Wednesday Wrap-Up

Bonjour Sequinettes! Or perhaps I should say ¡Hola! More on that later.

This week’s been a funny one, alright. Last time we touched base I was deep in the French countryside, enjoying a little break from the everyday. Time well spent, breathing healthy mountain air and immersing myself in the history of the region. Also known as, eating a lot of cheese.

Snow!

Remember how I spent Hallow’s Eve touring a13th century Charterhouse with nine Brothers? And sitting down to a delicious meal, followed by chartreuse and mint icecream for dessert? Yeah, that happened.

Obligatory red wine. Not pictured: fromage

Thursday morning celebrated the start of a new month. We piled into the minivan and headed down to the local town for Toussaint mass. It was wonderful hearing a service in French, and singing the hymns. After, I visited the cemetery at the Hermitage and went for a forest walk. Beautiful sunshine put me in high spirits! I may have indulged in my latest guilty pleasure – recording audio messages for friends back home. Most of the time these occur at the end of a long night but this time I was just inspired by nature. Crispy, delicious snowfall.

Hearts on the cemetary wall.

Sun peeking through the trees.

I had a beautiful few days welcomed by the Marist Brothers near St Chamond, but headed back to Lyon on Thursday afternoon for a dinner party, where I learnt a whole list of new French vocabulary. Being surrounded by the language is doing wonders, and every day I come across new words and idioms (usually when reading trashy magazines, I admit…)

Friday morning I explored the beautiful and informative Lumière Brothers Museum (definitely worth a visit!) before catching an eight-hour train back west to my home in Bordeaux. Being Australian, I suppose I’m not bothered by long journeys. Every Frenchie that I’ve mentioned this to thinks I’m insane. Geographical relativism? 

The Lumière brothers (what a name!) were pioneers in photography.

I packed my coloured pencils but forgot my colouring books (that I’m yet to share with you, oops!) Instead I doodled while listening to Radio National podcasts, before getting a bit of shut-eye on the train.

So relaxing.

(If you need a cup of mint tea at this point, it’s probably a good time. Go on, have a slice of cake too.)

Caturday! My favourite day of the week. ‘Twas a bit of a do-day, with many errands to run for the impending arrival of… my parents! All the way from Australia, and only with me for 2.5 days. Totally worth it though.

I also made it out to see the Bordeaux rollerderby, which was just awesome, as expected!

Over the course of these 2.5 days together, we:

• ·      Met each other at the airport, after successfully navigating all manners of public transport
• ·      Settled into a B&B that used to be a bordello, as it turns out (and whose owner took great delight in teasing me about my vegetarianism)
• ·      Consumed a mountain of seafood (them) and some wild mushrooms (me) (remember last time I ate at a seafood restaurant?  Oh dear.)
• ·      Strolled along the riverfront (a seriously amazing walk) to my beautiful apartment – have I shared photos yet?
• ·      Drank amazing red wine and nibbled on gourmet desserts with my housemate
• ·      I may have also taken two very jet-lagged people home early and then partied on with my friend, taking out a not-so-shabby 5^th place at the local quiz night
• ·      Visited France's biggest independent bookstore, where my mother nearly collapsed from the sheer joy of it 
• ·      Enjoyed beautiful homemade food at an arty café, called … Arty Café

• ·      Were chauffeured out to the Médoc wine region, where we explored vineyards, châteaux, and tried some very tasty reds (even mom enjoyed the afternoon!)

• ·      Wined at the Maison du vin and dined at a quaint brasserie where dessert was a party!

Sorbet party

• ·      Were led on a two-hour guided tour of the historic parts of the city (that I’d whizzed past on my bicycle previously but not really stopped to take in
• ·      Dined at Paul’s Place, of course 

So good.

• ·      And walked off all those carbs with a stroll in Jardin Public, which was hosting a beautiful display of autumn colours and the local library, where I borrowed my first bandes dessinées (French graphic novels)

What a whirlwind couple of days!

So why the ¡Hola! ? Yesterday, before heading out for a night of bar-testing (it’s my friend’s job – brilliant, right?) on a whim I purchased myself a flight to Barcelona to continue the fun times with my parents on their European jaunt. 

These mojitos got a pretty good review...

I can only imagine that the coming week is going to be as chargée as this one! Hope you are all enjoying the adventures of life. For now, adios from España!