tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9549088881035101342024-03-14T00:24:26.892-07:00My Francophile YearUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-37452921275212075132014-06-08T06:33:00.000-07:002014-06-08T06:33:22.568-07:00Home You may remember we acquired a kitten while in France. A soft, cuddly thing to love when we were feeling homesick. She provided us with much entertainment and needless to say, had to come back to the States with us. I was dreading the trip with her as getting her into a crate to go to a vet was excruciating. One would think she was being tortured, she would let out deep, loud growls of displeasure. We feared it would be 6,000 miles of howling under our seat on the planes. I had some strong sedatives (for her, not my children) and I kept reminding the kids(and myself), the travel was just for 1 day. One day of headache, embarrassment and frustration- we could do it. Low and behold, Cat did not make a sound the entire trip- no sedation needed.<br />
We snuck her into the hotel for the night in Albuquerque where she bounced off of the walls for a few hours, then back into the crate for the drive to Colorado. Now she was so used to the crate, she slept peacefully for the 4 hour car ride. Bravo mon petit chaton!<br />
One thing I missed while in France was to-go coffee and iced tea. I kept one with me for most of that first day back, starting the day with hot coffee to go from the hotel, to iced tea later in the morning for the drive.<br />
I do miss the rose from France, though.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-5fCWTH0l0ZndBikitga7LvzdZB1yKbjJ7jvXhQSSrdS_dnXGx5n9SLChoy8qpNedN-LGEyjKaAT0g9XWOifkJafWqbe8wcrs9fCwJsoPtH4RHoCRytxKq1EKO2cJFUeabo73arKizA-/s1600/IMG_5733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-5fCWTH0l0ZndBikitga7LvzdZB1yKbjJ7jvXhQSSrdS_dnXGx5n9SLChoy8qpNedN-LGEyjKaAT0g9XWOifkJafWqbe8wcrs9fCwJsoPtH4RHoCRytxKq1EKO2cJFUeabo73arKizA-/s1600/IMG_5733.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My roady coffee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Dt742mmvqbPoc61hUxumPfOsOsjD1lopgfeoCqqXvB-ySsXclPGWBmffA7WFSs7OmoxdeEZIDZZ7_krru1KHbKxkES1jSNmGH4ABvN158vGBXlJWK_5Mdk07Rq-n-WBMLNQa5V5BhKmA/s1600/IMG_5736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Dt742mmvqbPoc61hUxumPfOsOsjD1lopgfeoCqqXvB-ySsXclPGWBmffA7WFSs7OmoxdeEZIDZZ7_krru1KHbKxkES1jSNmGH4ABvN158vGBXlJWK_5Mdk07Rq-n-WBMLNQa5V5BhKmA/s1600/IMG_5736.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost home<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-19528859402303483742014-06-03T03:31:00.000-07:002014-06-03T03:31:57.695-07:00Last Market for Me I woke up early the day before departure, restless but tired, needing to embrace every last minute of our year abroad. I ran into town to hit the boulangerie for a last Sacristan pastry and bid farewell to our favorite Patissier. It was market day- I will miss these regular village gatherings, listening to the French chitter/chatter of catching up on the week's worth of gossip. After filling their baskets, friends migrate to the cafes for a drink and rest to watch the passers' by.<div>
Summer produce was just starting. Ripe melons, cherries and apricots were so full of flavor. I will miss the dedication to the <i>taste</i> of food.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5F5ty9mtLGCcf5Z4nZGEm-wirflxab6UNhLscqYgxiLdvxuQQEXxNa0z1DtdMLk9QrIZwos8bzkWgmxolUHQcCVbEWRxFIUdIS6Mtx5KRvF0czL7CaHesjaVg8yz_8nafPVwUSWkVb6I/s1600/IMG_5704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5F5ty9mtLGCcf5Z4nZGEm-wirflxab6UNhLscqYgxiLdvxuQQEXxNa0z1DtdMLk9QrIZwos8bzkWgmxolUHQcCVbEWRxFIUdIS6Mtx5KRvF0czL7CaHesjaVg8yz_8nafPVwUSWkVb6I/s1600/IMG_5704.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeUwfcdhxM-8YSE74XIya_Jh_azU4hz4qNFz3PT4pwCHlLT1holokPXIgd7ceKfPKuK7JDTtVrCymsufC6s0I8-Zo-lfm_VE3jgoBsC91s-bY-WuvxKyDc1GC8lGnhpDib_wJ7XEp_tEs/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijeUwfcdhxM-8YSE74XIya_Jh_azU4hz4qNFz3PT4pwCHlLT1holokPXIgd7ceKfPKuK7JDTtVrCymsufC6s0I8-Zo-lfm_VE3jgoBsC91s-bY-WuvxKyDc1GC8lGnhpDib_wJ7XEp_tEs/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKG0s3MPZl8A1U7XFSU-zRxHYe2fJ5bjFrA39MQqI_4zOTX7VSpqOnu6Kx5B_PGgNgi_FzgOe8oOlFkj-frVkkiuqGXZjeNT_e863SQ81IjUZaR0CZIZ3eKnOsFG2U_WT8mOJs97l3EbpB/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKG0s3MPZl8A1U7XFSU-zRxHYe2fJ5bjFrA39MQqI_4zOTX7VSpqOnu6Kx5B_PGgNgi_FzgOe8oOlFkj-frVkkiuqGXZjeNT_e863SQ81IjUZaR0CZIZ3eKnOsFG2U_WT8mOJs97l3EbpB/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aPbH4BOPytc0dBS3sJT4hk6yAHOGZqjm5MKT2AGmHVAe0Aal3VjBt-UQsJQM0bLxfiJA7csJmsvbejIN1NYds-QqU7hybRE4CMejHaoEbJSuMIIJ_k7TsXKzbO4eTzohPx0KNiIM_ZIU/s1600/IMG_5707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aPbH4BOPytc0dBS3sJT4hk6yAHOGZqjm5MKT2AGmHVAe0Aal3VjBt-UQsJQM0bLxfiJA7csJmsvbejIN1NYds-QqU7hybRE4CMejHaoEbJSuMIIJ_k7TsXKzbO4eTzohPx0KNiIM_ZIU/s1600/IMG_5707.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCjogHpcY_jAZZNcPJSuqTTDfn4wjC9borDQZ4z2HjXFS0lih4BvvhL5EVuAZvm8QEnwJ1cpIT6Skd7-5Q4KZux6WcV3tB2BZgeUrCd1ONWVTFiUObI604YsLGOpA5rcbfsn7S1pugzAw/s1600/IMG_5617_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCjogHpcY_jAZZNcPJSuqTTDfn4wjC9borDQZ4z2HjXFS0lih4BvvhL5EVuAZvm8QEnwJ1cpIT6Skd7-5Q4KZux6WcV3tB2BZgeUrCd1ONWVTFiUObI604YsLGOpA5rcbfsn7S1pugzAw/s1600/IMG_5617_2.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-13957966944635443032014-06-03T03:17:00.001-07:002014-06-03T03:17:18.404-07:00Saying Good Bye is Tres Difficile Bags are in the car, house is clean and we are very patiently awaiting our return to the USA. Yes, we are all very excited to see our friends and family. But as I watch my kids move about today, there is a sense of mourning. I feel it too. Our neighbors, our commune, have become family. Being 5,000 miles away is significant and while the Internet makes the world a small place, there is no arguing that we are far apart.<br />
While I fully intend on returning to France within a year or so, it will most likely be longer before I can spring for 4 tickets for all of us to return to Provence. The kids already ask when they can come back, which makes me feel like the year abroad was a success. I can not commit to when we will all be able to return, but it will happen, someday. And even though many miles separate us, I am thrilled to have these new friends and know we will be reunited in the not so far off future. <br />
So, without much of a pity party, I want to say a bientot to my friends, family and life en France. C'etait un super annee. Merci.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-22188776644356350222014-05-31T07:39:00.001-07:002014-05-31T07:39:52.001-07:00Last Market Makes a Good Meal I woke up early this morning, remembering at day break that it was my last full day in France. I went to bed last night feeling the same way- as soon as the rain passed, I just wanted to be outside, listening to the coo-coo birds and frogs,soaking in every last minute until dark fell at 10:00. <div>
I had to hit the trash bins, recycle and drop off some books for a friend in town this morning, so I decided to wander through the market for one last time, too. The French markets are so full of life. Of course, there is produce galore, but also so much more. Similar to our local Colorado market, it is a major social event for the community. By mid-morning, the cafe tables are full. Half of the canine community are sniffing one another, while pedestrians are trying to pass by in the narrow streets, bidding one another bonjour. Vendors get progressively louder, doing their best to make as many euros as possible in the morning hours.</div>
<div>
Even though I am supposed to be emptying my cupboards, I couldn't help but buy a few poitrons(red peppers), chevre, and gambas(shrimp) to share with friends back at the best place of all- our garden table.</div>
<div>
Oh, and yesterday friends brought over fresh sardines which we grilled and ate with fingers with a squeeze of lemon, a sprinkle of salt and yum- Youngest Child has a new favorite culinary treat. Second only to Escargot- he has done well in France.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqj3qDN71meAmSc0oV1HiMzftCYQMfg-O_ypKYGptolCCH5i1qY7eaUzjqE2QgZwPOxwGQocHstzjukt0gDODxjkELekullGp8PTSbyWF4QB6mGasAjShmExwQ3P8AqyqfavIrmO93Gwi/s1600/IMG_5694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqj3qDN71meAmSc0oV1HiMzftCYQMfg-O_ypKYGptolCCH5i1qY7eaUzjqE2QgZwPOxwGQocHstzjukt0gDODxjkELekullGp8PTSbyWF4QB6mGasAjShmExwQ3P8AqyqfavIrmO93Gwi/s1600/IMG_5694.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zetta giving me a lesson on eating sardines.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDv7mY9M8-Io61BC2nZOd2GLM-LU-dcMyLl1pTSurreaxL2mly3rqVxNRkdSeVLpeVvBcHu6e2qS3DrN9gfNpILF9Ry-QbxsSxJfhFVfzFPKtS3jtk6w4wY7vQWI2Dl8ucqaCsQG0pSmCc/s1600/IMG_5704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDv7mY9M8-Io61BC2nZOd2GLM-LU-dcMyLl1pTSurreaxL2mly3rqVxNRkdSeVLpeVvBcHu6e2qS3DrN9gfNpILF9Ry-QbxsSxJfhFVfzFPKtS3jtk6w4wY7vQWI2Dl8ucqaCsQG0pSmCc/s1600/IMG_5704.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early summer produce.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcsVeTFqO3Ve-2FMLT324RTlILC2RazPfKoPIl7jRN6k2mTKDaQd0ZgGKMGCdcE3bxvvHTp8zjO9L-7eiTqT3B_EZQFc5HFCVPyVnsxDC7ADV_w7lDGE4g5Xkxxs0k3oyaq9Hofd2LV3G/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcsVeTFqO3Ve-2FMLT324RTlILC2RazPfKoPIl7jRN6k2mTKDaQd0ZgGKMGCdcE3bxvvHTp8zjO9L-7eiTqT3B_EZQFc5HFCVPyVnsxDC7ADV_w7lDGE4g5Xkxxs0k3oyaq9Hofd2LV3G/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every market has their rotisserie chickens- they are delicious with potatoes roasting underneath...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cX0u4vN0cuK4CUXEA4HQBOX6cIIazWTjaRCeT6gvKbXWfc6QCz7f5FI6SVtkd_HHBguZkiHkm_ooB3oNIztX6dwtS-LonBfLTF2iJZpg_UqUgAvfqfsq50QzEnHPZxzlkA3GxCnTj1If/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cX0u4vN0cuK4CUXEA4HQBOX6cIIazWTjaRCeT6gvKbXWfc6QCz7f5FI6SVtkd_HHBguZkiHkm_ooB3oNIztX6dwtS-LonBfLTF2iJZpg_UqUgAvfqfsq50QzEnHPZxzlkA3GxCnTj1If/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are several vendors selling flowers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Y_DJbWskdhULOgMTPjoOyw4lpUjlyChbbF8eOYtm4vBYSyKzJLWjvL9w1flUHfDGwcG7Y-gVOBWzQVHzGP9AvIojPR1FdHLmY5rNJciELjZfp4jub5t_fO1CYTAnbqUI_UvFt1XYU5jb/s1600/IMG_5707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Y_DJbWskdhULOgMTPjoOyw4lpUjlyChbbF8eOYtm4vBYSyKzJLWjvL9w1flUHfDGwcG7Y-gVOBWzQVHzGP9AvIojPR1FdHLmY5rNJciELjZfp4jub5t_fO1CYTAnbqUI_UvFt1XYU5jb/s1600/IMG_5707.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /><div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-31141379031294563072014-05-29T23:38:00.000-07:002014-05-29T23:38:28.498-07:00The End is Near We are literally counting down the hours until our departure. The house is looking very empty, the fridge even more so. Every moment is being savored by either a last visit to favorite towns nearby, lounging in the sun at our house and of course, a last visit to the sea yesterday.<br />
The water was the warmest it has been this spring, which made it easy for even temperature sensitive me to float in the ultra-salty Mediterranean one last time. New friends aside, the sea is what I will miss the most.<br />
Good-byes are hard. I have no doubt we will reconnect with most of these new friends, but a year or two may pass before seeing each other again. Thank God for technology that allows us to stay connected virtually.<br />
It is with mixed feeling that this year comes to a close. I am excited to see family and friends, my animals and my home, but my experience here has been a dream. Even though it was hard at times, feelings of isolation, frustration with lack of communication, too much time in close proximity to my children, (and them feeling just as sick of me), our minds are full of memories that we will draw upon for the rest of our lives. Some day, getting lost in Nice will be hysterical, even though I was in tears driving down a minuscule, one-way street going the wrong direction, coming to a barrier, then having to back out a couple of hundred meters while passers-by watched with amusement.<br />
Our flight leaves Sunday. That day will be quite an experience, too, mostly due to the fact that our wild French cat will be travelling with us, too. We considered finding her a new home here, as getting her into a carrier is a feat in itself, let alone a 5,000 mile air journey, but she is our greatest souvenir of all. As the time nears for that day, I remind myself it is but 1 day- and will be yet another part of our experience that we will reminisce about in the future.<br />
Yes, good-byes are hard, both to friends and to this most amazing year.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY_-qGmuCfv_1jViLzpi7wrQV4L5zpHH-eDS6p53NHRTp2109WguQ1U7yBNogSALaVHxk1hLR4ZaI8EIFU8HJ46w6peWV2Oe7LK-TjCJ7O3KoKe7xOcg5wIcdpRdomkEpDcH_F_rKYMGN/s1600/IMG_5646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY_-qGmuCfv_1jViLzpi7wrQV4L5zpHH-eDS6p53NHRTp2109WguQ1U7yBNogSALaVHxk1hLR4ZaI8EIFU8HJ46w6peWV2Oe7LK-TjCJ7O3KoKe7xOcg5wIcdpRdomkEpDcH_F_rKYMGN/s1600/IMG_5646.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fountain in Barjols</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuM2ljTKU4D-6o-OYs8UEA0-oPGn_0YA3LO2ge7_mmpVME5CtTQEAnSVEKCXWdaJ_zF82pYIvvB87uFfmyb55JUvmj0p3W_K0m-l3wBoDNLQ9_Osoq_EUuK0pbNGd5dyTq_CtssB3WUFN/s1600/IMG_5648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuM2ljTKU4D-6o-OYs8UEA0-oPGn_0YA3LO2ge7_mmpVME5CtTQEAnSVEKCXWdaJ_zF82pYIvvB87uFfmyb55JUvmj0p3W_K0m-l3wBoDNLQ9_Osoq_EUuK0pbNGd5dyTq_CtssB3WUFN/s1600/IMG_5648.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical lunch out from a boulangerie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryqSsq-TMKjcJuzdlHAgAVupoLGpa9JEtJ8vpqC10sYnhy4IkcxT0kop8sXjy0vdf3h1TkZo0lCqJTBVSrncZ9ElSPVdSxl90LqVUc8plaVuQ4OGe1wEiHtRkmlVA-5AzY_dVKLlVo33Q/s1600/IMG_5667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryqSsq-TMKjcJuzdlHAgAVupoLGpa9JEtJ8vpqC10sYnhy4IkcxT0kop8sXjy0vdf3h1TkZo0lCqJTBVSrncZ9ElSPVdSxl90LqVUc8plaVuQ4OGe1wEiHtRkmlVA-5AzY_dVKLlVo33Q/s1600/IMG_5667.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last day at the beach with friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRS9aiNzxMAy0ARJOFxmgMClMkyaUjx0wdyZbvNQq1ChLO3caWWfyyPuAghqlfyjDuB5knVfdFnLiadRAGQBsdmNrQGQIRXIzcfY4L1f3QUY_zQbzsBPzC8GOFYwj_4tEI_uVePrStJHN/s1600/IMG_5670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRS9aiNzxMAy0ARJOFxmgMClMkyaUjx0wdyZbvNQq1ChLO3caWWfyyPuAghqlfyjDuB5knVfdFnLiadRAGQBsdmNrQGQIRXIzcfY4L1f3QUY_zQbzsBPzC8GOFYwj_4tEI_uVePrStJHN/s1600/IMG_5670.JPG" height="418" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apres picnic siesta</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnelEyP-ELAHAUgQ59eW76hyphenhyphenYhvyfHYp6RG8S7C8oTUkafRZ0GdGByDxRoa2izAqxGXnJpEG4opbR3g_OlMZ-cc5MMdUsoTZj1PMDj7klZr-fa9pJR283FQy-OtHT7IseCF-xAx527QqSo/s1600/IMG_5668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnelEyP-ELAHAUgQ59eW76hyphenhyphenYhvyfHYp6RG8S7C8oTUkafRZ0GdGByDxRoa2izAqxGXnJpEG4opbR3g_OlMZ-cc5MMdUsoTZj1PMDj7klZr-fa9pJR283FQy-OtHT7IseCF-xAx527QqSo/s1600/IMG_5668.JPG" height="562" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the salt and sand of the Mediterranean for the last time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-15625609860933132502014-05-27T05:00:00.000-07:002014-05-27T05:00:01.187-07:00Markets and More We have stopped by a few markets in the past week, gathering some gifts for friends and enjoying the beginning of summer produce in Provence. Strawberries are readily available and full of sweet flavor. The asparagus is waning, being taken over by zucchini flowers. I bought a handful today, stuffed them with local goat cheese, dipped them in batter and fried them- yum.<br />
It is funny that we have been here for nearly a year, and though these villages are small, we continue to find new shops. Today, we stopped into a homemade pasta store- tagliatelle for dinner- I will let you know how it is. We also popped into a patisserie that we did not know existed- it was France's mother's day- I don't know if that is why it was so busy, but the place was packed. Chocolates, nougats, candies, cakes and all kinds of delicious sweets were displayed.<br />
We are busy packing and cleaning, though I feel a strong urge to get out and explore for our last days here. We have less than a week, then it is back to Colorado to re-enter our already wonderful lives that exist there.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cwhFlvXCVr1YiLeLcZOu-WbE36fFX4BLBjkXgf2nM9LelXBlhI4lcyRV-cwhuopHM5uGvsL8WHUMRLi2TbyOGHPYHQtG4duQi9zxqSLazxq7HXRz_p88UOt0sN0w6WWKEOZcdbB2-8GM/s1600/IMG_5633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cwhFlvXCVr1YiLeLcZOu-WbE36fFX4BLBjkXgf2nM9LelXBlhI4lcyRV-cwhuopHM5uGvsL8WHUMRLi2TbyOGHPYHQtG4duQi9zxqSLazxq7HXRz_p88UOt0sN0w6WWKEOZcdbB2-8GM/s1600/IMG_5633.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fried Squash Blossoms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZUX57a82pdAWhV12egilvjjXaOEYdblL4PERCs2iSRxJNGQqko5PfuHj203EbI3QMHxohglNJl0vZJgxFhWHC_nI3Cw8_rgSVaJtzqNtgs4jKYItABfQolhz2Xg-hThNwOZROAyc1JTd/s1600/IMG_5610_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZUX57a82pdAWhV12egilvjjXaOEYdblL4PERCs2iSRxJNGQqko5PfuHj203EbI3QMHxohglNJl0vZJgxFhWHC_nI3Cw8_rgSVaJtzqNtgs4jKYItABfQolhz2Xg-hThNwOZROAyc1JTd/s1600/IMG_5610_2.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZlmhL8yruzs6_T84IXCRkAniEqKdiLcU2NsIeZpHb7X7XsLWyrkOuPlaMtwlWnVKxwNvPKvE1_Iylb66XExsbcnVsg19xwIvUoza1zvNJOJ_Ehr8WaJfOBQH28Bh2JKH7RGVdGFCetI2/s1600/IMG_5613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZlmhL8yruzs6_T84IXCRkAniEqKdiLcU2NsIeZpHb7X7XsLWyrkOuPlaMtwlWnVKxwNvPKvE1_Iylb66XExsbcnVsg19xwIvUoza1zvNJOJ_Ehr8WaJfOBQH28Bh2JKH7RGVdGFCetI2/s1600/IMG_5613.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonJB10MGhlwu-xvFDGQ5DQISA4KT11lD3pGavBWiZ7z6sX80ofLaC91EDqqed2iaOLhIItt6IUkxUem9FHcmnGCS1IF0X407hpv_BRJWA94zBimo6a5vN_ixwqTBZR7SVsj1r6yLiccv2/s1600/IMG_5629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonJB10MGhlwu-xvFDGQ5DQISA4KT11lD3pGavBWiZ7z6sX80ofLaC91EDqqed2iaOLhIItt6IUkxUem9FHcmnGCS1IF0X407hpv_BRJWA94zBimo6a5vN_ixwqTBZR7SVsj1r6yLiccv2/s1600/IMG_5629.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textiles galore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8l_PmAR2llHbbnX53Ex_oGdcYxp_Cv9YW7t3_n66ufYHCgqCYgOx-2rXnQSb9OMekRsfS7E2Bxz3L78_-H8BildbsI7UCQ6jWd2x96vzMOIsSzmm74E1rSdkhQmKGgP6fTxcX21jwbebM/s1600/IMG_5618_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8l_PmAR2llHbbnX53Ex_oGdcYxp_Cv9YW7t3_n66ufYHCgqCYgOx-2rXnQSb9OMekRsfS7E2Bxz3L78_-H8BildbsI7UCQ6jWd2x96vzMOIsSzmm74E1rSdkhQmKGgP6fTxcX21jwbebM/s1600/IMG_5618_2.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like summer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTgEJDK6l8f9hXLijL_79LywrldGrUeYvexUSzdPZxq8S88Sd4L4Lt0t-dlllO-81G4XiBbhrBwWdc0xLAiFavxONJURv5jdD-E836YIE7JdBXe-BNvSOxQaoOJnHS1zHVztmonT4FNkH/s1600/IMG_5632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTgEJDK6l8f9hXLijL_79LywrldGrUeYvexUSzdPZxq8S88Sd4L4Lt0t-dlllO-81G4XiBbhrBwWdc0xLAiFavxONJURv5jdD-E836YIE7JdBXe-BNvSOxQaoOJnHS1zHVztmonT4FNkH/s1600/IMG_5632.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet delicacies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-53374371169857594632014-05-25T05:50:00.000-07:002014-05-25T05:50:47.914-07:00Porquerolles- A Great Finale to the Year Undoubtedly, I am trying to pack in as many fun adventures on our last days in France. The weather has been gorgeous so as you can probably guess, we headed to the coast spontaneously the other day to a new place for us- Porquerolle Island. At the southern tip of Hyeres, a ferry takes you a short distance to this small island that is strictly protected by the French nature conservatory. It is 2 miles wide and 4 miles long. The only cars on the island are residents and delivery vehicles. So, upon arriving on the island, we rented bikes and began exploring.<br />
First stop was to the southern side of the island which is lined with a rugged, wild coast-line. Cliffs plummet down to the sea. It was spectacular. We crossed the island to the eastern side where a narrow strip of land offered black sand on one side and white sand on the other.<br />
We cruised through the cute town to grab some picnic provisions before heading west to La Plage de Notre Dame where we waded in the crystal clear(though frigid) water.<br />
I am sorry we did not discover this place before our last week, but I am grateful to have made it one of our last memories of this year abroad.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuW51LAXMeBJgnQBAniFhWuyIrdSopufEpVyrv7PmKcqt1Wsj5tLAJ-8KYzcKeScaeXfy9Zw1GN8Kk32B6a62aNb0px36O0s0lCaHfMaZDeDwkcCpHvnlmTozRroPy-5yNrnINI6CNl8z/s1600/IMG_5635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuW51LAXMeBJgnQBAniFhWuyIrdSopufEpVyrv7PmKcqt1Wsj5tLAJ-8KYzcKeScaeXfy9Zw1GN8Kk32B6a62aNb0px36O0s0lCaHfMaZDeDwkcCpHvnlmTozRroPy-5yNrnINI6CNl8z/s1600/IMG_5635.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day's transportation. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhyphenhyphenmVXuoNWJos4pvII02mCyFa0Nl7H6xskwZRvDQv5s3ZZn-qLLK-qI5TLGWbLpDCaqA135eARcFIsF9VR5-P9MJ-2ng-_UbB08xe-cGC80SGKnX3ViPQ4ClmEBTfinpYVYylBzMQiSzX/s1600/IMG_5636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhyphenhyphenmVXuoNWJos4pvII02mCyFa0Nl7H6xskwZRvDQv5s3ZZn-qLLK-qI5TLGWbLpDCaqA135eARcFIsF9VR5-P9MJ-2ng-_UbB08xe-cGC80SGKnX3ViPQ4ClmEBTfinpYVYylBzMQiSzX/s1600/IMG_5636.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spectacular coastline.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoMaht-vmLkBW2uyEHY4miUgb24qG_QyznnI8d_KRnDsyjMlCzU5OFPHZ9C-3ZaGfPt-Agwqa2tsvpa4b52A9r7_tTnFHqMnonIQ6gBXlkCGVtjO0GAl_wBp_hFwYB7Qt5k-GipKddopm/s1600/IMG_5637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoMaht-vmLkBW2uyEHY4miUgb24qG_QyznnI8d_KRnDsyjMlCzU5OFPHZ9C-3ZaGfPt-Agwqa2tsvpa4b52A9r7_tTnFHqMnonIQ6gBXlkCGVtjO0GAl_wBp_hFwYB7Qt5k-GipKddopm/s1600/IMG_5637.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down to the beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uMF35J1R3xh38b8JMwt_0JIiJ1q09KQdnvCpurVY9JTPsD1hwMk8Qo8JWwZN8MWDau697CYSkEvKkKGst9RDJCtwv5MRQyPublepnbFUcBfDE3gbwBoV0yxIT2RR618lC4lyPfyt70oN/s1600/IMG_5638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uMF35J1R3xh38b8JMwt_0JIiJ1q09KQdnvCpurVY9JTPsD1hwMk8Qo8JWwZN8MWDau697CYSkEvKkKGst9RDJCtwv5MRQyPublepnbFUcBfDE3gbwBoV0yxIT2RR618lC4lyPfyt70oN/s1600/IMG_5638.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We will miss the clear, salty water...alot. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe76ip4Ar1kx5uu9-CCGb4ishNrvQlxckLRO4Ki6ebgq8QSCtMXE9NAUkZwZXVsJHmd12HDmid5gNq4ASHZzApuV6fFzExNTlKSHW_hl59ip4mGXmhBxM4D-FNiVqSS5U-k5HLx710rPZg/s1600/IMG_5639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe76ip4Ar1kx5uu9-CCGb4ishNrvQlxckLRO4Ki6ebgq8QSCtMXE9NAUkZwZXVsJHmd12HDmid5gNq4ASHZzApuV6fFzExNTlKSHW_hl59ip4mGXmhBxM4D-FNiVqSS5U-k5HLx710rPZg/s1600/IMG_5639.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach activity- building structures with driftwood.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyFRfpCdYLyYa_XYfOc3Xs8DuUbTygnVgaM4cxaTzwtI-5BCtZMSaFk_OFb0IGKCH40_TJ4abWiosRG0cAZXT0YSYoA7ZyH1nQRsnr3QMDIZbrPeyMNNIps7Pwsd504yX-eTxrko51muF/s1600/IMG_5640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyFRfpCdYLyYa_XYfOc3Xs8DuUbTygnVgaM4cxaTzwtI-5BCtZMSaFk_OFb0IGKCH40_TJ4abWiosRG0cAZXT0YSYoA7ZyH1nQRsnr3QMDIZbrPeyMNNIps7Pwsd504yX-eTxrko51muF/s1600/IMG_5640.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porquerolles </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgHM_OKmQnionizI9lNDzXJc073lTQ-o5NBv5C0DxrDvlemjHBipI8RkQRslUTVdMirYCoPpSTSVn6vF2I5BU8iZYEyPF_sBgXAjgqZU63r2dorCtTNysFFu2ukVxFaWwmVaVGyhMroUj/s1600/IMG_5641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgHM_OKmQnionizI9lNDzXJc073lTQ-o5NBv5C0DxrDvlemjHBipI8RkQRslUTVdMirYCoPpSTSVn6vF2I5BU8iZYEyPF_sBgXAjgqZU63r2dorCtTNysFFu2ukVxFaWwmVaVGyhMroUj/s1600/IMG_5641.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Readying for lunch service.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDXhHSVKoc68PnlXnCzXTanAxVbJ84PzYz-2v66CbO6VtwMz1cfPf8i8jfMfrQy8TRH0YrS_BWwf9IwD1cjVuf4IMBJalcVCyD5nVr9zZfXB9lbVrvVjjV-gjKrLbBy7-7Onfq02pNyZL/s1600/IMG_5642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDXhHSVKoc68PnlXnCzXTanAxVbJ84PzYz-2v66CbO6VtwMz1cfPf8i8jfMfrQy8TRH0YrS_BWwf9IwD1cjVuf4IMBJalcVCyD5nVr9zZfXB9lbVrvVjjV-gjKrLbBy7-7Onfq02pNyZL/s1600/IMG_5642.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is all about the beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-11311308752832129292014-05-21T23:32:00.000-07:002014-05-21T23:32:28.834-07:00The Garden's Many villages have large strips of land that is parceled and leased to townspeople for gardening. Most homes in town don't have yards- these are small, narrow multi-story homes. If they are lucky enough to have yards, they too, are charming with color, whimsical furniture and charm. But, the community gardens are wonderful. Cardoons, artichokes, strawberries, trees dripping with cherries- tomato plants are in and thriving as well as eggplant, peppers and everything else you can think of. The season is so long here and water does not appear to be an issue. This is a gardener's dream.<br />
And the roses- they are everywhere and run the gamut of color. ALong with jasmine and honeysuckle, the air is blissfully sweet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI5I_omSn_BIsoxcv79F8o4I-xfEfdOfhIuBzKpM3NU32sEoU9E8jkcLq80zr7stWDvVq4x6mE7zzAcgEJ-BinpKDZZ2yrwpya08wIpe-YFhJhQTd3BAf1OmjLdxpPSryihyphenhyphenhzlfZLo0s/s1600/IMG_5539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI5I_omSn_BIsoxcv79F8o4I-xfEfdOfhIuBzKpM3NU32sEoU9E8jkcLq80zr7stWDvVq4x6mE7zzAcgEJ-BinpKDZZ2yrwpya08wIpe-YFhJhQTd3BAf1OmjLdxpPSryihyphenhyphenhzlfZLo0s/s1600/IMG_5539.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbOM3zrTAdPSd782ig30w-ZlGQk-Z44SQ4BBWwfVDwDhvD2dNIGVsQzJ3CNS9B8ZrB96aQkPuP7dpELv-HcoKQhcO2oJNYuGJmgl367UWMoASurUNrlGZkhL3ic-rq4MqGDsoreWtnUaa/s1600/IMG_5564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbOM3zrTAdPSd782ig30w-ZlGQk-Z44SQ4BBWwfVDwDhvD2dNIGVsQzJ3CNS9B8ZrB96aQkPuP7dpELv-HcoKQhcO2oJNYuGJmgl367UWMoASurUNrlGZkhL3ic-rq4MqGDsoreWtnUaa/s1600/IMG_5564.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuswk0jTgFzJ_NnmESx-mSxV1hGfVUzjV1G9yVrSaCbs9tu65zdOMHVr7rK0VjqT14zpM4CI-3jJCd7WmRylktpAa1c5-Dwpt28vkNeqc5eBX1AcQreEKxlTvogeHHxrp8vtxr8wQSgxm/s1600/IMG_5568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuswk0jTgFzJ_NnmESx-mSxV1hGfVUzjV1G9yVrSaCbs9tu65zdOMHVr7rK0VjqT14zpM4CI-3jJCd7WmRylktpAa1c5-Dwpt28vkNeqc5eBX1AcQreEKxlTvogeHHxrp8vtxr8wQSgxm/s1600/IMG_5568.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdPE00lyL4unZeBpaKolLmhE7JEEWYccxdJNbRFJcSnPcNFdk8o3jgw5POdrFb1-tjISa1mxs1dJEfHdXZlxHp1WfNlXynErwskQDgpvQnA3gc1rr4VfdHu_KGn8xD-3ymrFVp5mK5RdG/s1600/IMG_5569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdPE00lyL4unZeBpaKolLmhE7JEEWYccxdJNbRFJcSnPcNFdk8o3jgw5POdrFb1-tjISa1mxs1dJEfHdXZlxHp1WfNlXynErwskQDgpvQnA3gc1rr4VfdHu_KGn8xD-3ymrFVp5mK5RdG/s1600/IMG_5569.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzGP7Diu0BkWL9I0ei4RfbqbFt-3yrZsEJQ2cXYdyoWzORp00tNPJixoPhbIZrRKfHUPcYO5-oi1ZO4i1tib02ItxLzLwBjCGtHcpdu5dG6dbf_qIov4vy0OLQxbq14jU6tkksn68Faia/s1600/IMG_5575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzGP7Diu0BkWL9I0ei4RfbqbFt-3yrZsEJQ2cXYdyoWzORp00tNPJixoPhbIZrRKfHUPcYO5-oi1ZO4i1tib02ItxLzLwBjCGtHcpdu5dG6dbf_qIov4vy0OLQxbq14jU6tkksn68Faia/s1600/IMG_5575.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6zlyc1ViECT9fXm7WTiGL5R6Bz_J7RY11WQQiTOkQHpecRyisoBDBOmaMx2SIKE7Q6VOZ9PBFIs0l2-FPOauJRuFyy1Hu4eer3-t0Op725Kg3Bvh-1sPh_aiTnWGArV10kAMIXhzl97M/s1600/jasmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6zlyc1ViECT9fXm7WTiGL5R6Bz_J7RY11WQQiTOkQHpecRyisoBDBOmaMx2SIKE7Q6VOZ9PBFIs0l2-FPOauJRuFyy1Hu4eer3-t0Op725Kg3Bvh-1sPh_aiTnWGArV10kAMIXhzl97M/s1600/jasmine.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFDbNn9FQWFvrTLtKW0keHcZg2djyWu6AjDFF3LHCv2PbbcWUQy9sv-2sxeiSXJkRAM2tXAINxdYL5_BXpXQcLnCh0guHvuH0SqbjS_S8Qtpqf03y_T_RV5eiRfGAGNoPstoFkr7DWBE9/s1600/IMG_5527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFDbNn9FQWFvrTLtKW0keHcZg2djyWu6AjDFF3LHCv2PbbcWUQy9sv-2sxeiSXJkRAM2tXAINxdYL5_BXpXQcLnCh0guHvuH0SqbjS_S8Qtpqf03y_T_RV5eiRfGAGNoPstoFkr7DWBE9/s1600/IMG_5527.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-51975997783318555132014-05-20T08:46:00.001-07:002014-05-20T08:46:59.677-07:00The Limoncello is ReadyMy Limoncello is finally done, with 11 days to spare. After 1 month of steeping lemon peel in alcool pour fruits, I added sugar syrup and let it sit for another couple of weeks. Upon tasting it, I decided it was too sweet, even though I did not add all of the syrup my recipe called for, thankfully. So, I added some more lemon peel to the bottles and let it steep for a couple more weeks. Now, it is ready. Still a little sweet, but plenty drinkable, Limoncello is lip smackingly good poured straight from the freezer. The color is brilliant yellow, almost neon. If I had not made it myself and know the alcohol content, I could easily go overboard with this drink.<br />
