pancakes!

It has been a busy last couple days at work. I worked all day Thursday only to come home and whip out 74 silver dollar pancakes for Friday afternoon. I work Tuesday and Friday afternoons in a local private school giving English lessons to little kids (K-2) . As yesterday was the Friday before a 2-week vacation I decided that there was no point doing a big lesson cause the kids are bouncing off the walls anyway!

So as we had been studying food (with the help of the Very Hungry Caterpillar) I decided to have a little American goûter. I told the kids to bring in pancake toppings and drinks and I brought the pancakes. They were a big hit! The kids loved them (of course when anything is topped with nutella French kids love it but I'd like to think it was mostly the pancakes!)

I'll leave you with some pictures of the kiddies. The 1st one is a picture of my 2 older classes, 1st and 2nd graders, we did a combined class snack which is why the some of the kids are sitting on the floor. The 2nd and 3rd pictures are my littl'uns, they are 4 and 5 years old. Those are some happy kids!

inside man

Two big thumbs up from Karina & Mystery Guest!

Went and saw Inside Man last night. I hadn't heard much about it before, except that it was directed by Spike Lee with an amazing cast but since the reviews were good we went off to see it. (Plus you have to support the arts, especially when the arts cost 2.90e per entry to see a great movie in v.o.!!!!)

It was refreashing to have an original story with the superb direction of Spike Lee. But I think my favorite part of the film was the writing! There wasn't that much dialogue but when the characters did speak it was witty, direct and funny.

I've always said that I enjoy movies the best when the end surprises me, even if I don't like the middle or the main storyline, but this movie had it all - captured my attention from the beginning and then surprised me at the end!

Ok I'm done raving about this movie, if I had to say one thing that annoyed me was Clive Owen's American accent that faded in and out...

addict

Hello.

My name is Karina.

This is my first step of this self-help program.

I can now admit I'm a 24 addict.

I have gotten my fix of the 1st season. Please help me rid myself of this dependancy by preventing me from continuing on to season 2... 3... 4 and god forbid, 5.

I appreciate your advice, help and personal stories of similar addictive tendances. Thank you.

of bunnies and bells

Happy Chocolate-Egg Day!

I've decided that I love Catholic France with all of its days off in the Spring. We've got a long weekend with Easter Monday and then several more days off in May. Fabulous!

I remember the first Easter I was here wondering why there were so many chocolate bells in the stores. Then I was told that the bells are the ones bringing the Easter eggs! How funny! I guess its not any better than thinking that a bunny is bringing Easter eggs but it makes me giggle every year!

No major plans over here. A friend asked me what I would be doing for Easter and I was surprised to think that the last time I celebrated Easter was when I was still living at home in high school.

That isn't to say that I don't have fond memories of Easter Sunday. It would all start a few days before Easter. Mom would make a Costco run for a huge pack of big white eggs (none of the French brown ones... ) and we would spend an afternoon boiling dyeing some of them and the rest would be blown free of all the goop inside. That was always the most fun, knowing you were grown-up enough to try and blow the eggs yourself. Pricking little holes in both ends and then your eyes popping out of your head trying to blow out the white and yolk without breaking the shell. Then we would let them dry, draw a little bunny and a Happy Easter and fill it in with watercolors. The ones we deemed the best would then be shellaced and hung on the little tree. Year after year we would open up the box of eggs to see past years. Even after all these years I still find Mom's bunnies are always the best and wish she could come over here and draw one on my egg for me.

The morning of would be waiting in my pjs with my little sister at the top of the stairs. Waiting for Mom to check and see if the Easter Bunny had come to visit. The upon the word we bounded down the stairs to the kitchen table to feast our eyes on the 2 Easter baskets waiting for us. The basket was usually started for us, a big chocolate bunny or egg, one for each of us to be fair. Then the race would start! Running all around the house, knowing the traditional hiding places, finding new ones... always checking to see who had found more. Healthy competition right?

