Paris. Tuesday June 16th:
Spending only one night in Paris? Head to the Eiffel Tower with friends and have a picnic underneath the beautiful lights. You will pinch yourself as you sit in the middle of the tower admiring such a gorgeous monument.
Vannes. Wednesday June 17th:
We met with my study abroad group and went to Vannes for the weekend! We begun the trip by having a traditional French dinner with the group and it was amazing. There is nothing better than enjoying fabulous food, friends, and great conversation.
Vannes. Thursday June 18th:
Dr. Martin, the director of our group took us to an island off of Vannes. We were able to explore the island and so for lunch I headed to a restaurant that overlooked the ocean. Thanks to Anthony Bourdain, I heard the Brittany region was famous for their seafood and so I went to a place that is famous for their shellfish platter. This meal was by far, my favorite in all of France. With all the beauty that surrounded me, I felt like I was in heaven.
Vannes. Friday June 19th:
For our last day in Vannes, it was extremely fulfilling. Dr. Martin took us to an open air market where we could purchase from an array of various vendors so that we could have a picnic that overlooked the medieval city. I ate terrine aux champignons, baby octopus, olive medley, cheese, freshly sliced parme, and a salmon quiche.
After I was able to walk off the meal by exploring the rest of the city with Dr. Martin. We spent several hours learning the history of the town. I was able to appreciate Vannes more after learning so much about Brittany and seeing how they were able to preserve so much of the past.
Other highlights of my day was that I was able to purchase 18 macarons which is my favorite dessert in the whole wide world. For dinner, I went with friends to enjoy more oysters, beef tartare, and grilled sardines. The restaurant was overlooking the pier and so we were able to appreciate the beautiful sunset that was laid out in front of us.
Rennes. Saturday June 20th:
We finally made it to our apartment in Rennes! After settling in, we had another picnic in the park. The park is enormous and filled with monuments, a bird sanctuary, and musical performances.
After lunch, Dr. Martin showed us around the city. Rennes was beyond what I expected. I thought it was going to be a small college town. However, it’s actually a very large and bustling city filled with so many young people. There is so much to do here and I feel overwhelmed. I could definitely see myself moving here. Everything is clean, the people are friendly, and every corner I turn, something interesting catches my eye. I can’t wait to see what is in store for me after I begin school Monday.