I am very proud of it and can not wait to start a batch as soon as I return to Colorado. Be warned friends, it takes 2 months, but then I will gladly share my Limoncello with you on my back porch, watching the amazing Southern Colorado sunset! A Bientot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fcL3157Va0K1xqTSnlip4maZJIfop_Bh0B5odY46I7Bv5QWvj6uGXzhooYRqKw2qlgE7Wz8pSWBHsFZaktO7GBi4b3vI4naWKeE7zxrehCBLQf3ABOYMlrF6DIjPHBUhiZcdNaMPX6aA/s1600/IMG_4739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fcL3157Va0K1xqTSnlip4maZJIfop_Bh0B5odY46I7Bv5QWvj6uGXzhooYRqKw2qlgE7Wz8pSWBHsFZaktO7GBi4b3vI4naWKeE7zxrehCBLQf3ABOYMlrF6DIjPHBUhiZcdNaMPX6aA/s1600/IMG_4739.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtcwl9BeYN0MjUckClxxA7aAIKAUUkxAPt-c5NZIDl-VE3Oi21T0zSfIAso4Tz4faVWKApBAFaXXhsJRB3GAjvHP45LHeRmpwRIpQsn9hz6Uz766BmTo2Zl1MySNIHCNv4aURC3TkVofl/s1600/IMG_5430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtcwl9BeYN0MjUckClxxA7aAIKAUUkxAPt-c5NZIDl-VE3Oi21T0zSfIAso4Tz4faVWKApBAFaXXhsJRB3GAjvHP45LHeRmpwRIpQsn9hz6Uz766BmTo2Zl1MySNIHCNv4aURC3TkVofl/s1600/IMG_5430.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first strain and adding syrup.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemdtoHgM36udBCGrjqVH7CxDDHmsGM_oWAmq0ngalyj8yyubAoF6G7mwNrJA3Eonh8Oi7V_Usy3XLyV6802eeBPIXQAzL8LINlPjnhOnh3HiUifoJLftTkjooeh0ixU2Rhps61r8mPbbL/s1600/IMG_5433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemdtoHgM36udBCGrjqVH7CxDDHmsGM_oWAmq0ngalyj8yyubAoF6G7mwNrJA3Eonh8Oi7V_Usy3XLyV6802eeBPIXQAzL8LINlPjnhOnh3HiUifoJLftTkjooeh0ixU2Rhps61r8mPbbL/s1600/IMG_5433.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for drinking enjoyment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVPDhiJMI5L1Z-o2y2So8BZUKzyfS-29soQLNryiE-VgBkt_za2RrzZCLdbHildPLmxtgppkarH-OutN79dgnXq1H1DrqIoa7GDjCSdrD4nn20litmi_CYZqFd1Lo_6uD1jQtLIPBhrbo/s1600/limoncello+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVPDhiJMI5L1Z-o2y2So8BZUKzyfS-29soQLNryiE-VgBkt_za2RrzZCLdbHildPLmxtgppkarH-OutN79dgnXq1H1DrqIoa7GDjCSdrD4nn20litmi_CYZqFd1Lo_6uD1jQtLIPBhrbo/s1600/limoncello+2.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't mind if Ido- look at that color!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-50784211019843016412014-05-18T22:37:00.000-07:002014-05-18T22:37:14.866-07:00An Art Lesson My friends Marleen and Marc, Belgians, invited my kids over for an art class as they are both very talented artists themselves. She, a painter, he, a sculptor, they have some of their works displayed at their home which is so charming and peaceful. They have created an oasis of tranquility in the hills above this tiny Provencal town.<br />
On another note, roses clearly love this climate as they are blooming everywhere. At the end of grape rows in vineyards and climbing up trellises at people's small village homes. Even though many apartments in the villages have no yards, they seem to take great pride in producing lush greenery in pots or a tiny circle of dirt at their front doors.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGTVyC2viCAE56z9vLXEeI9gfAbRSVZAToFKpZuXjL75zKl2uGk8N36FaCbwBZqXRvuUyLsyfbRyDQASQlYFZbkxMfcynkmEnjgQM7AKP2DULWzqhg4GDMcHXIAFs5HFV9VgztEVcLsED/s1600/IMG_5517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGTVyC2viCAE56z9vLXEeI9gfAbRSVZAToFKpZuXjL75zKl2uGk8N36FaCbwBZqXRvuUyLsyfbRyDQASQlYFZbkxMfcynkmEnjgQM7AKP2DULWzqhg4GDMcHXIAFs5HFV9VgztEVcLsED/s1600/IMG_5517.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoa2W8Wr6LPuvd1o-i8CJJjSHbmBE7jMvTYpPfVsBCE5_6wnIZjW38cp6lRU4ni7USvdmS2itHiEVUAMGPfWB2EdoUNFPGhyphenhyphenkMPaRU6ZMXjjz5W3HMlvcThKDzmn_DC3fBqVDPy-h6Vg5/s1600/IMG_5520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoa2W8Wr6LPuvd1o-i8CJJjSHbmBE7jMvTYpPfVsBCE5_6wnIZjW38cp6lRU4ni7USvdmS2itHiEVUAMGPfWB2EdoUNFPGhyphenhyphenkMPaRU6ZMXjjz5W3HMlvcThKDzmn_DC3fBqVDPy-h6Vg5/s1600/IMG_5520.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLds0Ouxtoel-RUQ12IJBkRpw4Uhx_j5Fl8QvYCsOFa7av-ABBtq2fS6XxrtNQ1tZlcDWsAmTRvMt_sxV5P1JqbImtkr7fBljfAloWWqBUWkfkl1wbQTFMZ8wNEWqdKpYuvyCWkC3WCkDo/s1600/IMG_5510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLds0Ouxtoel-RUQ12IJBkRpw4Uhx_j5Fl8QvYCsOFa7av-ABBtq2fS6XxrtNQ1tZlcDWsAmTRvMt_sxV5P1JqbImtkr7fBljfAloWWqBUWkfkl1wbQTFMZ8wNEWqdKpYuvyCWkC3WCkDo/s1600/IMG_5510.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7P-oytU0r3W_S27Q9XAahWpS_5pZKsZ8RPHyqOBdLe1BCZ-yROYYXa6EGvi7Ov_1rW9A1V2XFoxreDeq4DNkh8Ret6_q1A_Q4HAUeVQpzjUKTud7gDt5whtNlJb-_jS8l_4pNNZ_WuwHf/s1600/IMG_5511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7P-oytU0r3W_S27Q9XAahWpS_5pZKsZ8RPHyqOBdLe1BCZ-yROYYXa6EGvi7Ov_1rW9A1V2XFoxreDeq4DNkh8Ret6_q1A_Q4HAUeVQpzjUKTud7gDt5whtNlJb-_jS8l_4pNNZ_WuwHf/s1600/IMG_5511.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm9B5k32FQp9x_gkaP8UAKPn9mU_W1knB23NIfdQhwhBBMbg0O1hAIFGa25xPUwjQKLV-2_CPMgJhg7dCe2ZQpH9_kBmpbiRtWjgS7PqkCg539ptBevqAJvi8htl8OgSKt8e_-O8Gxpkc/s1600/IMG_5512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm9B5k32FQp9x_gkaP8UAKPn9mU_W1knB23NIfdQhwhBBMbg0O1hAIFGa25xPUwjQKLV-2_CPMgJhg7dCe2ZQpH9_kBmpbiRtWjgS7PqkCg539ptBevqAJvi8htl8OgSKt8e_-O8Gxpkc/s1600/IMG_5512.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqADLDOkny1v5tdegTp-jsfz_M4q8MB2olJSotMknp30ZLTZWtD4d9O0HaFbXY4Uaj5YpMP0u9GgbV0zV_NDwdh9nsHTnN4ajz4K-Zy8nbqAbiMSc8y__3kKXQmAbg5sWZpVqjSoFbg-85/s1600/IMG_5514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqADLDOkny1v5tdegTp-jsfz_M4q8MB2olJSotMknp30ZLTZWtD4d9O0HaFbXY4Uaj5YpMP0u9GgbV0zV_NDwdh9nsHTnN4ajz4K-Zy8nbqAbiMSc8y__3kKXQmAbg5sWZpVqjSoFbg-85/s1600/IMG_5514.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-32272160029376648892014-05-13T03:53:00.000-07:002014-05-13T03:53:31.762-07:00Normandy - It Is More than just Cheese<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I still haven't finished telling you about our trip to the northern part of France. It did not stop with Paris. We reluctantly got ourselves to the rental car agency and headed out of the city which was a hair raising experience in itself as the GPS gave very short notice to upcoming directions. Trying to cross multi-lane, French highways in an obvious rental car is tough. As long as I played the nice tourist though, it all went well- smile, wave at those who yield briefly, appreciate the time others have taken out of their flurry to escape the city, to let your car in front of theirs. Getting to the country is a competitive experience up there. Luckily, I rented a small, speedy thing, opposite of the monster I drive in Provence.<br />
The road opened up to continue to Giverny, the home and gardens of Claude Monet. The Town of Vernon is tiny, charming and cheery. The sun was actually shining which made everything all the more brilliant. Once inside the gardens, colors flourished. Rows and beds were bursting with blossoms of every conceivable shade of the color wheel. Monet's large, bright house stood at the top of the hill, behind the gardens. A path leads one deeper into the gardens and winds around a large pond with the wisteria covered Japanese bridge represented in many of Monet's paintings. The pond has lily pads waiting to bloom and be painted.<br />
We wandered through the house where wonderful portraits and copies of Monet's most famous work hung. Each room was brilliantly painted and had large windows that opened above the gardens for a spectacular view of the colors below. The shockingly yellow dining room was fun, then we passed through the blue kitchen with walls lined with perfectly polished copper pots. Even though I adored Paris, it was good to be in the country with a feel like this.<br />
Onward to Bayeux, another hour east and close to the Normandy coast. This was a great town. Our hotel was a pleasant change with modern amenities. There was even a TV that none of us cared whether we were zoning out to French speaking shows or English. We had a delicious meal where we enjoyed seafood as you could smell the salt in the air from the sea. Youngest Child, of course, had escargot- he will miss those chewy little critters upon our return to USA.<br />
Bayeux has an amazing cathedral which was untouched by WWII. Unlike many other towns in the area, Bayeux survived the war with no physical damage. The Bayeux tapestry is a 70 meter long cloth that wraps around a large, dark room enclosed in a glass case. Audio guides tell you the story that is represented on the tapestry, the Battle of Hastings led by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. The kids' audio guide must have been really fun because my children said it was their favorite thing they saw during the whole northern trip.<br />
Next stop was Omaha Beach, the US landing beach of the Normandy invasion. Though we read many excerpts and talked at length about this beautiful place, the magnitude of loss was not understood though a short video at the museum did put a lump in everyone's throat. The cemetery is perfectly manicured, overlooking the cliffs and the English Channel. The perfectly symmetrical rows of over 9,000 graves are a spectacular sight, obviously evoking tears to anyone comprehending the fear and loss during those days of the war. The sky opened up long enough for the younger two to have a swim, so into the frigid water of the English Channel they went.<br />
We had alot to pack into our three days up there, so our agenda made us continue south into Brittany so we could see Mont St. Michel. The weather turned wet and grey again, making it perfectly clear why the rolling, Normandy countryside is so brilliantly lush and green. Beautiful Normande cows dotted the fields. Apple trees abound. That part of France is famous for cider, calvados and camembert cheese, which of course I purchased while in Bayeux and it was heavily perfuming the car with the cheese stink.<br />
Mt. St. Michel was a bit of a let down as the gobs of tourists have the Mount jam-packed with trinket shops and terrible food stalls, masses of people slowly walking through as if on a conveyor belt. We had to get out of there. It was spectacular from a distance, we all agreed. Further along the road we found several seaside towns, lovely places to enjoy the fruits de mer(seafood ). We stopped in Cancale to indulge in a fabulous lunch and wander around this seaside village. I want to go back in the summer and stay...for a while. Rather than a traditional farmer's market, stalls selling oysters were set up above the beach. You could get a takeaway platter of freshly shucked oysters with a lemon wedge, to slurp down while watching the tide change. I wanted to stay.<br />
We covered alot of ground in those three days. Train tickets forced us back to our home away from home, though we were tired. About 30 minutes from our station in Aix en Provence, the skies cleared which I was incredibly grateful for. I am not much for rain and as I have said, it rains alot up there in the north of France.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik94TcEHH4JMqr3wSu1qGzONrgU4Dg2xJfhTsGL7Mmp_nRQvhyphenhyphenPnR2p3wTBd7o01z8l3miK-yomw15RuKjLOKeyAYU9D3_ZO6yo3HP_ocyB_Mbw4kYS_4qn9WI94rWsYFSS8_K1-XXJd81/s1600/IMG_5313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik94TcEHH4JMqr3wSu1qGzONrgU4Dg2xJfhTsGL7Mmp_nRQvhyphenhyphenPnR2p3wTBd7o01z8l3miK-yomw15RuKjLOKeyAYU9D3_ZO6yo3HP_ocyB_Mbw4kYS_4qn9WI94rWsYFSS8_K1-XXJd81/s1600/IMG_5313.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monet's Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54pQ9HRz-36kneB4cqn6RBxJKdK0YLQIMpzZvb4QyOdhwxa03xtX95WeNenN_X-OrVPW-H5J4OyEoGVzuylTXFtLCUE5hFmNZTGrpgvb-HQCy8388q7u9YqJJmN8rHvrXN6D1Xa17Pb0X/s1600/IMG_5325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54pQ9HRz-36kneB4cqn6RBxJKdK0YLQIMpzZvb4QyOdhwxa03xtX95WeNenN_X-OrVPW-H5J4OyEoGVzuylTXFtLCUE5hFmNZTGrpgvb-HQCy8388q7u9YqJJmN8rHvrXN6D1Xa17Pb0X/s1600/IMG_5325.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Monet's bedroom window</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFp7Uh2J1-DGrakEra-vdRs-tWqD5cK_O0S0ULOWf70g9_xHiPIMVv9IKflM303iEPxXEuxqFaHhKGkAq_QUmmNbnq5g1m5pTTWMYjY6q2SCEL-7ddFF3rVRaXURNEIHEyKasuzgT_49LQ/s1600/IMG_5338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFp7Uh2J1-DGrakEra-vdRs-tWqD5cK_O0S0ULOWf70g9_xHiPIMVv9IKflM303iEPxXEuxqFaHhKGkAq_QUmmNbnq5g1m5pTTWMYjY6q2SCEL-7ddFF3rVRaXURNEIHEyKasuzgT_49LQ/s1600/IMG_5338.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious crab!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ic3vIg_gCxRFX-h7Rpa4XcSWCwScSNIIPctmnYzFTalaRgphM5NQ-6c9Ph5X3zbbBfm7DdE6G9-kzeSM9ysfxGm0oo_8DFgA5VrWZ41tn7vNa4wxpvmuGowPYRVeOZThHnh44nLspR9W/s1600/IMG_5343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ic3vIg_gCxRFX-h7Rpa4XcSWCwScSNIIPctmnYzFTalaRgphM5NQ-6c9Ph5X3zbbBfm7DdE6G9-kzeSM9ysfxGm0oo_8DFgA5VrWZ41tn7vNa4wxpvmuGowPYRVeOZThHnh44nLspR9W/s1600/IMG_5343.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayeux Cathedral<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIh0_vCsyMLJdYJFY5pcoaF0XoFO9lYvFkZ-6d5DfpSbgpLPV-76V_0MbUdOt6MdX1A8AI3QXtPX1l-zUVuRYw4IEpdl3W04iQEGz16Tc9N3FgsW7w8mABzB8eMFXhrNF94NOxtYOVd1k/s1600/IMG_7897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIh0_vCsyMLJdYJFY5pcoaF0XoFO9lYvFkZ-6d5DfpSbgpLPV-76V_0MbUdOt6MdX1A8AI3QXtPX1l-zUVuRYw4IEpdl3W04iQEGz16Tc9N3FgsW7w8mABzB8eMFXhrNF94NOxtYOVd1k/s1600/IMG_7897.JPG" height="158" width="640" /></a><br />
American Cemetery<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKHRjNCStVU4V6XsnG2CchBLJ8HEYt-hz6XJjwaTiJ6ro1Mlyw7yll17WVVzyRtlg4JWJlyQoB-q8ItNrbiohFsfId3Ap19X2-uwZUrePqip0w7RqZZAqCD081-FYNodDY5hKeu6_S7VP/s1600/IMG_7894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKHRjNCStVU4V6XsnG2CchBLJ8HEYt-hz6XJjwaTiJ6ro1Mlyw7yll17WVVzyRtlg4JWJlyQoB-q8ItNrbiohFsfId3Ap19X2-uwZUrePqip0w7RqZZAqCD081-FYNodDY5hKeu6_S7VP/s1600/IMG_7894.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a><br />
Over 9,000 graves of AMerican soldiers, mostly killed during the D-DAy invasion.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWnMT66WwmZTXfif6-IKAyVXZQCGGiHbtWo2p3tsiuZVKInpGES2VHffIx8tA3VPJDgiX_nIQoGTDMqNh814D42QqkkFDS-shEYMM6T3YRhj77ucECbdCw3v1g2-7agedOV41k351p7_O/s1600/IMG_7899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWnMT66WwmZTXfif6-IKAyVXZQCGGiHbtWo2p3tsiuZVKInpGES2VHffIx8tA3VPJDgiX_nIQoGTDMqNh814D42QqkkFDS-shEYMM6T3YRhj77ucECbdCw3v1g2-7agedOV41k351p7_O/s1600/IMG_7899.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a><br />
