Not all who wander are lost...

Well, it's not often one has to get security clearance to go on vacation and I guess technically it was a school trip, not a vacation, but anytime I leave my apartment is vacation to me, so that's what I'm calling it! Part of my schooling requires group work with outside organizations and this week that meant travelling to Ispra, Italy to work at the EC: Joint Research Center. There were four of us that drove from Lyon, France 5.5hrs to Ispra, Italy. While the car we rented was paid for by the school, the cost for the five-day rental was through AVIS and cost 313E. We also booked an AirBnB flat in Besozzo for 250E, which was a great rate for 2 private rooms with 4 beds. The entire B&B can be rented out and can host around 30 people in the various floors/buildings. we had a bathroom, two bedrooms (1 with three single beds and 1 with a king bed), living room, and full kitchen. While our days were spent working at the JRC, we spent our evenings driving/walking...

I've done a few trips now through school to various regions in France, but the Luberon was the first. We stayed in Apt as our home-base for five-days at t he Maison de la Boucheyronne . I have no idea what it cost as this was all paid for through my university, as were the vans we rented to get around. I will say the area is very pretty, but very, very mountainous. I got a bit dizzy whipping around mountains with minimal rail guards and would definitely recommend you add in time for travel if you are driving. I highly recommend taking the time to go to the Maison de Biodiversitie (in Manosque) and the Couleur Garance (in Lauris). They are both educational and beautiful. We were unable to stop in Avignon, which I really wanted to do, but the little towns we passed through were very quaint and the people were lovely. Other shots from our trip: