Les Gorges du Verdon

Last weekend, Kirstyn, Emily and I took a trip to spend the weekend at our friend Mathilde’s house. 

The train journey was in itself incredible, as we took a tiny little train all the way up into and through the Alps. The sun was starting to set, and we saw mountains, valleys, wild flowers, sheep gamboling in the fields, and lots of old people who would wave at the train as it passed by the bottom of their gardens.

The next day we drove to the Gorges du Verdon – Europe’s biggest canyon don’t you know! They’re more famous though, for their incredible bright blue/green colour, which is just BREATHTAKING, especially when the sun is shining. After a picnic including some delicious quiche handmade by Mathilde, we decided to have a go on a pedalo. 

It was pretty windy…

But passing through the Gorge itself was an amazing experience which felt like entering another world. I haven’t adjusted these colours at all!

As Mathilde would say, ‘Perfect!’

 

Even this trip reminded me of the faithfulness of God, even in the small things. Before moving to Nice I was researching the region and looking at things to do here. I read about the gorges and had recommendations from various friends that they were a must, but being over 3 hours away and a car being necessary to get there, I had accepted the fact that maybe this would have to be something that happened another time. Yet, 3 weeks before I leave this place, I get the chance to go and see this awesome creation with my own eyes. Thank you. 

Sometimes I feel like I’m in Barcelona…

Here are a few visual highlights from my recent trip to Barcelona…

The Sagrada Familia – WOW. Gave me goosebumps just walking round it. If that’s what God-given talent in a man can do, then Heaven is going to be amazing (but you already knew that). I’d love to go back in 20 years when it’s finished – they’ve been building it for 100 years!

Me and my travelling buddy Kirstyn enjoying the sunset and the view over Barcelona (even if the town planners could have arranged it so that the sun set over the sea…we’ll let that one slide just this once)

Incredible freshly pressed juice at La Boqueria market, for the amazing price of 1 euro. I tried Kiwi, and Strawberry & Mango.

An amazing front to a patisserie on Las Ramblas, the main pedestrian street through Barcelona from Placa Catalunya down to the waterfront.

Wandering round El Gotic, the gothic quarter, was nothing like Vieux Nice, even if the streets are just as old and narrow. The feel was much darker, and there were lots of interesting shops and street art, like this one:

The park was full of performers, including one man blowing enormous bubbles. I’m pretty pleased with how this shot turned out.

April was also my last month of work! 7 months has flown by so quickly, and I’m staying here another month in the hopes of ‘Profitez-ing’ a bit more and also doing some uni work in the sun. I got lots of lovely leaving presents, including a card from the students titled ‘Good luck Katty’, with messages such as ‘I ❤ linking word’ and ‘thanks for your knowledge’. It has been difficult at times when the bus journeys have felt neverending, or just when what I say seems to go in one ear and out the other, but all in all, I have learnt a lot about teaching in these seven months. And discovered a deeper appreciation for the British education system…