembering all the people I have met in the last 7 days.
AFS Paris connections were amazing, especially Elsa Tremel who organised a whirlwind visit of restaurants, hotel and sightseeing in the most beautiful city I have ever been in. (Even if I have been there 10 times)I will be going back to Galleries Lafayette.
Besancon is currently the summer that I would not have had, described as an Indian summer, may it last long. It is a UNESCO heritage site city, originally built on the loop in the Doubs river with ancient architecture  dominated by Vauban whose most signifiant structure in Besancon is a Citadel.
My appartment is so typically old french, (high ceilings, tile floors, no shower, very basic kitchen, new electric shutters and is on the site of the school grounds of Notre Dame St.Jean a group of schools  spread over 2 campuses. I will make it my own in no time as it is home for a long time.
Study has started at the Centre de linguistique appliquee de Besancon which is part of the Universitie de Franche-Compte. I am trying to complete both the Delf exams and the Language and Culture diploma.
This last weekend I wandered about the old town during the Music festival that this town is famous for and visited a few of the Churches, Museums and Monuments. My feet are telling me I must have walked 30kms, probably did. Went to a fabulous concert on Friday night, Classic then Columbian Jazz.

Rosehill College, Auckland, Singapore, Frankfurt, Paris, Besancon, Lycee Notre ame St Jean.

Welcome to my world on the other side of the world for those of you who have time to tune in.
I am still trying to get used to the instant climate change(hotter than an NZ summer), the bright sky,
hard water, living alone, wonderfully friendly food focused people, living on school grounds - arrgh, buses, and Besancon.

This 2000 year "old city" is beautiful beyond words. Photos will follow(when I decide which of the hundreds - not quite, to show you. It took me a day to sort out transport, even how to get out of here although there is a possiblity that I may never want to leave. Study starts at the beginning of the week so this short holiday is over.   School beckons though not the programme I am used to, here I am a language assistant, observer and facilitator of oral practice. Should be interesting!!