Beach
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Sunny days in Normandy
We had such magnifique weather during our short stay in Normandy. Although Saturday only provided a few short hours of brilliant sunlight, Sunday gave us an entire day of bright, blue skies, perfect for a trip to see the famous cliffs of Étretat. After a trip to the marché, we took the hour-and-a-half long ride from Caen, passing through the stunning Normandy Bridge, several toll roads and fall foliage to the quaint, but bustling beach-side town of Etretat. Even though I wasn't quite dressed for rock-climbing, the prospect of viewing the seemingly endless pebbled beach from atop the massive cliff was too tempting to pass up. So, 270+ steps we climbed to the highest point, and when the wind had become too much to bear, down we came. We stopped in town for some warm drinks at a 237 year-old hotel before heading back in the general direction of Caen (it doesn't take much to get a little lost in Basse-Normandie) where we and our hosts prepared a full-on feast.
We spent our last day of vacation hanging around Caen's city center, shopping, gorging on top-notch, local cheese, and playing competitive poker. Gui and I also spent some of the day pondering ways in which we could become neighbors with our Normand friends. It's strange how the company of truly fantastic people, great food, and good times can make a place feel like home. I know I said this last time we visited Normandy, but I can't help but repeat my apparent aspiration to live there. Coming back to Paris, the furor and commotion of daily life shocked me back into the reality of living in the big city, and my serious thoughts of a slower life dwindled into a simple reverie. Even though we'll keep the possibility of moving away from Paris at the back of our minds, there's still a lot to focus on accomplishing here. So, for now, my memories and these pictures will have to suffice.
Enjoy!
At the marché, enjoying an Américain (sausage in a baguette, topped with fries).
Heading toward Normandy Bridge.
The view from the beach.
Juliet and the view from the cliff.
Magnificent.
To get an idea of how massive the beach and cliffs are, notice how tiny the people look on the beach.
Where we stopped for an afternoon drink.
This place was opened in 1871!
Dessert is served.
Shopping in Caen.
A little dinner and poker on our last night.
We spent our last day of vacation hanging around Caen's city center, shopping, gorging on top-notch, local cheese, and playing competitive poker. Gui and I also spent some of the day pondering ways in which we could become neighbors with our Normand friends. It's strange how the company of truly fantastic people, great food, and good times can make a place feel like home. I know I said this last time we visited Normandy, but I can't help but repeat my apparent aspiration to live there. Coming back to Paris, the furor and commotion of daily life shocked me back into the reality of living in the big city, and my serious thoughts of a slower life dwindled into a simple reverie. Even though we'll keep the possibility of moving away from Paris at the back of our minds, there's still a lot to focus on accomplishing here. So, for now, my memories and these pictures will have to suffice.
Enjoy!
At the marché, enjoying an Américain (sausage in a baguette, topped with fries).
Heading toward Normandy Bridge.
The view from the beach.
Juliet and the view from the cliff.
Magnificent.
To get an idea of how massive the beach and cliffs are, notice how tiny the people look on the beach.
Where we stopped for an afternoon drink.
This place was opened in 1871!
Dessert is served.
Shopping in Caen.
A little dinner and poker on our last night.A day in Granville
We've been having an absolute blast on our trip so far (not that anything less is expected from such amazing hosts). Today, we went into Granville, had a galette lunch, enjoyed the two hours of sun, visited Christian Dior's house and spent the evening at home with drinks and games and drinking games. I love vacation! Needless to say, I'm not giving up anymore of my vacay time to write a post, so my go at NaBloPoMo will have to be satisfied with a picture post. Enjoy!
Tasting some macarons after dinner. Passion fruit/milk chocolate & caramel fleur de sel won.
Gui waiting to head out in the rain.
The hearth with bacon & steaks grilling - where we stopped for lunch.
Granville - the sun is about to make its debut.
The casino on the beach - Granville.
An old German bunker.
The kids overlooking Granville.
A super narrow alleyway that we're apparently really excited about.