Easter never been a religious celebration for me, but a tradition that I am sure I will always preserve.

Happy Easter! Joyeuses Pâques!

unblocked

Mystery Guest and I met up this morning to go to a General Assembly of the university to vote against the blocking of the buildings. Enough is enough! I'd like to go back to class!!!!

This picture is of the Phenix (which a sculpture on the main campus and kind of represents the university) with a pirate flag flying in the background.

There were HUGE crowds as you can see, the main auditorium was packed to the brim! I would say over 1,000 + students turned up.












There was a little debate going on before we could vote and it was interesting to hear all the different opinions not only for or against the blocking of the buildings but also for or against the remaining law. (The protests have only removed one clause - the CPE - not the entire law)

All in all it was interesting and I'm glad I went and since we won by a huge majority it looks as though things will start to open up fairly quickly and I should be back in my classes on Tuesday!

heaven

What more is there to say???


I luuuurve peanut butter.


Yummy.


;-)

le memorial

Well after 3 years of living in Caen I decided to finally go and visit Le Mémorial. It is the most visited site in the city (located just outside of downtown, near one of my schools where I work) yet I had been lazy about going to see it.

All in all I'm really glad I went to go see it. What pushed me to go now is that they are having a temporary exhibition on Anne Frank for just a few more weeks and I wanted to catch that at the same time.

It was an great experience and a fabulous museum, not just about the war and the D-Day invasion (by the way the video on that is a must see! I almost left without seeing it and am glad I didn't!) but also a huge part on the Cold War. The museum is actually called the Museum of Peace and not a museum dedicated to WWII and that is clearly felt in the design and layout of the building.

If you come to Caen don't wait 3 years like I did! Go see the Mémorial! ;-)

*For those of you who are assistants with a carte professionale you can get reduced entry if you convince them that you are working on a lesson plan for your students. You can also get reduced entry if you say (and prove) you live in Caen. Student prices are not all that reduced but still helpful.

magic...

Ok calling all you anglophones out there, I need help!

I'm watching a little kids video to learn English and at one point there is a wizard who has Magic Stick.

Umm... is that weird to everyone else? Is it an American thing? I mean I really would never say magic stick... I'm thinking more magic wand!!!!

Sounds almost dirty, magic stick... :S

philosophy

To make sure that we took advantage of some spring sunshine Jen and I went on a nice stroll around the hippodrome and canal yesterday evening. There was almost no wind and it was the perfect temperature, a hint of summer to come...

The thing that cracked me up was walking under a bridge and seeing this graffiti:













It is just so deep and profound... I mean lets all write philosphy on underpasses! ;) I just had to capture this Kodak moment...

"At night all cats are grey"

Thought I'd leave you with that, have a good weekend!

not goodbye but see you soon

As a friend stopped by for a quick goodbye before she leaves to go back to New Orleans Saturday morning I realized something.

I had been thinking that it would be a sad goodbye because since I met Shannan 6 months ago I've always thought of her as a big sister, giving me advice and a listening ear.

When she left she said that she would cry and that she was sorry. And she said somethings that really touched me. That she really appriciated everything that I did for her, being there for her this year.

I think for the first time I realized that I am not only touched by people, friends but that I can touch those friends. To realize that I looked up to someone and was touched by their presence someone who in return looked up to and was touched by me.

lucky

Someone up there must love me. The day that I was seriously temped to call in sick to my far-away school the teacher called me.

"Don't bother coming in tomorrow, the students are having a general assembly to vote on if they want to keep striking."

YIPPPEEE!!!!!

Do a little happy dance!

My conscience is cleared! I can officially stay home tomorrow and not feel guilty! I swear someone up there is smiling down on me!

YES!

Ah ha! Yes! I had a painless préfecture experience for a change! I had to stop by to pick up my temporary work permit and since I was there I decided to ask about how I need to go about renewing my current carte de séjour (which expires in June).

