Well, we packed up and moved out of the chalet this weekend. Christina and Jed left for Paris on Sunday morning, so I went to St. Aff on Saturday night to stay with Justin, because we didn't leave for Marseilles until Monday afternoon. We had intended leaving on Tuesday, but as today is the first day of May, everything is closed, and we couldn't get a bus out of St. Aff on Tuedsday, and so had to leave classes early and take off on Monday afternoon. May 1st is a worldwide holiday like labor day where people strike, or don't work in order to express worker rights. I don't think it is very prevalent in the U.S. because we have Labor Day later in the year. Anyway, on Monday I went to Justin's last classes with him, and it was again really fun to see all the kids again. We played bingo and gave out prizes. All the prizes were things left over from Justin's apt that he didn' want to pack home or throw away, and included a penny bank in the shape of two smiling bananas, two flurouscent yellow plastic vests, a Casino (the supermarket) teddy bear, and a Casino lanyard. Of course, in the second class 7 out of 9 children got a cover-all bingo at the same time and so we gave away all of the gifts along with two dollars and 50 cents of American money. In all the subsequent classes, because they had heard about the previous prize giving, we gave away one dollar bills, which were pretty much a hit. In the last class we didn't play bingo, but Justin just talked to the class for a few minuutes because we had to leave like 15 minutes early to catch our bus. They had just got an aquarian and they told him that they wanted to name one of their fish after them, and they let him choose the fish. It was very cute. Then we had to grab all of our stuff and run to bus station through the rain. We made it, but just barely.
In Marseilles we had two goals: to eat boullibasse and have my hair cut. I am in Porto, Portugal right now, and happy to say that we accomplished both of these goals. Bouilliabasse is a fish stew famous from the Provence region of Southern France, particularly in Marseilles. It was delicious and I am glad that we found it. We earned it, after walking into the center of town from our hostel (2.5 hours) and searching out a restaurant that was selling it for less that 35 euro. Also, I got my hair cut, causing us to again just barely catch our flight to Porto, but it looks good and is so much easier for traveling than when it was longer. I will probably post a picture at some point, but it is quite similar to the last time I had my hair cut off, for those of you who remember it.
This brings us to Porto. We are so excited to be here still. Last night after getting in, we walked around for a while and saw quite a few cathedrals all lit up. Many of their buildings here are tiled, and they are hideously gaudy and gorgeous at once. I love them. We walked all over Porto today, and by all over I mean that all together we probably spent about 7 hours just walking. But we saw a lot of the city, and disregarding the painful blisters on my feet and the many hills and stairs that we climbed, and then walked down only to climb again, it was beautiful. We made it to the coast and saw the ocean, we spent time in the center where the river goes through town, I got pictures of quite a few bridges, and to wrap things up, we tried Port, which is from Porto and also the thing it is famed for. Never having had it, or even having wanted to try it, it was truly a cultural experience. We went to the museum of Port first to learn about it, and then finally found the recommended cafe to have it. I had mine with chocolate cake, and learned why port is an after dinner drink. It is a sweet, strong, wine served in small amounts and is certainly a slow sipping drink. We really liked it and are glad that we got the chance to try it here in Porto.
Besides that, things have worked our swimmingly for us to go to Lisbon tomorrow, so we are on our way. I am looking forward to more of Portugal. Both Justin and I agree that Portugal is not like anywhere else either of us has ever been. And of course, as always, being here really inspires me to learn the language. It is just close enough to seem easy, and just different enough to seem entirely exotic and beautiful. Perhaps someday I will speak all the languages. I think I would like that, but for now, I guess I will stick to learning the essential words and traveling where I can get.
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