Christian Dior's old home - it was closed, but we got to stoll through the gardens.
Perfume sampling in the garden.
Gui taking a pick out of John Galiano's nose.
A bust of Christian Dior in his rose garden.
The sun finally came out and brought out a great light; the leaves were gorgeous.
A cemetery outside the Dior compound - overlooking the channel.
It turned out to be a beautiful day in Granville.
Tasting some macarons after dinner. Passion fruit/milk chocolate & caramel fleur de sel won.
Gui waiting to head out in the rain.
The hearth with bacon & steaks grilling - where we stopped for lunch.
Granville - the sun is about to make its debut.
The casino on the beach - Granville.
An old German bunker.
The kids overlooking Granville.
A super narrow alleyway that we're apparently really excited about.
Christian Dior's old home - it was closed, but we got to stoll through the gardens.
Perfume sampling in the garden.
Gui taking a pick out of John Galiano's nose.
A bust of Christian Dior in his rose garden.
The sun finally came out and brought out a great light; the leaves were gorgeous.
A cemetery outside the Dior compound - overlooking the channel.It turned out to be a beautiful day in Granville.Un bon week-end
We spent the holiday weekend with friends in Normandy. The last time I was in Normandy was on my first trip to France - two years ago. This year, we were able to visit with our old friends from Texas and a couple of friends who came to visit us last year in California. It was really cool catching up with everyone, and it was as if time had never passed. I love that.
I discovered a few things about myself while visiting Normandy, too. 1) My new favorite sport is bike-riding, and I plan on entertaining myself with a few rides a week in the huge park just near us...once I find a bike. 2) I no longer think that the only place in France I can live is Paris; give me familiar faces, sea and sand and I'll pack my bags and head anywhere around this lovely country. I can't express how great it was to be back around good friends. I even spoke French for 90% of the weekend without wearing myself out. 3) After eating three glorious meals a day, I've found myself spoiled rotten but totally motivated to keep up the habit. And finally, 4) I can make a mean mayonnaise.
I couldn't upload all the pictures (and videos) tonight, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow for the album. For now, here are a few of my favorites from a perfect weekend.
I discovered a few things about myself while visiting Normandy, too. 1) My new favorite sport is bike-riding, and I plan on entertaining myself with a few rides a week in the huge park just near us...once I find a bike. 2) I no longer think that the only place in France I can live is Paris; give me familiar faces, sea and sand and I'll pack my bags and head anywhere around this lovely country. I can't express how great it was to be back around good friends. I even spoke French for 90% of the weekend without wearing myself out. 3) After eating three glorious meals a day, I've found myself spoiled rotten but totally motivated to keep up the habit. And finally, 4) I can make a mean mayonnaise.
I couldn't upload all the pictures (and videos) tonight, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow for the album. For now, here are a few of my favorites from a perfect weekend.
House Guests
I've been pretty lazy about blogging lately, but it's not all because I'm a notorious procrastinator. Recently, Guillaume and I have had some very nice company come through our little auberge in Long Beach, which has been (happily) occupying my time off.
Guillaume's friend from school, JB, came 2 weekends ago by way of the Pacific Coast Hwy from Berkeley, where he's also doing an internship. He brought his sister along who was visiting from France, and they pretty much lived like beach-bums during their stay here. I got to see Santa Monica and its beaches for the first time, which I had mixed feelings about. The beach is pretty crappy, with people's litter all over with a bunch of snot-nosed, dirty-diapered kids running wild, but Santa Monica, especially the Promenade, is seriously nice. It's definitely a place I could find myself wandering to occasionally. We discovered Cafe Crepe, a hidden treasure of an eatery there, too...it's the best little Frenchy cafe we've found in the LA area so far, and it's cheap, too!! We've taken 4 French people there (not including Gui), and they've all raved about how great it is! So, besides Santa Monica, we took them to our fave beach, Huntington Beach and got to see the place during a surf competition. I also got super-duper sun-burned while there (pics below), and I'm still peeling from that burn.