Luckly I got the nice guy who sits in the middle (ya'll know who I'm talking about, when there's 1 nice person you of course never are lucky enough to have your number land on him!) and he was really nice and gave me a rdv for June with a nice list of all the beautiful documents I'll need...

I was in and out in 20 minutes with my work permit and without feeling like crying afterwards. I'd say thats a positive préfecture experience!!!

spring spring

Well spring is in full bloom so to speak. There are daffodils, cherry trees and crocuses all showing splashes of color around town.

Fantastic. I love it.

Sun, flowers, I feel like skipping down the street!

Oh, for those of you who want to listen to my radio broadcast tomorrow there is an easier way to listen over the internet. Some friends from uni set up a blog and made a direct link to Radio Phenix. Just go alllll the way down to the blog and click on the play button :)

I'm off to dance naked around my appartment playing the little spring fairy... lol. (No worries Mom, just kidding!)

ants on a log

I'm not sure what took a hold of me while preparing my pasta for lunch today... was it the celery that I found in the veggie drawer? was it the little bit of America missing in my life? was it an urge to eat peanut butter?

In anycase anyone remember this little snack? Yum yum.

French ants on a log ... tee hee.

keep on walkin'

After a wonderful weekend of sushi, leaving footprints on deserted beaches and munching on mystery ice cream on the lawn overlooking the English Channel with Mystery Guest it was time to go back to reality.

Luckly reality was postponed by catching the last showing of Walk the Line. I'm really glad that I made a point of going to see it. The acting was fantastic and although I'm not a country music fan the music is classic.

For a movie that's over 2 hours long I never felt like there was a lull, nor was it too fast-paced. This Goldilocks found a movie that was juuuuust right ;-)

les guignols de l'info

For those of you who are living in France you surely have heard of les guignols de l'info that are on Canal + (unscrambled)... For the rest of you its basically telling the news with these puppets making fun of a lot of different famous people/politicians (Sylvester Stallone playing your "typical" american etc...).

I had watched it a lot before, especially when I was studying abroad in 2001-2002 with my host families. But to be honest I never really fully understood all the humour. It was frusterating to hear everyone laugh and not get it... Not only is it face paced but there is lots of slang thrown in and a ton of cultural jokes for good measure!

Well I was told that I needed to try again. Mystery Guest had a DVD of the best of for the last 15 years or so and offered to explain the jokes I missed.

Well good night gussy! (to quote Grandmama) I got it! I mean there were a few things that slipped past my dizzing intellect but I would say I got about 90% (would you agree?)!!!! It does have a lot to do with the fact that I've now lived here for almost a total of 4 years and and I always have my TV on I'm exposed to a lot of the cultural things that the jokes are based on.

All in all it was a good pat-yourself-on-the-back moment :-)

well being

I've always thought of water as a natural healer. It clears your mind and helps to heal any problems that could be going on in your life. This is why I could never live too far from the beach, I would go crazy, I need that easy accessibility to water even if it is the middle of the winter.

Which is why I'm really glad the pool finally reopened. It had been closed for the last week due to la vidange (or la vie d'ange as I like to call it hehehe) and I really felt like it had perturbed my weekly routine. Now that some other things are changing as well in my routine (remember that greve? yeah, haven't had class in over 3 weeks now) it is good to have something stable back.

Especially since water really does heal.



vocab cheat sheet:
vidange - 1st meaning: oil change, 2nd meaning: changing pool water
vie d'ange - life of an angel (my way to remember vocab #1 but too poetic according to the frenchies I know)
greve - you should know this now! strike!

radio show

Ok remember how I was supposed to go on the University of Caen Radio? Well what happened is that the guy was doing the editing and the program he was using crashed so my interview was lost!!

So I went back yesterday to re-do the show. It will be on the air (and on the internet) next Tuesday the 4th of April at 8:00pm.

It was really hard to re-do an interview and I wasn't really in the mood to talk much but I tried to do my best. So excuse my tongue-tied French and take a listen if you've got the time, if not for me than for my friend Mike whos band's song will be aired.

the glass menagerie

Last night I went to go see the Glass Menagerie at a wonderfully small artsy theater.

