The city of Grenoble is beautiful. I have gotten settled in and have explored a bit, and I am amazed by the contrast between the downtown area and the tall mountains behind it.
The center of the city is filled with shoppers and workers, mostly traveling via the tram. The prevalence and use of public transportation was surprising to me, especially considering all of the young and independent children who travel around the city by themselves. Grenoble is fairly quiet in the mornings, maybe because of the rainy weather lately. However, in the afternoon and night, the city is alive. Everything is accessible either by walking, bus, or tram, and because of this so much can be accomplished in a single day.
Meanwhile, the city is surrounded by mountains. They are much taller and greener than the mountains in Phoenix, and hopefully I will be able to hike during my stay.
Also, the people in Grenoble are very friendly and accommodating. A surprising number of people speak English, but I am still surrounded by French and am taking the opportunity to learn as much as I can. Overall, my first trip to Europe has been extremely successful. These past few days in Grenoble have been amazing and I am excited for more to come!