foodMontpellier is a city of about 270,000 people and about a quarter of those people are students. There is a tramway that runs through the heart of the city, so it is easy to get places at any time of day—and cheap! The only problem is that most people who are new to the city only know about the campus and the city center (Place de la Comedie) because they take the tram to these places. On the tour we walked through the other parts of town and saw some amazing sights. First we saw a medieval church called la Cathedrale Saint-Pierre.
Montpellier is also known for its medicinal practices. The first school built in Montpellier was for medicine, and there is a garden here called Le Jardin des Plants, or “the Garden of Plants.” Makes sense huh? The garden is amazing, and nothing like the buildings I saw at the city center!
After we walked past the garden, we got to see some monuments that have been in Montpellier since the 17th and 18th centuries. The Arc de Triomphe in Montpellier is a bit smaller than the version in Paris, but just as pretty.
There is also a statue called Statue Equestre du Peyrou from the time of Louis XIV.
We then walked up to the aqueducts and the reservoir that are also still standing from hundreds of years ago.
When standing at the top by the reservoir, you can see the entire city. I don’t know if it can quite live up to the views at Nice, but it is pretty amazing nonetheless.
**PIC COMING**
I can’t believe that this place is going to be my home over the course of the next four months. Each monument tells a story and each side street is an adventure. I didn’t think the day could get any better, until my new friends suggested that we go for crepes! Here’s a picture of me eating my first crepe in France!
**PIC COMING**
Life is good.