I was blown away, the acting by the 4 main actors was superb! They really played with different techniques etc. Casting young people in old roles and visa-versa. Using powerpoint to display key words on a screen as well as old photos and movies.

It was a powerful story with its funny moments and overall I haven't felt 2 hours and 20 minutes (no intermission) pass by so quickly! I'm really glad I was able to take advantage of this preformance. :-)

daylight savings...

Don't forget, for all of you in Europe we have Daylight Savings today!

Spring forward 1 hour!

And for those of you back at home you change next week right? In the meantime remember between the West Coast and France it is now a 10 hour difference! Don't be callin' me and wakin' me up ;)

sweet potato pie

You may ask how it is that I've made 2 sweet potato pies in the last 4 months in France when I had never made one before in my life...

Answer being, apparently Mystery Guest loves all things Southern! haha

Just teasing out there but seriously it is fun to be able to try things from home that I'd never thought of making. And I think it's also true that when abroad it is always the things that you never eat at home (and can't find abroad) that you end up craving!

In the States I was never a huge peanut butter fan, yes I ate it from time to time but while in France I go through my 2 pound jar like nobodys business!! Or things like cornbread, biscuits or trying really hard to make a cheesecake with French subsitutes (never turns out all that well...)

So now my apartement is perfumed with the sweetness that is a sweet potato pie... it will be preceded by a nice chicken noodle soup! (again made from scratch! how much do I rock??)

(side note: I found a great trick for cooking all kinds of potatoes, including sweet potatoes, before boiling them slice a ring around the potato, just deep enough to go through all the skin. Then boil the potatoes as usual and when you're done drain the hot water and add ice water for about 10 seconds. Then when you pick up the potato the skin just slides right off! Presto-chango! Magic!)

bloqué

I showed up to work this morning only to find that the lycée where I work is finally blocked!!

I had been the only one of my assistant friends who still had to go to work because my lycée was never blocked, kids were just not showing up.

Well today that changed, I showed up to school and there were tons of signs, garbage cans and kids doing a sitting in front of the school. I managed to make my way past the barrier to get inside only to find out that the kids were letting the teachers in but not the students. There is some sort of teacher meeting concerning the grève, clearly I'm not going to that. But I do have an hour to kill before a lunch meeting with a friend so I'm taking advantage of the computers to add this little blog post ;)

I'd love for the university to be unblocked but hey if they lycée kids want to keep blocking work feel free!!!

*note - Sadly I forgot my camera so I pulled this image off a website, it was taken from a lycée in Paris, not here in Caen... ;)

vocab key:
lycée - high school
sitting - french corruption of a "sit in"
grève - strike

vote!

Wednesday was a momentous occasion...

I voted in France!

If you've lived in a hole for the last few weeks there are lots of strikes going on in France at the moment. I haven't been to the university for several weeks now. But I went up to there to participate in the student vote. It was actually 2 different votes.

*The first was to a vote for or against the blocking of the university buildings.

*The second was for or against the CPE.

It was interesting to be there participating but I did shed a little tear when the woman controling the votes cut my student card to show I'd already voted! I was wondering how they would control the situation so there wouldn't be any double voting... no computers or list or stickers, just cut up your student card and its all good. haha.

Not sure how these votes will actually affect anything but still seems democratic to go vote! Only wish I'd have brought my camera!

CV hell

As the university is still on strike (there is a vote tomorrow) I decided to take advantage of some free time. So I'm in the process of applying for summer jobs to, hopefully, give myself some options of where I work this summer.

But I'm drowning in the CV hell that is France!

Not only do you have to put private information on your CV that you would never do stateside:

-Age

-Marital Status

-Picture

But you also have to handwrite your cover letter!!! Yes people my hand is going to fall off from all this writing! I don't think I've written something by hand (to be turned in or formally) since I was in junior high!!! It just isn't done!

