no Aix puns included

One megabus, a trek across London which included getting caught in a thunderstorm, a shuttlebus, a plane and one final bus ride was all it took to get to Aix-en-Provence. No early mornings at least. I may have spent an entire day getting there but I was very excited to greet my friend and future housemate, Louise.
I'm not entirely sure where the time went during my visit. Proof of the old adage that time flies when you're having fun I suppose :)
It was nice to be in a francophone country again, hearing French (from time to time!). It made me realise just how many quebecisms I've learnt. One French girl mistook me for a Quebecoise, probably due to choice vocab rather than having picked up the accent. At least I hope I haven't picked up the accent which is rather nasel and not so pretty. I found a delightful post card which reminded me so much of the French boys in Sherbrooke that I had to get it. Getting an address to send it to was an entirely different matter. I hope they find it as entertaining as I did!
After moving Louise out of her room and across to the faculté de théologie (maybe?!), waving off other Erasmus students and a quick mooch into town, we went to a student or youth church event on the Saturday. We may have been a fair bit older than the others but I rather enjoyed the activities and free food, even if they didn't listen to me while trying to piece together a story. Ah well. I may have picked up an injury too. Getting on clearly.
We went to church twice on the Sunday. Almost like I was making up for lost time! The french one reminded me very much of the 90's, what with the overhead projectors and multiple acoustic guitars backing the singers. We went for food with a group of people after the anglophone one in the afternoon. We sat outside and it got a bit nippy I have to say. On the way back, I was distracted by the smell of crepes so I had to indulge. We shared a nutella and coconut one. Yummy. The French certainly do crepes well.

On Monday we went for a walk, I have no idea where we went, up a hill somewhere. It was nice though. We took a very unplanned route back which involved a stop at a patisserie, another thing the french do well! That evening was a collective meal at the fak. Possibly followed by a game of cluedo or another game about a hungry giant. I chose to be the citrouille just because I learnt this apparently almost redundant word. Playing these games could have happened any evening and I think on multiple.

see, stripy

Tuesday was my last day. I had a late flight however so we headed to Marseille for a bit of tourism. I had to take my stuff with me. Although not heavy, it was a pain to cart my bag around all day. Louise was very nice and we took turns in carrying it though. We took in enough touristy sights. It seems that in Marseille they like stripy buildings, or perhaps just stripy churches. We had ice-cream but we never made it onto the carousel. I had my heart set on it as well. I didn't, but it would have been nice. It played such wonderfully French music! In the end we had to head back to the station and go our separate ways.
Before long I was back in Blighty, making my speedy way to a dreadful hostel before dashing off to visit my sister for a few days.