I took Mark for a long coastal foraging adventure in Les Sables d'Olonne.
Why this one over all the others in the collection? No one knows, not even the visitor most of the time.
We were going to see skeletons.
In fact, we were going to help Charon, the ferryman of the dead, carry souls across the Styx.
The French look rude but they are actually pretty friendly. All they need is the opportunity to build a rapport or a collective moment that creates affinity.
“Sorry, I know it feels like I’m writing a press release for the French tourism industry. But honestly, I like it here. Life is just… easier.”
The latest heat wave in France started just when we arrived, and last Monday was supposed to be the hottest day with a high of 42⁰C in Nantes.
I don’t think I've ever seen such perfect abstract patterns in the sky before—they looked like a Pink Floyd album cover!
Mark and I landedg in France on July 12, right on time for “le 14 juillet,” aka “Bastille Day” in English-speaking countries.
It's the third pandemic summer and travel restrictions have changed since last year. Flying from Canada to Europe is easier but not "just as before" yet.
Boxes are a bit crushed and the tape I used on bottles to prevent leaks is still there—but everything made it to Canada just fine.
We were lucky, we had a good summer. Now it’s time to go back… and jump unto the unknown, once again.
I started picturing an alternate life as soon as I got off the car in Tiffauges. Cute town, lovely streets—so quiet, so quaint!
Ever heard of Gilles de Rais, the 15th-century convicted Breton serial killer? Well, we visited his castle.
I had no idea where we were supposed to go but since how to get there is half the fun—especially when the “there” has yet to be defined—it was just fine.
I checked the weather forecast a million times. I reviewed options, train routes and schedules. I kept my fingers crossed.
Get vaccinated if you can, people. I really don’t want to find out what else we need to do to coexist with a potentially deadly virus.
Apparently, this year, either everything is burning around you, either you’re reaching for a sweater instead of a swimsuit.