Dining out

Menus and Ordering: when the menu is presented, you'll usually be asked if you'd like an aperitif. Les entrées or hors d'oeuvre are starters. Les plats are the main courses, and most restaurants will offer a plat du jour, or daily special; these are often seasonal or local dishes of particular interest. Cheese is served as a separate course between the main course and dessert. Coffee is served black, unless you specify "crème". Alternatively, you can ask for a tisane, or herbal tea. Tap water is supplied on request free of charge, and is perfectly safe to drink. You can also find a wide range of mineral waters. Favourite mealtime brands include Evian and the slightly fizzy Badoit.

EXPERIENCING SOUTHERN FRANCE

We here at the Quantum Future School are blessed to spend our daily lives in such a beautiful area, rich with wonderful scenery, culture, food, wine and so many things to see and do! While here on your stay, we have come up with an almost endless array of fun or relaxing things to do in the Midi-Pyrenees! Once you have arrived and have an opportunity to digest your many choices, then we will gladly arrange for a trip and transportation to the things that catch your interest. Our goal is to make sure you enjoy your stay here and we will try to accommodate any requests you may have.

In addition to planned excursions to ROCAMADOUR, THE DORDOGNE VALLEY, AND RENNES-LE-CHATEAU, here are a few other great places that we suggest are worth a trip during your stay in France:

Narbonne: Medieval Narbonne was a port to rival Marseille in Roman days, with its "galleys laden with riches." It was the first town outside Italy to be colonized by the Romans, but the Mediterranean, now 8km (5 miles) away, left it high and dry. It's an intriguing place, steeped in antiquity. After Lyon, Narbonne was the largest town in Gaul. Even today you can see evidence of the town's former wealth. Too far from the sea to be a beach town, it attracts history buffs to its memories of a glorious past.

If you want to go to the beach, you'll have to head to the nearby sands at the village of Gruisson and the beach (Gruisson-Plage) that adjoins it, or to the suburb of St-Pierre la Mer and its adjoining beach (Narbonne-Plage). Both lie 14km (9 miles) south of Narbonne

Auch: Capital of the department of Gers in the Southwest of France, on the Gers river. It is a farm market and commercial center with a variety of manufactures and an important trade in Armagnac brandy, poultry, wine, and grain. One of the chief towns of Roman Gaul, it was an archiepiscopal see, the capital of Armagnac (10th cent.), and the capital of Gascony (17th cent.). The old part of town, steep and hilly, is topped by an awe-inspiring flamboyant-style Gothic cathedral (15th-16th cent.).

Carcassonne: A trip to this ancient walled city. Carcassonne. On the banks of the lovely Auld River, and in the center of the “Old City” stands the basilica of Saint-Naziare. The Romans based their Legionnaires here during their occupation of Gall.

Foix: Nearby caves and grottoes still bear the marks of the prehistoric peoples who first settled the Ariège region. The city is a good base for hiking and kayaking nearby. Château de Foix is the prototypical medieval castle, with three stunning towers perched protectively on a high point above the city. Inside the well-preserved castle, the small Musée de l'Ariège displays a collection of armor, stone carvings and artifacts from the Roman Empire to the Middle Ages.

The Ariège region boasts some of the most spectacular caves in France. The Grotte de Niaux would be a stunning cave in its own right, but it becomes spectacular when the guide's lantern illuminates the prehistoric wall drawings of bison, horses, and ibex that date from around 12,000 BC. Reservations are required to enter the cave. 20km south of Foix, the grotto is only accessible by car. An hour-long boat ride navigates the Rivière Souterraine de Labouiche, the longest navigable underground river in Europe.

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