Well, so much to report since my last entry. So busy with visitors, things to do, food to eat, wine to drink....I'm sorry to say I'll have to add pictures later as my camera cord is packed, so words will have to suffice.
Where to begin??
We continued on our eating/sightseeing journey of Provence. I really think we have done Provence proud. We have been everywhere in this area. Highlights were seeing roman ruins at Glanum (St. Remy de Provence) capped off by an amazing lunch of lamb and ratatouille. We mistakenly went to the wrong place, which turned out to be a fantastic mistake. AND they sat us in the 'local' section because they thought they recognized us! Bien Sur!! FYI, we will be throwing in French terms for many months to come, so get ready. Spring has sprung in Provence and blossoms are on all the trees. Incredible to believe there was snow here a few weeks ago, but we should be used to sudden weather change, being Canucks.
Our German friends arrived on March 19 with their two kids, aged 3 and 1. It was so great to have a full house, and I don't mind saying some good distraction. Don't get me wrong-I adore my family, but after travelling for a month with just the four of us, some different conversation was in order, even if it was half in German. Aaron is fluent, so they morph in and out of German and English. They are maybe the kindest people you've ever met, and being with them is easy. THEN their son got sick....and cranky. All of a sudden I thought that having a 7 and 10 year old is wayyyyy easier than 3 and 1. We felt for them, but they are great, easy parents; and of course it passed. The kids all went to bed between 8 and 9 and we sat down to many an evening of wine and food by the fire. I have asked many times on this trip if life gets any better than this, and it just continued.. We spent 9 wonderful days with them, laughing, drinking, and chasing our kids. Aaron did an exchange with Matthias' family as a teenager, so I think it was surreal for them to see each other with their kids. By the end our kids were saying Guten Tag and their kids were saying Good morning, so they must have had fun. They played with each other, hit each other and behaved as regular kids. (o.k most of the hitting did not, thankfully, come from my kids, but really, if a 10 year old hit a 3 year old, it might be serious cause for alarm.)
Mid way through their visit, Aaron's brother Richie and his girlfriend Beth arrived for 5 days. It was in celebration of Richie's 30th and it was (really sorry here) the icing on the cake. Not only are they so easy to be with, it was a blast. What do you think we did? Hint: Hiccup. Ok. kidding (a bit) we took them around the area like seasoned locals. On the big day, we went to Cassis again, for a gorgeous day on the boardwalk and stopped for rose/sea urchins/ oysters for lunch. Then on to a boat ride to see the calanques (sort of inlets). We were all sitting in the front of the boat when they told us that we would be soaked had we stayed there. We moved but watched a father and son get completely tsunami'd by the waves. Big birthday dinner at home with a cake ordered by me ( in French!!!) from the local bakery. So fun. When they all left, its never been so quiet.
We have spent our last 3 days alone returning to Chateauneuf du Pape, Isle sur la Sorgue (where we had the restaurant experience of France) and walking our beautiful village of St. Didier.
We sit here now, about to go to bed-we have to leave at 6 am tomorrow to travel to Nice, return our car and head home. We are looking forward to home, friends and family but are so sad to leave behind what has become 6 weeks of memories, dreams, love and friendship. I couldn't have asked for anything better and I know we all share this. Liam went to bed never wanting to leave. So......until we see you all again, Bonne Soiree!
We left Canada as the family with dreams of France and we return as the family with a part of France etched in our minds forever. And our butts. We really need to exercise.
Thanks for joining us!
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