Omaha Beach and the English Channel along this coastline are fabulous.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirps3qoZE92FgkFYKO5Ve-hWGfz-WhUc8TG7GUMIQBSkLNVlsq3YaMUW3hgfSI8kPnMttE5DoKiJVV0fwKodGSdwJQzM-2gh8FY_i5hyZJ0fqJmGlQJQII6ZXxXpuHiUgh2o8f0Xy0qD-k/s1600/IMG_5352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirps3qoZE92FgkFYKO5Ve-hWGfz-WhUc8TG7GUMIQBSkLNVlsq3YaMUW3hgfSI8kPnMttE5DoKiJVV0fwKodGSdwJQzM-2gh8FY_i5hyZJ0fqJmGlQJQII6ZXxXpuHiUgh2o8f0Xy0qD-k/s1600/IMG_5352.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Normandy cows for ooey gooey camembert- yum again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGpEKUP5zFWtn3LgvhKvOVJWt-8ypA98ApDdJJYebec3ZVSP3YxIAXGtf33oQbZGf7AsO31pvjePW6cLx30KKWjhdUlqKRtQW0NbmA4njOi8PBeL7JVUIQe-xPN-bLYBnd988BlwPg4-F/s1600/IMG_5375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGpEKUP5zFWtn3LgvhKvOVJWt-8ypA98ApDdJJYebec3ZVSP3YxIAXGtf33oQbZGf7AsO31pvjePW6cLx30KKWjhdUlqKRtQW0NbmA4njOi8PBeL7JVUIQe-xPN-bLYBnd988BlwPg4-F/s1600/IMG_5375.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruits de Mer platter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eVUmw8LJap-gdtmUyfCnQRZRcg_pvQg2R_NEJnKp4RShmr6AqXtaGeyI0mCUIezXVQMAPKcwVp87wTSxtkdduvJvPejYv2d0x7AvNbSQ2sQm3j-uq5hmeDndk_4OoybFKcDRFk4AujOO/s1600/IMG_5383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eVUmw8LJap-gdtmUyfCnQRZRcg_pvQg2R_NEJnKp4RShmr6AqXtaGeyI0mCUIezXVQMAPKcwVp87wTSxtkdduvJvPejYv2d0x7AvNbSQ2sQm3j-uq5hmeDndk_4OoybFKcDRFk4AujOO/s1600/IMG_5383.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oyster stands in Cancale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EsGo81rxfXwbMbfFdR2Kh5vEp3U4kIctcpHtPczw67qHVxnug7uGsgTD6h_IbPDnuETi8BsDjBhyhHxrT0-svGiTa-1qNSjh-MGHsFEbuh3VbuLrauAo4v2-m5qyRDUesBryHjZXU5fq/s1600/IMG_5399.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EsGo81rxfXwbMbfFdR2Kh5vEp3U4kIctcpHtPczw67qHVxnug7uGsgTD6h_IbPDnuETi8BsDjBhyhHxrT0-svGiTa-1qNSjh-MGHsFEbuh3VbuLrauAo4v2-m5qyRDUesBryHjZXU5fq/s1600/IMG_5399.PNG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. St. Michel-much better from a distance!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-18202687912240736892014-05-09T08:11:00.001-07:002014-05-09T08:14:50.982-07:00How the Days Slip By Yesterday was V-Day in France, the day WWII ended. My Belgian friends made a plan with us for the day, so we gladly followed and ended up at the most wonderful beach on the Cote d'Azur. As you know all too well, we love any beach, but this one was the best so far.<br />
The kids were in the water by 10:00 A.M. It took me a bit longer to warm up to the still frigid sea temperatures, but I did as did the rest of the crew. Fabulous picnics, great company and a full day of sand and sea were had at this place.<br />
Oh, and did I tell you about the Bouillabaisse that my neighbors made last weekend? They are both wonderful cooks and made a traditional fish stew complete with rouille(a spicy mayo-like condiment), a variety of fish and shellfish, potatoes and richly flavored saffron broth. Sunday lunches are leisurely and even though the sky was somewhat threatening at times, hours slipped by enjoying food and good company.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aQNYao4fRGJcA8YdOTTnKauQw9Ec_MOeHUtWWlWuhmrEg4wBOedJ8IzlhWx5QuI_xfJYumnMKyrClXkMl1X4lbuxrJfEBD30zimEpCGz3bO-5mANrff18FhKMGhCPVXKeUEAsG-8yMs2/s1600/IMG_5458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aQNYao4fRGJcA8YdOTTnKauQw9Ec_MOeHUtWWlWuhmrEg4wBOedJ8IzlhWx5QuI_xfJYumnMKyrClXkMl1X4lbuxrJfEBD30zimEpCGz3bO-5mANrff18FhKMGhCPVXKeUEAsG-8yMs2/s1600/IMG_5458.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't worry, it is a clear, deep landing. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIgKABP6rGh0ehHfS2r4LwbA45hYFjk_R65bcjLBE4KqOU4W8V_Jp2A67xD9FSMnkNRn0H5pBkK3rdVAM-lSQsfdTKkzdFUnvh5RwHWVbGBzsYV5q5qQf5dCH5BLxCaOpJqElmchQQZDi/s1600/IMG_5469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIgKABP6rGh0ehHfS2r4LwbA45hYFjk_R65bcjLBE4KqOU4W8V_Jp2A67xD9FSMnkNRn0H5pBkK3rdVAM-lSQsfdTKkzdFUnvh5RwHWVbGBzsYV5q5qQf5dCH5BLxCaOpJqElmchQQZDi/s1600/IMG_5469.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabulous vista from atop the hill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYusQaQvY8pzVbJSiJbrRPVX8AyrCiE31XUPWEao4iLLmYNXC5E-fTGI3dw2h4aEIBpYmU8K6Tj4__XLQqXQfgKPMdNWKQVpkdA57fT1ZZOOuRcsL3k-cAnxnlQckloxEgoHoWrksOPDvt/s1600/IMG_5476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYusQaQvY8pzVbJSiJbrRPVX8AyrCiE31XUPWEao4iLLmYNXC5E-fTGI3dw2h4aEIBpYmU8K6Tj4__XLQqXQfgKPMdNWKQVpkdA57fT1ZZOOuRcsL3k-cAnxnlQckloxEgoHoWrksOPDvt/s1600/IMG_5476.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach babies, all the way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFGgSwqS9eSFpZQCyGhU14HWZKtt_Vrj-6WX1QyIfH4x7uZekFb9zOYHKjXLvCSqLOw2lwSQ7zzxHue4Qam7yo1IbRKJXco6DOHUoydaFP9MWBZujzLTaNZDHMSEpxRRnn_OXpXVx3C2S/s1600/IMG_5412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFGgSwqS9eSFpZQCyGhU14HWZKtt_Vrj-6WX1QyIfH4x7uZekFb9zOYHKjXLvCSqLOw2lwSQ7zzxHue4Qam7yo1IbRKJXco6DOHUoydaFP9MWBZujzLTaNZDHMSEpxRRnn_OXpXVx3C2S/s1600/IMG_5412.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then, the fish is removed, cleaned of the bones, skin and undesirables and served added back to the broth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkGVcbp1Br0jjdgd8ITofVTrK1UEoh8yRfURE2C-S9YLgoea2_VRvA4aNKbru8G3VFO9fxtaTbwa00TQO8bbnf4pABQO3d2Koi66UUwad8pcnfHbTSM7Gm7E035dXjJkPxKOEmxuBCzvI/s1600/IMG_5413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkGVcbp1Br0jjdgd8ITofVTrK1UEoh8yRfURE2C-S9YLgoea2_VRvA4aNKbru8G3VFO9fxtaTbwa00TQO8bbnf4pABQO3d2Koi66UUwad8pcnfHbTSM7Gm7E035dXjJkPxKOEmxuBCzvI/s1600/IMG_5413.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awaiting the feast.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1eu_ArR6lw1-VOWbxeCLCyNuys5OgKLrXiUySyjBag4Yecp1tmRdT_e29DHK8PVZkeayZMKzwc_rqnBp8p-_hsZTD9kmv54X-STUrPawgMFWj0j5OfIOAPfB5uQbPj29lgNn9Lax5uCX/s1600/IMG_5418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1eu_ArR6lw1-VOWbxeCLCyNuys5OgKLrXiUySyjBag4Yecp1tmRdT_e29DHK8PVZkeayZMKzwc_rqnBp8p-_hsZTD9kmv54X-STUrPawgMFWj0j5OfIOAPfB5uQbPj29lgNn9Lax5uCX/s1600/IMG_5418.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The assorted fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7InnJ8DH0eZRSBujHNSPWRpvEcTDBXIU74bzimtKX4PWLd_PfQHfj-Slz1ohRIKoNbyBso90gZYD2uM9mZ9awJGHZsygRyKsdLfL0i36O7uwcD5tmmVaf7SGAYNRpavGNHNV_jdko_pOS/s1600/IMG_5419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7InnJ8DH0eZRSBujHNSPWRpvEcTDBXIU74bzimtKX4PWLd_PfQHfj-Slz1ohRIKoNbyBso90gZYD2uM9mZ9awJGHZsygRyKsdLfL0i36O7uwcD5tmmVaf7SGAYNRpavGNHNV_jdko_pOS/s1600/IMG_5419.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It doesn't end with the Bouillabaisse.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhri3O1JAYc216qnHPzhiHtNtt-HtwrWTlZCObCKxUUQZ5-i4nBdpIVePzYNrHgr9VTPSAjsxp1DudFJCHO4c0_X7bfI47X_kMghJ66Ya798sz91lDI4rvWVumGeQA3ZitzgZiw3tk1ukMu/s1600/IMG_5420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhri3O1JAYc216qnHPzhiHtNtt-HtwrWTlZCObCKxUUQZ5-i4nBdpIVePzYNrHgr9VTPSAjsxp1DudFJCHO4c0_X7bfI47X_kMghJ66Ya798sz91lDI4rvWVumGeQA3ZitzgZiw3tk1ukMu/s1600/IMG_5420.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But, Trevor's nap does mark the end of the soiree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-68204880037721581342014-05-07T04:42:00.000-07:002014-05-07T04:42:04.025-07:00Funny Signs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">More signs I have found amusing as of late:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpXhyk2U0Oz2sqqcFBdNgnay8_XnnkkgYYWwAGwbdD3rC5M4GQakdDQ2-4ryZ3uwSkjueDOKMgy6R1XWYLijxIbugAVz7XB3KOY0hUMWOHqHRxfdJ6_ACrRXORqO2Zzp0BXJRKZNWlovn/s1600/IMG_4401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpXhyk2U0Oz2sqqcFBdNgnay8_XnnkkgYYWwAGwbdD3rC5M4GQakdDQ2-4ryZ3uwSkjueDOKMgy6R1XWYLijxIbugAVz7XB3KOY0hUMWOHqHRxfdJ6_ACrRXORqO2Zzp0BXJRKZNWlovn/s1600/IMG_4401.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't drive off of the dock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxTifLerPB53j_3fku7ochddfNT0O9v3NdDGj5myuoBxgptgwkr32HjqxvksvGatBaLsDUNrA2w2aS9eWJozN_kl17madoJGtP0kNMCQpcUcfKj1AVuRtkXQ8mZlJzsrQybUlBicC8Shk/s1600/IMG_4944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxTifLerPB53j_3fku7ochddfNT0O9v3NdDGj5myuoBxgptgwkr32HjqxvksvGatBaLsDUNrA2w2aS9eWJozN_kl17madoJGtP0kNMCQpcUcfKj1AVuRtkXQ8mZlJzsrQybUlBicC8Shk/s1600/IMG_4944.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't walk off the end of dock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xMONz-6G9hj7_MTu5YFWjWofjp6Aa9o6RSD-9qmUDYoropWIWhxFhTg9VJArAm87hjJnAMIkn8kTdTqZJFARAkIiBIlZx59ovvxMFTnFo5s4KVQ_Bkm_R6XK4SvVBojtCLsqU2osRQTz/s1600/IMG_4950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xMONz-6G9hj7_MTu5YFWjWofjp6Aa9o6RSD-9qmUDYoropWIWhxFhTg9VJArAm87hjJnAMIkn8kTdTqZJFARAkIiBIlZx59ovvxMFTnFo5s4KVQ_Bkm_R6XK4SvVBojtCLsqU2osRQTz/s1600/IMG_4950.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't climb onto wall and fall off</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj-grjawnNbiJNE7v5HnJXcilqGtr73EL320iALVmVC0YyebwEdf4bsfslKJnL98rHgABjhM6bToSekyUBwlpuifsLG5AE3l6zHZtydVnwOArAGkQ94rN8iLqGY0j4P8udDyC2kYL7QVW/s1600/IMG_5355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj-grjawnNbiJNE7v5HnJXcilqGtr73EL320iALVmVC0YyebwEdf4bsfslKJnL98rHgABjhM6bToSekyUBwlpuifsLG5AE3l6zHZtydVnwOArAGkQ94rN8iLqGY0j4P8udDyC2kYL7QVW/s1600/IMG_5355.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fries and a view???? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxKWZEF8yhd_gOJFqmdetiCiqWm6zeqT9xGUbpzfHx-c2i2agzSAp0CDpSGC5zl9fUaH7p1iJSD59TfhECdHrVbNk1Z00Rihwh7HUf1fBR2mhfp2cImlbWZ1QgBBq5mpZj6vglysHEjC7/s1600/IMG_4894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxKWZEF8yhd_gOJFqmdetiCiqWm6zeqT9xGUbpzfHx-c2i2agzSAp0CDpSGC5zl9fUaH7p1iJSD59TfhECdHrVbNk1Z00Rihwh7HUf1fBR2mhfp2cImlbWZ1QgBBq5mpZj6vglysHEjC7/s1600/IMG_4894.JPG" height="400" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEFVteGHRXy2QbkFFMIGFHdOcZVl9lS0Bogsa_W8iGpuDcO9Q2ejgCs9VBwv7eKdb_2zY8vYrvAMsjKBFgX9LP34bmL86wu3eohCeRPMVdkGWTUAaG0aKmfsD_LK_Q9ajYEV_9jJGg_Wb/s1600/IMG_4902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEFVteGHRXy2QbkFFMIGFHdOcZVl9lS0Bogsa_W8iGpuDcO9Q2ejgCs9VBwv7eKdb_2zY8vYrvAMsjKBFgX9LP34bmL86wu3eohCeRPMVdkGWTUAaG0aKmfsD_LK_Q9ajYEV_9jJGg_Wb/s1600/IMG_4902.JPG" height="320" width="295" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-63732524301370964252014-05-05T09:54:00.001-07:002014-05-05T09:54:36.975-07:00Paris, part 2 Even though our first night in Paris had been a late one, I insisted on an early start the next day to beat the crowds. My children have become very patient art museum visitors. They like some of the art, especially modern stuff, but they get bored after 30 minutes or so and start pestering one another, following me so close I can feel their breath on the back of my neck, but I rarely hear "how much longer". Well, Youngest Child asks this, mostly just for something to talk about, I think. So, we hit the Orsay Museum which has an amazing collection of Impressionist paintings. The museum is in an old train station- it is extensive and an interesting building to wander through, even without the artwork. Rain was a bit of a nuisance, yes, it rains in April in Paris, but we persevered through the day and spent the evening at the Louvre for a treasure hunt that I had arranged through a fabulous American woman living in Paris. Her company is called THATLou and she sets you up with images of artwork, a map of the museum, instructions and sends you on your way to figure out a few riddles and generally guide you through some of the museum without getting too lost. This place is immense and would take days to see every room. It was the former palace of the French royalty and is over 650,000 square feet. The most famous pieces in the collection are Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa, but I particularly liked the massive paintings by French and Italian artists through the 18th and 19th century. The thing I constantly remind my kids in any museum is, you don't have to like it, just look at it- for instance, at the Louvre, I couldn't get over how immense some of these paintings were. Rather than critiquing brush strokes, we contemplated what size ladder would be necessary to reach all of the corners of the canvases.<br />
I let the kids sleep in a bit the next day, but before too many daylight hours past, we headed towards Notre Dame Cathedral. Once again, it was raining, but we found a flower and bird market I had read about and it was really something. You could hear the chirping as you climb out of the metro station. Bunnies and a few rodents were for sale, too. Notre Dame is magnificent but the line to enter was way out of our league so we continued on my plan to find the best ice cream in Paris- Berthillon. Youngest Child had the most flavorful fraise ice cream I have ever tasted while Middle Child had citron vert, Oldest Child had noisette and I indulged in Earl Grey. We wandered miles that day, as the sun came out and with ice cream in hand, it was easy to let time slip away.<br />
We had been so busy with other activities, we had not even seen our neighborhood. Our apartment was close to the Marais, a hip area with cool shops and restaurants. That evening, we set off in search of a falafel joint I had read about. I know, falafels in Paris. Well, it's true that Paris is very expensive and when feeding four of us, bistro fare is not always possible. C'est la vie. We wandered through charming neighborhoods with parks and cafes and restaurants, cool shops and pretty buildings. Brick lined streets took us to the Jewish district which was full of life and activity on a Sunday evening. And there was our falafel place. A line of about 50 people were waiting to place their order and take it from the emporter window. Yes, they were absolutely delicious with their crispy chick pea fritters, shredded cabbage, hummus, cucumbers and eggplant stuffed into a pita.<br />
The next day we got an early start for Versailles, but not early enough. By 9:30, there were thousands of people in line, colorful umbrellas forming a ribbon to the entrance. Yes, it was raining again. No matter, time went quickly as we were surrounded by English speakers and we were starved for conversation. Once inside though, we found the crowds close to unbearable, so rushed through the first half dozen rooms, just to get away from the pushing and elbowing. Finally able to relax, we marveled at the opulence of the French monarchy in the time of Louis XIV for a century or so. After hearing plenty of stories about Marie Antoinette and King Louis, the kids were happy to see the crazy lifestyle of these famous people of history. The rains made our venture through the gardens fast but once again, the grand scale of Versailles is perfectly evident.<br />
We made it to the top of the Arc de Triumphe, walked along the Champs d'Elysees, through the Tuileries gardens then over to the Pompidou Center which is the modern art museum of Paris. For a splurge, I took the kids to a brasserie for a fine dining experience French style. We had a wonderful meal with impeccable service, exactly what I was hoping to show the kids. Yes, it was a very busy 5 days, we covered alot of ground and we<i> adore</i> Paris.<br />
