Blogs from Nîmes, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, Europe - page 4

My first few days on the farm Today was the second day that I spent on the farm, Bel Air. My first day I potted young yellow tomatoes, planted comfrey, and cleared land around the chestnut trees. Later this week the trees will be grafted so as to produce more fruit. Chestnut trees were cultivated by the monks in this region in the middle ages but they were eventually abandoned once a blight struck and silk worms became a preferred business (a blight also struck in the US which is why chestnut wood is so rare, luckily the sickness here is controllable). The farm house in which Paul lives had in fact housed silk worms at one point, as they made their valuable cocoons. Paul and his family settled here fourteen years ago and he has ... read more

I awoke late in the afternoon to Atoussa poking her head into my room. “Hello Atoussa.” “Hello. You don’t want to sleep in much too late or you won’t be able to get to sleep tonight.” “I know I’ve been up an hour or so but haven’t gotten out of bed because of shear laziness.” I stood as Atoussa exited and proceeded to go in search of sustenance. Up the winding white staircase and into the bright kitchen filled with paintings, Sudanese baskets, Moroccan tiles, Turkish amulets, Thai mirrors, Indian prints, and a calendar of transvestites in various poses and garb from her friend in California. The one tall window looks out onto a hillside, a magnolia dominates the view followed by wisteria creeping up the neighbor’s wall. Cheyene, Atoussa’s son, stood with fluffy slippers on ... read more

Before the ship sails This is how I begin again. I set off into the unknown with only a destination in mind until my feet send me searching for new places to find. My flight leaves Dulles airport in D.C. Monday, April 6th around 7p.m. I will arrive in Dublin for a lay over before going on to Paris. After I reach Paris I will continue by train to Nimes where my friend will pick be up for about an hour drive to the small medieval village of Lasalle. A total of 20 hours of travel are involved in reaching my destination and what awaits me is a warm home, beautiful arid landscapes and an organic farm to tend to beside friends. I will be staying with Atoussa whom I befriended in Peru a year and ... read more

And to continue on with Dan's 30th birthday extravaganza, haze took me to the south of France for the weekend!! We stayed in Nimes, in what was more like a beautiful museum / private palace than a hotel, called the secret garden. We travelled by car through many small towns and wineries in Provence - where some of my favourite reds live. Also stopped off for a few hours in Avignon, marvelled at the Pont du Gard and a 2,000y.o olive tree nearby. Not to mention the delicious French cheese, wine, olives and bread we picked up at every stop along the way... mmmm so good A stunning end to an exceptional birthday celebration ... read more

Bonjour (hello) And over the hill we came, from Andorra and into France. Famous for: Paris, croissants, wine and cheese. Oh and the current hosts of the rugby world cup. So we have been to Paris before so no need on this trip, croissants now mandatory for breakfast, good wine and cheese is ALWAYS part of our staple diet and well in terms of the rugby it is probably sacrilege to be here and do no live games however it was still a great place to catch all the action. Yes welcome to France! Our first stop was a little gem of a town that is well known for its natural hot thermal springs so we of course thought…..pamper all the way. Unfortunately the main spas are all for medicinal purposes only. So after unsuccessfully trying ... read more