C'est La Vie en France
The end of the first half of my 3rd year adventure
is soon approaching, and it is time for my final blog post from the South of France.
Even though the whole reason for being here is the work, travelling to new
places, meeting new people and tasting new food is what will really leave a
mark. So, for my final French update I shall be sharing what I have been
getting up to when the apron is off!
The location of Chateau L’Hospitalet, where I work and live,
is far away from anything else. It’s a 15-20minute drive to the nearest town,
which costs up to €35 in a taxi. The roads aren’t safe to walk or cycle on
either, so it is tricky to get around. However (for my sanity) I made a pact
with myself to bite the bullet and reluctantly pay for the trip to the train
station every second week. I make the most of my little weekends away and manage
to keep myself busy whenever I do stay here too!
The weekends I stay here are filled with hiking and
relaxation. A walk through the vineyard brings you to the beginning of a
gorgeous trek called ‘La Clape’. I have spent hours upon hours exploring the
route, which overlooks the never-ending stretch of vineyards below, framed by
the Mediterranean Sea and sunny blue skies. Having access to a route like that at
my doorstep has made for some pretty amazing Monday morning scenes!
Montpellier
Whenever I make the effort to leave the hotel at the weekend,
I usually make the most of it and take a train to a nearby town and stay
overnight. This has brought me to thoroughly explore the brilliant city of
Montpellier inside and out. Montpellier is seen as the capital of the Languedoc
region and is a hub for students and creative young people. The winding side
streets are filled with gorgeous restaurants, cafés and bars. It is the home to
many artists and creators which is visible through the stunning workshops and colourful
craft stores that brighten up the cobbled streets. The main square, Comédie, is
always bustling with people, which is a stark contrast to the peaceful
surroundings of my vineyard home! There will be Christmas markets soon which I
will hopefully get to see too.
Carcassonne
One of the highlights of my stay here has been a visit from
my mother and aunty. I took a week off work and hopped into their rental car to
stay with them in their Carcassonne apartment. Carcassonne is one of France’s
most visited cities outside of Paris. It is small enough, but the highlight is
undoubtedly La Cité, the UNESCO world heritage protected walled old city. Its
tragic history now makes for an utterly interesting trip. Exploring Carcassonne
off-season allows for a more comprehensive meander through La Cité, but most
restaurants and places are shut down. That didn’t stop us from getting some
great food though!
Having the rental car granted us the opportunity to visit
places which would otherwise have been inaccessible. We visited the unusual but
gorgeous streets of Pézenas and the port town of Sète. One of my favourite trips
was to Lastours, home to four stunning castles, built together on a hilltop. A
hike to the top gave for some pretty incredible views.
Pézenas
Sete
Lastours
Eating out is the best treat in France. I have been lucky enough to try some of the most amazing local produce, and of course, wine. A trip to the Saturday morning Carcassonne market was a really special experience. Place Carnot, the little square in the ‘new town’ was filled with a rainbow sea of fruits, vegetables, breads, charcuterie, cheese, shellfish and more. Choosing the best of everything and cooking an entire meal using only local products was amazing. Nothing but quality, freshness and flavour!
Back at work, I have really noticed a huge improvement in my
culinary skills and in my French. I won’t say it hasn’t all been a huge challenge,
but I know it’ll be worth it. The past few weeks has made me a little clearer
on what direction I want to take with my career too, as I have been looking
into my interests with sustainable and ethical living much more, and have had
the time to start my own blog ( EachtBia.com ).
So that brings me to the end of my final French blog. If you
are considering Chateau L’Hospitalet as a place for you placement I would
really recommend it for pastry. However, I would be adamant about the lack of
facilities and access to transport, being stuck here some weekends and feeling a
bit lonely won’t suit everyone. I also recently had to move into smaller accommodation
so no longer have access to a fridge/microwave which limits eating options at
the weekends. Other than that, don’t let the speaking French issue put you off.
If you have the basics and learn some kitchen vocab, common sense and practice
will see you by. Wherever you go and whatever you do, challenge yourself and do
something a bit different. This year is all about finding your own feet and
learning as much as you can.
That’s it for now. I am off to Venlo in the Netherlands to
study in February so shall be sharing my experience of that soon. Thanks for
reading!
À toute à l'heure!
Ciara
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