Long time no blog. The time is going by exceptionally quickly! N is fully back into the swing of things at school. I’ve kept surprisingly busy as well. Doing what? Well...
Ladies and gentlemen...I am pleased to announce that I can now drive a standard! Lessons got off to an awful start (not N’s fault at all, it probably had something to do with my less than enthusiastic attitude and my angry proclamations that we were never buying another standard every time I stalled the car) but living in the country has afforded us many opportunities to drive along dirt roads that rarely see much traffic. I’ve graduated to driving to school and have taken my first solo trips to the grocery store in the next town over. Hurray! I think N is pleased too, my grocery trips tend to take a loooong time. There's just so much to see! Our grocery store is one of the largest ones in France.
Speaking of driving, N and I went to Champagne last weekend (I drove there, but for pretty obvious reasons didn’t want to drive back!). We stopped in Epernay and toured the Moët & Chandon champagne house. It was actually quite interesting, both the process and the history of the house (we set the bar quite low after touring a Port factory in Portugal). We took the French tour and our guide was a beautiful and totally charming young French woman. I generally recommend skipping the English tour whenever possible; although we did end up with "that guy" who considered himself a Champagne connoisseur and asked a million questions. Our tour was the first to begin and we were passed by both the Japanese and the English. I digress, Napoleon and Moët were good friends and Napoleon would stop in Epernay whenever he was in the Champagne region to stay with his buddy. We got to see a cask of Port Napoleon gave him. Containing 1,200 litters of Port. Whammy. The Champagne tasting was a highlight as well!
I’ve been meeting people, running/exercising and am working as a private English tutor twice a week. I go in to school with N almost everyday and am keeping myself out of trouble (and by trouble, I mean spending money!). I love visiting the Fontainebleau market (Tues/Fri/Sun) and have been cooking up a storm.
I’m trying to go to Paris once a week “pour flâner” (to wander/stroll) and had a great day there today. I appointed myself "official couple photographer" and spent part of my morning taking pictures of couples doing the one arm self portrait by the Eiffel tower and in Trocadero. It was quite enjoyable and I’m usually on the other end, trying to find someone to take our photo... I’m just so happy and thankful to have the opportunity to call this home for the next few months. Even in the pouring rain (like today). I’m glad a bought a raincoat.
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