2) Monaco and Cannes

Tuesday (25.09.) the EMBO meeting finished and afterwards Eric took me to visit Monaco :D The city is absolutely sterile and smug... but still the appearance is great to watch. We started at the oceanographic museum to the castle and enjoyed the views over the bays. Then we went to the famous Monte Carlo casino. But unless you are into spending quite some money, the town quickly becomes boring. Overall great to visit, although I wouldn't want to stay here for longer^^ On our way back to Nice we stopped at a hill for a night-view over Nice. Right on the last meters towards Nice's train station Eric's car broke down :( We pushed the car into a parking lot and I rushed to catch the train to Cannes. Luckily the train was late^^ In Cannes I stayed a little outside (la bocca) with Verena, a language teacher and soon to be mom. The next morning I entered Cannes, viewed the town and finished reading my book at the promenade savoring the sun, which I would miss in Germany^^ Well, it didn't last long as I was covered in a huge rain storm on the way towards the airport which left me all soaked :(
Anyways, Cote d'Azur is a great destination for a short late summer trip :D

early evening view over Monte Carlo

the royal castle

Monaco's football stadion literally glows when running after sunset :)

Cannes' palm

1) Nice and the 3rd EMBO meeting

21.09. I flew from Berlin to Nice to attend the 3rd EMBO (european molecular biology organization) meeting. Eric - a couchsurfing friend of Ben - generously let me surf his place. Right the first day he took me to the birthday dinner of his friend. The next morning I checked in at the EMBO meeting and suddenly had most of the remaining day free. So I first explored the city on my own... up the castle hill (Le Chateau) to have a good morning view over the bays and the old city... then a walk along the promenade and through the old city before I read some book at the promenade enjoying the sun :D Early afternoon I met with Eric and his friend Silvie, who had two couchsurfers (Stephan and Fatme) with her :) Together we explored the old city again and enjoyed some nice food. At the evening I attended the first lectures of the meeting and afterwards Eric and I met at Silvie's place where her son made dinner. Simply a great day^^ The next day (23.09.) I attended the meeting all day and had a party afterwards... exhausting and great day, although I felt very sorry to wake Eric late at night :/ Monday (24.09.) was another long day at the meeting before we met at Silvie's place for dinner again. Stephan and Fatme made Tortillas/Burritos and the best Tiramisu I had so far :)

Having a break just next to the conference center Acropolis

Spice store in Nice's old town

Small waterfall at Le Chateau

View over the old town and super long beach :)

3) Toulouse and Auch

At the evening (13.08.) we arrived in Toulouse to meet with Maxime, our couchsurfing host. After a refreshing shower he took us on a tour through Toulouse. Showed us the best spots in town at sunset time... perfect ambience. Then we went to have Tapas for dinner before enjoying a cocktail in one of the plenty bars.
Toulouse is an awesome city... behind every corner awaits you the next city part which can be totally different from the one before. The city is filled with young people... and even tho Maxime told us the city is empty as it is holiday time, still the streets and bars were filled. Interesting topics to talk about... keywords: Muschipups, MILF :P
The next morning we discovered the city on our own again, but not much was left to be see. So we went on road towards Spain, as suddenly on the way we discovered the city Auch. Unmentioned by guidebooks it houses the most beautiful cathedral I have seen so far. After that stunning view we continued to San Sebastian.

Sunset time at the Garonne

Pon Neuf - the "new bridge" which is the oldest in town^^

huge and beautiful cathedral in Auch

What a scenery in Auch!

2) Montpellier and Carcasonne

A wake up at the beach followed by a breakfast before we visited lovely Montpellier.
First we stumbled through the new city part which is impressive... a whole city part in one style. But it looks boring and cheap compared to the stunning old city :D
The cathedral, an old monastery, is simply massive. The old city is filled with lovely buildings, charming streets... simply a great place :)

Afterwards we visited Carcasonne, one of the most famous castles in the world I guess^^ This is the place many films resemble, the symbolic medieval fortified city. The centre of Carcasonne had not much to offer, so after a coffee and a talk with a German expat we continued to the Castle. Unluckily it was very touristy, but bearable^^  Thus we had some walks through the narrow medieval streets before we continued to Toulouse where we were to meet our couchsurfing host.

Montpellier's newly build quarter

beautiful old city

massive cathedral

simply gorgeous :D

Carcasonne - as in the films^^

Castle within the fortified city of Carcasonne

1) Starting the roadtrip - Lyon and Avignon

Benjamin and I started our roadtrip towards Spain/Portugal on 10.08. and after starting at 4 am we arrived 3 pm in Lyon. Right away we took a walk through the city :D A really lovely old city centre.
At the evening we met our couchsurfing host Thomas who took us to a CS picnic to hang out with some more Lyon CSers. After the picnic we were a little tipsy and enjoyed a ride on city bikes through the city at night. A perfect first day on the trip^^ The next morning we went sightseeing through the city again, especially to see the Basilika and the great view over Lyon from there. Afterwards we enjoyed a 3 courses menu for lunch which was absolutely amazing and proved why French are famous for cooking.
At the later afternoon we drove towards Avignon and walked through the city centre during sunset time. Then enjoyed a picnic in front of the pope's palace before we continued to Montpellier, where we slept at the beach :D

Cathedral and Basilika

Awesome paintings all over the city

Cycling under the sun :D

View over Lyon centre

Pope's palace

holy mary and jesus overlooking our picnic

New Years Eve in Strasbourg

Benni, Tobias + Felicitas and I went to Strasbourg for new years eve. We arrived at 30.12.2009 and stayed until 02.01.2010. In Strasbourg we stayed via Couchsurfing with Gabriel. He provided us sleeping spots in his house and organized the party on 31.12. there :D We were extremely lucky to have such an amazing and generous host, thx a lot!
Right on the first day we stumbled through the old city and petite france. A charming city. On the evening we went out with Gabriel and other couchsurfers from Strasbourg and abroad who were ready for the NYE-party on the next day :P During this evening we got to know Emily, a charming lady from Strasbourg couchsurfing who was willing to guide us through town on the next day.
On 31.12. we met up with Emily. She brought us on the Strasbourg Notre Dame Cathedral and guided us through Petit France, where we had a typical Alsasian Flambeè :) Then along the banks of the river and by tram to the European Parlement. From there through a nice park back to the city. Quite exhausting^^ On the evening a big party was held in Gabriel's house, about 80 people from all over the world... awesome experience! And I had no idea that 80 people could fit in there :P
On 01.01 we helped Gabriel to clean the house and then went to Barrage Vauban and the museum of modern art. Early 02.01. we left and went back home... Strasbourg was an amazing experience, thx to the great people we met :)

Strasbourg Notre Dame

European Parlement

Palais Rohan

Barrage Vauban

Christmas feeling^^