Snow and Sun

Today, I'm catching up on a few different things I wanted to share...with plenty of pictures too!

Two weekends ago was a whirlwind of fun.  It started right after work on Friday evening with an incredible dinner at Le Figuier.  My three-course dinner was mouthwatering to say the very least! I started with langoustine cooked with butter and garlic that I scooped out of the shell.  Second and most impressive was duck cut into strips, rolled together, and put on a rotisserie with a dried fruit and nut compote on top and complemented by baked potato wedges and a mini vegetable quiche.  For dessert, I had a delicate and delicious lemon meringue tart.  Although I probably will never taste such a delectable dinner again, I absolutely plan to go back to Le Figuier.  I can't believe I didn't know about it sooner, but it was special to discover it with their exceptional Valentine's menu.

The next morning, I woke up bright and early to catch a two-hour bus to Font Romeu, where I spent the day playing in the snow.  After hearing about the feet of snow coming down in Colorado and all of the good skiing that ensued, I felt more at home being in some snow, even if it was halfway across the world in the Pyrenees Mountains.  While I still think Colorado has the Pyrenees beat, it was a wonderful day among friends (who were styling some 80's one-piece snow suits they found at the flea market!).

Skiing at Font Romeu

Moving forward to this past weekend, it was too beautiful and sunny not to be outside.  I decided to check out a nearby lake at Villeneuve-de-la-Raho.  Again, I was joined by language assistant friends.  We had fun taking pictures of the nearby Canigou Mountain, strolling by the lake, and basking in the sun.

Basking in the sunshine at the lake.

Villeneuve-de-la-Raho

Well, I think that about sums it up; things that make me happy are 

friends, food, sunshine, being outside, and discovering new places!

Teaching: USA

Being an English teacher, it's understandable to sometimes be mistakenly identified as English... given that's the language I'm talking about.  This year I've struggled with showing my classes (mainly the younger groups) that I'm from an altogether different country. In an effort to reinforce that I'm not from England, I spent my lessons this past week talking about the USA. I talked about the flag (colors, 50 stars, 13 stripes), the size of the US (it's more than 15 times the landmass of France), and the American dollar. I even brought in some real money for them to check out... which they got very excited about! The best/funniest question I received about the $1 bill: "Is it yours or did your mom give it to you?" They were pretty impressed that it was all mine! Haha, it just reminded me that I am teaching young kids who have a lot to learn! Now, after I gave them American flags to color in, I expect I'll probably be receiving a few of those as "gifts." Up until now, I've kept receiving UK flags.

Now I'm thinking about this week's lessons. I'm struggling I find a suitable topic to keep their attention since I'll be in the schools the last two days before everyone goes on a two-week vacation. I'm sure they'll be bouncing off the walls! But I'm looking forward to break as well. I'll be heading to Paris for five days to discover the city, museums, and culture and meet up with some Colorado State University friends. I plan to do some typically touristy things such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre while enjoy the company of those around me and seeing a new side of the famous city. I can't wait!

Argelès-sur-Mer

Day trippin'!

Today, I took a nice day trip to the village of Argelès-sur-Mer, which is a short ride by either train or bus from Perpignan.  It was a beautifully sunny and warm day, which was perfect for enjoying my panini au chevre (goat cheese panini) outside on a bench.  We wondered the streets, happened upon a busy market where I bought myself a potted little plant with delicate pink flowers, ate lunch in the sun, and eventually made our way to the beach.  It was a nice afternoon in a picturesque French village by the seaside... I couldn't ask for anything more!

Sleepy Sunday

Sundays in France tend to be very quiet.  Stores must remain closed, and only restaurants are legally allowed to open their doors and welcome customers.  When people go out, it's usually to the morning market.  In Perpignan, the marché at Place Cassanyes is truly a people's market, rather than for tourists.  There are many booths piled high with fresh fruits and vegetables, most for one euro per kilogram.  It's advisable to walk through the market and find the best quality before buying, because at such a low price, sometimes the quality can vary.  The vendors yell the prices of their goods, which can sometimes create a frenzy for the cheap foods.  Some other vendors sell fish, eggs, spices, or cheese.  The other half of the market consists of household wares and clothing at very cheap prices. 

This Sunday, I enjoyed a trip to the bustling market.  With only less than five euros spent, I came away with a large bag of goodies including zucchini, eggplant, apples, clementines, lemons, and an onion.  Then on my way home, I stopped in a Catalan bakery.  While I've walked past this bakery many times as it's on the route into the historic center, I've never actually been in.  After one time, I think I have a new addiction.  They have pastries (I bought a layered pastry with almonds and almond cream), a wall full of breads, and other regional specialties.  I can't wait to try the olive bread.

After my morning walk, I met up with a group a friends, and we drove to a small village called Prades.  Prades itself wasn't anything special, especially since everything was closed.  They really keep true to nobody working on Sunday.  However, what led us there was the beautiful scenery.  Prades sits at the base of the Canigou, one of the tallest mountains of the region.  Its peak juts into the blue sky, covered in snow, an unlikely contradiction to the dry and warm village just below.  I hope you'll enjoy the view just as much as I did.