Day 9: Pau, France

Today was a pretty easy day, but it was nice to really have something to do. We met at 9 this morning to complete the USAC orientation and attend a phonetics session and then complete the tours of campus and the city center.  The rest of campus was nice.  It looks a lot like a typical American college campus.  Mixed with a park.  I'm sure I'll take pictures of it eventually.  My phonetics session was really "listen to this French stuff on these headphones and repeat it." Then the nice lady came around and had me read some stuff out loud.  Then she told me to start on Lesson 7, p. 98 tomorrow.  I think this means I am some kind of savant.  After this, we had a long lunch break.  I'm starting to learn that in France, this is the only kind of lunch break.  This is much better than the usual, "eat a cookie and some sprite real quick before orchestra starts" diet.  For lunch I had a salmon...meatloaf? I don't know what it was, but it was really good.  With green beans.  These green beans were clearly fresh before they were cooked.  They were actually green and flavorful.  I also had a peach, yogurt, and a can of Orangina.  This all cost me 4.05 Euros. It would have been 3.05 had I not bought the Orangina.

Sorry this is half eaten.  The point is, look how good this CAFETERIA food is. 

Orangina.  I don't know how many of you (When I write this blog, I imagine that I have like 8765983 readers, I know in reality it is probably in the ball park of 6, but that's ok.) know about this drink, but I do.  I have always loved Orangina, but now that I am here I love it even more.  It tastes better here.  Like, way better.  I don't even know how it is possible.

This is the 6 pack of Orangina I bought today.  It will be proud of it if it makes it past Wednesday.  (It won't.  One of those bottles is already empty.)

Once we were done with lunch, we headed to town on the city tour, part dos.  (This is Madison Scouts for anything you do a second time.) It was very nice.  I learned about this whole portion of the city that I had not yet discovered, and I don't know when I would have.  There were several street of shopping district.  Including the "nice street." Stores like Prada.  We also went through an area with tons of restaurants, many that are open late or in the afternoons or on weekends.  There looked to be some very interesting places.  We also saw both of the Cathedrals in the town.  Both were pretty new, in that they are less than 200 years old.

Small side street in the restaurant district.

 After the churches and the restaurants we went to the Chateau of Henry IV he was born in Pau.  Pau also produced a king of Sweden, and his family still holds the throne in Sweden.  I thought that's pretty good for a little place.  We looked around the Chateau for a while, but did not go inside.  I'll take more pictures of it when I actually visit.

This is the Royal parking garage.

Me standing on the Royal patio.  Behind me are the Pyrenees.  This is a pretty fantastic view.  I mostly made this picture huge for my mom.  Moms love that kind of stuff.  HI MOM!!!

After the tour ended, I walked home.  At 5 h 30 I met up with some friends and we ran about 4 miles.  It was fun.  Then for dinner, we grabbed some groceries and ate on the steps by a fountain. Good day again. :)