Alesia

One thing about being in the French school system is that the history and geography that the girl learns is very different from what we were learning in Nova Scotia at the same age and, even though it is much older, in many ways it is much more tangible. So, at the end of grade 3 the girl is learning about the Gauls, the Romans and Vercingetorix so we can drive about 1.5 hours northwest to Alise-Sainte-Reine to visit the Alesia the site of the Roman victory over the Gauls in 52BC. Take that Columbus in 1492! (yes, I know things on the other side of the pond go back much further than that but now you can't get that ocean blue thing out of your head can you?) 

We had a beautiful day to visit and were able to enjoy some demonstrations of the protective gear and weapons which were used at the time.

The museum part is very well done, with lots of interactive displays about the history and the study of the site - although I must admit these guys were kind of creepy.

The park consists of two parts - the interpretation centre and an archaeological site of a Gallo-roman town about 3 km away so we stopped at a little park to have a picnic lunch and were carefully watched by Vercingetorix himself.

Our Neighbourhood

Did you know that one of shops in our neighbourhood was in the finals for La Meilleure Boulangerie de France last year. It is hard living so close to a shop full of wonderful bread, desserts and the most delicious waffles I have ever had. And then, they make these crackers covered with cheese and poppy seeds...to die for! I wonder if he would share the recipe before we move?

Of course, that is not the only boulangerie nearby. Plus, there are bookstores, clothing stores, flower shops, an asian market, a small grocery store and lots of restaurants and pubs all within walking distance (I am talking 5 to 10 minutes - something many Greenvillians couldn't even imagine!)

Here are a few of the sights on the way to school - and the milk vending machine, just put in your money and fill your milk bottle or, if you don’t have your own milk bottle you can buy one there - glass or plastic! It is straight from the farm, unpasteurized milk with the cream which floats to the top.

One of 4 bookstores within about a 5 minute walk.

The Milk Machine

The Obelisque with the Post Office behind on the right and McDo across the street on the left. 

Another Boulangerie! On the left-hand side you can just see the giant meringues through the window.

Catching Up

I am going to try to update this little by little. Many of you know I found the transition to life in France pretty hard and I still miss all of my friends in Canada and the US a lot. Different language, different customs, different stores, different weather - everything combined made me pretty lonely sometimes, other times just frustrated but more and more I can concentrate on what a great opportunity we all have living France.

Over a year ago, our first houseguests (my parents) arrived and we explored some the area around Chalon.  First stop was Tournus, just south of Chalon, where we found an old car show and a bicycle museum.

Next was Beaune, known for its wine and annual wine auction in aid of the Hospices de Beaune. I love how many places have merry-go-rounds in the centre-ville!

 Then we went to Lons-le-Saunier where we found the 'Vache Qui Rit' and some beautiful countryside along the way.

Notice the rainbow, well, for our first 6-8 weeks in France we had rain just about everyday!

Odds and Ends

Here are a few pictures of our first few weeks here – no connecting story just a jumble of thoughts!

One of the first things we had to do was buy curtains – I had brought two sets with me but they were no match for the 1.5 and 2 metre lengths we would need for the windows on our new apartment. We did not pick the American flag curtains but it is interesting that there is almost as much American motif stuff here as there is French motif stuff in the US – if your first reaction it ‘well, that isn’t much’ – look again – whether is something written in French or pictures of Paris and the Eiffel Tower stores like Marshalls and Hobby Lobby are filled with French themed stuff!

These are the curtains we picked for our bedroom – the name of the pattern is pure coincidence!

 
A few pictures of the countryside the weekend we arrived

And, of course, the vineyards

Lots of cows, horses, sheep, chickens, goats donkeys – always something to look at

I haven’t taken a lot of pictures of our neighbourhood yet but here are a few…

A quiet street one block away from our building

  
The Saone is just at the end of our street

    

Some of our boxes loaded to go to the dechetterie – I couldn’t help but think of my friends making shelves and looking for packing boxes.

We have been going to lots of brocantes on Sundays – it is an entertaining way to spend a few hours. This is a chair we didn’t buy…

One of the days Isabelle was on vacation we had perfect weather for a picnic on the river – as you will see we haven’t really had another chance.

 
On the left – water level on the Saone on April 17th, 2013; On the right – on May 7th, 2013

We had our picnic about 5 steps down from the last step above water.

And we can’t very well live in France and not enjoy some treats – something for the two of us while Paul was working in Clermont for the week and something for a birthday!