Student Presentations at the Mini Boule

On one of our final nights in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, the students prepared various numbers to perform for their host families and teachers at the town Mini Boule. Talents exhibited included photography, artwork, singing, acting, and dancing (lyrical and hip-hop). The kids got creative in costume, choreography, and in their writing. The drama of the "Les Trois Macarons," the enactment of "Le Petit Capuchon Rouge," the homage to Justin Bieber, and the wild dance routine to "Elle me dit" (costumes courtesy of H&M discount!) are only a few of the fun spectacles that hit the stage. Later, everyone enjoyed a potluck dinner prepared by the host families.

A very busy long weekend

The students enjoyed a three-day break from classes during a weekend of ambitious tourism.
On Saturday, we crossed the country border to spend time in San Remo, Italy. We had a reservation at the Morgana Beach Club, a private establishment that included sports facilities, a restaurant, and beautiful sandy shores. After a heated game of beach volleyball, we enjoyed a group dinner on the veranda.
On Sunday afternoon, we headed to Antibes. We toured the Picasso Museum, which is housed in the 16th century Grimaldi Castle, and then had free time in the old town. Just as we were gathering to embark for the train station, we were surprised by a wild Provençal storm. Without umbrellas or rain gear, we trudged through the thick torrents of wind and rain. Drenched though we were, our spirits could not be sodden. We returned to St-Laurent feeling rather triumphant for having proven ourselves against Mother Nature and certainly excited to return home to a warm shower and a hearty dinner.

On Monday we boarded bus and boat to arrive at Saint-Tropez, the iconic isle of Riviera luxe. We all fell in love with this town of pastel-colored buildings, sumptuous bistros, narrow streets lined with boutiques, and cream-filled tartes tropeziennes. We returned to Sainte-Maxime to relax on the beach and to explore the outdoor market. We enjoyed dinner as a group in an elegant brasserie with a view of the sea.

Morning at the Market

On Tuesday, the morning French classes took a field trip to Nice to experience the hustle and bustle of the Marché des Fleurs in the Cours Saleya. Assignments and activities were centered around the displays of various mouthwatering edibles and towers of multi-colored bars of soap. One class hiked up the Castle hill to deliver dramatic performances of their written work, then relaxed in the shade for a pic-nic lunch overlooking the harbor. After an afternoon and dinner in Nice, we headed to Villefranche-sur-Mer for an outdoor movie projected within a courtyard of the 16th-century citadel. It was a late night, but the students were rewarded with a "grasse matinée" before classes the next day.

La Cuisine Provençale

One of the most satisfying adventures of our trip has been exploring the local gastronomy. Aside from the well-known Salade Niçoise that has found its proper place on menus worldwide, regional specialties also include ratatouille (vegetables in tomato broth), petits farcis (stuffed vegetables), bouillabaisse (fish soup), pissaladière (carmelized onion tart), pistou (basil sauce), aioli (garlicky mayonnaise), and various tapenades (olive-based spreads). A trip to any boulangerie or pâtisserie offers the delights of fougasse, beignets, biscotins, tourte de blettes (surprisingly made with swiss chard), and fruits confits (candied fruits).

Bastille Day

This past weekend, we were lucky to be able to celebrate France's national holiday two nights in a row with a beautiful display of fireworks and a lively soirée on the boardwalk.

Let the Countdown Begin!

Welcome to the Official Abbey Road St. Laurent 2012 Program Blog!

Stay tuned for all of the exciting news and photos from the South of France!

More to come!