Category: 2024-25

As my incredible semester in Aix starts to come to an end, I wanted to spend some time recounting a few of my favorite places I’ve visited . I hope this post will be useful to any future students coming to Aix-en-Provence. Consider this a list of my recommendations!

After trying over ten different bakeries in the city, I think the best croissant comes from Le Pain Quotidien. It’s a local bakery owned and run by two sisters, and their croissants are perfectly buttery and flakey.

My overall favorite bakery would have to be Weibel; it’s well-known for a reason. The first day of my Food and Culture in the Mediterranean class my professor said we all had to try their pastries, and I couldn’t agree more. Their tiny cakes are intricate, unique, but inexpensive! I have so many great memories of meeting friends there for an espresso and a treat after class.

I really enjoyed visiting as many museums and art exhibits as I could. Most museums in Aix are free if you show your student ID, or are at least very discounted, and they are absolutely worth the visit! My favorite museum is Musée Granet, particularly the sculpture room on the bottom floor! It’s such an incredible experience to have so many impressive artworks that are easily accessible. 

 Additionally, as a cat lover, Aix does not disappoint. The cat bookstore Mon chat Pitre is the perfect place to pick up a french book and pet some adorable cats. I found the cats here are incredibly friendly and always willing to say hi.

I am not ashamed to admit I would go there sometimes just for cat cuddles . There’s also a cat cafe called Meows Cats Cafe. This is also such a fun time, although be prepared for more expensive prices and the possibility of having to wait. Also, there was no shortage of cats wandering the streets to say hi to!

For me, the city of Aix could not be more charming. I discovered so many gems around the city by aimlessly wandering or taking a different path home from class. I highly recommend taking time exploring and staying curious. I am going to miss living in a city so rich with history and beautiful artwork.

À bientôt !

Ella 

 

I’ve finally finished one of the most anticipated parts of my study abroad experience: spring break. From the moment I got here people were discussing where they wanted to travel. 

After talking with my friends, and searching Ryanair for the cheapest flights, we decided on the island of Malta and Italy; including Venice, Milan, and Lake Como. I could go on and on about how incredible all of these places were, because they were truly incredible, but instead I want to focus on some things I learned throughout these trips.   

Guided tours are not as unnecessary or boring. I’ve always dismissed them as a concept, but I certainly see the appeal now. My friend’s dad was kind enough to purchase my group a guided tour around Lake Como for the day. It was fantastic!

First, because it was Lake Como, which is as incredible and beautiful as everyone said it was. Additionally, I severely underestimated how nice it is to have a guide to follow around. She coordinated our train and boat tickets, told us where to sit, and recommended the best restaurants. Not having to think and problem solve for a day was the best gift. While I definitely can’t afford a guided tour all the time on a college-student budget (and there is a certain charm to wandering aimlessly around a new city), I definitely see the value in a guided tour and would take one again—as a treat.

Next, traveling is better enjoyed with an hour of downtime before dinner everyday. And no, you are not wasting your time in a cool place. You’re recharging so you can better appreciate all the incredible things you will see. I’m still learning not to feel guilty for taking a pause.

Studying abroad and traveling is not inherently more dangerous or scary. I think often we have this idea that when you travel, bad things are bound to happen to you. I was told pickpocketing was inevitable, but after traveling to major, touristy locations with all my belongings still with me, I don’t agree. Paying attention to your surroundings and keeping your valuables close goes a long way.

While it’s certainly vital to be aware of the risks, its not as scary as some make it out to be.

And lastly, the best way to travel is to eat as much as you possibly can.

Eating incredible food has been one of the highlights of every city, despite how much my wallet is protesting. But, it’s worth it!

À bientôt !

Ella 

 

After more than two months in France, I finally made it to the most famous city:  Paris! To be honest, I was very prepared for it to be ‘overrated’, because I’ve only heard incredible things about it and I found it hard to believe any city could be that great. While I will say I have definitely visited cities during my time here that I find more incredible, or impressive, Paris has a special feeling like no other city. I can definitely see why it’s nicknamed The City of Love.  It really does have a romantic feel about it – if you can ignore the rats on the metro, of course!

While in Paris, my friends and I did everything touristy that we could. We visited the Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tour, the L’Arc de Triomphe, and the Montmartre district.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of which were incredible and well-worth the visit. If I can give any advice for someone planning to visit Paris, it’s book your tickets for everything you can days in advance. Someone recommended this to my group, and I’m so glad they did. Even things like the Notre Dame, which are free, are better enjoyed with tickets. You’re able to skip the lines, which can be very long. 

Despite all of the incredible, historic things I saw, my favorite memory comes from our last night in Paris. My friends and I had not been able to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle, which happens for five minutes on the hour, every hour, after sunset. Despite spending the past two nights in the city, we had not yet seen the Eiffel Tower sparkle, which we are determined to do. Our first mistake was taking the metro to the Eiffel Tower, not realizing the second metro we were supposed to ride only left once every 30 minutes. Instead, we had to walk the last mile and a half to the Eiffel Tower. The only problem was we would definitely miss the sparkling in that time, which we couldn’t allow because it was our last night in Paris!

