I was sad to leave my best friend in Spain but had to move on to my next stop: France. My time was split between two cities; Montpellier and Paris. This was a very exciting time to be in France as the 2016 Euros were taking place! For those of you who know me well, this is my jam.

 

Montpellier

I spent a few days in Montpellier with a travel friend who was studying in the area. It was great to see another familiar face, which had been the case in the last four countries! It’s always nice to have a sense of familiarity when traveling long term.

 

I explored the cute city, did some window shopping, and even tried (without success) to pick up a few words in French. I think after this trip I’m going to have a better understanding of which language I’m overhearing in some random New York restaurant, but beyond that I won’t be able to say much.

 

I was able to catch one of the France games where everyone sat at cafes outdoors in the square to cheer on their country. The atmosphere was very fun, everyone was excited and not anxious since that game was during the group stage and therefore not a must-win for France.

 

 

While I didn’t initially plan to spend one of the days sitting on a beach in the south of France, the weather was too nice not to! The beach was lovely, and although too cold to go in the water, it was perfect for laying out on the soft sand. I also enjoyed the nightlife, partying with locals and tourists.

 

 

 

Paris

The train journey from Montpellier to Paris was scenic and relaxing, mixed with a slightly ominous feeling. I knew that upon arrival I would be in a hectic environment, with people everywhere in the city and lots to do. My expectations were fully met when I arrived and finally made my way through the crowd to the hostel.

 

I ended up staying in Paris for much longer than I planned because the was so much to do. Between the activities set up for Euro visitors, catching up with a friend from home, and exploring the tourist attractions, I was very busy! I spent some time exploring by foot but decided it would also be fun to explore on the river. I took a relaxing boat tour around the city and the weather could not have been more perfect!

 

I made friends with a lot of people from Wales and since they played the weekend I was there, they adopted me into the group. I had so much fun cheering teams on in the fanzone which was right in front of the Eiffel Tower!

I had the best time in France with friends and football (soccer)- and could easily see myself coming back again soon! After an amazing week or so, I got in a car share off to Belgium.