Part 3 will cover our Normandy excursion. Stay tuned.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RLQNdUsex4KZINPnm3RLj6l7AL-lbNgCPsx869laDp1_JtnOFsKdkkPvXEUKcNCsCrlbsnZbxC-6-JcXAjsKmsnMfxvEIoyjqw8l67xO4UOkYME4ocKjsWRrXzfn0aRjT6qXFg5dp5Vc/s1600/IMG_5119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RLQNdUsex4KZINPnm3RLj6l7AL-lbNgCPsx869laDp1_JtnOFsKdkkPvXEUKcNCsCrlbsnZbxC-6-JcXAjsKmsnMfxvEIoyjqw8l67xO4UOkYME4ocKjsWRrXzfn0aRjT6qXFg5dp5Vc/s1600/IMG_5119.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orsay museum </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH0088LaNBzBG08sLONItj7AfvpxsVfDA8UHOQsWOBxN7NLASEpeTQmpqRNN5p0Tn3MUYED5KGmCRBpwIUakrcRBw07vE7h7M9uer8nNy4hblT0TeQztCmP-1CiTGwasbvqprA3_AsrdR/s1600/IMG_5127_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH0088LaNBzBG08sLONItj7AfvpxsVfDA8UHOQsWOBxN7NLASEpeTQmpqRNN5p0Tn3MUYED5KGmCRBpwIUakrcRBw07vE7h7M9uer8nNy4hblT0TeQztCmP-1CiTGwasbvqprA3_AsrdR/s1600/IMG_5127_2.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galerie Lafayette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocTWyceFGJ_H-YY2nuK0vkun_Repw4-NXoWww-_6v9mYocy7TB6HdXtMeSZKbztf_xpmGXfa9iR7_t82YlfeN59eXpHGLfW5BOdVYfgqMvyPEZlveByxLBCCBfo8FiOiHNm8moXNlJaif/s1600/IMG_5149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocTWyceFGJ_H-YY2nuK0vkun_Repw4-NXoWww-_6v9mYocy7TB6HdXtMeSZKbztf_xpmGXfa9iR7_t82YlfeN59eXpHGLfW5BOdVYfgqMvyPEZlveByxLBCCBfo8FiOiHNm8moXNlJaif/s1600/IMG_5149.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louvre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8AUHP0VjJn1_40J_29qplHYmnregy8fUnAh8zAVVfSY6e17e5eE1wnNTeFvNqMfg8zfNW1DHz2tGebMV-xz4DMYduVrMPw-67BFpeDSd7Ws0lXmxU8kZyaGgHsnB-6LSEYZ-H5MOfhoU/s1600/IMG_5154_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8AUHP0VjJn1_40J_29qplHYmnregy8fUnAh8zAVVfSY6e17e5eE1wnNTeFvNqMfg8zfNW1DHz2tGebMV-xz4DMYduVrMPw-67BFpeDSd7Ws0lXmxU8kZyaGgHsnB-6LSEYZ-H5MOfhoU/s1600/IMG_5154_2.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hall of Mirrors, Versailles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcNiGC5BK7Yn4m-yPVc6LAFHzyZa10TwxJDslM57Lw8ngmD-OSfE_Sq9wtAd5OMb1BAdo2EZDSYXQAox4F-N40ASsy4goHn7ZO2fCS-SB__tVH_i4OYPCmLPOPXKuddda01FbWg74gcfn/s1600/IMG_5155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcNiGC5BK7Yn4m-yPVc6LAFHzyZa10TwxJDslM57Lw8ngmD-OSfE_Sq9wtAd5OMb1BAdo2EZDSYXQAox4F-N40ASsy4goHn7ZO2fCS-SB__tVH_i4OYPCmLPOPXKuddda01FbWg74gcfn/s1600/IMG_5155.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Versailles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQqszdohgbzk5Laxc7CcZ6r00hz4_Gkrj-tQX-fzXLfAHn6h_JlhbPXQpd5xa5cagszMV7BFKYf_UTNsO4sQdtm_FxdyBUm8Xt66p0J3CEOuWAq3qbPuZwHkV_dlTuya59whXNrQ9Nx4N/s1600/IMG_5169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQqszdohgbzk5Laxc7CcZ6r00hz4_Gkrj-tQX-fzXLfAHn6h_JlhbPXQpd5xa5cagszMV7BFKYf_UTNsO4sQdtm_FxdyBUm8Xt66p0J3CEOuWAq3qbPuZwHkV_dlTuya59whXNrQ9Nx4N/s1600/IMG_5169.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arc de Triumphe </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5Imn4cHQIY3IPpBAh0r5ieWoyyUkDl6Bt-eiOdbhbcjQLhfwjtK3NvRvYzOs76tvABbEZJ03gH23L7bDTD3DX7NaOQ4CV31JGj-1KHo2gir0pVzfQ9P-t9ab3H-m3qGSvyAkSoo7GqZt/s1600/IMG_5183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5Imn4cHQIY3IPpBAh0r5ieWoyyUkDl6Bt-eiOdbhbcjQLhfwjtK3NvRvYzOs76tvABbEZJ03gH23L7bDTD3DX7NaOQ4CV31JGj-1KHo2gir0pVzfQ9P-t9ab3H-m3qGSvyAkSoo7GqZt/s1600/IMG_5183.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopping on the Champs d'Elysees-yes, it is real.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bgJebx5M-KA_PtvAVoCq21NXKTwdfEX1zFCwj23Rp-aWBOKoOWX1T7QJgnzuZcJUzkb2dlHFkusAGgECuJO1CLDLUpMEJZj9ViphHHnRYmfqO2kMpW5h3OEWAHmOYBCJuWUDVDsePWJ4/s1600/IMG_5210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bgJebx5M-KA_PtvAVoCq21NXKTwdfEX1zFCwj23Rp-aWBOKoOWX1T7QJgnzuZcJUzkb2dlHFkusAGgECuJO1CLDLUpMEJZj9ViphHHnRYmfqO2kMpW5h3OEWAHmOYBCJuWUDVDsePWJ4/s1600/IMG_5210.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuilerie Gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfMObe2301sDC_GUgmo5CrKzHYPNKe3F8tFkzUQL08HywPvDIq2KlsvZ0QLdQKvPk16CT6hfeHK3_Zaas6XjZpT18cOuBjUAoaZxoYCoB25kg7zJtz7CDmUyD_klnSU3ZwZln_bEhQGPj/s1600/IMG_5243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfMObe2301sDC_GUgmo5CrKzHYPNKe3F8tFkzUQL08HywPvDIq2KlsvZ0QLdQKvPk16CT6hfeHK3_Zaas6XjZpT18cOuBjUAoaZxoYCoB25kg7zJtz7CDmUyD_klnSU3ZwZln_bEhQGPj/s1600/IMG_5243.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locks of love.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDhfzC36VIJCwFLOEmtv5Hal4WgtcX_eEhwEtOkUSpNOgjYkOO13sRZs8b-nT4I4w1fblOjigFfeaoJq8ukP3pzhNc8HCuZB8GxeQ3lOPCf9IsWx25Q50w_XghKMXko-VxyBTl0D0WTF2/s1600/IMG_5188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDhfzC36VIJCwFLOEmtv5Hal4WgtcX_eEhwEtOkUSpNOgjYkOO13sRZs8b-nT4I4w1fblOjigFfeaoJq8ukP3pzhNc8HCuZB8GxeQ3lOPCf9IsWx25Q50w_XghKMXko-VxyBTl0D0WTF2/s1600/IMG_5188.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We know how to use the metro!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvxBO23QLwb73JSQWQM77BuD4fLoFaJK4G-61bXTuPUrqoXAprzG8HKFY_2FNha0M8lu1_QaXSqVPiXhf6vdrLSjcmO2-VakHySvbR7-IFRRXbbxJVBTDSRskXS1utWlv0XxiQARQeXu-/s1600/IMG_5218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvxBO23QLwb73JSQWQM77BuD4fLoFaJK4G-61bXTuPUrqoXAprzG8HKFY_2FNha0M8lu1_QaXSqVPiXhf6vdrLSjcmO2-VakHySvbR7-IFRRXbbxJVBTDSRskXS1utWlv0XxiQARQeXu-/s1600/IMG_5218.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Symphony for metro commuters. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3G0tN4m_SBppbMAI2me1LvPqdvyn_DpaCyLghvkQkP20eiY5VYO510fm_DoXVLz09PaarCLa8Vl6aVUhBM4oTlw-e5CJOCTPFNh0sLbNB_HKuHdowDbukLp7BXisUohykUyCyVrn_5s4g/s1600/IMG_5229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3G0tN4m_SBppbMAI2me1LvPqdvyn_DpaCyLghvkQkP20eiY5VYO510fm_DoXVLz09PaarCLa8Vl6aVUhBM4oTlw-e5CJOCTPFNh0sLbNB_HKuHdowDbukLp7BXisUohykUyCyVrn_5s4g/s1600/IMG_5229.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday bird market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibz6dNmv1ctINdvuMCn22ZorKAfGlcJAbOOnwQpQXKgTwwvSGQ0hZOh8HCBGdLkR2dQQoKiQ59wPgrO7Z1rve89E-k-Q3nfV8RNibavP7Hv0zZXPLnyEcuOqEQg67DjhTIwiamo9_JVf2V/s1600/IMG_5231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibz6dNmv1ctINdvuMCn22ZorKAfGlcJAbOOnwQpQXKgTwwvSGQ0hZOh8HCBGdLkR2dQQoKiQ59wPgrO7Z1rve89E-k-Q3nfV8RNibavP7Hv0zZXPLnyEcuOqEQg67DjhTIwiamo9_JVf2V/s1600/IMG_5231.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A whole street of birds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5Fqjet6NXKal8p9jNeTothUEKn3ittdLOCM73Lu_tPTyACV4eGJqRhnh0At6e0vNe-IgfNxid7i0ik_AiD5sPIeLMKUxTILgC4W8J1f60vXYmGnktGmD51EAOz20tzs0RSEI2_r_80UW/s1600/IMG_5263.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5Fqjet6NXKal8p9jNeTothUEKn3ittdLOCM73Lu_tPTyACV4eGJqRhnh0At6e0vNe-IgfNxid7i0ik_AiD5sPIeLMKUxTILgC4W8J1f60vXYmGnktGmD51EAOz20tzs0RSEI2_r_80UW/s1600/IMG_5263.PNG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the oldest Paris metro signs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2tGyLNYZNozdTFA-cDWjWfJHfEvTCAgNOvXA_NX9Ax2VDzkmW4nj0aFvtLrR1KY4QbM5P_B4wdeW7e0PG9Z6bKKfRACSifNPpwZauaROudNMZkFLXSn24M47k-768KWxiJh4dSpPYsCU/s1600/IMG_5262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2tGyLNYZNozdTFA-cDWjWfJHfEvTCAgNOvXA_NX9Ax2VDzkmW4nj0aFvtLrR1KY4QbM5P_B4wdeW7e0PG9Z6bKKfRACSifNPpwZauaROudNMZkFLXSn24M47k-768KWxiJh4dSpPYsCU/s1600/IMG_5262.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the falafel place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-36977444061456607782014-05-03T04:45:00.000-07:002014-05-03T04:45:36.692-07:00Paris, Part 1 I have so much to tell you about our most recent adventure, our last hurray, our week in Paris! I think I have a new favorite city, despite the less than ideal weather. We saw every sight on our list and then some. We had a great apartment to retreat to for R and R before returning to the streets for more French culture.<br />
The TGV train whizzed us from Aix to Paris, covering almost 500 miles in 3 hours. It was such a pleasant change for me to go from the constant driver with my eyes stuck to the road to passenger, staring out the window as the landscape changed from rocky, vine covered Provence, to green pastures, apple trees and rolling hills of the north.<br />
After meeting our hostess on our first evening, the kids and I agreed to venture right out and find the Tour Eiffel. Thanks to modern technology and IPhones, our Paris metro app got us quickly to our area where we rounded a corner and found a breathtaking view of the tower. I felt so rewarded by seeing the excitement on all of my kids faces by actually getting to this point- the world's most famous monument in front of us.<br />
A late night ensued as we decided to do a cruise of the Seine which allows you to see the gorgeous buildings, bridges and monuments lit up in the evening sky. This was a superb beginning to our grand finale.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAIS8QKVQP91qN96lussH8W4f6caT9wN6SbDYq01SyjvLirBr5GK4z6-cnhdYNCG90VmtWT308NN1X7xqZrYnYRxsLoh_L5LLxcGnD0GyDnNgB4e2LlUEa_RFBRtqhZEOQVVH8SfIEos1/s1600/IMG_5068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAIS8QKVQP91qN96lussH8W4f6caT9wN6SbDYq01SyjvLirBr5GK4z6-cnhdYNCG90VmtWT308NN1X7xqZrYnYRxsLoh_L5LLxcGnD0GyDnNgB4e2LlUEa_RFBRtqhZEOQVVH8SfIEos1/s1600/IMG_5068.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settling in for the ride.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA14X3GDoU4d142hzNeN6cBtI0OELIiHvBcGtIF9yXARy4kVl2uP50z2S-yW_fothCujFLi73F8XPhM2MiT2lcX_x7ADcMXzlhflVQCnt6tSnBCjKloZ-gwQH_p25xDFYzyTbLU_ROMDO4/s1600/IMG_5077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA14X3GDoU4d142hzNeN6cBtI0OELIiHvBcGtIF9yXARy4kVl2uP50z2S-yW_fothCujFLi73F8XPhM2MiT2lcX_x7ADcMXzlhflVQCnt6tSnBCjKloZ-gwQH_p25xDFYzyTbLU_ROMDO4/s1600/IMG_5077.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fields an fields of canola flower.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhyYtFN4n6iJ2lbiHj4l7Yqv-_9Iufny5ZOcBVFYRRuXB4sXFfYKrk8p8PY1LvjN9MAtVyVYIa3U0lfa310pSTnzxRd4dHBkQGKZENp5WAj-3BpsnUbkqxrJyfoYn4Oq2SJ52qT-tVFNr/s1600/IMG_5085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhyYtFN4n6iJ2lbiHj4l7Yqv-_9Iufny5ZOcBVFYRRuXB4sXFfYKrk8p8PY1LvjN9MAtVyVYIa3U0lfa310pSTnzxRd4dHBkQGKZENp5WAj-3BpsnUbkqxrJyfoYn4Oq2SJ52qT-tVFNr/s1600/IMG_5085.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quality time together</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPSt4anpXuO9hZJiqZyqdDz6pEg4U8WiYL96xmcurzyL8Hvc-06IvE8eYCPNljCHh6Ybfb0gPKTFfJkTfsv3s8eXv_2PIl3a6kuJIGTlsMwtnCbwUgeRI6QIFkFR2WDcsPNQXa_Ay6cn6/s1600/IMG_5097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPSt4anpXuO9hZJiqZyqdDz6pEg4U8WiYL96xmcurzyL8Hvc-06IvE8eYCPNljCHh6Ybfb0gPKTFfJkTfsv3s8eXv_2PIl3a6kuJIGTlsMwtnCbwUgeRI6QIFkFR2WDcsPNQXa_Ay6cn6/s1600/IMG_5097.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping for joy- we have done alot of this in the past 10 months.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPtztWlExyseSkYFzEU4ZQMdb3eujK1UmXO-1A5syypS0EXhWIQFsegUsFHcac7aMdUlJUbFyqd6JGL43KWRtjAYRyiRVgOz1hHJpYw6w0F-OJspVc42uEj8KIqT4vbmN9EhJA6-FOI4e/s1600/IMG_5112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPtztWlExyseSkYFzEU4ZQMdb3eujK1UmXO-1A5syypS0EXhWIQFsegUsFHcac7aMdUlJUbFyqd6JGL43KWRtjAYRyiRVgOz1hHJpYw6w0F-OJspVc42uEj8KIqT4vbmN9EhJA6-FOI4e/s1600/IMG_5112.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pont Neuf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKx1rhwTIDW74KrszbiD94jz-0V0ajNXs6e0izlmLd05ZHjViOP7jtGKPgfV0DfJ2NpI2D0OB6YvhVVBAUw4oryCDaqGueHX8VFW-2eCziIjizkQvtBrCwfZvHHqafE0DU3pIYzTVSbiyz/s1600/IMG_5108_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKx1rhwTIDW74KrszbiD94jz-0V0ajNXs6e0izlmLd05ZHjViOP7jtGKPgfV0DfJ2NpI2D0OB6YvhVVBAUw4oryCDaqGueHX8VFW-2eCziIjizkQvtBrCwfZvHHqafE0DU3pIYzTVSbiyz/s1600/IMG_5108_2.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All lit up- what a sight for this country girl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-51268515056056868912014-04-24T00:16:00.001-07:002014-04-24T00:16:12.163-07:00Sailing St.Tropez Bay<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I am feeling very fortunate this week. Don't get me wrong, I know how fortunate I am every day, so far, but this week I went sailing in St. Tropez Bay. A Colorado girl can't say that very often.<br />
It was the first time my kids have ever been in a sail boat, except oldest who did go out with friends in Navajo Lake years ago. For me, it has been many years since I have been out. Growing up in Maryland, one would think I spent hundreds of hours on the water and while I did, it was not on sailing boats like many of my peers. I was a horse girl, a land lover. Boats made me nervous. That is over now.<br />
I was told Easter weekend started the crowds in Provence and it is true. Overnight, all of the towns are twice as populated. Unfortunately, St. Tropez feels this increase with terrible traffic. Luckily, Trevor can navigate me through roundabout ways of getting from point A to point B, as he lived there for many years.<br />
We began the visit at Yves' house. Maybe you remember one of my early posts about this humorous and kind man, an old friend of mes voisins. You can find it <a href="http://myfrancophileyear.blogspot.fr/2013_07_01_archive.html" target="_blank">here</a>. He is a wonderful, funny French man. He has had a couple of American girlfriends, wives or whatever they were so his English is pretty good. He spoiled my children with Coca-Cola, Orangina and a welcoming yard to play in. He had a huge spread for lunch with a salad of tomatoes and artichokes, roasted chickens, potatoes, rose, and Zetta brought a Baba au Rhum, then we were off to the sea where some of us lounged on the beach, some swam(the water is cold still...), and some of us "crewed" on the Green Banana!<br />
I felt so free and at ease floating atop the gentle waves with few other vessels around us. The bay is surrounded by tall hills that rise up dramatically, some topped with ancient forts, others forested and plenty with mansions, as well. My companions chatting away in French, I felt perfectly comfortable turning my head away from them and thinking of my fortuitousness, enjoying the thin layer of salt forming on my face, the occasional splash letting me secretly taste the Mediterranean- I will miss the Mediterranean.<br />
