St. Bertrand des Cominges, Gargas, and a Medieval Castle

Hey everyone! So, last weekend we went on the last USAC excursion. We went to Roman Ruins in St. Bertrand des Cominges. Then we saw a cathedral there. After that we went to Gargas to see prehistoric caves, but were not allowed to take pictures inside. Then finally we went to a Medieval Castle. I dont know where the castle was located, but it was pretty cool! I would say that it was probably the most boring excursion, but it wasnt so bad i guess. I wish I could have taken pictures inside the caves though because that was the best part! I bought a book from there about the caves and I also bought postcards of them. They have the oldest prehistoric paintings in all of Europe! I think they said that they are 27,000 years old!! It was pretty cool!

Below are the pictures that I took that day with my new camera! I think some could have turned out better, but they are alright! They dont go in reverse order, so the pictures from the castle are first and the ones from the ruins are last even though we went to the castle last and the ruins first. Oh well!
This is me (of course) at the Medieval Castle, at sunset! It was beautiful there! This is my favorite picture taken of me that day! i love my sweatshirt too! it says soixante-quatre, which is 64 in french. 64 is the region of France that Pau is in. Apparently here in France they are quite competitive about their regions and take pride in them. So, i bought a shirt to show that I have pride in Pau (even though that might not be true)....I actually bought the shirt because i liked it and it is a good souvenir!
Sunset at the castle! It was such a pretty day and a great sunset! I couldnt resist taking lots of pictures!

From left to right: Emily Hancock-Mullins, Katy, Keavagh, Samantha, Me, Rachel. This was taken by Quimby, Sam's boyfriend. It was taken outside of the castle. I like this photo! We were all bored and sat down and ate peanuts (can u see the shells on the ground?) and drank orangina!
Sunset picture with the medieval building in it.
Me in the gallows. I dont actually like this photo.
The USAC group that came along on the excursion. Lets see...In the back, some German girl who Robina brought along to watch her daughter, Stephanie, Kim, Jeanette, Joe, Carolina, Keavagh, Chris, Robin, Corey. Rachel is the one standing. On the floor, John, Maddie, Jennifer, Jeff, and a french guy who came along with us. The French guy and the German girl were both very nice! Apparently other people knew them, but I did not and still dont know their names.
Pretty much the same picture, but with me in it instead of the german girl...
Ryan and Robina (and Robina's daughter). Its not a great picture because of the stupid sun, but these are the 2 that are pretty much in charge here. Ryan is from Ohio originally and Robina is German but has lived in France for 15 years. They are both super nice! Her daughter is really cute too!
Jeanette, Joe, Keavagh, and Chris. On top of the castle. I like this photo! Its cute!
French cows. They were SO loud. It was funny, so i took a photo of them so i wouldnt forget! haha
the view from the castle
the other view form the castle
looking down into the courtyard at the castle.
i like this photo. I think John is in it because i can see the smoke from his cigarette. I dont know how else it is tho...


The sun was in my eyes...
The Castle

Me and Sam outside the caves in Gargas.
The entrance to the caves in Gargas. Its the only pic i was allowed to take there.
Me at the cathedral...in St. Bertrand des Cominges

the view from the cathedral
the courtyard at the cathedral
Ryan has a tendancy to walk right into my pictures. His head is always at the bottom of my photos. Oh well...Its a cool building anyways...
Roman Ruins
More Roman Ruins
The Cathedral we visited is on top of the hill. Below are some ruins of where a stage used to be.
Ruins. I think they said that this is where the baths used to be...Im not sure tho...

More ruins. I like this photo tho!


So, as for me and how I'm doing here, I am great! i have been enjoying class and hanging out with everyone after class. Yesterday I had a great day...This weekend is going to be nice because I will be hanging out with Missy and we are gonna get our nails and eyebrows done. I have decided that I will probably get my eyebrow pierced because I think they look cool! I might do that this weekend but I might also wait for her boyfriend to get here because he is going to get his lip pierced and we might go together. Which, by the way, her boyfriend (Jeremy) is coming next week and I am excited to meet him. Apparently he is not going to be leaving until we all leave in December, so that'll be cool! We'll have a place to hang out!

Yesterday my host mom told me that she is planning a trip with me to Spain sometime in early December, so I am excited about that! She said we will sleep on her friends boat (she likes to go sailing) and then we will hang out in Spain for the weekend! i am really excited about that! I like my host mom a lot! She is so nice and very fun! She took me to a contempory dance thing, which was pretty cool. I am finding out that she knows pretty much anyone and everyone here in Pau. She apparently plans tons of cool fun things around town and knows everyone you need to know to get the inside scoop on things. She also has lots of fun friends!! So, i am having a great time staying with her!

Other than that, theres really nothing much going on here. Next week in my classes I have to make an American dish...so if anyone has any suggestions as to what I should make, please let me know! i was thinking green bean casserole, but they odnt have the ingredients here to make that...so any suggestions?? I have no idea what to make! I have to make it by Thursday though..so..ya! Ok well, i suppose I will write more another time! I hope everyone back home is doing well! Love and Miss you all!