Home Sweet Home

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I haven't update my blog in a couple weeks because (surprise, surprise) I'm on vacation!

Everything is going wonderfully and life really is beautiful here. I have been able to see quite a few of my friends from when I lived here in 1999-2000. I lived with Gérard and Maryse Montalon, who welcomed me back into their family, which is still growing. I was at the house at the same time as two of their granddaughters: Céleste and Léane. The second day I was there we got the news that Léane had become a big sister. Her twin brothers, Yanis and Timéo, were born early in the afternoon. I haven't seen the twins yet, but the next blog will have photos of them I'm sure.

While the Montalons went to visit the new babies I went backpacking with a friend in the Vercors. The trails were well marked but somehow we managed to get lost several times. We had a good map so it was never a big problem, but it reminded us of the trees in the Lord of the Rings that move to make everybody walk in circles.

I don't have a lot of other adventures to write about yet. I'm spending most of my days hiking in the hills and vinyards around Cornas and reconnecting with my friends from lycée in Tournon.

I'm still on summer vacation.

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Photos

Au Marché de Valence
I love the outdoor markets in France. The cookies were not the only thing beautifully presented - even the vegetables were picture-perfect.

Crussol
My Eiffel Tower that shows the way home to Cornas. Crussol is an ancient castle, inhabited in the Middle Ages, that has become the symbol of the region.

from my window
This is the view from my bedroom window at the Montalons' house where I lived 1999.

Céleste, Maryse and Léane
We lived in the garden for three days, eating, sleeping and even getting our nails trimmed.

Grandkids
When I arrived at the Montalons' in 1999 they had one grandson; one week old. This week twin boys were born giving them a total of six grandkids. Léane, standing on the chair, is now a big sister.

Luc et Moi
We set off in the Vercors - a mountain range that counts as foothills of the Alps - with very little food but one excellent bottle of Clarette Dioise.

La Crête
We left the trail and followed the crest of the mountains that dropped off very steep on one side.

The Alps
We had a good view of the Alps and what's left of the winter snow.

Couché de Soleil
We camped near a spring and were very happy to have a tent so we didn't have to crowd into the cabin.

Céline Martinez
Céline was my best friend when I lived here in 1999. It's amazing to find old friends.

Comments

[bart]

looks fantastic!

[Laura]

Home
You look so happy in all of these photos taken from France!