Aveyron

It's been a busy and slightly strange few weeks as it feels like the end of the year abroad has suddenly crept up on me. I'm always excited to come home, but given that this time I'm not coming back here it's also mixed with sadness and a desperate rush to do anything I haven't already done so I don't go home with regrets.

We had a two week Easter break which separated the exams so I decided to go home for a week and take home some luggage in advance. It was lovely to be back in Fleet and London and catch up with people, and it also meant I got to be home for Mum's birthday which was really nice. I didn't want to go home for too long though, since I'll be back so soon anyway.

Luckily I have an amazing marraine with a lovely family, and was invited to go away with them for the bank holiday weekend. We stayed in part of an old farm house in the countryside, just outside the village of Espalion in Aveyron. In France there is an official list of 'Les Plus Beaux Villages', and Pauline's dad has decided that he wants to go and visit some of them. Aveyron is a gorgeous and mostly rural region, so there are quite a few 'Plus Beaux Villages' near to each other.

Unfortunately the weather wasn't great a lot of the time (it picked up just as we left!), but the villages were absolutely stunning. We went to Laguiole first, which is famous for it's quality knives, and went for a local steak. I also tried aligot, which is a cheese and potato garlicy mix that is a local speciality. After Laguiole we went to look round Espalion and settled into the house. Pauline's mum is a really good cook and we got spoiled with hot lunches and dinners (and fresh bread from the boulangerie every day!)

Day two we looked round St. Eulalie d'Olt, St. Geniez d'Olt, and St. Come d'Olt. My favourite was probably St. Eulalie d'Olt as there were so many lovely old buildings and the whole aesthetic was nice, there were lots of flowers and even the street signs were pretty. All three villages are set on the River Lot, contrary to what their names might suggest!

Day three we went to Estaing, Conques, Bozouls, briefly to Rodez, and to see a waterfall. All three villages were stunning, but in different ways. Estaing was also set by the river and the different levels, and the way the buildings and roads all seemed to merge into one another, made it into a unique and pretty village. Conques is apparently a particularly popular stop on the St. Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage/walk, which passes through Aveyron. It's easy to see why as it's a beautiful, consistently medieval, town, which is mostly pedestrian and set among hills and forests. We saw less of Bozouls, but the thing that is really striking about it is it's location; the ground suddenly cuts away and the village is in a valley surrounded by cliffs.

It was a lovely trip and I feel very lucky and grateful to Pauline's parents as I know I never would have thought to or been able to make that trip without them. It was great to speak a block of French as well, as my French still leaves a lot to be desired and I'd just been back in England so was a bit rusty.

Espalion

St. Eulalie d'Olt

St. Eulalie d'Olt

St. Eulalie d'Olt

St. Eulalie D'Olt

St. Geniez D'Olt

St. Geniez D'Olt

St. Geniez D'Olt

Estaing

Estaing

Conques

Conques

Conques

Waterfall in Salle-la-Source

Rodez

Bozouls

Bozouls

Bozouls