The return to Europe

Jumping around continents feels a little more convenient on this side of the world and I had decided some time ago that I wasn't quite done with Europe. Using my trusty Qantas points I prepared for my return, however I had two quick stops to make first .

The first was to see a dear friend in Virginia. This visit was a beautiful reminder that good friendships don't need constant attention and I left feeling like I'd had a visit home - with both my belly and soul a little fuller.

The second involved friends, family and my first love - New York City. Of late I've tried to convince myself that I have outgrown the Big Apple. That my tastes have matured and perspectives altered and that this big crazy city appeals more to my past self . But who was I kidding. The second I jumped off the bus at Penn station and saw those bright lights and yellow taxis I sighed with relief that all was just as I left it. I spent a wonderful few days catching up with my New York family as well as my actual family that lives in New York! And after spreading myself between Brooklyn, Jersey and Chelsea over just 4 nights it was time to board a plane yet again.

Probably the most incredible part of this journey has been that while I set out alone I have spent very few days by myself. I landed in Spain and immediately caught up with a friend from my travels and then a few days later my partner in crime Susan and I were together again for our next adventure.

We visited Bilbao and Toulouse for a couple of days in each en route to Montpellier. Bilbao - famous for it’s spectacular Guggenheim is lovely old town with very pretty town centre and was definitely worth a visit. Toulouse, known for it’s rose coloured buildings was a little more red and a little less pink than I thought it would be! It was quiet in the low season but still provided some fun places to eat and drink and presented us one of the most gorgeous sunsets I’ve ever seen.

Soon we arrived in Montpellier for another 2 weeks of French language study. We stayed in a student residence that, while comfortable, smelt fairly strongly of weed and cigarette ash. The school was wonderful providing a very caring organised environment to learn in with plenty of optional additional activities. While we were there we took a day trip to Sete to eat mussels by the water, hiked up Pic St Luc (see photo - it was just a little windy!!) and visited the ancient, kind of creepy but very beautiful Grotte de Clamouse.

A fast friendship was formed between Susan myself and 3 other ladies at the school and we had some awesome laughs, deep discussions and way too many shots. Amongst all this I found that these two weeks provided me with some solid alone time and took the opportunity to study and draw.

When our time there came to an end we boarded a train for Marseille. I’m not sure what this city used to be like but accounts during my journey had mostly persuaded me to stay away from a place that according to many was smelly and filled with crime. My experience couldn’t have been more different! We stayed right near the very pretty port which provided many places to sit have a drink and watch the tourists, the boats and of course the sunsets.

We of course had to visit the beautiful Notre Dame de la Garde where Marseille’s iconic golden Lady keeps watch over the city. The Fort Saint-Jean and Palais Longchamps were also very beautiful.

However the area of Le Panier was easily my favourite part of Marseille. The suburb felt like one big, edgy outdoor gallery. Subtle and not so subtle street art complemented the shop fronts and alley ways. What was particularly special about the artwork here was the many different mediums. There were sculptures made from junk, creations put up with wheatpaste, incredible doors moulded from iron, installations that looked like origami, walls lined with sheets of poetry and sheet music alongside huge murals and stairways bearing layers of tags.

The trendy suburb also offered second hand books, handmade jewellery and satisfied my eternal craving for asian food with a very expensive but absolutely amazing bowl of ramen. Argh - it’s making my mouth water! We had a wonderful weekend there but as always it was soon time to say goodbye or in this case au revoir and head to the land of Port, Cork and Pasteis!!