I can probably type 2 or 3 times faster than I can write and its a whole lot prettier, but if they French want a handwritten letter so they can analyze my personality be my guest!

Little update: think my brain is fried from just copying the same letter. I went to staple my picture to the CV and almost used my phone!!! But they aren't thaaaat different in size/color... right? Please someone tell me I'm not losing it!











Please hire me... I can't take anymore of this and its only been 2 hours!

a norman weekend

Phew! Its been a busy but fantastic weekend! After celebrating Paddy's Day Friday night I woke up early Saturday morning to pick up the lovely Miss Ambre from the train station. We came back home and starting the process of getting caught up! But its great, even though it had been 2 years it felt like yesterday! Plus so many things to talk about!

Then when Mystery Guest finished his morning tutoring he came over for some Paddy's Day left overs and then hit we hit the road. As Ambre has never been to Normandy I asked Mystery Guest if he had some time to do a little drive. We had previously planned to just take a quick drive to the Suisse Normande to see the lovely countryside but when Mystery Guest said that it was only another 1 hour and 1/2 to go to Mont Saint Michel (a must see!) and offered to drive us all the way there we decided to extend our little road trip!

Ambre was a bit sleepy and took a nap in the car but I promised I wouldn't post that picture ;)We walked all up and through the winding streets of the mont to take in the view (and the wind!!) before tucking into a nice crepe and tea. Here are a couple pictures:












La Mere Poulard, a famous omlette restaurant on the mont, apparently making the most fuffy delicious omlettes you've ever tasted! (in the 3 or 4 times I've visited the Mont Saint Michel I've never tasted one, too expensive and can an omlette really be that good??)











I thought this picture of a little bird that Ambre took was just adorable. It is even better knowing that while she was taking it she kept telling it to turn around - and it did! Good little birdie!

Sunday morning and early afternoon was spent at the market in Caen and enjoying a coffee on the sunny terrace. It was a lovely relaxing weekend and great to get caught up with old friends! It was funny to realize that I have some wonderful close friends here in Caen but it is different to be close friends with someone since you were 18! There were so many stories that came out in conversation about people and places that seem so far away... But that friendship can last and get stronger with the years. Thanks for a lovely visit Ambre! Come back whenever you can!!

if you can't take it....

Friday evening I spent a lovely evening celebrating a belated Mardi Gras and an on-time Paddy's Day. It was great fun! It was a big potluck of New Orleans yumminess, risotto, cake sale a la Benedicte, cornbread, crepes and coffeecake! I stuffed myself full and in fantastic company and then waddled over to a friend's house to celebrate Paddy's Day in a true Irish fashion. :) (Photos to come)

But afterwards my lovely evening just had to be ruined. After a friend and I walked home, just in front of my door there was this crazy drunk American exchange student leaving a closing bar and screaming about how crazy this country is, how stupid blah blah blah.

That really really irks me in a bad way. It really bothers me all the people who come to France "for the experience" to really see "how french people live" and then all they do is complain and moan all the time about how crazy and stupid this country is.

If you don't like it why do you stay??? Who is forcing you??

Go home!

So thats what I told her! Ohhhh!!!!! For half a second I really thought she was about to slap me!! Couldn't believe it! But I stood my ground and granted she was plastered so I could have easily taken her but that attitude really rubs me the wrong way and it felt good to get it off my chest... ;)

On a more positive note looking forward to the visit of the lovely Miss Ambre tomorrow!

my new baby

The newest member of my family has just arrived! My new bookshelf!

Isn't she beautiful? When she arrived I made sure that all of her little 10 screws and bolts were there, and they were. She's perfect!

:-)

I had bought this bookshelf on sale almost 4 weeks ago but she was out of stock. She finally arrived and I was able to pick her up (with the fantastic help of the Mystery Guest and his batmobile!) and we put her together asap.

Isn't she great? I can finally get all my books off the floor and onto a bookshelf. My previous one only came up to the 2nd shelf from the floor and just didn't fit all that I needed it to...