Last weekend, we had another pair of visitors, our friend Ber's little sis Steph (and by little, I mean super tall and gorgeous) and her beau, Yves. I'd met Steph in France last summer during my first visit with the kids, but we otherwise didn't know eachother. Their stay turned out to be so much fun...we really enjoyed having them around and it was even cooler that they brought video and pictures from their earlier trip to Texas. It was good (albeit a little sad) to see everyone back home hanging out (and little Oak is soo big!!!), and we got to hear some stories about their visit and what they'd been up to while they were there. We all got (re-)acquainted over a few pints of Foster's, Shiner, Fat Tire and Strongbow at one of our little Irish pubs in Belmont Shore. I finally got to visit the Getty Museum, which was absolutely awesome; the Manet was cool, but I was much more impressed with the Zoopsia exhibit and the museum itself. I'll definitely recommend it to everyone who visits the LA area! Unfortunately, while we were having lunch there Steph came across a nasty bay leaf in her turkey chilli, which nearly killed her (no joke). Luckily, Yves swooped in with the heimlich maneuver and saved the day. But, seriously, she gave us a scare and afterwards, I thought of how Bertrand would never talk to me again if something had actually happened to her! We made sure she chewed her food thoroughly thereafter, and spent the rest of our time on the beaches of Malibu and walking around my favorite place in Venice Beach - the canals. We really enjoyed having them here, and they treated us to a nice dinner at one of our favorite places in Long Beach.
So, a jam-packed last few weeks and now Gui and I are ready to chill this weekend. We've got a lot of laundry to do, too.
Here are some pics of recent adventures with friends - new and old. Good times.
JB left his hat behind...look who's taking care of it now.
Walking....trying to be a photographer.
Our typical liquor store stop (for beer) on the way to HB.
Mom & Joe would be happy ... lots of fishing in SoCal.
A tourist in Santa Monica...there were tons of French peeps!
JB happy in the sun.
Time for a swim.
Santa Monica from the beach.
Santa Monica bridge to the pier.
Pier in Huntington Beach...that's a Ruby's Diner at the end...mmm...shakes.
A sponsor for the surfing competition at HB...so, free energy drinks for all!
HB from the beach....I love this beach.
Cute.
JB & his sis, Matilde.
A nice sunglass tan.
We're brown, man.
And, a little red.
Our dessert from Claim Jumper (we went here instead of the OC Fair which was charging an arm an a leg). I think we made a good choice. :)
Good thing we shared it (and brought it home to eat with Steph & Yves).
Yves & Steph arrived with gifts...flowers & champagne. I love French folks.
Straight to the beach. (Long Beach)
After a pitcher of Foster's and a Strongbow, we finally had dinner.
Mmmm...sweet crepe with lots of CREME ;) (Steph hates cream.)
Guillaume snapped this mid-blink, so I look trashed.
Too bad it wasn't true (I was driving). Hehe.
Yves & Guillaume - La Creperie, Long Beach.
Santa Monica...on the other side of the pier.
Santa Monica.
Santa Monica from PCH coming from Malibu. So nice.
Ah, our new spot when in Santa Monica.
THE best coffee in the world.
Striking a pose.
Looking at the wrong camera.
Looking at the wrong camera :)
We were all so tired at this point...I'm surprised Guillaume's so smiley.
Back to the car....
Guillaume under the pier in Malibu.
Malibu pier
Steph & Yves
Trying to get to the other side of the beach....
A little help, please? :)
Pfff...rocks, schmocks.
Malibu
Yay, we love having visitors!
Guillaume's friend from school, JB, came 2 weekends ago by way of the Pacific Coast Hwy from Berkeley, where he's also doing an internship. He brought his sister along who was visiting from France, and they pretty much lived like beach-bums during their stay here. I got to see Santa Monica and its beaches for the first time, which I had mixed feelings about. The beach is pretty crappy, with people's litter all over with a bunch of snot-nosed, dirty-diapered kids running wild, but Santa Monica, especially the Promenade, is seriously nice. It's definitely a place I could find myself wandering to occasionally. We discovered Cafe Crepe, a hidden treasure of an eatery there, too...it's the best little Frenchy cafe we've found in the LA area so far, and it's cheap, too!! We've taken 4 French people there (not including Gui), and they've all raved about how great it is! So, besides Santa Monica, we took them to our fave beach, Huntington Beach and got to see the place during a surf competition. I also got super-duper sun-burned while there (pics below), and I'm still peeling from that burn.
