Saturday, May 23, 2009
We Came, We Ate, We Conquered !
Oh, no! Say it isn't so!
One last report from Ambialet before we head to the Toulouse airport tomorrow morning and head back home. I will blog one last time from the U.S. with a summary of this wonderful alumni trip. We spent this morning visiting Roquefort and touring the extraordinary settings of the famous cheese cellars. We walked through the caves, learning the history and process behind the world renowned Roquefort cheese.
Another lunch that blows the Food Channel out of the water, followed by a visit to the Millau Viaduct, a major modern marvel in the Midi-Pyrenees as the highest/tallest bridge in the world that spans the Tarn Valley.
Officially open in 2004 and now known as the Gateway to the South, the Millau Viaduct is now the shortest route between Paris and the Mediterranean coast. To say it is an "impressive" work of art and engineering just doesn't do it justice.
We end our trip with sadness to say goodbye to Ambialet - our adopted sister village to Loretto, Pa. And more so, to say goodbye to Tim Perkins, who has spearheaded this International Studies Program for St. Francis with great success.
It is clearly evident to the alumni who have attended this trip that Tim's resourcefulness and know-how is truly making an impact.
More to come later this week in a summary of our trip. Watch the St. Francis Alumni magazine for a feature on Ambialet and the program. Tomorrow will be a travel day, but the blog will finish upon our return.
We end with thoughts of Eric, our lovable tour guide, teaching students in the future about Ambialet and St. Francis University. He loves to talk of history and legends and we imagine him one day telling the International Exchange students this story:
"Legend has it that in the month of May, in the year 2009, a group of alumni and friends made a Pilgramige to the village of Ambialet from the United States. They group was known to have attended St. Francis College/University of Loretto, Pennsylvania. The story goes that this group had their last meal in France, somewhere outside of Millau, and pleaded with their leader, one known as Mr. Timothy Perkins, "Please sir, do not make us eat anymore - we cannot take another bite of the delicious French food you are forcing upon us." But Mr. Perkins showed no mercy and the group was forced to eat more food, drink more wine, sample more cheese and eat more fine French desserts. It was rumored that the group was seen rolling down one of the deep gorges and did not return, but sought refuge in France, setting up their own culinary asylum near Ambialet known as "the Alumni Time Share in France."
One last report from Ambialet before we head to the Toulouse airport tomorrow morning and head back home. I will blog one last time from the U.S. with a summary of this wonderful alumni trip. We spent this morning visiting Roquefort and touring the extraordinary settings of the famous cheese cellars. We walked through the caves, learning the history and process behind the world renowned Roquefort cheese.
Another lunch that blows the Food Channel out of the water, followed by a visit to the Millau Viaduct, a major modern marvel in the Midi-Pyrenees as the highest/tallest bridge in the world that spans the Tarn Valley.
Officially open in 2004 and now known as the Gateway to the South, the Millau Viaduct is now the shortest route between Paris and the Mediterranean coast. To say it is an "impressive" work of art and engineering just doesn't do it justice.
We end our trip with sadness to say goodbye to Ambialet - our adopted sister village to Loretto, Pa. And more so, to say goodbye to Tim Perkins, who has spearheaded this International Studies Program for St. Francis with great success.
It is clearly evident to the alumni who have attended this trip that Tim's resourcefulness and know-how is truly making an impact.
More to come later this week in a summary of our trip. Watch the St. Francis Alumni magazine for a feature on Ambialet and the program. Tomorrow will be a travel day, but the blog will finish upon our return.
We end with thoughts of Eric, our lovable tour guide, teaching students in the future about Ambialet and St. Francis University. He loves to talk of history and legends and we imagine him one day telling the International Exchange students this story:
"Legend has it that in the month of May, in the year 2009, a group of alumni and friends made a Pilgramige to the village of Ambialet from the United States. They group was known to have attended St. Francis College/University of Loretto, Pennsylvania. The story goes that this group had their last meal in France, somewhere outside of Millau, and pleaded with their leader, one known as Mr. Timothy Perkins, "Please sir, do not make us eat anymore - we cannot take another bite of the delicious French food you are forcing upon us." But Mr. Perkins showed no mercy and the group was forced to eat more food, drink more wine, sample more cheese and eat more fine French desserts. It was rumored that the group was seen rolling down one of the deep gorges and did not return, but sought refuge in France, setting up their own culinary asylum near Ambialet known as "the Alumni Time Share in France."
Friday, May 22, 2009
Day 5: A Great Day in Toulouse!
A great day in Toulouse - we were told it that the city is known as the "Florence" of France. We reunited once again with tour guide Eric Crema as he showed us Saint-Sernin Basilica; the Capitole - now city hall; the beautiful banks of the Garonne River; and the Eglise des Jacobins with its famous "palm tree" structure. We are sad that the end of the day is also Brother Shamus' last day with us as he leaves one day ahead of us back to the U.S. tomorrow. The week has been absolutely incredible and Tim's ability to plan, then turn on a dime and come up with a new plan is simply amazing. Our dinner tonight at Le Taverne was bon apetite to the utmost! Especially when the dessert "chariot" cart was wheeled out - Fr. Benjamin and Tom knew that nothing could top that!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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