Final Moments

I'm not feeling well today.  Frankly, I haven't been feeling well for the last two or three days.  With all of the good and delicious food I've fed it, I'm largely disappointed in my stomach for acting in this manner, especially in the last week. I will power through, though I hope that I'm feeling much better by the time I have to board the plane on Monday. I'm already nauseous on planes, this would not help the situation. 

Less than five days left here in Crestet, and it has been a week of final moments.  My final trip to the market was marked with a good deal of spending--buying final presents and the last of the things I'd been eyeing for weeks. Last night, I said goodbye to the table d’hôte, though not entirely as Marion has given me her recipe for fruit mousse and creme brûlée.  Yordi has also promised me his recipe for creme brûlée. 

I look forward to making them both with the creme brûlée torch they gave me on Tuesday.  I'm touched by and extremely excited about this gift. After them allowing me to eat with them for a week and a half while Paul was away, I feel that I should be giving them something for the pleasure of their company---not the other way around.  

In the same vein, I don't know how I can ever thank Paul and Miriam for the opportunity I've been given this summer.  While I haven't had a conventional trip (who wants that anyway?), it has been fun and a great experience. 

Today, I've helped clean the big house.  However, Paul took me back early because my stomach is still rebelling against me.   I'll take it easy for the rest of the day because tomorrow is going to a lot of cleaning!

The Roman Ruins

Today has been a good day. Well, besides trying to brush the dogs, but that's never fun.

I spent my morning and early afternoon traipsing around the Roman ruins located around Vaison.  It was interesting to go back, considering I had been there once before when I was ten.  Some things were exactly as I remembered them, such as the mosaic in the museum and the old theatre and, of course, others I didn't remember at all.

I opted out of the audio guide considering that it would mean more time spent sitting, and I don't listen to those sorts of things very well.  I have the same problem with audio books.  I don't pay attention to it. Either way, I took pictures of all of the signs, some of which had English on them and the others I will bother to translate later.

Tomorrow, I will wander my way through the old village of Vaison, and Tuesday will be my final market. This will be a week of lasts. I should probably stop putting my dirty clothes in the laundry basket and start packing them away to go home.  I won't do laundry before I leave.

I've also been watching a great deal of The Big Bang Theory in my time sitting at the house.  It's amazing; I'm surprised I've gone so long without getting into it. It was one of those shows that I had always liked when on but never sat down and watched.  I did the same thing with How I Met Your Mother.

Le Tour de France and Avignon

The dogs are driving me a bit up the wall.  I'm not used to any dogs, let alone three that bark when spooked. Brundel is old and deaf and can't tell when Radja and Bacchus stop.  Besides being old and deaf, he's also grumpy. He takes this out on Bacchus.  Their barking startles me.

The Tour de France came nearby on Tuesday, and I was fortunate enough to be invited to tag along. It was great even though it is a long time waiting for a short time of seeing the bikers.  The merchandising cars come well before the riders and sponsor trucks throw free things at you.  Then, you wait.

The arrival of helicopters overhead signals that the riders are only five or ten minutes away.  The bikers came and went so quickly that I barely had time to register that they were even there. It showed me just how fast a human is capable of going on a bicycle, something I could not have gleaned from watching the Tour on television.

Yesterday, Marion took me to Avignon with a few people she knows from Holland. It was the first touristy experience that I have had since coming to France. We saw the part of the pope's palace, and had a great lunch. Since it is also festival there were performers in the street. Shakespearean actors, moving statues, dancers and others brought lots of crowds. Unfortunately, my camera battery died and I forgot the memory card for my other camera.  I did manage a few shots.

There's a bridge in Avignon that doesn't go all the across the river.  Upon further investigation (i.e. Wikipedia), I discovered that it has been destroyed by flooding many times and they eventually stopped bothering to repair it. Cool huh?

The rest of the day was spent at the mall, which was really the point of the day anyway.  I guess shopping malls don't exist in Holland.

Table d'hote is tonight because it has been either too cold or too wet to have it earlier in the week.  Tomorrow and Saturday are cleaning and next week I will finally see the ruins and monuments in Vaison. My final week in France starts soon!

I'm almost home, and I'm ready to go home.  I love it here, but I'm ready to go back to 'normality.' I'm actually even ready for school to start (shocker, I know).  So much has happened this year, and so much more is still to go.

