Le Polaroid de la semaine: Vingt-Troisième Semaine!

Brest, France

Visiting Grand-mère.

Matthieu and I had  a lovely time getting the

tour of the town where Grand-mère, Matthieu's father 

and Matthieu were all born and raised.

 

 

Paris Picks

We finally edited our month in Paris to an album.  Click on the moulin rouge for more!

Le Polaroid de la semaine: Vingt-Deuxième Semaine!

Western France

Foret de Broceliande (Paimpont)

At the Fontaine de Barenton

 (Known for being guarded by the Black Knight and where Merlin

performed magic with the sparking clear water from the natural spring)

Sophie and Matthieu battle it out:

"It is but a Flesh Wound!"

Brocéliande- in which we pretend to be Knights of the Round Table.

      Yesterday we went with Matthieu's sister Sophie to the magical forest of Brocéliande.  Whether you know it from the many tales of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table- from Mighty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail- from the Pendragon series- from the Disney Movie The Sword in the Stone-or from reading the Magic Tree House stories- you know something of the tale. 
If you don't, please go to your local library and read up!

                 Let me refresh your memory with what most scholars would call a horrifying recap:

   Arthur was the king of the Britons (which includes Brittany of France in some tales way back when the channel was walkable at time).  After being raised by the Wizard Merlin, Arthur became king after pulling the sword out of the stone (that Merlin had enchanted). Arthur was the leader of the knights of the round table, whom he assembled to protect the kingdom, right wrongs and to search for the Holy Grail (the chalice/cup used in the last supper).  Merlin the wizard was in love with Vivane the water fay- also known as the Lady of the Lake (she lived in a crystal palace under the water).  Lancelot du Lac was raised by the Lady of the Lake and then came to Camelot and was accepted into the court after showing how brave he was.  Most of the tales of the Knights involve them going off to rescue damsels in distress and fight evil knights like the Black Knight.  Morgan le Fey also plays an evil role in the tales as a wicked enchantress who traps people in the Valley of the Lost.  In some versions she is the half sister to Arthur, in some his healer, in some his enemy.  It is one of those stories that changed many times over history as various characters were given major and minor roles depending on who is telling it. 

   I think one could spend a lifetime on these fabulous and tantalizing tales. 

     The forest we explored has natural springs and valleys and enchanting 'lakes' (really more like big ponds) and although maybe not the real place (I like to think so)- exciting and lovely all the same! 

The saddest thing is that we did not bring our coconut halves from Building 19.  It would have been nice to ride along on our horses. Sadly, this is not the first day in which we had wished for them not to be in a storage unit in Iowa but in our hands for clip-clopping along. 

Merlin heading into the woods for a bachelor party.

Jackie gazing into the "Fairy's Mirror"

Preparing for a quest at the round table.

Dipping my pinkie into the Fountain of Youth.

Despite Morgan's Spell, we escaped the Valley of the Lost!

Paris, I do love you.

      Matthieu and I had an amazing month in Paris.  

We rented a small studio apartment with a couch/bed and kitchen with hotplates and scudsy bathroom with mold and peeling walls.  

But it was in Paris. It had a balcony. It got sun all day long, was in a prime people watching location, had the Internet and phone.  I loved it. We were in the 18th arrondissement, near both the vital North to South 12 line and the wonderful East to West 2 line.  It was a mere 5 minute walk to Sacre Coeur, to Pace du Tertre where caricatures and artists vie for your patronage, to the Moulin Rouge, to a public pool, to the fabric markets, to the cemetery where Degas is laid to rest.  

We had 6, SIX, excellent boulangeries within a five minute walk and tried them all. We were IN the neighborhood of Amélie. The fruit stand was down the street, her cafe around the corner, the seedy Pigalle area where her love interest worked was down the hill. It was an amazing month.

    We did a lot, and yet it seems like we didn't do enough. There is much to take in and experience, that quite frankly I don't know what to even say.  I have added a better late than never summary of our museum week (see further down in blog). Matthieu and I took so many photos that it will take us a little more time to sort them into an enjoyable album.  We took long walks by the Seine, discovered fabulous book stores, had laughter-filled meals with friends, discovered new neighborhoods, marveled at art, history, architecture, and ate sandwiches on our porch. Sometimes eating a really good sandwich on a porch is all I need.  

But eating a sandwich on a porch in Paris during sunset- somehow makes it taste even better.  

Le Polaroid de la semaine: Vingt et Unième Semaine!

Paris, France

Sacre Coeur

Springtime in Paris

For most of the year the grass in Paris parks is "resting", but

over the past week the grass was opened up, and people flocked!

Le Polaroid de la semaine: Vingtième Semaine!

Paris, France

On the The Île de la Cité 

     Louis IX's Sainte-Chapelle (1245), 

Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette was imprisioned)

and of course, Notre Dame! 

One of our frequent Metro stops

during our week of Museums and Historical Sites.

Le Polaroid de la semaine: Dix-Neuvième Semaine!

Paris, France

Montmartre 'Hood'

Matthieu enjoying a café crème in our favorite

local café- just on the other side of the hill.

We like to go here to dream about

our future whilst sipping their homemade tea infusions.

Le Polaroid de la semaine: Dix-Huitième Semaine!

Mount Trubsee/ Mount Titlis

Engelberg, Switzerland 

Skiing the Swiss Alps!

Over 2,000 meters of altitude change and 12 Km in one run!

Le Polaroid de la semaine: Dix-Septième Semaine!

Paris, France

Our apartment in Montmartre.

Watching a sunset and people

while reading, doing French homework,

day dreaming and drinking wine on our porch.

To our left: Sacre Coeur

To our right: Montmartre Cemetery

Behind our building: Le Moulin de la Galette 

(painted by Renoir among others)

Behind the building in front of us: The Eiffel Tower