Plus I don't know if you can see from the picture but we managed to attach my phone to the left-hand side so its not just hanging out on the floor.

On a side note the visit to the pee-doctor yesterday went quite well. After I finally found the office (almost late due to the students stricking and blocking the tram grrrr) it only took half an hour and the doctor was actually really nice.

15 minutes

My 15 minutes of fame.

I was interviewed for the University of Caen radio station - the Phenix!

They are doing interviews every 2 weeks with international students here on campus to talk about differences and break down some stereotypes.

They asked me to bring in some American music to play during the show and I couldn't think of many things that I like but that weren't too well known here. I thought it wouldn't be fun to play music that you hear all the time on the radio. So I chose the following songs:

1. Redemption by Magdalen Hsu-li (who came to my university at home to give a concert, she's great!)

2. Unmistakeable Day by Jacob Ray (a new up-and-coming Portland band which includes a friend of mine from high school!)

If you figure out how to listen to the program it should be funny, at one point I sing a little Yankee Doodle Dandy... you'll have to hear it to get it ;)

Tuesday March 21th at 20h on the internet or on the local station (87.6 fm)

gelato italiano

I think I've died and gone to heaven! While walking around town Thursday evening I saw that the restaurant they were doing travaux on was now finished... the boring old cafe is gone and in its place there is an Amorino!

This wonderful gelateria was a Paris discovery of mine but there is more to it, this is not just ice cream, oh no, this is an pure joy in a cup! (or cone if you prefer, I prefer the cups 'cause I don't like the dribbly melted ice cream on my hands...)

To make a long story short, when I made another trip into town yesterday my gourmandise got the better of me and I just had to stop in and try some.

So I just ordered a petit pot and the girl stocked it full of Biscotto & Stracciatella.

Heaven.

whirlwind

Well its that time of year again... ya'll know what I'm talking about - Spring Cleaning!

This morning I opened up all the windows (yes all 1 of them....) and air out my place and clean clean! Laundry is a-going and I ventured into the black hole that is my top closet shelf... Haven't looked up there since the summer, found all sorts of goodies! (Alas, no money. Don't you love that? You clean and find 20 bucks? Joy!)

And brought down 3 loads of empty boxes and crap that I had been hording up there. Whoever said I wasn't a packrat???

Actually even though the weather is great and there is for sure a hint of spring in the air my mad frenzy is mostly due to all the work I have to do.

I'm one of those people who procrastinates by cleaning... you should have seen my apartment while I was writing my thesis 3 years ago - spic 'n span! And I've got tons of stuff to do...

100

I started this blog back in August as a way to keep in touch and its already been 100 posts!

Whodda thought I'd get so blogging addicted?

Thanks to those who read and comment! Its good fun hearing different reactions from people and a great way for me to keep a sort of journal.

Happy 100 Blog!

pee cup

So I just got a letter when I went to work the other day saying that I need to go to the medecin du travail for my work contract (I've worked there since October...).

I read it over, saw the address, date and time.

Then I saw a sentence that threw me off guard:

"Nous vous prions de bien vouloir munir d'un flacon d'urine..."

Please bring a urine sample.

Say whaaaa???? I have to BRING my own urine? I can't pee there???

Has anyone done this before? Do I really have to sit on the bus holding a cup of my own pee?

Gross...

tours

My adventurous vacation continued with a trip down to Tours to see the lovely Miss Claire T. who is doing a Masters in History with a speciality in Renaissance...! (Did I get that right Claire?)

After a little mishap getting off to the Caen train station (I think I did the 2nd stupidest thing in my life - leaving my card in the ATM!) I managed to make my train with 3 minutes to spare!

As we trundled down to Tours I spent the ride knitting a baby blanket for a friend who's expecting, in spite of the stares of other passangers. Yes people I'm not a grandma stop staring!