All by Myself

Paul left for Holland on Saturday, so I'm here alone with the dogs for the time being.  It isn't so bad being here alone, but the weather hasn't been great.  The neighbors,and Paul and Miriam's business partners, have been kind enough to allow me to eat dinner with them, so I'm not completely by myself, which is nice.

It rained almost all day on Sunday, so my plans to go into Vaison were dashed.  You can't exactly bike in the rain. Well, you can, but it isn't pleasant.  I spent most of the day inside with the dogs looking at food recipes on foodgawker.  I think that website must only exist to tempt me.  When I get home, I'm going to be more adventurous in the kitchen.  I need to find more actual food recipes as well. Though there are plenty of desserts for me to still try.

The rest of the weekend was pretty standard.  There was cleaning on Saturday.  Friday was mostly nothing as well since the house we clean on Friday is still occupied until the end of this week.  Paul and I didn't get to see any fireworks on Thursday night for Bastille day. Unfortunately, the Mistral was too strong, and they canceled the show.  The music was nice, however.

Friday was also a dinner at the neighbors with the same friends we went up the Mount Ventoux with.  The food was delicious as usual.  However, I got to make dessert. Paul and I had to go to three different stores before we could find rhubarb. I guess the season is ending here in France, but we found it, and I made strawberry rhubarb pie for dessert.

The highest compliment I could be paid? Being asked to make it for the table d'hote if the ingredients can be found and aren't too expensive.  It was good pie.

Marion (neighbor), took me to Bedoin this morning, and we went to the market. It was a nice market, much smaller than the one in Vaison. It served for a fun morning with a few more fantastic views to add to my memories.

Afternoon was largely uneventful.  I thought about riding my bike to Vaison.  Looking at the clock showed that it was two in the afternoon, which meant all of the shops would probably be closed.  I went on  a walk instead because I'd done nothing all day yesterday (and I ate a lot of chocolate today).  I also finally explored the pottery shop near the house.  I found several things I wished to purchase; however, the shop doesn't take bank cards (seriously?), and I only had five euros.  I bought one of the items and will have to return later with more cash in hand.

Tomorrow, if the weather is alright (and I hope it is), we might go and see the part of the Tour de France that is near the area.  It is supposed to rain in the morning, but I hope it is nice enough to go.  It would be fantastic to witness part of the Tour while I'm here.

Mount Ventoux and Bastille Day

Happy Bastille Day!

Haven't updated in awhile and for that, I am sorry.  As I said last time, the days really just blow by me like minutes lately.  Of the weeks events, most were of the normal fair.   I headed to the market on Tuesday, and we had the table d'hôte. I also lounged around the pool, started a new book and went for a walk. 


However, this week also hosted a few different events as well.

Miriam left Monday evening for Holland; however, a large part of the day was taken by going into Avignon for Paul's final check up with the doctor.  While Paul and Miriam talked to the surgeon, I wandered the sales at the mall.  I've found in my experiences abroad that malls, with the exception of the Meadowhall Mall in Shefield (look it up, it's HUGE) are a fairly universal concept. Though, in Europe, you seem to often find grocery stores attached.  I don't know what to entirely think of the idea when I wonder what it would be like to have a Meijer and a Macy's in the same building.

The good news is though that Paul, who had cut a tendon in his hand prior to my arrival, is able to drive.  Wonderful news considering Miriam's departure later that night.

Tuesday, as stated, was market day once again.  And once again, I wandered the stalls and bought a few things to bring home as gifts.  Sometimes, I think I'm more worried about bringing something back for everyone than I am about getting cute things for myself. I consider far too many people gift worthy. You should all stop being amazing.

Another wonderful meal, as prepared by Yordi. Crepes and goat cheese, pork fillet mignon, chocolate mousse and creme brulee rounded out with guitar music. While the food was fantastic as always, what I enjoyed this week was the opportunity to converse with people my age from different parts of the world. I've once again learned that I spend far too much time on the internet, but that the excessive number of cousins I have (love you guys) is not as strange in Europe as it is in United States.  Dad's 200+ is still strange, and I received yet another confirmation that my family is, in fact, weird.

The wind picked up as soon as it hit Wednesday, and the dinner ended with everyone scrambling to get things off of the table so it wouldn't blow away.  It rained and stormed through the morning, but the afternoon proved nice enough to walk to the postbox.