I <i>AM</i> going to St. Tropez one last time in our final French weeks. I will take a picnic and invite Yves to dine with us on the beach and hope for another ride in the boat. Though just his company would be more than satisfying to me.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBRq3U2Ac2-ROVzPxjIIy9E2SWyW6XYXKKkqBYOmb80kAqvlpIiVXxF5089OKEm9SCXIiJoRflP4JrLWka3YN30cIBOMJKK56SsRcbLS46H-cWh23gcEst401oEkHDngno-2ut31iR0a0/s1600/IMG_5045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBRq3U2Ac2-ROVzPxjIIy9E2SWyW6XYXKKkqBYOmb80kAqvlpIiVXxF5089OKEm9SCXIiJoRflP4JrLWka3YN30cIBOMJKK56SsRcbLS46H-cWh23gcEst401oEkHDngno-2ut31iR0a0/s1600/IMG_5045.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For those want a "floater" of rum on their Baba </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUge5r0cwKvwaOeAKcT9uUY8xAEyQq2GlpVHGJRdY9kz4Hdy_VbIor35XqefEX2Tuw1GFFAL5MrBbueIM2jVUcE0y4dEe-fzcV1qYWprgBIxglVTd14b6gzAEbl-3nsQkgjbTUi_96qMq/s1600/IMG_5046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUge5r0cwKvwaOeAKcT9uUY8xAEyQq2GlpVHGJRdY9kz4Hdy_VbIor35XqefEX2Tuw1GFFAL5MrBbueIM2jVUcE0y4dEe-fzcV1qYWprgBIxglVTd14b6gzAEbl-3nsQkgjbTUi_96qMq/s1600/IMG_5046.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yves fabulous home with 50 year old ivy creeping away.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgPRy5NUc8IRAmVj9z5sY0ZKh8CWoq_980qpIpuVzgcjGIX5c6mysikfS3zhChPFk3dgpGOAZCZvV_nEi-gL9mx5BWBHjjHOQ5gelsLQ5Bb3YPnBLuqDBdRJRhTbj6gFzpROQVqjxmUgc/s1600/IMG_5057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgPRy5NUc8IRAmVj9z5sY0ZKh8CWoq_980qpIpuVzgcjGIX5c6mysikfS3zhChPFk3dgpGOAZCZvV_nEi-gL9mx5BWBHjjHOQ5gelsLQ5Bb3YPnBLuqDBdRJRhTbj6gFzpROQVqjxmUgc/s1600/IMG_5057.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Green Banana and crew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHrtvZMLQlCAwbIs0-v3vGASsieXjbd2w2cCXE3ppeVkxODR-D0fWc5vKsOPSWjPiX7ZbVlZSkt7HnzQRh4f87H027AIlwjni6YuRemfyEGU8kS-ntc27eRpYqqkaMial8g5WqlLH3xiR/s1600/IMG_5054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHrtvZMLQlCAwbIs0-v3vGASsieXjbd2w2cCXE3ppeVkxODR-D0fWc5vKsOPSWjPiX7ZbVlZSkt7HnzQRh4f87H027AIlwjni6YuRemfyEGU8kS-ntc27eRpYqqkaMial8g5WqlLH3xiR/s1600/IMG_5054.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water babies awaiting their vessel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kBxPa7CEd4pitE7s7943mdm2ZHaU6jtZ42qAALhzbKqBKiYhRtD9roGdUDZYqsRXRkNCj536L_7RCjXNML6inX2s_kPITZ9F_ZTrRIUvgZnXg13yfJWRPzfauWbZClNbxuw07JSoKBP1/s1600/IMG_5060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kBxPa7CEd4pitE7s7943mdm2ZHaU6jtZ42qAALhzbKqBKiYhRtD9roGdUDZYqsRXRkNCj536L_7RCjXNML6inX2s_kPITZ9F_ZTrRIUvgZnXg13yfJWRPzfauWbZClNbxuw07JSoKBP1/s1600/IMG_5060.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's to new friends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-91299184892577564212014-04-21T11:40:00.001-07:002014-04-21T12:40:11.328-07:00Take Me to the....(think Talking Heads here...) Snow A couple of weeks ago, I took <i>mon voisin</i> (my neighbor) to the snow. This was his request, as it had been years since he had been in the white stuff. It was the first week of April and after a beautiful drive through new territory for me, we arrived at a ski area called Greolieres. It is the closest ski station to Nice, about an hour or so north, so it gets a fair amount of skiers on any weekend. We went on the Monday after closing day so things were dead quiet, rental shops packing things away until next season. My kids were thrilled to see snow and I had a strong feeling of regret for not taking us on a ski weekend while in Europe. Oh well, too late now.<br />
Having not considered being able to sled before leaving the house, we were unprepared but found a few plastic bags under the car seats which the children held under their butts to slide down the slopes. It offered a brief bit of relief to our year <i>sans neige</i> (without snow).<br />
After getting sufficiently wet and winded from climbing up the hill a dozen or so times, we found a bar open, and had an icy cold beer in the blazing spring sun before heading back down the mountain.<br />
Our route home took us along the rim of the Gorge du Verdon, the French Grand Canyon. It is stunning and the road is a white-knuckler, as you can imagine. I insisted on stopping every couple of hundred yards to take pictures which probably got old for my passengers but I kept proclaiming, there was a good chance I would not see it again, so I had to marvel at every possible pull-out. <br />
Driving the Million Dollar Highway between Durango and Ouray can be hair raising, and this drive was equally exciting. Two cars can pass slowly and carefully, but I would certainly pull over if there were a truck coming my way. There are a couple of tunnels along the route which are dark as night, unlit and barely wide enough for 1 car to pass through. The railing along the edge of the 2,000 foot drop is a very pretty wooden, single rail and to the French highway department's credit, is reinforced with steel (on the inside of the railing as to not take away from the visual integrity). We saw rock climbers scaling the walls and I remembered a couple of friends from home telling me they had been there to enjoy the world class limestone walls. A couple of para gliders leapt off a highpoint and sailed peacefully down towards the Lac de St. Croix, the reservoir at the end of the canyon.<br />
The day was visually spectacular and while I never really like being in the car other than to get from point A to Point B, it was a memorable driving experience of hunting for some snow.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrHhN7nDdmuOezufuf8GU0UQHbnPc24crQvlT_7AYjI_imI2GtPDtgGUlcNmOC5Xpn0Q0t9E_ty96JT9wTHj3K6uY4CfxiLNlP9Lq1JJzt7GlmVSnxFS9d-GnZIt_9Rp-vkPk8wvdoEW8/s1600/IMG_4806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrHhN7nDdmuOezufuf8GU0UQHbnPc24crQvlT_7AYjI_imI2GtPDtgGUlcNmOC5Xpn0Q0t9E_ty96JT9wTHj3K6uY4CfxiLNlP9Lq1JJzt7GlmVSnxFS9d-GnZIt_9Rp-vkPk8wvdoEW8/s1600/IMG_4806.JPG" height="640" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closest ski area to Nice, and my house </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-u-z7MAaGxOMcz8lU_nI3qKJzxDR9pYcPk0dPWTl2lqOoQUHrOdElsElIUGlrLFENu2G7XyJF-IJ_se9kD_2p1dz8enjj4oMPNFyHpXwHgnmK2B4e1bUqXt1XY-auwLA4GzSP48zHUy7/s1600/IMG_4825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-u-z7MAaGxOMcz8lU_nI3qKJzxDR9pYcPk0dPWTl2lqOoQUHrOdElsElIUGlrLFENu2G7XyJF-IJ_se9kD_2p1dz8enjj4oMPNFyHpXwHgnmK2B4e1bUqXt1XY-auwLA4GzSP48zHUy7/s1600/IMG_4825.JPG" height="384" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glissading on grocery bags</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErP0DIpWwwj617HFAqNlv3LnyC9823k7ekKjB5PkIhXpDaCQXhUcQ7qMPrDVFO9YqPq9k0k-0Nt9XAaX9m9K2mnnUBn_G4h6f_ls49Z_881Id8gdevZhcfQDCtdhD1uL2m7oKaFB64c3G/s1600/IMG_4828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgErP0DIpWwwj617HFAqNlv3LnyC9823k7ekKjB5PkIhXpDaCQXhUcQ7qMPrDVFO9YqPq9k0k-0Nt9XAaX9m9K2mnnUBn_G4h6f_ls49Z_881Id8gdevZhcfQDCtdhD1uL2m7oKaFB64c3G/s1600/IMG_4828.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon voisin et bon ami</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKvOOPmZzW4LQszmy46plQh3DllfROQy21g7vvPu0Na3YvnsfEimy4lbF-MT1iWRncbWJV5RUfCkKzBpSprNLKSZYX0Rx8Wf2FIV3tstgUYwKjvIJ9f8EN7jWrvuI-nb6vB-j4wLlWkQd/s1600/IMG_4832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKvOOPmZzW4LQszmy46plQh3DllfROQy21g7vvPu0Na3YvnsfEimy4lbF-MT1iWRncbWJV5RUfCkKzBpSprNLKSZYX0Rx8Wf2FIV3tstgUYwKjvIJ9f8EN7jWrvuI-nb6vB-j4wLlWkQd/s1600/IMG_4832.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Menu at the Ski area bar- sounds pretty good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKWyahgENlDmqr7Qup_Cs4qa7gVSvgFoaAHPMhGLUtEQHabVhNIgFHYFDRi4N3N9N8ws0y6aCznQO3QkSTvE9qFXsvkV9oO6BG9ZUEKVO8euJAbPb1qJDgNisruRrdyOeaHB7ErwwX5n9/s1600/IMG_4839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKWyahgENlDmqr7Qup_Cs4qa7gVSvgFoaAHPMhGLUtEQHabVhNIgFHYFDRi4N3N9N8ws0y6aCznQO3QkSTvE9qFXsvkV9oO6BG9ZUEKVO8euJAbPb1qJDgNisruRrdyOeaHB7ErwwX5n9/s1600/IMG_4839.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Verdon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq_vBtFXdJl3R1jkzDpRvMlZrAVgQvJHjwus6ZsgTS0zCh65PTZjTklplx5tlmzrtjYgB_VWAj_J159z4JLCZPMVKcOjzDpqmgvgHoxz5KEdvPpavUC6HJR1RfsMPCEUxe53TuFWduFqP/s1600/IMG_4835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq_vBtFXdJl3R1jkzDpRvMlZrAVgQvJHjwus6ZsgTS0zCh65PTZjTklplx5tlmzrtjYgB_VWAj_J159z4JLCZPMVKcOjzDpqmgvgHoxz5KEdvPpavUC6HJR1RfsMPCEUxe53TuFWduFqP/s1600/IMG_4835.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spectacular drop into the Gorge </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbM75JaX9xGZj0qujYpK0lnUyUtbquYH0b4P1ydaLO1e-4gSMBiS0opfr0uFROtgMGM-toMdB5atmrbdzTW71mbRfx9ELxAVmTGkgi31D8F6KLsCNmseYhM3hFJYNlM38R4bmZ-hGbSMj/s1600/IMG_4842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbM75JaX9xGZj0qujYpK0lnUyUtbquYH0b4P1ydaLO1e-4gSMBiS0opfr0uFROtgMGM-toMdB5atmrbdzTW71mbRfx9ELxAVmTGkgi31D8F6KLsCNmseYhM3hFJYNlM38R4bmZ-hGbSMj/s1600/IMG_4842.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No room for a mistake in there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrInNgscs2hQOZLRa2KnuKqX3pC-glP1TRr29z1Xugzw4H2Hx-aCLnrPmS_Y8dJORdefA3hnyCmDVo7yqMxpzXqZ2rNu5FKLjlefRlNFLLbDVfaA0_8KCqx1JFlhyphenhyphenISq-P2osUvVX27AZ/s1600/IMG_4845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrInNgscs2hQOZLRa2KnuKqX3pC-glP1TRr29z1Xugzw4H2Hx-aCLnrPmS_Y8dJORdefA3hnyCmDVo7yqMxpzXqZ2rNu5FKLjlefRlNFLLbDVfaA0_8KCqx1JFlhyphenhyphenISq-P2osUvVX27AZ/s1600/IMG_4845.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guard rail built for more than just aesthetics.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-30094155361966477932014-04-15T08:42:00.001-07:002014-04-15T08:42:35.491-07:00A Bit of Color The kids are frequently jumping in the pool, flowers are blooming profusely and spring is here. We have had friends visiting, seeing some new sights of Provence and generally enjoying our joie de vivre.<br />
As we are off to Antibes this morning, I offer you a quick post of the colors of Provence from the past week. A friend commented how all the flowers are purple, a color so often associated with Provence- lilacs, iris, wisteria and others I don't know the names of. She is right, though we passed an amazing field of brilliant red poppies today...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeFqd_Mx9UevDhqzUXVplc_ChWNKtEqwk_dDVVZ8xaVMQi-KYOWDXGqgmOtIrl_4ar0bQalGJj9XsceVowhKsjxRrJb47Gv_L5ImCDITBJbquV9Sjgy68EIWpDIsnFN4hm_RnT7QiflVW/s1600/IMG_4759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeFqd_Mx9UevDhqzUXVplc_ChWNKtEqwk_dDVVZ8xaVMQi-KYOWDXGqgmOtIrl_4ar0bQalGJj9XsceVowhKsjxRrJb47Gv_L5ImCDITBJbquV9Sjgy68EIWpDIsnFN4hm_RnT7QiflVW/s1600/IMG_4759.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crabapple tree behind my house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQBU2ROxIDZWY8DLdqoTwVIYk49Hciu-1408wDeaVth-kBII5oOtcSEV_zxyAKMQsTo7mM4xlTErXFbNmK5pzVp9q8oAsnJeWktDvqV0ffw83Q4DTLg9EuRMxmtjhN0M_dmI5i78dcmH9/s1600/IMG_4800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQBU2ROxIDZWY8DLdqoTwVIYk49Hciu-1408wDeaVth-kBII5oOtcSEV_zxyAKMQsTo7mM4xlTErXFbNmK5pzVp9q8oAsnJeWktDvqV0ffw83Q4DTLg9EuRMxmtjhN0M_dmI5i78dcmH9/s1600/IMG_4800.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My living staircase coming to life.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoxCdpYTbhUeLruGVJ80N7Gro9g8pse8vkiH_qJ4wnFVTbX3VQUHc2obNj3XrVTPUz51DJKfKmiZ9wzFRLua1dE3ZHe99qNml6wcdor3NZ7TCtcby-zCjIsKeGe5Vfu-m2cpGXsyXxCUk/s1600/IMG_4858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoxCdpYTbhUeLruGVJ80N7Gro9g8pse8vkiH_qJ4wnFVTbX3VQUHc2obNj3XrVTPUz51DJKfKmiZ9wzFRLua1dE3ZHe99qNml6wcdor3NZ7TCtcby-zCjIsKeGe5Vfu-m2cpGXsyXxCUk/s1600/IMG_4858.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le chat being intoxicated by the aroma of the wisteria, or maybe she is just after a bee.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfbvEDC8Z4v8eJnsKTxlL-vitjNMfxcsSBEr8sig0VS9kIFpSZTdO0ErwHRIYI4zfmdv7FFTqmCLMUKLW9eRZhRwnWg-Dr9JQ2yXqClmf_itDk2pCyTF_obchzP3uM5okPsNPeRQafpiu/s1600/IMG_4864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfbvEDC8Z4v8eJnsKTxlL-vitjNMfxcsSBEr8sig0VS9kIFpSZTdO0ErwHRIYI4zfmdv7FFTqmCLMUKLW9eRZhRwnWg-Dr9JQ2yXqClmf_itDk2pCyTF_obchzP3uM5okPsNPeRQafpiu/s1600/IMG_4864.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quince tree in full bloom, I am sorry I won't be able to enjoy the fruit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakbGy2pXAA-xzyNC_agpB3ZUgZiBc3HBtHICcswfH1StPngDIKgKBj-znUeviw4abQkMhXAexo8ncYFNLck_geSzU1rnjGyDISnt0VlSa11WP4M0BwOVxKKY5MsmH0i_ijBlul8qjwQiv/s1600/IMG_4788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakbGy2pXAA-xzyNC_agpB3ZUgZiBc3HBtHICcswfH1StPngDIKgKBj-znUeviw4abQkMhXAexo8ncYFNLck_geSzU1rnjGyDISnt0VlSa11WP4M0BwOVxKKY5MsmH0i_ijBlul8qjwQiv/s1600/IMG_4788.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of the highest point around us- a glorious view all around.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX6sob9CAPlJBWL4qHrXguDSIaEqdt8RTWdsK-wNFfhixVygOdCz-vxs6LcNSGOl49GEfT6BhfSQsWUYQ8v7ctVl6IxTnFyR5Jd-lW7DzMOwmMS6mDqTmfK9-9xsfvIOBAMnnS721VZyK/s1600/poppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX6sob9CAPlJBWL4qHrXguDSIaEqdt8RTWdsK-wNFfhixVygOdCz-vxs6LcNSGOl49GEfT6BhfSQsWUYQ8v7ctVl6IxTnFyR5Jd-lW7DzMOwmMS6mDqTmfK9-9xsfvIOBAMnnS721VZyK/s1600/poppies.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here are the poppies.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-54887192206095307002014-04-06T00:03:00.000-07:002014-04-06T00:03:00.491-07:00Cheers to Limoncello I started a batch of Limoncello. If you have never tasted this liquor, it is a delicious after dinner drink with a sweet, lemony flavor. It is to be kept in the freezer and poured icy cold. Made with 45% alcohol, it is dangerously strong and sipping a single shot is enough Limoncello for one night. I will be lucky to have a taste of it before I leave France as it takes about 2 months to finish, but plan on starting a batch as soon as we return to USA so I can be reminded of these fun times while gazing at the magnificent view from my back deck. While I am sad to leave Europe, I am looking forward to all the wonderful things about our hometown, too.<br />
