It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

With only two more days of exams remaining, my first semester here in Montpellier is sadly coming to an end. I can’t believe how quickly time flies or that it is almost Christmas! It doesn’t feel right to be less than two weeks from Christmas and to be walking around in a sweater or sweatshirt. No snow, no blustery winds, no ice storms—how bizarre!! Here in sunny Montpellier, they have tried to bring some of the magical excitement of winter to us. There is a Christmas Market in the Place de la Comedie, complete with roasted chestnuts, hot spiced wine, and grilled escargot sandwiches. They have also set up an ice-rink and a ski area for children!! To personally get into the Christmas spirit, I recently took two cooking classes to learn how to make “Bûche de Noel”, a traditional Christmas dessert here in France. The class was a success and the buches came out beautiful! Also, two weeks ago I traveled to Lyon where I was able to see a Light Festival. It takes place in Lyon every year on the weekend of December 8th. It is a festival in honor of The Virgin Mary in gratitude for all that she did. It has been quite an interesting couple of weeks! This Wednesday I will start my long vacation travels to two towns in Germany, Strasbourg, Paris, Beaune, Lyon, Nîmes, Avignon, Arles, Nice, Monte Carlo, and back here to Montpellier. I will be sure to take many pictures for everyone! Happy Holidays to all and I will speak to you next year!

CHRISTMAS MARKET

Ice-skating rink/Ski area for the little ones!

My favorite hot cocoa stand--shaped like Santa

Tacky hat stand/Christmas market

COOKING CLASS

Ellen and Leah hard at work/Leah and I snacking and hardly working

Leah and I spreading chocolate deliciousness/Ellen rolling

Our instructor getting one of the Buches out with FIRE!/The three proud cooks

Buche d'expresso/Buche de chocolat marron (chocolate chestnut)

Buche de chocolat macaron (Chocolate and macaroon cookies)/Buche de pistache et cerises (pistachio and cherries)

LYON

Bookstore lit up/Cathedral lit up/Chestnuts roasting