Goodbye, Vigo

 Hello!

 I had really enjoyed having my mother and grandmother in Vigo with me, but the day came when my Granma had to get the train to Porto, to fly back to Ireland. My mother and I would fly back to the UK from Vigo in a couple of days. 

 The three of us went into central Vigo and had one last wander around. I knew it would probably be my last trip into the city before leaving, and I was determined to make the most of it and commit my favourite things and places to memory.

 We enjoyed our final frozen yogurts. I had mango as well as my signature cookies, and it was divine.

 We saw a sad-looking dragon.

 Finally, we headed to Vigo-Guixar railway station and my Granma caught her train.

 It was strange to be back there. I remembered the night I arrived and met my Erasmus buddy, Esther, on the platform. I don't think I had been in the Guixar station since then - the train I took back from Santiago de Compostela arrived into the other central station, Vigo-Urzáiz.

 My mother and I would be getting a taxi, not a train, to Vigo Airport, as that would be easier from campus. So, this trip to the station felt like a wrapping-up of my story. I had two days to go, but coming back to Guixar signified some kind of ending and meant a lot to me emotionally.

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

A wintry walk by the Rhône

 Hello!

 Probably the thing I fell most in love with during my time in Avignon was the river. Wherever I live, I like to be near some great force of nature - often it's the sea or mountains. 

 Avignon's stretch of the Rhône first called to me in summer, when it was, as I describe it in my poem "Barthelasse", "soupy and green". Through autumn it glimmered like a sapphire and now, with winter slipping in, it was dark and majestic.

 Through every season, I just loved being near it - in fact, I felt I had to be near it on a regular basis. Sitting or standing by its side brought a kind of calm and purity to my mind, and in my busy life that was very useful to have. 

 The Rhône also moved me creatively - as well as "Barthelasse" and several other poems, I wrote a fiction piece entitled "The moon and river", which was inspired by the night of the supermoon and was published on Visual Verse.

 Here are some photos from a winter's evening when I bought a crepe in town and then took the now-familiar route down to the riverside. Night was coming in and it was an intense and magical time.

The Pont d'Avignon in the twilight. I came to love that bridge more than I ever imagined I could. It has real presence and character

 The last few are like an ink blot test, and I can see a Christmas tree, which is surely a positive thing (as long as it isn't real - I am a supporter of using fake trees). The festive season was well on its way, and experiencing it in Avignon promised to be fun.

 Thanks for reading,

 Liz x

Life and lizards

 Hello, all!

 I seem to have got into the habit of starting posts on this blog with a weather update, so I will say that it is now very, very hot and sunny! Well, obviously not this minute as I am writing this at night, but during the day it is blindingly sunny. The storms seem to be well and truly over!

 To go into cheesy metaphor territory, I feel like the weather reflects my stay here so far quite well - at first everything was new to me and I was a bit scared and homesick, which was reflected in the rain and storms. However, now I feel much more settled and the good weather reflects that.

 I have now been observing classes for three days and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It is fascinating to see how classes are taught in France, and the differences and similarities between French classes and English ones.

 Probably the main difference is the length: French classes are often two hours long with a short break in the middle; in England classes, in my experience, rarely last more than an hour.

 I have had the pleasure of meeting more teachers, am getting to know the layout of the college and have obtained a card for the canteen. I am getting into the swing of things!

 I spoke last time about the lizards I see. They are all over the place here, and I love to see them scuttling around.

 Every time I see one it feels like a miracle, as wild lizards are just not something you see in the UK (unless possibly if you live in specific parts of the countryside). Seeing a lizard is one of the things that always reminds me that I am in France! Along with the palm trees and the mountains!

 Today I was at Médipôle, an area of Cabestany on the cusp of Perpignan where there are several medical buildings such as a deaf centre and cardiac centre. I walk through it most days on the way to the college.

 There I was finally able to have a photo shoot with my beloved lizards. I'm actually really happy with how these pictures came out, considering how fast they moved and how bright the sun was. I hope you like them too (you can click on them to enlarge them).

 So, my first week in Perpignan complete! I am feeling very positive for the many weeks to come.

 Thanks for reading,

 Liz x