Wild Ride in Europe-Provence & Barcelona

Since my last post less than a week ago...now I think I've taken about 300 more photos and I can only post one at a time to this blog so I will have to just tell you the highlights here and now. It is in the wee hours of the morning and here's the shortlist since last Wednesday. Two nearby villages called Eze, VilleFranche sur La Mer (see previous post for photos)...one awesome boat ride to Monaco...one brilliant dinner and two horrible ones (don't order pork patties by accident or trust a flower lady in Barcelona)...one fabulous bike ride in Provence...*the words for help us we have a flat tire and we forgot to bring a pump* have escaped me*...several, several, several amazing architectural wonders in Barcelona (I got to see the Barcelona Pavilion..can you believe that?...any of you architecture geeks are just amazed right now.)...oh and a partridge in a pear tree! Seriously, I will write more coherently when I am more awake about the past few days...but here are a few photos to make you smile. Miss ya'll moocho! (Many more photos to show...yet you get the idea for now...how cool is it...that's me at the Barcelona Pavilion!...wow I am a geek!)

Cannes ,VilleFranche, & Eze

In theory I love the blog idea. I also kinda like the old days where you really had to think about which photos to take. When I was a kid, we were blessed enough to travel all over the world. The funny thing is that I only had about 36 photos or maybe 72 at most for a six week trip. So, I find myself with more than 130 photos in my camera in just a week of traveling. Interesting. I also find that the ports around old Nice and most towns here on the French Riveria... I feel in my very, very, distant past...I have taken these photos before. But, I don't think I was here. Maybe it was Italy. Regardless, I find myself looking up at buildings or out at the sea and just kinda dreaming about life. I don't know if any of this makes sense and perhaps its simply too much time on public transportation, but I am daydreaming today. I will post some more photos soon. Took the train 25 minutes to Cannes. (We walked for 30 minutes to get to the train station.!) We learned again that if someone says that it is a 10 minute walk simply add about 20 to 30 minutes. Amy says that any time there is a "panaramic view" sign..it means...walk your butt off uphill. The mountains near the sea by Cannes at dusk were my favorite part of the day. Also, the lovely $40 bathroom. More later on that story. Be well.

Antibes and Ironman Nice

Wow. Can't even begin to say how tired I am. It's a little past midnight and I have been racing around for the past two days. It is difficult to take a lazy vacation in the South of France when there is so much to see and do.

I feel very blessed that my friend Amy was able to make it here all the way from Boulder. We have both decided once again that this is one of the perks of being a teacher. Great deal. Someone remind me of this in the middle of winter..Please!

We walked around Antibes yesterday and we realized that it probably would have been faster to walk from the house in Villeneuve than to take the SNCF train. We will get a handle on it. The food is amazing in the little shops and our main food has been any kind of cheese and a bagette. Haven't eaten out as of yet but cooking at the house is great because we can eat on the terrace and last night being the longest day of the year it stayed light out until 10pm!

Today...I signed us up to volunteer at the Ironman Competition. 2.5 miles in the swim 100 and some miles bike through the hills and then 26 mile run! People start at 6:30 am and they were still going when we left at 9pm. We met some people who finished in about 15 hours and that is a great accomplishment. (Amy and I think we may try it someday but we realize that the first start may be to actually take a spinning class! Babysteps.) Oh..and 30 hours of training is pretty much my whole time I spend at my job so I am not sure I can do that.

I will add some photos tomorrow. Must sleep. Vacation is exhausting and yet I really doubt anyone is shedding a tear for me! Miss ya'll...well most of you...actually..I am just so blessed to be here. One day at a time. Smiles.

je suis une voluntaire

Yes..that's right. I met a few people in the past few days who are racing in the Ironman Competition here on Sunday. So I will be at station 2 where the Marathon begins and ends with my orange "crew" shirt! Incroiable (Incredible.) I first heard about the race on the National Brain Tumor Foundation website because there is someone racing who is raising money for GBM research. I have since met three other particpant. Plus..I got to attend the volunteer meeting which was completely in French. Apparently, I was able to communicate enough to guarantee myself a spot. Now all I need to find out pre-race is how to point people in the direction of "le medic!" I am sure it will be fine. I slept a lot today and took the bus back into Nice. It is 45 min for the inexpensive bus...but I love the ocean views and of course my coffee and pain au chocolat along the way. My nickname seems to be le petit American...big suprise.
More funny stories to come. My next one will be about translating the news for a British guy regarding the state of his father after a heart attack. Basically, how do you translate that your father has a 50/50 chance of making it. I politely altered the phrase a little bit. (...And maybe I heard it wrong?) The last picture is of the terrace at the house. I did a bit of yoga today. Not too shabby-eh? I hope that Dominque and Gavan are enjoying Niwot equally as much.

J'arrive

I am not sure what happened to my first post but I left Denver with much anticipation. I arrived here yesterday and the house is beautiful. I road the bus into Nice and the beaches are amazing. I love the chocolate croissants. How fun. I hope the photos of this post and the next will give you a sense of the place. Very fragrant with all the flowers and the air from the sea.