le centre

Here are a few photos of the place where I take classes: 

7 Rue de Cadeniers....


The narrow shaft to the right is the elevator. It's 1000s of years old and hilariously small.  

musée des beaux arts!

Went to the art museum here in Nantes. I was pretty impressed: Lots of Kandinskys, a few Picassos, and some cool modern artists who I'm unfamiliar with. 

 
Mrzyk & Moriceau installation

Finished off the day by eating this little jewel. I wish I could spend my whole life going to art museums and eating fine pastries! 

nantes

This city is just so pretty; I will miss Nantes. 

Even though it's the best sports city in the country, apparently, Pittsburgh unfortunately can't provide me with a big ol' castle in the middle of town.

Mont Saint Michel

We visited Mont Saint Michel last weekend. If you aren't already familiar, Mont Saint Michel is this crazy edifice in the middle of nowhere.  Above, you can see end endless field of sand that surrounds much of the religious complex.  However, as tranquil and surreal as the sand may look, be careful....
Because there's quicksand here! If you look at the second warning down, you'll see it: Sables Mouvants. I have always wondered where on earth one would find quicksand, and Mont Saint Michel was the last place that I expected to find the answer. But check out the graphic next to the warning: A hand reaching out of sea of sand - pretty hilarious, I think. 

Anyway, the inside was also nice, and fascinatingly old. I found the largest columns I have ever seen in my life...not that I'm a column aficionado. But seriously, they're huge. 

mes soeurs d'accueil

Yesterday my eldest host sister, Quiterie, left to spend 3 weeks in Italy. She was so helpful to me throughout my stay! I'm sad that I'll be in the US by the time she returns. My other host sister, Astrid, is also shown here. The youngest sister, Cecil, wasn't around for this photo, but she's so fun too.  They have been teaching me how to speak french and bake french pastries. I feel so lucky!

Jules Verne

On Friday, Nantes celebrated it's most famous alumnus, Jules Verne. Each year, a "giant man" parades down the street. It blinks, looks around, all of its joints bend. Water even dripped off of his diving suit. Accompanied by hundreds of onlookers and a live band, it was a pretty incredible (and totally unexpected) sight. 

As seen below, the joints of the giant were moved by men dressed as pirates. For each step that the giant took, the men would hold on to a rope and jump off of a platform. What an exhausting job!


Celeste Boursier-Mougenot, a French installation artist, had set up an interesting piece in the center of Nante's commerce district. A large black box contained an environment wherein birds landed on super-sensitive electric guitars. As a result, the birds were making music on the guitars, accompanied by their own chirping.

ma vie

Life is beautiful right now. I can't even take my morning cup of joe without finding myself within 100 yards of something historically rich. 

Ma chambre

Welcome to my room here in Nantes. It's incredibly spacious (larger than my room at home, or even my 2 person dorm at Pitt). Also, it's on the top floor of the 4 story house, so I have a great view that overlooks the ville. Life is good in the penthouse! The window above my desk is amazing; I do all of my homework by the natural light of the sun (which doesn't set here until after 10:30, miraculously!)