Here is the first day of the steep.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNZ2KcNaPnwUnejiXHifcuY-oFpADMLnH0r3Ic1Zz-GdMbmnBQs5C5_5F2xxNVoIGJOywtbB0Bups9kSw9VkKDk-hq9QCXjsAv93pOyJyM5yA1R7nnKKkQjrouw0GHRwl4oMnue7KI3hI/s1600/IMG_4739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNZ2KcNaPnwUnejiXHifcuY-oFpADMLnH0r3Ic1Zz-GdMbmnBQs5C5_5F2xxNVoIGJOywtbB0Bups9kSw9VkKDk-hq9QCXjsAv93pOyJyM5yA1R7nnKKkQjrouw0GHRwl4oMnue7KI3hI/s1600/IMG_4739.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotgb3Dz9DODiiKaPsVH-x0NpaGcGjEd35b6W2KQ9iRnZEjeMGL9mHk0fuxxwhwtI-jhgyFsGQyRPjg81PmFcfSCH8NONRQMacy07L5n1IZzUt8rQItaCMA0x37bR-pQBC_6L3u1awH0T9/s1600/limoncello.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotgb3Dz9DODiiKaPsVH-x0NpaGcGjEd35b6W2KQ9iRnZEjeMGL9mHk0fuxxwhwtI-jhgyFsGQyRPjg81PmFcfSCH8NONRQMacy07L5n1IZzUt8rQItaCMA0x37bR-pQBC_6L3u1awH0T9/s1600/limoncello.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-43255231579709004282014-04-04T23:37:00.000-07:002014-04-04T23:37:57.583-07:00A Few of our Favorite Places After a wonderful visit from good friends from back home, I have been out of the loop, trying to reorganize our daily routine to accommodate having all three kids homeschooling. Yup, they called it quits on the French school. I can't blame them, obviously, as I allowed them to stop. Their language skills have not evolved enough to communicate with others effectively, nor were they learning a thing scholastically as they couldn't understand the teacher. Too bad, but they certainly have stories to tell and will never forget their experience a l'ecole en France. I am so proud of them for their efforts.<br />
We are really hitting the books so upon re-entry to US schools, they are not too far behind. We also feel free to pick up and take a quick trip as desired. More friends come to visit next week, too. Some of my oldest, best-est friends- look out Provence. Just kidding, we will behave as adults should.<br />
Time changed here last weekend and even though I find it hard to pull myself out of bed before 8:00, I love the late evenings outside, listening to birds sing, frogs croaking and the aroma of the blooming flowers filling me with contentment. This is what I came to learn.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfglI6mnNrG3BaGblfURLhPWG7FP8Xx5XgEN2mIxGA6I33s17MO-D9mp-DOk87ISDFr6UJj34zkg7TOxdxW9fjUXBkYGUheMZXKTc1qPx1hTbdBRSrY8QWQ8uBNOxk6HDps2ePDahtXsd2/s1600/IMG_4606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfglI6mnNrG3BaGblfURLhPWG7FP8Xx5XgEN2mIxGA6I33s17MO-D9mp-DOk87ISDFr6UJj34zkg7TOxdxW9fjUXBkYGUheMZXKTc1qPx1hTbdBRSrY8QWQ8uBNOxk6HDps2ePDahtXsd2/s1600/IMG_4606.JPG" height="475" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wonderful teacher who orchestrated 2 English speakers, 1 Spanish speaker and 26 other children in 2 grades. Bravo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUE0vc5Go686Oh9FRXkWasCk0nCu8OUimng6O7GaNVY2J53NHn1ZNZoJmHWHgbU4km4WYIuKEQEfX9fcw7pa_D1x2a0YE99kqZycuc_yd3g1y-ndo359Z98F4AmwoBxMbXObLBfl0xiP7J/s1600/IMG_4630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUE0vc5Go686Oh9FRXkWasCk0nCu8OUimng6O7GaNVY2J53NHn1ZNZoJmHWHgbU4km4WYIuKEQEfX9fcw7pa_D1x2a0YE99kqZycuc_yd3g1y-ndo359Z98F4AmwoBxMbXObLBfl0xiP7J/s1600/IMG_4630.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassis seaside with American Friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5BML1p23kq6XjEXm0DFnaP9FK-dj77d3c8ysf0oDLCfqwKWrPsumQffuFl_20Otx9MyqrTX4oN2FCnxENFe_dTcTvMtIH6E9ZdHycw5iJTCexKTxRxECPb96TSNWWFy0yzR-Hi4Cr4XF/s1600/IMG_4607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5BML1p23kq6XjEXm0DFnaP9FK-dj77d3c8ysf0oDLCfqwKWrPsumQffuFl_20Otx9MyqrTX4oN2FCnxENFe_dTcTvMtIH6E9ZdHycw5iJTCexKTxRxECPb96TSNWWFy0yzR-Hi4Cr4XF/s1600/IMG_4607.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Moustiers Ste. Marie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWK8JGvhk-iT6x5rDVZVMPZdIJk18pd7npbR1Jd1wg5mQvnP5jFXDZBcgDqTFKPAcxNP153-GtkTpc7EvmSCJoeOk6nLYRlBsUAqIowW_KdfPzGC99SwMZUob8JYArLr96vkPbhhoIjYd/s1600/IMG_4663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWK8JGvhk-iT6x5rDVZVMPZdIJk18pd7npbR1Jd1wg5mQvnP5jFXDZBcgDqTFKPAcxNP153-GtkTpc7EvmSCJoeOk6nLYRlBsUAqIowW_KdfPzGC99SwMZUob8JYArLr96vkPbhhoIjYd/s1600/IMG_4663.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thoronet Abbey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSopXGsGPC_pXsN9ztjBfgjAKE6Wl7VJUC8WTYtKz21CZ9V_MncWnqlRY6kip4IOGXEpiK2W40qeh1h95CvgDbKa6mJQgYoYXyg8v70yztT1iIscgiIXBPn8jZ16UgfTKjPrETuh9gXqA/s1600/IMG_4742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSopXGsGPC_pXsN9ztjBfgjAKE6Wl7VJUC8WTYtKz21CZ9V_MncWnqlRY6kip4IOGXEpiK2W40qeh1h95CvgDbKa6mJQgYoYXyg8v70yztT1iIscgiIXBPn8jZ16UgfTKjPrETuh9gXqA/s1600/IMG_4742.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite place...in front of my house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-14194850826750401042014-03-25T02:28:00.000-07:002014-03-25T02:37:00.348-07:00Another Birthday in the House I don't remember what I did for my 13th birthday. It was probably a big deal to me, becoming a teenager, a turning point in adolescence. For my eldest child, this happened yesterday. We spent part of the day in Toulon, a city I have talked about with admiration. Even though the winds were blowing like mad, the sky couldn't have been bluer. Our birthday shopping trip was unsuccessful but we had a little sushi, took a stroll through the old town to the port then headed home to finish a birthday cake to share with our neighbors, our ritual birthday celebration during our year in France.<br />
Most new teens would probably choose to spend the day with fellow adolescents at the mall, movie theater or a sleepover with loud music and no sleep. Oldest Child did not have a choice and pulled it off with grace.<br />
Our year abroad has been socially painful for this girl though I hope she will look back on our time here and have positive memories. She is counting down the days until our departure. I know she will miss the wonderful friends we have made of our neighbors and it will sadden her to bid farewell when the day comes. It brings tears to my eyes having to think of this day, which is creeping up on us too quickly.<br />
But wait, here is what we did to celebrate my first child's entry into teen-hood.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOazIO9xlaoIDlB6mFDtt0f0zAS52Sj5zQW9aNXlsP2cvdOLLKF0707e8YzVx8qbcs9OGOmzu-z9TP12XkyLSAezAeSonDXOwJ-dXsMQ-uNe_QG1tdHxjsFSMDkuFc9MJwUObCutqydj3G/s1600/photo+(29).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOazIO9xlaoIDlB6mFDtt0f0zAS52Sj5zQW9aNXlsP2cvdOLLKF0707e8YzVx8qbcs9OGOmzu-z9TP12XkyLSAezAeSonDXOwJ-dXsMQ-uNe_QG1tdHxjsFSMDkuFc9MJwUObCutqydj3G/s1600/photo+(29).jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lunch at a favorite restaurant for moules and pizza...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTgHbpcitXrga1I8HV5dA5OWKAMT6-tiGi1aufYtMv8cxrn_-1qkDmcjwATaWj7AcK2IxXHGscvcQc0MsVeOc_GRZTAil_43lZrAX_eIcgn_mGhsimXnr9F9Yl8rh0A5MyAVKGOAoxNb-/s1600/photo+(30).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTgHbpcitXrga1I8HV5dA5OWKAMT6-tiGi1aufYtMv8cxrn_-1qkDmcjwATaWj7AcK2IxXHGscvcQc0MsVeOc_GRZTAil_43lZrAX_eIcgn_mGhsimXnr9F9Yl8rh0A5MyAVKGOAoxNb-/s1600/photo+(30).jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And du glace, of course. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpoar9O4yj4ORJW8pA6UuxGVTKBOnjxEk_xmfyZiOQOgfrI8vI93RP3XMDmR4WTjqERnQ6_lNeEBFiEQcTqlUX8ut5QkXyXoCdLvc9P5SQLdag2E5QP7k7BJZoL_SejQyPLo7j2QIBYve/s1600/emma+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpoar9O4yj4ORJW8pA6UuxGVTKBOnjxEk_xmfyZiOQOgfrI8vI93RP3XMDmR4WTjqERnQ6_lNeEBFiEQcTqlUX8ut5QkXyXoCdLvc9P5SQLdag2E5QP7k7BJZoL_SejQyPLo7j2QIBYve/s1600/emma+13.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oldest Child on her 13th birthday. Bon Anniversaire, Ma Fille!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP35WVz5d5fympS67MTqcp9twbezCl9yqTMExyonwi1NeW8cSRKHtLAva3y5G_F4Ok4INvzcImW2jkof3BT67zwdkRUr6ySTbn5d4srkUnLeSzEDjmldHm-H6hcZrjGEwhO1_9bNSFSNlf/s1600/emma's+13+bday,+france.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP35WVz5d5fympS67MTqcp9twbezCl9yqTMExyonwi1NeW8cSRKHtLAva3y5G_F4Ok4INvzcImW2jkof3BT67zwdkRUr6ySTbn5d4srkUnLeSzEDjmldHm-H6hcZrjGEwhO1_9bNSFSNlf/s1600/emma's+13+bday,+france.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-55969172278719175772014-03-25T02:07:00.002-07:002014-03-25T02:07:55.198-07:00A Rainy SaturdayWe had a rainy Saturday last weekend. I think you know how I feel about that. Especially after a couple of weeks of extraordinary weather, being cooped up and cold really cramps my style. Here is what my household did ALL DAY LONG! My children think this makes for a wonderful day while I, on the other hand, go stir crazy. Thankfully, the following day was full of sunshine....and the dreaded Mistral! This s a gale force wind that in unrelenting for a couple of days. It blows all night long, rattling windows and nerves alike. The upside is it blows away all haze producing a brilliant blue sky.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhDp0EklFntyCT96ESt9_oB94Yu7w5rHjwPnA2Y2gMqLijrJvPMZ6GcE6ygsQIh8FaiAPaUDCTw2wbm7i_V_goThkR4JI0sENn_BRAwIPu6FMl66x2d8L7E5tEVmrPbXWRDdciZQzfiT_/s1600/molly+rainbow+loom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhDp0EklFntyCT96ESt9_oB94Yu7w5rHjwPnA2Y2gMqLijrJvPMZ6GcE6ygsQIh8FaiAPaUDCTw2wbm7i_V_goThkR4JI0sENn_BRAwIPu6FMl66x2d8L7E5tEVmrPbXWRDdciZQzfiT_/s1600/molly+rainbow+loom.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middle Child made Rainbow Loom animals </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTDaUz_wX2WhvhCVbn_Rs3OG1AZlLX5LzAcdgi47QpN398tw0tXZWL1NVjYCa8o43zpPc5RfBb4_JGRFYaG9fprUmoVRFBa_sqBseWfiNsKPNmz6Yi9BRWLLhQUfbh8iGorWhfa-qCqAR/s1600/clay+waching+movies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTDaUz_wX2WhvhCVbn_Rs3OG1AZlLX5LzAcdgi47QpN398tw0tXZWL1NVjYCa8o43zpPc5RfBb4_JGRFYaG9fprUmoVRFBa_sqBseWfiNsKPNmz6Yi9BRWLLhQUfbh8iGorWhfa-qCqAR/s1600/clay+waching+movies.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Youngest Child watched movies with Tuc crackers(a French favorite) and all his inanimate friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPmuNsdXp3HkUa7xlbYkFT054nesOoXHiTbNMyebWgMQ_J4mJXwpJk6yBsa6M5YGEVlFO41CN0zCmqW3oj1eiFzwXtuVSOg6Gf8pffWAgNCfvZgbteaJmU_6EnxZRsmNHcBYha478Eina/s1600/emma+sleeping+in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPmuNsdXp3HkUa7xlbYkFT054nesOoXHiTbNMyebWgMQ_J4mJXwpJk6yBsa6M5YGEVlFO41CN0zCmqW3oj1eiFzwXtuVSOg6Gf8pffWAgNCfvZgbteaJmU_6EnxZRsmNHcBYha478Eina/s1600/emma+sleeping+in.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Oldest Child stayed in bed until mid-day.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-46941164916311204782014-03-21T04:50:00.001-07:002014-03-21T04:50:16.880-07:00A Pretty Spring Walk There is a lovely valley close to Salernes with a pretty walk along a creek into a shady canyon with caves to explore, ending at a tiny waterfall. Of course, there is a chapel perched atop a hill above the valley. I can only imagine pilgrimages from town up to this pretty spot built in the 1500's.<br />
We have been here several times and there are usually other families picnic-ing, walking and playing soccer in the open field at the entrance to the canyon. Youngest Child was intent on catching one of the many rather large bullfrogs swimming in the shallow pond. This is one of the peaceful places I will miss.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEJI8o8KJmnU8JYlnr9dsZS-SYvJZfkVMDmbUXmp1q4N2_W1nUiUFrqAsEjndWRBsIcOEN4iKZznb7gbSPHt_shlTWXVIGSgeHTE4uEF9pCwr65oEXZOWVVKE-nUXmZbj7T4f7wddODtV/s1600/IMG_4570.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEJI8o8KJmnU8JYlnr9dsZS-SYvJZfkVMDmbUXmp1q4N2_W1nUiUFrqAsEjndWRBsIcOEN4iKZznb7gbSPHt_shlTWXVIGSgeHTE4uEF9pCwr65oEXZOWVVKE-nUXmZbj7T4f7wddODtV/s1600/IMG_4570.PNG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBc5YUzJ3wSGdVYrp3I7g-uiF93SCKCVNx0PR7reVr7Y7KYfHbBedrM0GSefr5FO6TtMN9nUmlIPUWF7KKcqztDgPbuHU4FsjQGhWqcbWWWV1181GTKjtqq8vibjaeCQcUA37uKjxwXRi/s1600/IMG_4558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBc5YUzJ3wSGdVYrp3I7g-uiF93SCKCVNx0PR7reVr7Y7KYfHbBedrM0GSefr5FO6TtMN9nUmlIPUWF7KKcqztDgPbuHU4FsjQGhWqcbWWWV1181GTKjtqq8vibjaeCQcUA37uKjxwXRi/s1600/IMG_4558.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5wo0wGj6cggq1qutXY31DcX6jzGQTScPk61QaxwM6GlMJ-ijUBT22UvxrOTOY56Cu5SjFYFecMgrLrXf-AAOBaQi_mI5dpeQa3BF365EILFupO2PXS6atakU1lLupDwM5d8-GRlnyr6G/s1600/IMG_4549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5wo0wGj6cggq1qutXY31DcX6jzGQTScPk61QaxwM6GlMJ-ijUBT22UvxrOTOY56Cu5SjFYFecMgrLrXf-AAOBaQi_mI5dpeQa3BF365EILFupO2PXS6atakU1lLupDwM5d8-GRlnyr6G/s1600/IMG_4549.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvCyFhmJKWdzB5b3ibGcjnT-rvr6PXILQxkPYu-qz4DMjITusxoOUSxS4q1CgVq73naFv8K_OGAmv5bc_ITMZeaXKrTfnrwLT0wC8JBLGMoLDvvy26TLpflNkUa3KmcXVW5t6pNV_5I3U/s1600/IMG_4551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvCyFhmJKWdzB5b3ibGcjnT-rvr6PXILQxkPYu-qz4DMjITusxoOUSxS4q1CgVq73naFv8K_OGAmv5bc_ITMZeaXKrTfnrwLT0wC8JBLGMoLDvvy26TLpflNkUa3KmcXVW5t6pNV_5I3U/s1600/IMG_4551.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTP_p1rNN_mzuANTghi6iEF3x-YCA8LQv8hn6wxYr_p9gW2SvsyHmotsH3s1zR0DbLmCUYQk7HC6evjFo9bHOIY9kyZgK4AvgiiLGMw58WJ3Q73d601_XJgqUfm1weS7d2idsaGR5JZcZ/s1600/IMG_4572.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTP_p1rNN_mzuANTghi6iEF3x-YCA8LQv8hn6wxYr_p9gW2SvsyHmotsH3s1zR0DbLmCUYQk7HC6evjFo9bHOIY9kyZgK4AvgiiLGMw58WJ3Q73d601_XJgqUfm1weS7d2idsaGR5JZcZ/s1600/IMG_4572.PNG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4F0CK4B-xHx5sHFd-QLKjrBeDFBdfjOTS7fUb8jp7r9JD1V6jAat4keGdr8_zFJZuWX1aaLDaELLUHriOUbYV3FnLn_3BBs7J-jcHlZsBtu5d8y9IJ8bXFSrGQZ81CVcj3lDc7Lotq6Z/s1600/IMG_4573.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4F0CK4B-xHx5sHFd-QLKjrBeDFBdfjOTS7fUb8jp7r9JD1V6jAat4keGdr8_zFJZuWX1aaLDaELLUHriOUbYV3FnLn_3BBs7J-jcHlZsBtu5d8y9IJ8bXFSrGQZ81CVcj3lDc7Lotq6Z/s1600/IMG_4573.PNG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-52801714823065316742014-03-19T01:12:00.002-07:002014-03-22T13:35:16.408-07:00Quick Trip Across the Border, Again! We took a quick trip to Italy last weekend. I love that I can say that! My brother left here to tour around of Tuscany so we decided to meet him in a beautiful city called Lucca for more cousin time and group adventuring.<br />
We landed in Rapallo, a seaside town south of Genoa our first night. It was dark upon arrival so we found a good meal and a wander followed by bed, but woke to a stunning view of the harbor and sea. It was a Thursday and an enormous market was taking place with thousands of booths, unfortunately only selling clothes. We wandered the docks and enjoyed the sea air as we always do.<br />
Onward to Pisa- yup, the leaning tower. It was among the most unattractive cities we have been to, but we got the obligatory photos and promptly got out of there. Lucca was a short drive and the opposite of Pisa. An ancient walled in city, Lucca is full of history and charm. We met my brother at our rented apartment and settled in for a few days. I arranged a private tour in Florence the next day so an early morning train ride into the city was easy and our wonderful guide met us, whisking us off to the main sites of Florence with an abundance of well articulated information. She engaged the kids too, and with a guide, there is no getting lost. It was money well spent. Oldest Child has been studying the Renaissance so it was perfect timing for her to relate her lessons with Florence.<br />