Today is Bastille Day in France, and to celebrate, we will hopefully be going out to see fireworks in Vaison once it gets dark.  However, we also went for hike on the Mount Ventoux today.  Moun Ventoux is a very popular biking destination especially since it was featured in the Tour de France a few years ago. Paul has biked up several times and enjoyed commenting about which bikers he thought would make it to the top as we passed them in the car.  It was one thing to walk up the Ventoux; I'm pretty sure I will never reach the top by bike. The view from the mountain is amazing considering that even though it was hazy in the distance, you could still see the alps. We climbed over rocks and under trees while following the small rock piles that marked the path.  We didn't go all the way up to the top, but maybe we can drive up there one day.  I am surprisingly not sore, though I'm sure that will catch up with me tomorrow.  Hiking has proven to be an activity that I enjoy. I've always loved being in the woods, and it has been something I've wanted to do for sometime.  Must do it more once I get back into the states.  Who wants to go hiking with me?

Hiking was followed by a delicious and large lunch consisting of salad, lamb and ice cream.  I'm having toast and tea for dinner and maybe breakfast and lunch tomorrow as well I ate so much.  Then a shower, watched an episode of Royal Pains online and now I'm sitting here updating my blog.

I'm tired though, so I'm going to eat something.

Zombies are Universal

Saturday already.  The days seem to fly by here, and soon I'll be on a plane to go back home.  I lose track of time and the day easily here, and because there isn't much to do, sometimes I find myself doing nothing.  While it's all relaxing, I'm determined to get out more next week and finally explore Vaison's medieval town.  I went up for awhile after walking the market on Tuesday, but I hadn't come prepared for that much more walking and eventually turned back to Crestet.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll feel like I haven't done enough or seen enough while I was here.  Having been for so long means I should have done it all right? However, I must also remember that doing everything wouldn't be that much fun either.  I like that I can be here and have days where I don't go anywhere.  I feel more like I'm a part of the place rather than just visiting.

It's been a busy week, and I'm especially tired right now because Friday and Saturday are cleaning days. While it's hard work, it isn't stressful work.  And after I can fall asleep for awhile (which I did today) or go to the pool (which I did yesterday).

My two favourite parts of the week remain market day and the table d'hôte which landed on the same day this week.  So Tuesday I spent my morning roaming the market place and wandering a bit in the old town and  my evening setting the table and helping to eat and serve another amazing meal.  Dessert this week included another mousse, this time in apricot, only convincing me more that I must have the recipe to bring home.  I've also been trying to take stock of what we've been eating on an everyday basis--hoping that when I get home I can be more inventive with my own cooking.  While I love chicken, sweet potatoes and green beans, I eat them A LOT.  Maybe that's what I should buy for myself here, a cookbook.

Miriam is leaving on Monday to go back to Holland to be with her sister, who is very ill.  It's important that she goes, but I'll be sad to see her leave for an undetermined amount of time.

Welcome drink for the people arriving this week. There's a family from England here with a daughter named Hannah who, I think, is just a few years younger than me. I always get excited when there are people who speak English as their first language.  It is much easier to flow into a conversation with them.  The Dutch and Germans also all speak very good English, and I've had good conversations.  However, so many Dutch and German people stay here, I often feel left out because, of course they'll want to (rightfully so) converse in their own language.  Add in that I speak absolutely no Dutch or German (and frankly have a hard time distinguishing the two), and I'm sitting silently quite a lot. I like the welcome drink for one of the same reasons I love the table d'hôte; I get to meet the people staying in the houses.

This last week there have been lots of families with young kids staying. I guess schools have just let out for vacation. During the table d'hôte, the kids took to making paper airplanes and throwing them through the air to watch them glide for a second and fall.  After helping to switch the courses, I became a terrifying monster.  Planes flew past me until, finally, I was struck in the chest and fell to the ground dead and supposedly defeated.  I lay on the ground until something within me stirred. I rose, arms out and advanced toward one of the Belgian boys.

"Zombie! Zombie!" he cried as he smiled and backed off.   I gave chase as they attempted once again to kill me with their airplanes. We kept at the game for at least another seven minutes until I decided it was time for me to try some cheese.  I glad though because even though there was no way I could understand what those kids said to me, some concepts are universal.

It was great fun.

4th of July

Happy 4th of July everyone!  While everyone in the States is barbequing up a storm and watching fireworks, today is a normal day in France. 

I finished a walk I started last week.  The final part of the path diverges from the road in a secluded spot, and last week I was unable to find it and didn't want to get lost.  But this week I did, and I got to take a nice walk through the woods.  I have my phone set up now, so I should be able to venture out more on my own.

