Beginning of Classes in Aix and a Weekend Getaway to Nice and Monaco

Bonjour!

I am officially settled in now and classes are underway. Just like at BC I am in 5 classes (but half are in French). Classes are very long here, so my days typically last from 9:30-5. I am so, so happy with my host family still. We have the most amazing meals every night and I learn so much at the dinner table about the language and the culture I just love it. The weather has been the biggest downer about the semester so far. It's colder than both Chicago and Boston, and it has already snowed multiple times (it hasn't snowed here in about 5 years, just my luck). I have made lots of new friends from all over and they are all so fun and so sweet, I'm very lucky!

This weekend we took a trip to the coast and went to Nice and Monaco (see Facebook for pictures). Nice was beautiful even though it was unseasonably cold, and we had a great hike up this cliff to a waterfall and an amazing view over the Mediterranean and the French Alps in the background. After our hike we stumbled upon a really neat wine museum that happened to have the oldest wine cellar ("cave") in France. We did a rose and champagne tasting and learned so much about french wines. Then we moved on to a perfume factory which was heaven for me. We saw the labs where the oils and alcohols are made and combined and how they make the different scents and soaps etc. I  bought a perfume called "étoile" which means star (because I am one!) Next we went to the hotel, had dinner, and then the highlight of the trip---we went to the famous, beautiful Monte Carlo casino! It was quite a spectacle...Bentleys, Ferraris, groups of mafia-looking men betting 1 million Euro per hand, the whole shebang. We even met the founder of Topshop London (great clothing company) and the Fiat family (the cars). Today (Sunday) we went to Monaco, which is one of the wealthiest places per capita in the world. The yachts were spectacular. We walked all around and went to the grand palace where the royal family lives. We even got to see the princess by accident--she was walking her dog (accompanied by a team of security). It was a fabulous weekend but quite expensive so I'm happy to be back and get some free meals from my host family! Tomorrow is my roommate Grace's 21st birthday so I am also looking forward to that! That's all for now xoxo