So East it's Ouest

We didn't get much sleep and up at 4:00am we were.  We caught the morning shuttle and made our way to the terminal.  A cold fear was in the air as the attendant checked in our bags, but yes they were both EXACTLY 23kg each *large smile and sigh of relief* the attendant even tried to change our seats to be sitting beside each other.  Going through Marseille was a piece of cake, although once again they thought that my bike tool kit was a grenade and opened my zipper rip-worthy bag in order to check it out, the guy was huffing and puffing by the time he was able to zipper that beast shut again.  We flew Marseille (1.5hr)->Madrid->(8.5hrs)Chicago->(1hr)Fort Wayne.  Madrid is an enormous but wonderful airport, there are even workers waiting for travelers at the terminal when you land just to help you figure out what wing you need to go to.  The Madrid-Chicago flight is a killer, it takes longer going from Europe to the US than the other way round by about 2 hours.   Chicago wa

I hate goodbyes.  Goodbyes are crappy.  They are even more crappy when you've been surrounded by a select group of amazing people who have helped you, taught you, fed you, encouraged you, and have loved you like a surrogate family when you've been away.  This week started with a not so surprise going-away barbecue hosted for me.  It started as just an apéro->lunch but turned into a dinner as well.  I couldn't handle the love, they are way too nice.  Everyone brought something delicious to eat or drink.  We exchanged presents, mine was American chewing gum for them all (so they could pretend to have an American accent) and some t-shirts from the Midwest, they got me some really great thoughtful gifts; including a peanut chocolate cake knowing by this point that peanut butter is my weakness.  *There was much bitter sweet rejoicing* Monday we biked over to see Jackie (we had started out going to the Pont du Gard but that didn't happen), Jasmine nearly died from biking e

Mon oeuil= yah whatever, I don't believe you; can't fool me Breathy slurp-caused by the puckering of the lips that is the French language Oh la la ( needs to be properly pronounced none of this Ohh la la, it's more like an ah for the dentist )  La language de l'amour "r" in general Swishing hand

After leaving the room they close doors, it's their pet peeve. Sitting cross legged is considered hillbilly You can't get BBC unless you pay for it, along with that many apps and shows online will not work in France (video content not available in your country) In most towns church bells ring every hour which helps to keep track of time They are the hosts/entertainers of the world they have the best parties, will break out singing or dancing at any moment, and always have something to remedy un goutier sec You need to learn new measurement systems: kilometers, grams, celcius, liters, clothing sizes ( funny though in planes they measure altitude in feet ) The tax and/or tip are included in the price, but it is becoming more customary to leave a small tip at a restaurant They seem to love New York and Los Angeles more than other American cities Barbecue, worcestershire sauce and bacon are like catnip for them Most can't handle spicy foods They don't hug they either shake

So Jasmine has arrived and we have toured Rochefort du Gard, Avignon, St. Rémy de Provence and the Luberon.  Now we are in Vienne a small town right outside of Lyon for the 2 day assembly.  Today we drove to and toured Lyon and settled in at our bed and breakfast.  In Lyon we eaves dropped on tour guides and walked around the vieux quartier stopping to eat first at a traditional 'bouchon lyonnais'.  Want to know what is probably ground up and put in hot dogs?  Snout, stomach, veal head,  tongue, knuckle sausage, heart...etc, and they were all on the menu.  Lyon is the food capital of France but boy when you say traditional you are going to be served enough scrap meat to weigh you down for a week.  I settled for the oeuf meurette (poached egg in thick wine beef broth with chunks of ham)-> saucisson-> Fromage blanc.  We got wine and it was served à la lyonnaise in a 'peau' a small wine bottle with a thick glass bottom and a rubber band just under the lip of the top.

Queen of the mountain.  Today I biked Mont Ventoux.  Delia and Jackie graciously agreed to take me to Sault in order for me to bike the mountain from there, about an hour away.  26 kilometers uphill the whole way; people have died trying to climb it, I have and old bike and a body that's taken on the Hilly Hundred but I didn't even think I was going to make it the whole way.  I was shaky with a tinge of fear, lack of sleep and a small breakfast when I headed out from the lavander valley of Sault to tackle the uphill battle of the mountain passes; Jackie even said she had a stomach ache just thinking about me doing it.   It started off well and I only had a slight problem with a fender at the beginning.  The weather was nice, warm even. Then this lowlander had to deal with a little something called altitude which left me huffing and puffing.  I biked through lunch, taking quick rests to catch my breath and get a drink of water.  My pedals were creaking and my bike doesn't ha

Bordeaux is amazing.  So in the past 5 days of forecasted rain we actually had super weather, around Bordeaux it rains a lot but when we would go to go somewhere it always cleared up.  On Wednesday we visited the lake and the city.  The lake is one of the biggest in Europe and it has dunes which remind me of Michigan.  I would say Bordeaux is the San Francisco of a France although not quite as hippie; it's weather is similar, it has a tram, a bridge, a Napa Valley, its a port town and similar style.  I liked it immediately, the people are calmer than in Provence and it has a more Scandinavian feel.  We took the tram, strolled around went to a broquante (type of flea market) and walked by the Gironde.   Thursday they had a big family get together and we ate tartiflette aka scalloped potatoes with ham and lots of reblochon cheese.  Then we all went to see the ocean which is nearby.  They live in a little town called Hourtin which is next to the other town called Hourtin-Plage which i

Yesterday I started my 5 day trip to Bordeaux on the south west side of France.  It was a seven hour trip along the highway by Montpellier, Carcassonne, Toulouse, the canal de midi, then we entered les midi-Pyrenees, we went past Bergerac ( as in Cyrano de Bergerac), Landes de Gascogne -which is a national park with tall pine trees that people build tree fort cabins in {and yes gascon like d'artagnan from the three muskateers},we drove by Bordeaux and settled at her relatives' house in Hourtin by the ocean.  It's supposed to rain the next few days.   We are north of Bordeaux in le Médoc, which is known for several things:  cassoulet, huitres, foie gras, violettes, canard, wine, cannellé (I'll try to take photos and post them later).  The area has pine trees, sand dunes rain and a nice accen, it's sing songy and southern but different from provence (kind of like Minnesota).  The family is really nice, two girls 14,15 and Thomas 8.  This morning I woke up to a one dir

One of the things I first found interesting about this area is the vast spectrum of plantlife.  Cactus-birch tree, wild thyme-raspberry bushes, irises-poppies, asparagus-pomegranate trees, pine trees beside palm trees, bamboo next to olive trees and wild leeks in the lavender fields.  It doesn't make sense but it works.  In my mind using the only references I knew I would say, oh it must be kind of like Tennessee or it must be like California but in the end this area is so diverse it's not like any of those places.  I have a new found respect for French gardening, the vineyards, orchards, fields of every sort of edible; they are so well organized, require so much work and are kept nearly weed free.  Some interesting things I've discovered lately: A town nearby grows the kiwis and lettuce for France (Chateaurenard) Everyone buys leeks when they go to the market or store, even a macho guy will have his 2 six packs of beer and one leek in the checkout lane Lavander tea is the