As usual, I had to find the best food possible, so we were sent to a small gelateria where they make small batches of delicious gelato each morning, using the best ingredients. It was a treat and a big difference from the hundreds of other stalls selling mountains of gelato made with artificial ingredients.<br />
We rented bikes one day and rode around the top of the city walls where there is a wide path for walking, biking, dogs, kids and all things outdoors. It was a good reprieve for the kids from touring. Perpetually in search of good food, I searched for a store to buy fresh pasta for dinner. It was not easy-clearly everyone has a pasta machine and makes there own. But, I found a place and it was wonderful. The woman has a few different kinds of ravioli and tortellini and a variety of other shapes along with gnocchi. I chose my shape and she went behind a curtain and cut the pasta to order with a giant machine, much like the home versions but electric and large.<br />
We left lovely Lucca and headed to Vernazza, one of the Cinque Terre towns. These villages hang on the coast, are tiny and hard to get to by car. We took a train in and enjoyed the spectacular views and yes, more sea air. I was determined to have a delicious seafood lunch, but was talked out of it for various reasons. The town is tiny, but I glanced at a take-out menu posted on a wall, and ordered a papercone filled with fritto misto- a mix of delicately fried shrimp, calimari, anchovies and cod. It was delicious and just as satisfying as a fine dining experience would have been. Once again, I found "THE" gelato place in town and I think it was even better than the Florence place. The gelato chef made flavors like Sri Lankan cinnamon, Mandarine orange, and the most wonderful crema. It was the perfect ending to our last Italian visit(probably). We bid farewell to family who were fortunate to have a couple more days in the Cinque Terre, hopped on our train and drove back to sunny France where the weather is perfect, luckily, because leaving family is always tough. Arrivaderci!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjW-vC7wTDntn7p3301FwIiaHasp5_ksEstljNsiyQupJsNQ5V_ng1QE0E2ijqr8NmIZX0hOw17YU_Lsh-YFREm577ryh4LcJn77rGJVoHQGwLbmFdVxWtg8YoMfEdqw4x34U7F86MI0Rs/s1600/IMG_4392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjW-vC7wTDntn7p3301FwIiaHasp5_ksEstljNsiyQupJsNQ5V_ng1QE0E2ijqr8NmIZX0hOw17YU_Lsh-YFREm577ryh4LcJn77rGJVoHQGwLbmFdVxWtg8YoMfEdqw4x34U7F86MI0Rs/s1600/IMG_4392.JPG" height="640" width="475" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our hotel in Rapallo </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa-tY15RTgozFRlDPmCgvLO4qSRNVBGtupawpkBWgYhVHE2JOH4wW1s1bhaSr51zygrh_mCL9RwQZblxhyHFnfCK-sDl5H5NUgdngx97VJNweNZdzTMzuwgh-NC41Z0FUeYS3LAjATfjI/s1600/IMG_4419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa-tY15RTgozFRlDPmCgvLO4qSRNVBGtupawpkBWgYhVHE2JOH4wW1s1bhaSr51zygrh_mCL9RwQZblxhyHFnfCK-sDl5H5NUgdngx97VJNweNZdzTMzuwgh-NC41Z0FUeYS3LAjATfjI/s1600/IMG_4419.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71pP_2Ca5ZNAlxvvbzJlAzXlZrkA_glyuy9US5y-I9Wwta12HDp93G2SWRHkX5wXD_21IVKN4gfq1RCNUiRCoNNyOIZV1AGUozJyL-0Nej_NWmWh-qNzImFW6lDf6BuVO3pPNkq9psa9O/s1600/IMG_4455.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71pP_2Ca5ZNAlxvvbzJlAzXlZrkA_glyuy9US5y-I9Wwta12HDp93G2SWRHkX5wXD_21IVKN4gfq1RCNUiRCoNNyOIZV1AGUozJyL-0Nej_NWmWh-qNzImFW6lDf6BuVO3pPNkq9psa9O/s1600/IMG_4455.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzDoZ7yO7MOKvltyN6h2eM7qis0OdrJ3Y1-5uWIw926A1Ud2hSiUZLh4uRO4cumTRYKZ99Upg4hmyOf3GfzOFrugEVR_4WTYwIjjxjsKPgSFEt1WKVg5c7M25H2_LGwPAVmX68Mp0rFE7/s1600/IMG_4465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzDoZ7yO7MOKvltyN6h2eM7qis0OdrJ3Y1-5uWIw926A1Ud2hSiUZLh4uRO4cumTRYKZ99Upg4hmyOf3GfzOFrugEVR_4WTYwIjjxjsKPgSFEt1WKVg5c7M25H2_LGwPAVmX68Mp0rFE7/s1600/IMG_4465.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence gelato</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPobRYxaYC7MQ1jkXaxJW2yo1Xpm8P8PjBrdutkBsO71T_1bPulgW78KZFHbCUgt8lR4r3FdmkSae5y54b5yySA494p9jX4KlC6bNx_QoF0ZUjrbWKaz4IBAtORK_IQifIOXaiGi8ZAfff/s1600/IMG_4466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPobRYxaYC7MQ1jkXaxJW2yo1Xpm8P8PjBrdutkBsO71T_1bPulgW78KZFHbCUgt8lR4r3FdmkSae5y54b5yySA494p9jX4KlC6bNx_QoF0ZUjrbWKaz4IBAtORK_IQifIOXaiGi8ZAfff/s1600/IMG_4466.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tough choice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Yv_h4ljeDN-qgpJSISijeCW_evrrvdKHmWd8fvJtZiJGdCEhPMjMixFnA4SfTVDjvqBpDnlR4GcKTmzc2u_NfL2cn5_VRmgdcvZfdkMJ6WR659kao0uVUsRkFZqi3YLvH7LJA0sfc19O/s1600/IMG_4490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Yv_h4ljeDN-qgpJSISijeCW_evrrvdKHmWd8fvJtZiJGdCEhPMjMixFnA4SfTVDjvqBpDnlR4GcKTmzc2u_NfL2cn5_VRmgdcvZfdkMJ6WR659kao0uVUsRkFZqi3YLvH7LJA0sfc19O/s1600/IMG_4490.JPG" height="640" width="475" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking pasta is just as hard for me as picking gelato. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRJ4oeuJDHHLQuvOcKXgof2jXoMclIXymkz95OfBBV-txTJhLMQ5_1RUVsqPoSAVB7MfOfwkVKEh2NcZ-_UdVna38YLIGk7zSkHfLAOE383TPcpHm5_VsqPAInqISV-Bjk200p2tyEVYh/s1600/IMG_4491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRJ4oeuJDHHLQuvOcKXgof2jXoMclIXymkz95OfBBV-txTJhLMQ5_1RUVsqPoSAVB7MfOfwkVKEh2NcZ-_UdVna38YLIGk7zSkHfLAOE383TPcpHm5_VsqPAInqISV-Bjk200p2tyEVYh/s1600/IMG_4491.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wishing I could have gotten some of everything. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ7OD6ZxlaiRhg3qAubwbbDsLcdr2NzipDDt4e67XZQ3p0xuUblG_YqhPvB-PXhot91Tj9ydRY1UyCsie_hH7wcHV1KV03fvVrr9CZfQY4il4e_FDm8x1dN6b3uGvHJ6XMpNdixdQ0BiJ/s1600/IMG_4492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ7OD6ZxlaiRhg3qAubwbbDsLcdr2NzipDDt4e67XZQ3p0xuUblG_YqhPvB-PXhot91Tj9ydRY1UyCsie_hH7wcHV1KV03fvVrr9CZfQY4il4e_FDm8x1dN6b3uGvHJ6XMpNdixdQ0BiJ/s1600/IMG_4492.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious filled pastas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgnAgaqvzbVpMLGY2ZjVIXdldS7daLMdw0HBMzByLHMDeWxG6_oe0Y2HS3gRo5WBbiBbawCMn5KzPIBVxIOwtgsmYDhM9xztynPVIM8TF9IwSpZGqgkSIon5kWTXcYNX2Bqtfqpk1iN10/s1600/IMG_4523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgnAgaqvzbVpMLGY2ZjVIXdldS7daLMdw0HBMzByLHMDeWxG6_oe0Y2HS3gRo5WBbiBbawCMn5KzPIBVxIOwtgsmYDhM9xztynPVIM8TF9IwSpZGqgkSIon5kWTXcYNX2Bqtfqpk1iN10/s1600/IMG_4523.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of old tower in Vernazza, Cinque Terre.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0s_IUrzxoKYeoBOCEiw6rPTat2nuDRenXKr4ed9p9hweZygmewwepytlFsrkrJLjawNMwLRQ95JdqFzuiIYRQqAfriu1OXpYGK7s1zq6DYvByeTN5LyQU_pGMABsY46WIlf5IEr86LyBz/s1600/IMG_4535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0s_IUrzxoKYeoBOCEiw6rPTat2nuDRenXKr4ed9p9hweZygmewwepytlFsrkrJLjawNMwLRQ95JdqFzuiIYRQqAfriu1OXpYGK7s1zq6DYvByeTN5LyQU_pGMABsY46WIlf5IEr86LyBz/s1600/IMG_4535.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">once again, tough choice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ABmyI2BBYS_gGHmGf3ih45CUKl39DDYTfm6rHznvHndLfqcU2kkgu67zQEkDX_g-K9E5QgRbmXcibBEj9KVn4e64uOXdTrlqqiGLhNXJ3pVVLAzPSeTJ3GuxERpGqvfsB9wJxdSttdKV/s1600/IMG_4536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ABmyI2BBYS_gGHmGf3ih45CUKl39DDYTfm6rHznvHndLfqcU2kkgu67zQEkDX_g-K9E5QgRbmXcibBEj9KVn4e64uOXdTrlqqiGLhNXJ3pVVLAzPSeTJ3GuxERpGqvfsB9wJxdSttdKV/s1600/IMG_4536.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSnPIyGb2viuENhyphenhypheneM92UOV7ENnhosK08BUlhXQkxdtlrFqV9QRvVYjVHZ0n_J960DDf-GC8F_4ZqMvWnNniuTaI0kZXKyWf8YovCQw_qkFNHgJPRN9ZNz_rU78sWws3sjpwN5CYGM_SV/s1600/IMG_4539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSnPIyGb2viuENhyphenhypheneM92UOV7ENnhosK08BUlhXQkxdtlrFqV9QRvVYjVHZ0n_J960DDf-GC8F_4ZqMvWnNniuTaI0kZXKyWf8YovCQw_qkFNHgJPRN9ZNz_rU78sWws3sjpwN5CYGM_SV/s1600/IMG_4539.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect sight before leaving this wonderful country- we like Italy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-954908888103510134.post-82653522191621017272014-03-17T05:44:00.001-07:002014-03-17T05:44:15.514-07:00To the Bathroom We Must Go Another thoroughly entertaining aspect of traveling is finding restrooms. Okay, with three children, it is not always entertaining, it can be downright irritating, especially when it happens every hour or so. But as a necessary life function and no option to ignore it, we need to know where to find the VC everywhere we go. Yes, in France it is a VC, not WC- I don't know why.<br />
Public toilets have run the gamut of cleanliness. We have been in some portapotties that are automatically disinfected after each use by some robot that is activated after you exit. Some bathrooms have attendants collecting upwards of 1E for each pee- and some of these have been without paper, seats or any sense of cleanliness whatsoever. e considered our Euro a donation to the attendant to buy a good lunch. More often than not, public restrooms are okay.<br />
For me, the signage is amusing and often, creative. Here are a few of our favorites.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhvv1QvS8jkjxAk27vt_Vr4qCyGKwehdQdPML2wyay4bY9qcPF6tRpHCzBmunxjyghnb5dcpzgO_STDfEal-18uc2FESy_LDcGQLd3YBXVIMdhdHx4Z-86QDjxioPkzi_-Es9PGc7QkCx/s1600/IMG_3353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhvv1QvS8jkjxAk27vt_Vr4qCyGKwehdQdPML2wyay4bY9qcPF6tRpHCzBmunxjyghnb5dcpzgO_STDfEal-18uc2FESy_LDcGQLd3YBXVIMdhdHx4Z-86QDjxioPkzi_-Es9PGc7QkCx/s1600/IMG_3353.JPG" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">serious fine for not cleaning up after your pooch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtDOxWAXu7RUNdHSTahs6RX_sowZGoBwLMt8Yp-89UHRwJjQNygT7weGtEQqKBMxVyDA4Da6LCk0-nba1n7HXcPhERSxkZNjMBuj98zOWfZJm-5XK6FfWKI_mIAxNMGSkXRR1vlPzfJvU/s1600/IMG_4030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtDOxWAXu7RUNdHSTahs6RX_sowZGoBwLMt8Yp-89UHRwJjQNygT7weGtEQqKBMxVyDA4Da6LCk0-nba1n7HXcPhERSxkZNjMBuj98zOWfZJm-5XK6FfWKI_mIAxNMGSkXRR1vlPzfJvU/s1600/IMG_4030.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRBQFtL2Eb6Dc0UWNSzA4RXi86AzkWjUl3zvxTi8nXvr3shXUnd5JKjDQA5bewjKgeEGjUdsmul9NUnBZ75ycW4G4Eq1DqUuvjMjcjR_VV1LDydZYB9_2nY2yJXKci34qpZ8PTidiMC_O/s1600/IMG_4031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRBQFtL2Eb6Dc0UWNSzA4RXi86AzkWjUl3zvxTi8nXvr3shXUnd5JKjDQA5bewjKgeEGjUdsmul9NUnBZ75ycW4G4Eq1DqUuvjMjcjR_VV1LDydZYB9_2nY2yJXKci34qpZ8PTidiMC_O/s1600/IMG_4031.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAY9CSTd7SEr_nclDEJTVNwiW49GrYsRSjBFO2o7T7mbJxjTGWMHYWYjhsiQCBIn9tNeNZH-B4hpf797HnG3sHZs1Fhft91zVh_DKPqLu7SB2FrcaXJFabO4pxKxfb8pA3scb9T1WHUUuE/s1600/IMG_4064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAY9CSTd7SEr_nclDEJTVNwiW49GrYsRSjBFO2o7T7mbJxjTGWMHYWYjhsiQCBIn9tNeNZH-B4hpf797HnG3sHZs1Fhft91zVh_DKPqLu7SB2FrcaXJFabO4pxKxfb8pA3scb9T1WHUUuE/s1600/IMG_4064.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkA345mb2iOi6VaXN4K1aKPCQEW1YLPq-5uWKERKPOTVy7O-nGaQsk09HEUMqtLjyDuhUbIRvFaI88oTf5mJfIOHgx9p90mH6HWCBwadCOgxp5c_5QBHyeHWRgwt1F025h65zGyxPxMnV/s1600/IMG_4072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkA345mb2iOi6VaXN4K1aKPCQEW1YLPq-5uWKERKPOTVy7O-nGaQsk09HEUMqtLjyDuhUbIRvFaI88oTf5mJfIOHgx9p90mH6HWCBwadCOgxp5c_5QBHyeHWRgwt1F025h65zGyxPxMnV/s1600/IMG_4072.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZabpIBftOO2_wVdYFZH87Q1goZaP9ppsV_1_fU2neoUIZjqd-M_SsHbrFzkoZUER1CiNWguuh3b6BMycIHhwEepB72kGIkj1UB8Y3cVDSUKg6bEM2XJBy_vUKCZiBJXTTgvPa2ZCE4NSt/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZabpIBftOO2_wVdYFZH87Q1goZaP9ppsV_1_fU2neoUIZjqd-M_SsHbrFzkoZUER1CiNWguuh3b6BMycIHhwEepB72kGIkj1UB8Y3cVDSUKg6bEM2XJBy_vUKCZiBJXTTgvPa2ZCE4NSt/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmS9MVjIGTsW9tftXYvW_7FhuUXvoKTPrl1PvhOUGqPDArtQSwozgVlLk_VfE6UHUHmIxsK73KcNyKY8nE-Sy9ZWCACxsh0R0PDAA71_NNJMZHTa0GZHNwmPTC2pbjMXWKrqrKuHbv2ATL/s1600/IMG_4244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmS9MVjIGTsW9tftXYvW_7FhuUXvoKTPrl1PvhOUGqPDArtQSwozgVlLk_VfE6UHUHmIxsK73KcNyKY8nE-Sy9ZWCACxsh0R0PDAA71_NNJMZHTa0GZHNwmPTC2pbjMXWKrqrKuHbv2ATL/s1600/IMG_4244.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ_JxIiQ1PLlLUh4uEz0Dv7Xx89q718VVKbxVLSlNrWLSe9CVZwds2rzOGTJsJy0kkiLIxQcyBIpeWV4xaiwibB9-CmtV90Hi2vlHWHPodznCBc_5d9xbQWCL6JWB5H4Atjy3Ylw5SOt5/s1600/IMG_4330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ_JxIiQ1PLlLUh4uEz0Dv7Xx89q718VVKbxVLSlNrWLSe9CVZwds2rzOGTJsJy0kkiLIxQcyBIpeWV4xaiwibB9-CmtV90Hi2vlHWHPodznCBc_5d9xbQWCL6JWB5H4Atjy3Ylw5SOt5/s1600/IMG_4330.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG4EB_OdNFgOZWxWaZrD7L0OL3zJXDPHDqp5RSPoJUqjXxzkweqg0JtJ4ehCZ1DJJKy2jXti-AXCKd1ndExxHrBkQtVxVZ9HqfoqdH456RjD26RXJxtUhuA0EhYaNus3fDbsnDKyLN2Yk/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG4EB_OdNFgOZWxWaZrD7L0OL3zJXDPHDqp5RSPoJUqjXxzkweqg0JtJ4ehCZ1DJJKy2jXti-AXCKd1ndExxHrBkQtVxVZ9HqfoqdH456RjD26RXJxtUhuA0EhYaNus3fDbsnDKyLN2Yk/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nqjueGmiGOUY_93hwAFBncAgS4CTC71f2v4wrA2HkAQATwW0NpS1UkJ6StNEhRmOARoXKYJt0ntkkhD48yaaYPwEYkhqDI_NwT5Z2XkCVaLOSfYkhMHY2758RznYadeMzqI2sgnFAzPl/s1600/IMG_4475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nqjueGmiGOUY_93hwAFBncAgS4CTC71f2v4wrA2HkAQATwW0NpS1UkJ6StNEhRmOARoXKYJt0ntkkhD48yaaYPwEYkhqDI_NwT5Z2XkCVaLOSfYkhMHY2758RznYadeMzqI2sgnFAzPl/s1600/IMG_4475.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jgvS2J1f8rQunOJtSB3g3YmO6bZRzr4pILpQGGs8LU-mI5eBG0VBvQfXaTntb0dswqjW-WMxFQ_eIakkXSrkZNBTO7I3eSjdItKzooaK_MIWamTCi3v0xOpovRUxeVRSERMtgJcL26tg/s1600/IMG_4476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jgvS2J1f8rQunOJtSB3g3YmO6bZRzr4pILpQGGs8LU-mI5eBG0VBvQfXaTntb0dswqjW-WMxFQ_eIakkXSrkZNBTO7I3eSjdItKzooaK_MIWamTCi3v0xOpovRUxeVRSERMtgJcL26tg/s1600/IMG_4476.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0oDle76kHV1jwlQm2R6FTz9LIeNTyYrOp2XEJiN0KpOheTRMJorQErQLrkqccmfsspOozRwmmXoCeKqWuus5w85o4bNxkRA8pIJN15PZMUEWqB7lfdRYqDdYYaOBWymRbboPMDccpID1/s1600/IMG_4496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0oDle76kHV1jwlQm2R6FTz9LIeNTyYrOp2XEJiN0KpOheTRMJorQErQLrkqccmfsspOozRwmmXoCeKqWuus5w85o4bNxkRA8pIJN15PZMUEWqB7lfdRYqDdYYaOBWymRbboPMDccpID1/s1600/IMG_4496.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtAi8C52mMNl_5VB9RZcMCDlo8oWK4SIkkQLOXeTbHwCY_Rvx3BwNxJnjyqM6I-Il4tP73PAcYWA7t2VlCMeVHC0qlwRuccv9fJGVSLGG4DGOF0mTca_6nr6UFizIAfwwNmSgxylQlNxm/s1600/IMG_4497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtAi8C52mMNl_5VB9RZcMCDlo8oWK4SIkkQLOXeTbHwCY_Rvx3BwNxJnjyqM6I-Il4tP73PAcYWA7t2VlCMeVHC0qlwRuccv9fJGVSLGG4DGOF0mTca_6nr6UFizIAfwwNmSgxylQlNxm/s1600/IMG_4497.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0