When the Sun Returns

While we have had a few bouts of rain and clouds, the sun is back again, give or take a few very large gusts of wind. Regardless, this means lots of time on the beach and visits to Saint Marguerite, an island off the coast of Cannes. We'll do a little picture book tale to sum up the past few days.

Well this doesn't have much to do with the sun, but Julia's parents visited and took us out to dinner for her birthday on Monday. This is the soup de poisson (fish soup) I had, which is a specialty in this area of France. It is the
fish-based broth of the well-known bouillabaisse, but without the whole pieces of fish and vegetables added. Instead you just add rouille (a type of spicy mustard) and hard bread. Quite tasty, if you like fish. 

On Saturday I took myself on what ended up being a two hour walk to find L'Hotel Belle Rives,
which is the name of the hotel where Scott Fitzgerald stayed when he lived in Juan les Pins (a little
town that is a 40 minute walk from Antibes.) It looks like quite the swanky hotel, but I'm hoping
to visit the Fitzgerald Piano Bar when my parents visit. 

On Saturday afternoon I spent a good 4 to 5 hours on the beach, with this view.
The picture really doesn't do the Alps justice, they stand out so crisply against
the sky. And this view of the Picasso museum is a classic view of Antibes that
appears on many post cards and paintings. 

And this is how you warm up one of your friends who spent too long swimming
in the Mediterranean, which is gorgeously blue but not quite warm enough for
too much swimming. We take care of each other on the Riviera. 

On Sunday we took a ferry ride to Saint Marguerite, the island-prison where
the famous Man in the Iron mask was held for 11 years. Its a fascinating story
that I suggest you read about, or watch the movie. 

These red poppies are popping up all over the place, even on the
train tracks in Antibes. 

It was very windy on the island, but particularly on this side.
So many white caps, but on this other beach...

...the water was much calmer, which allowed for a performance
from a CEA girl band. They're fantastic. ;)

It also made great weather for bubble-blowing, made possible by
my parents and their thoughtful care packaging. The bubbles are a big hit. 

Last Minute Trips Out of the Country and Great People

It was Monday evening when a friend of mine here called and asked if I wanted to go to Copenhagen with him and another friend of ours on Friday. By Tuesday evening, I had a plane ticket to Copenhagen and a reservation in Europe's biggest hostel. I'd say that qualifies as a part of List Item number 26, and it turned out to be quite a wonderful last minute trip decision.

Copenhagen is a city I've been interested in ever since finding this CycleChic blog. I was fascinated by the cycling culture and how fashionable everyone is while riding their bikes through rain, snow and sunshine. Plus, the gentlemen who asked me to travel with them this weekend, David (from Australia) and Taylor (from DC) are two of my very favorite people here who I did not think I'd get the opportunity to travel with. So I really couldn't say no.

The city was just as bike - populated as I hoped it would be. Wide bike lanes on every street and people of all ages on all kinds of bikes.

Tivoli Gardens

Canal Tour...Hans Christian Anderson's House

We also wandered through the magical Tivoli Gardens, rode a roller coaster, went to a party with a few people D and T knew from last year, took a canal tour, and went to a couple of gay bars. And all throughout the weekend we had consistent conversations about traveling, life, Americans, growing, and so so many other things. I love the people I am meeting here and the places I get to see with them. I cannot believe how close it is to the end.

David and I 

Me and T

Oap! And here is a tiny baby post for List Item #5...

Let it be known that on the evening of Thursday, March 29 2012, I went skinny dipping in the Mediterranean Sea. It was glorious.

That's all I have to say. :)

An Excerpt from my CEA Portfolio

For the past week I have been putting together a collection of poems and short stories I wrote about my time here (accomplishing List Item #24) to send into a conference the CEA Paris program is hosting. They are accepting creative projects about our time spent abroad, and the people that are selected get to go present in Paris. 

Below is an excerpt from the portfolio I wanted to share because it has little tidbits from our spring break (a wonderful trip which is woefully absent from this blog...there will be more little fill-ins throughout other posts). The second section of the poem below is about a dinner we had in Lyon, and the third is about dessert in Flavigny sur Ozerain (the village where Chocolat was filmed). Hope you enjoy! 

The longer she was there, in this new place, she began to feel culture. She found the nuances in French culture and began accumulating some of the qualities she was lacking due to her American upbringing. Especially about time spent with people.

I

We had dinner together

one of those first nights - 

we made it in a tiny apartment,

fit 25 people in chairs in an oval in a room that could never fit a table big enough - 

but it made no matter.

***

II

We went out to dinner with French friends.

We met at 6 pm and thought we would eat then,

but the French laughed at the thought.

We got drinks first, we sat outside between a group of four 20-something year old men

and two 60-something ladies with hats and sagging socks.

We let the wine warm us to the breeze and discussed  

our evolving definitions of culture.

We learned this was called an aperitif or –

Appero.

We went to dinner at 8 pm.

Five courses.

The Americans drummed their fingers on the table when

they finished eating, searched for a server carrying the next course.

The French looked in the eyes of the people seated across from them,

Told jokes, laughed and worked on their meals bite by bite.

We left the restaurant at 11 pm.

***

III

In a small village

we walked by a woman taking wood into her house.

She talked to us because she was American until she was 26,

then she moved to France,

never left,

became franco-american.

She invited us to dessert at her house.

We arrived at 8 pm, bearing flowers.

We sat at her long, rectangular wooden table at benches and occasionally helped to stoke the fire.

We heard stories about her studies, family, careers, ambitions.

We shared ours.

We stayed until 11:30 pm.

***

III

In two months I will have a single apartment

that will constantly be filled with food and people gathered around the food.

Dinner will only start after an appero,

will include multiple courses served slowly,

will end not because the food is gone,

but because people are warm off of conversation and sharing and that warmth

is carrying them home to their beds.