Famous Trainer Viola and The Santalune Gym

       Viola is the  Gym Leader of the Santalune Gym and specializes in bug type Pokemon with her meadow pattern Vivillon being her star Pokemon. Now I'm not really a buy type person but seeing this girl use one of my favorite bug types as her signature Pokemon was pretty awesome, but then again she is a pretty awesome person and is described as, "The camerawoman who never lets a single smile escape her focus."

Besides being a gym leader, Viola is a Marchioness(now Duchess in the anime) at the Battle Chateau, also a professional photographer and has a lot of her work on display when you first walk into the gym. I have recently within the past few months been taking an interest in photography myself so it's nice to have a role model in the Pokemon world for that filed. I only wish that I could actually look at all the photos rather than just the two main large ones in the gallery. 

I love going to galleries and seeing an artist's work. So it's no surprise to say that I loved this gym; partly because of it's style and partly for the gym leader who runs it.  Even if you're not a trainer this gym's gallery is a must visit for any photography or art lover in general. It was a happy day when I visited this gym and got my Bug Badge, and I'm always happy to battle Viola again and again at the Battle Chateau.

Santalune City

   Santalune city may not have much but I found it to have a very friendly and charming atmosphere that makes you want to just stay awhile and enjoy your surroundings. This little city is localed in the southern central Kalos area

This city houses Kalos's trainer school, a boutique that only sales hats and accessories, and one of Kalos's gyms, plus Santalune Forest is just south of the city past Route 3.

 I wish I could say more but sadly Santalune's peaceful charm is about all it has going for it since there isn't much here. I was a bit disappointed with the two out door dinning areas that look like they are some kind of cafes, and when you read the signs there is a drinks menu consisting of: Café au lait, Chocolate Chaud which is French for hot chocolate, and Limonade which is French for lemonade.It would be nice to sit down and try these Santalune Cafe drinks but sadly the menu sign is as close as you can get.

 

Despite it's short commings it's still a great place to just come and relax and admire the the beautiful Roselia fountain in the center of the city. 

In other notes, Santalune City is based on the city of Fontainebleau, home of the nearby Forest of Fontainebleau.