Last weekend, we had another pair of visitors, our friend Ber's little sis Steph (and by little, I mean super tall and gorgeous) and her beau, Yves. I'd met Steph in France last summer during my first visit with the kids, but we otherwise didn't know eachother. Their stay turned out to be so much fun...we really enjoyed having them around and it was even cooler that they brought video and pictures from their earlier trip to Texas. It was good (albeit a little sad) to see everyone back home hanging out (and little Oak is soo big!!!), and we got to hear some stories about their visit and what they'd been up to while they were there. We all got (re-)acquainted over a few pints of Foster's, Shiner, Fat Tire and Strongbow at one of our little Irish pubs in Belmont Shore. I finally got to visit the Getty Museum, which was absolutely awesome; the Manet was cool, but I was much more impressed with the Zoopsia exhibit and the museum itself. I'll definitely recommend it to everyone who visits the LA area! Unfortunately, while we were having lunch there Steph came across a nasty bay leaf in her turkey chilli, which nearly killed her (no joke). Luckily, Yves swooped in with the heimlich maneuver and saved the day. But, seriously, she gave us a scare and afterwards, I thought of how Bertrand would never talk to me again if something had actually happened to her! We made sure she chewed her food thoroughly thereafter, and spent the rest of our time on the beaches of Malibu and walking around my favorite place in Venice Beach - the canals. We really enjoyed having them here, and they treated us to a nice dinner at one of our favorite places in Long Beach.
So, a jam-packed last few weeks and now Gui and I are ready to chill this weekend. We've got a lot of laundry to do, too.
Here are some pics of recent adventures with friends - new and old. Good times.
JB left his hat behind...look who's taking care of it now.
Walking....trying to be a photographer.
Our typical liquor store stop (for beer) on the way to HB.
Mom & Joe would be happy ... lots of fishing in SoCal.
A tourist in Santa Monica...there were tons of French peeps!
JB happy in the sun.
Time for a swim.
Santa Monica from the beach.
Santa Monica bridge to the pier.
Pier in Huntington Beach...that's a Ruby's Diner at the end...mmm...shakes.
A sponsor for the surfing competition at HB...so, free energy drinks for all!
HB from the beach....I love this beach.
Cute.
JB & his sis, Matilde.
A nice sunglass tan.
We're brown, man.
And, a little red.
Our dessert from Claim Jumper (we went here instead of the OC Fair which was charging an arm an a leg). I think we made a good choice. :)
Good thing we shared it (and brought it home to eat with Steph & Yves).
Yves & Steph arrived with gifts...flowers & champagne. I love French folks.
Straight to the beach. (Long Beach)
After a pitcher of Foster's and a Strongbow, we finally had dinner.
Mmmm...sweet crepe with lots of CREME ;) (Steph hates cream.)
Guillaume snapped this mid-blink, so I look trashed.
Too bad it wasn't true (I was driving). Hehe.
Yves & Guillaume - La Creperie, Long Beach.
Santa Monica...on the other side of the pier.
Santa Monica.
Santa Monica from PCH coming from Malibu. So nice.
Ah, our new spot when in Santa Monica.
THE best coffee in the world.
Striking a pose.
Looking at the wrong camera.
Looking at the wrong camera :)
We were all so tired at this point...I'm surprised Guillaume's so smiley.
Back to the car....
Guillaume under the pier in Malibu.
Malibu pier
Steph & Yves
Trying to get to the other side of the beach....
A little help, please? :)
Pfff...rocks, schmocks.
Malibu
Yay, we love having visitors!
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