My French got a little practice this weekend.  It was a big weekend here in Crestet, as Miriam's birthday was on Friday. There were many get togethers and lots of food.  We had two six hour dinners this weekend.  Saturday, we drove to Avignon to have dinner at Paul and Miriam's daughter, Tami's house.  This family loves to barbeque, and Saturday was Tami's boyfriend's first time cooking for a large amount of people.  I spoke some French to Tami's neighbor, who speaks less English than I can manage in French and also spoke a little to Fabienne's boyfriend, who I'd met for the first time.

We had brunch yesterday, with me once again making scrambled eggs. Fabienne and I went into town to buy bread and bought croissants from a chocolate shop I'd only seen from the outside.  We had ice cream there during the Fete de la musique, which was fantastic, but I've determined that I never should have set foot in the shop.

Everything looks AMAZING, which frankly does nothing for the idea of not gaining a ridiculous amount of weight while here in France. I decided that I would come back on my final week and buy sweets to bring home.

We attended yet another dinner on Sunday at the summer house of some of Paul and Miriam's good friends.  No French need be spoken there, which was nice, but then I have a worse time of it when they switch over to Dutch.  I at least understand some words of French that's spoken.  Dutch just sounds like gibberish to me.

I also made a carrot cake this weekend. Well not as perfect as I would like it to be, considering the lack of some of my normal ingredients and being unable to properly juice the carrots (I had to grate them). It turned out delicous.  Everyone liked it and both Fabienne and Miriam and Paul's friend asked me for the recipe. I'm glad something I've worked on and fiddled with is well accepted by people who aren't my family.

One of the things I love about being here is that meals always seem to be eaten together.  The emphasis is put on food and company and being together.  I know that is why these dinners last so long. However, I'm not used to to so many long dinners. I love it, but it goes so late into the evening.

I'm used to being in bed by midnight and waking up at seven, but it is quite different here.  The main dinner often isn't served until eight in the evening, and add the multiple courses and talking means that dinner continues until midnight or later.  The combination of staying up and trying to decipher French tires me more quickly than usual.  However, the slowness of time here relaxes me, and I hope it is something I can take home with me.

There are still things I'm not used to.

Apples and Peanut Butter

Welcome to July.

It has been an interesting week with Miriam leaving for Holland and returning on Wednesday.

Market day on Tuesday again.  I bought a scarf. I probably would have gotten more, but I couldn't find the bank behind all of the stalls.

Wednesday was once again the Table d'hote. Yordi, who is the neighbors' son, cooked everything. He's worked in a few restaurants from what I've gathered and it certainly has rubbed off nicely on him.  And, of course, my favourite course was dessert.

He made raspberry mousse, creme brule, and caramelized apples. I ate two of the mousse because the woman across from me didn't want hers. Fantastic, but I was told it was his mother's recipe so I would have to ask her.

She told me she could only give it to me in French. I said I would translate it.

There are six American women staying here this week, so I sat among them during the meal.  They've been all over the world together. My heart skipped a beat when I was talking about my journey in Ireland, and one of the older women turned and said "You've been to Tully?"

What are the odds? I had so much fun talking to them.  I wish people stayed longer than a week. You really can't get to know anything in such a short amount of time.

Yesterday, I made breakfast.  The most I've really cooked on my own here consists of eggs, and that's what we ate. I also decided to throw in a few potatoes that we had from some of the people who left a house early.   I cooked them with some basil, oil and threw in a bit of garlic. Seemed pretty typical to me.

Oops. While garlic is a much loved food here, it is never consumed in the morning, which I guess I can understand.  At least they were nice and tried the potatoes.

Other cultural food incidents include me eating an apple and peanut butter. I sat down with an apple, the jar of  peanut butter and a knife then proceeding to cut the apple up and spread peanut butter on the slices and eat them. Miriam tried it and thought (rightfully so) that it would taste better on Granny Smith apples.

We also went for a hike yesterday. We took Radja and Bacchus (the dogs) and hiked to the ruins of a 7th century monastery.  I love places like that. It's completely secluded and invisible from the road. There's an old stone bridge and a river that runs by the path.  The dogs loved running through the water and jumping in the puddles. They were completely muddy by the time we got home.

Got to wander the shops in Vaison a bit, and today was a big cleaning day.

All is good.