OK here's the story

1. La Rochelle:
I was very excited about La Rochelle because it is the home of my ancestors on my Peperes side. I have no idea why they left France, but I'm glad they did otherwise I wouldn't be seing it now. La Rochelle is gorgeous. Right on the water, their are two huge beautiful Towers that protect the city. I also had my best meal of the trip in Bordeaux - I had a huge plate full of seafood and then a steak - fantabulous. We took a 2 boat rides to get around the city - the view was amazing. Total 8 out of 10

2. Bordeaux:
YUCK!!!!! I'm sure if it was the first thing I saw in France it might have had more of an impact on me, but I hated Bordeaux. In all fairness I didn't see the waterfront, but I don't think it would have made much of a difference. The one good thing - I saw the church (or cathedral with flying buttresses and all) where Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Louis VII (whom she later divorced to marry the future king of England Henry II). The Musee des beaux arts was extremely dissapointing, but they were doing renovations. So in total Bordeaux gets about a 4 out of 10.

3. Périgeuex: WOW.........Jaw droping amazing. I must admit it's mostly due to the fact that it was the first medieval city that I have ever seen (fortified walls don't remain, but you still have the small, narrow path ways filled with shops!) The morning we walked through the medeival part of the city (it was damn cold), we also checked out the natural history museum that housed a gigantic mammoth tusk and other crazy stuff like a mummy and a burial crown from the 1st century!!!! In the afternoon we took a guided tour of the roman city (or the remains of) it was very interesting and informative - we saw the remains of the amphitheater, a roman house that they had excavated - and housed it in a glass building - you could even see how they lived! (or at least how the wealthy lived). Then there was the Tower! with one collapsed wall - the myth states that St Etienne found and beat a dragon to protect Périgeuex and the wall collapsed. Also during our tour we met a lovely french couple Solange and Patrick who fell in love with me, Meghan and Christina and offered to have us to their summer vacation house in Arcachon near the Dune du Pila!!!!!!!! I love France people are so nice! The end of the day we took a train back to Evil Bordeaux to sleep.

4. Toulouse:
Doesn't even look or fell like your in France. They call it la ville rose for a reason. The use of red brick throughout the city offers a brighter image than the rest of France. Also it is a bilingual city French/Spanish so all the signs are in both. I ate Horse for the first time in Toulouse! Apparently i'm being adventurous with my food choices - so far - raw oysters, rabbit, duck, horse, Kangaroo - and random sea creatures that I wouldn't even think to try. In toulouse I saw the Capitole and I couldn't even tell you what it is, but it was pretty!!!! Toulouse had an amazing art gallery. I was in awe the hold time - 3 rooms were dedicated to statues from churches (the outside of) - from the 10th-12th Century I was in awe at how much detail remained and how even the smallest pieces would tell biblical stories from begining to end! Also their were some amazing paintings including some by Toulouse Letrec! We went at night, and they turned the lights off, which made us very sad but we had time to go in the morning. We also hit up a nice market and bought some food for the train ride.

5. Carcasonne:
Well for starters. They sold too many train tickets so me, Christina and Meghan had to sit in the aisle with our huge packs. But once we go to Carcasonne I thought I was in heaven. Total jaw dropping amazing!!!!! It is deffinetly my if I win the lottery I'm moving here place. When you get to Carcasonne you are in the lower part of the city - as you keep walking you see an old bridge when you look out you see the pyrenees mountains off in the distance. Then perched up on a hillside is a medieval cité protected by two fortified walls!!!! Our hostel was within this walled city. Once you walk in you see the little narrow, small streets full of shops and restaurants. and then their is the castle! absolutely amazing. We walked around the cité between the fortified walls and you look out over the rest of the city and see all the mountains in the distance. AMAZING!!!!! we ate in a little restaurant at night and had the local specialty Cassoulette, which is white beans, sausage, duck etc. all mixed and baked together in a bowl. to start we had French onion soup in France! This was the best place to just mosey around. It was great. At night, we left the city walls and climbed the paths on the hillside and checked out all the hidden little entrence ways! it was magical. The next morning we all split up and had solo time before we left. I just walk around the city and took some more pics. I think I will deffinetly have to go back before I leave this country.

The ride back to Nantes was exciting. Our train was delayed, and we thought we were going to miss our connection in Bordeaux. But we somehow made it. All in all a great trip. I can't wait until the next.
on the 18th of November I'm doing Mont st-Michel et St Malo!!!! I can't wait. Then maybe a weekend in Tours, who knows.

Until Next time
Tara