FRANCE--MONTPELLIER: A SPECTACULAR LAST DAY OF JUNE...

 The train ride along the Cote d'Azure coast was gorgeous! I was envious of the myriad swimmers in the ocean, admired the miles of coastline and small, colorful villages, as well as the vast assortment of boats docked along the shore. All most scenic and enjoyable. Amazingly, I also slept A LOT on this long (9 hour!) train ride from Italy to France. Even though I slept OK the previous night, I think the stress and trauma did me in...normally, I rarely sleep on trains, buses and planes. But I REALLY conked out on this journey! Clearly, I needed it. 

I arrived in Montpellier close to 7 p.m., took a tram to the outskirts of the city, where the strange Airbnb host, Claudie, picked me up at the tram stop. She proceeded to prattle--a mile a minute--in French...most of which I of course could not understand! I beseeched her to slow down--she completely ignored me--and continued at the same pace. The whole eve, she had the air of harried impatience, and I had to ask her for all the info I needed-- keys, wifi, towels, etc.  A MOST unpleasant beginning to the stay! (Now, I am GLAD for it being shortened by one night!) Her whole apartment was small and cluttered... stuff was EVERYWHERE, though slightly less so in my very small guest room. Yes, yet ANOTHER truly overpriced accommodation for what I am getting! 

Anyhow, I was too exhausted to dwell on it, and, after teaching a lesson online, went straight to bed. At least it was reasonably quiet. 

I had a decent night's sleep, but this morning, was  made to feel MOST uncomfortable by this woman-- she was annoyed with me being in her way in her too-small kitchen; she didn't like the fact that I didn't dry the one knife I used and put it away; and she was fussing over God-knows whatever other details... clearly, she does not LIKE having guests, does not like ME (or is it just because I am NOT French?!!?) and should NOT take on visitors. Apparently, yet ANOTHER host just in it for the money...such a shame! And SO unpleasant.

Anyhow, all got better when I headed out to town. I took a Bolt (apparently, an Uber equivalent in France)...had a really nice driver take me to the historic center, then another kind gentleman helped direct me to where I wanted to get to (the main church), and the creme de la creme: le petit train ride around the town, alongside a half dozen French folks who were total characters...including me in their joking around! It was so GREAT speaking my French with those and others I met. Montpellier is a gem of a university town... my only retgret was not having much MORE time to spend here, but I am avowed to return one day! 


Montpellier Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier) is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Peter and located in the city of Montpellier, France. It is the seat of the Archbishops of Montpellier. The cathedral, built in the Gothic style, is a national monument.

The cathedral was originally the church of the monastery of Saint-Benoît, which was founded in 1364. The building was elevated to the status of cathedral in 1536, when the see of Maguelonne was transferred to Montpellier. After the building suffered extensive damage during the Wars of Religion between Catholics and Protestants in the 16th century, it was rebuilt in the 17th.



















After spending a good deal of time in the Cathedrale St. Pierre, a beautiful church visit in which I listened to an amazing organ concert for quite some time, I continued on to meander in the streets, get a fabulous lunch of fish and chips in a non-touristic restaurant, and eventually take a touristic ride on le petit train. It is quite a lovely and vibrant city... I immensely enjoyed photographing much of the scenic architecture, plazas and streets. 
















Another beautiful, gothic-style church. Not as impressive on the inside, so no interior photos of it. 























One of the most beautiful landmarks is the Jardin des plants... a gorgeous botanical garden in the center of the historic town. 


I loved how each and every tram was painted in vivid designs and colors... each one unique. What a wonderful addition to the charm of the city!


My fabulous meal of fish and chips at the great restaurant I went to for lunch. 


Really wonderful starter of salad and bread...


Every French city has to have its own version of the Arc de Triumphe, of course! 


Some famous military leader on a horse...lots of them throughout French history, to be sure! 


Beautiful water tower which water flowed into from the medieval aquaduct in the old days... 


Don't quite recall what this was... 








Hard to make out, but it was a statue of unicorns... 






Look closely: this whole front of the building is a painted facade, a grand illusion...make to appear to be 3D! They pulled it off, too, in the most magnificent fashion!!! 

                                                        



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