Apparently I'm the one with the funny accent? (Adventures with MooReece con't)

First day of school officially starts tomorrow but today we got our orientation and were given another guided tour of Antibes, Cap d'Antibes and Juan-les-Pins (by bus thank GOD - my feet are soooo blistered it's making it miserable to walk around). We then had our placement test to see which France level French we are at. They consider my accent "très jolie" - I didn't even know I had an accent! Little do they know - THEY are the ones with the adorable speech, it really is quite charming. (Also I learned that "tomber en amour" is a phrase that the French find absolutely adorable - apparently they don't say that here - I have yet to find the equivalent - will keep you posted on that one)

We toured the Cap d'Antibes which is like the Beverly Hills of the area and the road goes all the way around the peninsula. I figure 10-12 km - guess who's going for a run?! MooReece might stay back for that one though. He did very much enjoy the journey up to the lighthouse and Garoupe a chapel up on the mountain which provides us with an amazing view of the entire region. Not to mention we all know how much I love ancient architecture - the chapel was fascinating.

MooReece and I spent the remainder of the afternoon gathering supplies for the apartment and doing some grocery shopping (yes it's still my favourite thing to do even in France!) And you really can buy ANYTHING in a "marché" here. There is a daily "marché" that we have yet to explore but is apparently "the place" to shop in Antibes. The only thing that I can't seem to get here is a COFFEE! Our coffee pot is cracked (which I found out today as I was happily making my first pot and it leaked EVERYWHERE!) and it's not like I can just pop into a Starbucks for a Venti non-fat no-foam dark cherry mocha or even a MickeyDs for a large black! Cups here are literally CUPS like 250 ml... and just as expensive as an XL back home. I think I might just kick my coffee addiction yet seen as it's been 48 hours sans caffeine. Doubt it.

School starts tomorrow and we need to get up extra early to find out which building our classes will be in (fingers crossed mine is in one of the building in the old town...SO CLOSE!) So better wrap it up for the night.

Signing off! A la prochaine :)

Greetings from Antibes-Juan les Pins (Adventures with MooReece con't)

Salut la visite!

As I write this we have arrived safe and soundly and moved into our home away from home (aka the Bedrock) for the next month. This lovely little hole in the wall is located at 26 rue du Haut Castelet and is apparently one of the most picturesque streets in all of the French Riviera. We are located right in the middle of the OLD town of Antibes, only a few hundred meters away from the Remparts (old city wall which is well over a few centuries old) and only a few more hundred meters away from the nearest beach. SHOCK - Mooreece and I have not had the opportunity to step foot on one yet... but that shall come soon. Been too busy exploring and getting our bearings. This town is a MAZE of alleyways and backways and sideways that all lead to either the town square or the water. It's so easy to get lost, you can't get lost, just keep walking and you'll always end up at either end somehow.

There are more restaurants in this little itty bitty town than there is in all of Sudbury! No JOKE! Although 90% are French cuisine, there are random SUSHI bars, Indian and Thai restaurants and my personal favourite a FALAFEL shop! I can't believe how everything I've read about French culture is right down to a T! Wine is sold EVERYWHERE! In fact on the corner of our street (or what goes for a street corner in this town) is CAVE A VIN... SO much better than Jem Mart! And if it's not a wine shop, it's a boulangerie! Good thing I've put about 20 miles on my legs since I've been here because I WILL get fat! (And for those of you who I told that an LMI gym was around the corner... not so - it's closed :( But I'm a 10 minute train ride :) I miss my classes already - it's on the menu for Thursdays and Mondays)

We sprung a leak in the bathroom but otherwise the apartment is too cute for words. It's fully stocked (we even have a spice rack) but we have to buy food and toilet paper. NECESSITIES! MooReece and I could really grow to like this place. The weather is PERFECT (not too hot, not too cold) and there are Yachts as far as the eye can see. Maybe I just might get on one - you only live once right? HAHAHA...

A la prochaine!

Adventures with MooReece - Bags are packed, off we go!

Well to put it simply the last few days have been nothing short of 'stressful'. Leave it to me to wait until the very LAST minute to get everything done and make sure I have everything I need. Aside from my minor meltdown on Thursday night I think I did quite well considering and so far I've only forgotten 1 thing. My camera connector cord to transfer my pictures to my netbook. Luckily though I picked up a card reader in Brussels (well the Brussels Airport) aka largest chocolate store in the WORLD! AHHHHHHMAZING! I'm not even hungry and my mouth is salivating at the endless array of truffles and other delicacies. I am in GODIVA heaven.

It's 9:03 am here and 3:03am back in Sudbury and I've almost been up 24 hours (although I did get a light nap on the plane). A most enjoyable experience so far. Neither Pearson nor Brussels is busy and I found my way around like a pro. One thing I notice as I sit at gate A46 awaiting my boarding call to Nice is that it is VERY QUIET here. There are hundreds of people around and I've been in libraries louder than this. I'm going to fit in GREAT with all these low speaking people. GAH!

Mooreece has already made it into a few pictures (Pearson gate, plane, Brussels...and my personal favourite: STARBUCKS in this beautiful Belgian airport!) I WILL NOT BE STARBUCKS DEPRIVED TODAY! In fact, I've added this mission to my list. To take a picture of every STARBUCKS I see. All for you J! :)

I will be boarding my flight to Nice shortly and by the time you all wake up I will be in the French Riviera. I miss you all already and I'm glad I have Mooreece with me to keep me company until I make some friends in France. This is surreal. I know I'm in a different world now and it's amazing and frightening all at the same time.

J'vous aime bien gros! xoxo Amy

p.s. ALOT of GOOD LOOKING European Men and I haven't even left the airport yet!