As I get more acquainted with Nantes I am constantly in awe of its beauty and general quaint French-ness. I’m already dreading when I am going to have to leave, even though it is so far away. Time works weirdly here, I feel as if I have just arrived, but when I think back to landing in the Charles De Gaulle airport it seems like a distant memory. These weeks have been busy with exploring Nantes and spending time with my new friends. I have enjoyed getting to know so many interesting, friendly, and fun people from all over the country through my program. I now have friends from as far as Oregon and California! It’s fun to discuss regional differences in trends and slang with them. I apparently have a slight accent that I did not know about! 

Things that I find so beautiful and interesting are run-of-the-mill among the Nantais. I love the rivers in Nantes: the Loire and the Erdre. Every day on my tram ride to class I love to look out on the glistening Loire as the sun rises. A few of my friends live near the Erdre which is smaller than the Loire but it charming with boats docked along and people constantly walking along the edge. I went to a creperie boat on the River Erdre with a few of my friends last weekend. One of my favorite things about France and Bretagne in particular is the abundance of crepes!

I also recently had the chance to go to the top of the Tour Bretagne the only skyscraper in Nantes. It costs 1 euro to go to the top where there is an observation deck and a bar. It is called the Nid (nest) and everything is bird-themed, complete with egg shaped chairs. It was enchanting to see the city from above at night.

After Mont St. Michel we were all damp and fatigued. The next stop on the trip was St. Malo. We were only there for an hour so we sat in a creperie where I ate the most delicious salted caramel crepe! Being under the heat lamps and eating a warm crepe was wonderful. The creperie was adorable and everything was black, white and pink. I loved it and wish I had taken a picture. I also hope I have a chance to visit St. Malo again when the weather is nicer. As we walked into town (a walled centre-ville) the ocean and beaches looked beautiful and there was a lot going on, including a carnival of some kind. After such an exhausting and soggy day (that included a 6:30 wakeup) I was more than happy to return to Nantes! My iPhone has now recognized my host family’s house as “home” and I’m glad that I too am starting to feel that way!

A bientot,
Marissa