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