Limoges!

With my parents! When I was 12 I met a girl named Elsa at a July 4th party in Philadelphia. Neither one of us spoke the others language at the time, but somehow we became friends despite that fact. We ended up spending every summer for the next five years together, traveling with one another's families in the hopes of becoming bilingual. Elsa faired a bit better than me, but I haven't lost hope! Now, she lives in Paris and is an architect! What a coincidence ey?

I have always loved Limoges but returning to it as an adult has really been quite wonderful. Elsa's final thesis project at university was concerned with the city's long history, and through her studies she has become one hell of a Roman-Limoges scholar.

We were also fortunate enough to spend Easter with Elsa and her parents! Frederique made an incredible mustard pork roast with prunes and a carrot zucchini medley.

Thank you for everything! We had a great time. I am so happy my parents were able to see the place where I spent so much time as a teenager.

Spring

MarylyonT's photostream on Flickr.

Bobby in Paris!

Bobby in Paris !

Few things have made me as happy as seeing my grandmother come to Paris. Ever since she was a young woman, my grandmother Bobby dreamed of coming to Paris, and the fact that I was able to show her around as if I knew anything about Paris felt great! I imagined I was playing a twisted wonderful game of Clue as I said to myself: Bobby in the Louvre (advancing to the front) with the Mona Lisa, Bobby in the Musée d'Orsay (skipping the line) with the cane, Bobby on the Champs Élysées with the macaroons!

Besides spending time with Bobby, one of the best things about the trip was finally figuring out the bus routes around town! Every bit of transit was a mini tour around paris. Everyone enjoyed the bus. I just feel silly having spent so much time here and only really having used the buses in the past month. Now I have to leave! Oh well, there will be buses in other towns I suppose. And quoting a bit of advice from my mother 'you can't win them all.'

Now Bobby, remember our deal; you tell me where you want to visit next and I'll move there! And with that, Je lève mon verre aux joies du chômage, indicision, à Bobby, et enfin, santé!

We're going on a field trip...

To Bordeaux!

A few weeks ago my class went to Bordeaux together. It is a beautiful city, and the metro runs above ground without cables or a third rail! I was very impressed.

On one of our walking tours we stumbled upon an old crane, which led to trespassing. This has become a norm for architecture tours. What would you have done if you were confronted with a massive deteriorating metal crane? But climb it! Anything could have been at the top! And what was up there? An awesome view of the new bridge being built, and a whole lot of pigeon poop. Quoting one of my friends, "It was so worth it."

This goes without saying, but the wine was great too!