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