So, we ran the entire mile and a half to the Eiffel Tower. None of us are runners or are in any way in shape for that kind of exercise. But, we were fueled by excitement and desperation to see the sparkling. It makes me smile any time I think about us running and panting and laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

I’m happy to report we did make it in time, just barely arriving before the sparkling began. While it was beautiful to see, my favorite part of this memory is the joy I shared with my friends.

À bientôt !

Ella

My friends and I have been joking since we first arrived in Aix that the “study” in study abroad is silent. However, as we move into the season of midterms we are having the unfortunate realization that we are, in fact, here to study.

However, the threat of exams and projects have not been able to deter us from a weekend trip. I am finally going to take the obligatory journey to Paris next weekend, which I am incredibly excited for. I can’t wait to experience the incredible city, which I have recently learned is one of the most visited cities in the world! 

This past weekend, I explored a new neighboring city around Aix. I visited Saint-Remy-en-Provence, which is the city Van Gogh painted in The Starry Night!

I had no idea it was so close by, until a classmate made a passing comment about it. I decided I had to go then, and I’m really glad I did! I went with my grandparents, who were visiting me for the weekend. Having family here made me realize how much this city has become familiar to me. Just a month ago I was overwhelmed by everything I didn’t know or understand. But now I heard myself teaching them how to navigate the bus system and recommending the best bakeries in town.

It’s crazy how much has changed in just a few weeks. 

This also has been a week of noticing the amount of progress I have made in my French. It is easy to feel discouraged when you are surrounded by native speakers who speak fluently (and are not afraid to correct you in a way that feels harsh, but is well-intentioned.)

However, this past week I have really noticed myself navigating the language in a way I never could have before. My French is far from perfect, but I am celebrating the little wins, like learning how to naturally place a ‘quoi’  at the end of my sentences like the French do.  But don’t worry, the French language has a way of keeping me humble – like when I accidentally tipped my taxi driver 10 euro because I thought he said 16… he said 6. But, c’est la vie!

À bientôt !

Ella

 

An essential part of the study abroad experience (in my opinion) is making the most of your weekends. Before I even left for France, I was dreaming of the places I could visit on the weekends. So far, I’ve visited five French cities through either weekend or day trips, and this is my review of one my favorites so far.

I spent my first Friday in France visiting the city of Avignon. We toured Palais des Papes (Pope’s Palace) and an ancient Roman aqueduct. To my American brain, it’s hard to even process how old these things are. The Palais des Papes is from the 1300s and is my favorite historical site I have visited so far. The palace is huge, and covered in intricate carvings and paintings.  We were not allowed to photograph many of the most beautiful paintings,  so you have to go in person to see it all.

After this, we visited an ancient roman aqueduct. It was actually never completed at the time, but it still stands as an incredible reminder of the Romans’  influence on France.

However, my favorite part of the trip was when my friends and I stopped for a coffee break in a small cafe owned by an older Colombian man. Not only because I had a delicious cappuccino, but also because of the conversation we shared. The owner grew up in Colombia, moved to Mexico, then Brazil, then California, and finally settled in Avignon, France. He speaks five languages, and casually discussed his experiences and what they taught him about culture and human relationships. We all left that cafe feeling like we’d gained a lot more than just a boost of caffeine.

À bientôt !

Ella

 

It keeps hitting me randomly throughout the week that I’m in France! Studying abroad has been an adjustment period like nothing I’ve ever experienced. My body has been accommodating a new time zone, language, home, culture, diet, routine, and pretty much everything else that makes up one’s life. It’s both as hard as I was expecting, and so much easier. I’ve been surprised by how quickly I began to adapt to this new way of life. Learning by watching others, asking questions, and —unfortunately—embarrassing myself more times than I can count. But, that’s the best way to learn because you will never make the same mistake twice!

That isn’t to say it hasn’t been hard. There have been moments where it feels incredibly overwhelming to have everything around me be entirely unknown. To get myself through these moments, I remind myself these feelings are incredibly normal and I shouldn’t feel guilty about them because they will pass. And every time, they have.

After landing in Aix-en-Provence, I was quickly directed to the bus station to meet my host mother. It was a whirlwind of emotions. I was tired, nervous, excited, and disoriented. On the car ride to her small apartment tucked into the suburbs of Aix, it hit me that this would be my life now. My jetlagged brain fumbled its way through describing my flights in French, and translating her responses in my head.

Since that first day, I have gotten more and more used to my new life here. I have been enjoying my daily routine of walking through the streets of the city center, grabbing a coffee or a pastry in between my classes, and taking in the sun.

Southern France is known for its sunlight, and so far it has not disappointed! We’ve had a few rainy days here and there, but nothing compared to what I’m used to back in Oregon. I’m constantly amazed by this city’s beauty and by the rich history weaved throughout the architecture. I can not wait to keep discovering everything the city of Aix-en-Provence has to offer me. 

À bientot!

Ella