Avignon

The IEFE institute took us to Avignon.

Serendipitously we went during Avignon's annual theater festival which is from July 7th to July 31st. They have over 500,000 visitors and is becoming more and more internationally known.

We saw the famous Pont d'Avignon and made sure to dance while singing the song Sur le pont d'Avignon


We visited the Palais des Papes, also a well known destination in the Provence region, as it was was was the home of several popes during the 14th and 15th century when there was political unrest in Italy.


And we made sure to walk around the town and catch some theater in the air. Every street and alleyway is covered in posters advertising different shows from musicals, one acts, to dance and cinema. And people are in costume ready to entice you to come see their performance

Bastille Day

14 July 1789- France's Independence day

This day is known as Bastille day because it is when the Bastille, which held political prisons, was raided during the French Revolution. The storming of the prison was a symbol of liberty and the fight against oppression for all French citizens. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king's power was no longer absolute: power should be passed on to the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers. Today many French are not proud to be French, so celebrating July 14th is not quite comparable to the 4th of July in the US.

However the French Revolution of course was an important change in France's history and we all remember Marie Antoinette's famous words "Let 'em eat cake"
In Montpellier they held a picnic, fireworks, and a fireman's ball the night of July 14th. The fireworks lasted 30 minutes and were amazing!

shop til you drop

It's that time of year when you need a break from the beach and you're dying from the heat- hit the town to get a good deal from your favorite shop.

its soldes time!

In France, the stores offer sales twice during the year, right after Christmas until early February and for the month of July.

Les Estivales de Montpellier!

Summer time in Montpellier- ahh what a beautiful time.
"Musique, danse, animations...GRATUIT"

To help soften the long deadly hot humid days in Montpellier, starting 25 June , every Friday evening until 10 September there is wine and tapas tasting.

Head on down to the esplanade and for 4 euros you get a wine glass and 3 tickets to try wines from various vineyards in Southern France.
Plus lots of artwork, food, music, and people