I explored Tours with my fantastic guide who gives me the historical background of the city as well as the fun stuff :) I love it! We did a bit of unexpected shopping giggling like two 12-year olds but had a blast! Then we spent the evenings oggling over the lovely Mr. Ledger and Mr. McGregor.

Saturday morning we awoke to the city dusted in snow but made it to the station for our train up to Paris where we picked up Miss Libby who came in from England for the weekend. After finding her hotel we made our way to St Lazare to indulge ourselves in a Starbucks and a chat before I caught my train home.

For once I didn't have the majority of my train travel alone as Benette was on the same train. However the train was soooo full due to the end of vacation that we spent the majority of the trip at the end of the car next to the loo catching up on the break.

Its good to be back home but I'm not looking forward to starting up again tomorrow... sadly back to the grindstone.

crac-crac

(I think this is a personal blogging record, 3 posts in a day! I'm a bit bored, or procrastinating or something...)

Anyway while breaking icy puddles last weekend (and imitating the sound they make) I learned a new expression: faire crac-crac (slang/sweet way to say 'make love').

Today while watching tv there was an ad that said:

"Oh, I guess he didn't faire crac-crac this morning!!"

Refering to the crunchy-toast biscuits on the left.

I just about peed my pants I was laughing so hard. And of course well pleased that learning this new expression proved useful ;-)

snowy days

As I took the tram up to the shopping center out of town it started to snow.

big. fat. feathery. flakes.

It was like being in the middle of a pillow fight.

:-)

grrr post grrr

So I decided to get my act together and mail off Mom's birthday present so it would get there in time (yes, its at the end of the month but you never know with the postal system!!)

So I package up my little gift and scamper down to the post office. But when I arrived I found out that as of today the international mail has changed! Now there is more insurance attached to it as well as other things added on (signature request etc...) although the time it takes to arrive has not changed.

For those of you Americans living in France (or for anyone sending to America) I'll give you an example of the icky price change this caused.

In January I sent off a small box home economique, it weighed about 300g. I paid about 6E. Granted it took a month but hey it wasn't important.

Meanwhile now still using economique I sent off this present which weighed in at just under 400g and paid SIXTEEN EUROS! For the same thing! It would have been a whopping TWENTY-ONE if I would have gone prioritaire!

Needless to say I think this is the last time I send anything home!!!!

bretagne

Well I'm back from my weekend road trip to Brittany! I'm a bit tired but wanted to write a bit before I forgot, the longer I procrastinate the less likely I am to put all that I want into a post... So, this was the first time that I'd really visited the region and it was fantastic! Granted the weather was not always the best, but what can you expect in February? Anyway Mystery Guest and I made the best of things and saw tons of stuff dispite the biting wind!

First stop was Dinard for a brief picnic lunch where we experienced a bit of culture shock as all the signs were in Breton. Would have thought we had gone to another country!







Then we continued along the coast to St Brieuc where a visit to the tourist office paid off as we found an adorable farmhouse B&B with right-out-of-the-cows fresh milk in the hot cocoa for breakfast!







The next morning we hit the road early to visit the Castle la Roche Jagu (my Mystery Guest might have ancestors related to this monument so it was a must see!) The high ceilings and sweeping views of the river below convinced me that I need to look up castles of my own! Jealous I was! ;)

We continued along the coast to see the Pink Granite coastline but the impressive wind - 'duck cold' - was too much for us so we opted for a crepe lunch instead.


The trip ended with another B&B in Paimpont where we lucked out with beautiful weather on our last day which was perfect for hiking through the forest to see Merlin's tomb, the lake of the Fairy Viviane and the Giant's tomb among other sites.

Traveling always makes me think how you can take things as they come, make the best out of it and have a great time. Or you can get stuck on something negative and ruin the vacation. Falling in the mud, the wind or traffic could ruin your day or you could laugh at funny town names, sing along to bad 80's music in the car and enjoy a good crepe and come home with wonderful memories. Good traveling companions are few and far between, I am very lucky!

On the round table... I assume its the original, don't you think??? ;)