Category: Summer 2016

24 July 2016 : Alexandre is 18

Published on by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

First, let me say that we have had the privilege of enjoying a lot of 18th birthdays in France. Let’s see if I can recap:
– Romain’s
– Chloe’s
– Manon’s
– Ella’s

Elisa and Alexandre
Elisa and Alexandre
And keep in mind that 18th birthdays in France are a big deal. The best equivalent is the 21st birthday in the US. Basically, when you turn 18 in France you are an adult and have all the privileges of being an adult.

So it was an honor to be invited to Alexandre’s 18th birthday party that took place at his home last night. If you haven’t been keeping score, Alexandre is the oldest child of Annabelle who happens to be Frederique’s sister. In fact, Annabelle lived for a year in Seattle with Dwight and Michele, Melinda’s parents.

So at the dawn of the party I took this picture of Alexandre along with his sister Elisa. It was lovely to see them, and Annabelle put on a lovely dinner and party. For you blog veterans, you may recall that our first two weeks in Nantes in 2010 were spent at Annabelle’s apartment.

23 July 2016 : Is This Heaven?

Published on by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

No, it’s Nantes (and 10 points to whoever got the Field of Dreams reference).

I spent the day roaming Nantes, reconnecting with an activity (walking) I regularly did while on sabbatical. While I didn’t take pictures of every place I went today, I got enough to please at least Chloe and Ella, or so I hope.

I also want to acknowledge the significance of July 23rd over the last several years.

I had already walked 10,000 steps by the time I stopped to read my book at the Jardin des Plantes.
I had already walked 10,000 steps by the time I stopped to read my book at the Jardin des Plantes.
I was crossing from the Ile de Versailles when I took this picture with the Mont Rouge bridge in the background.
I was crossing from the Ile de Versailles when I took this picture with the Mont Rouge bridge in the background.
Our neighborhood grocery store during the sabbatical is once again our neighborhood grocery store this week.
Our neighborhood grocery store during the sabbatical is once again our neighborhood grocery store this week.
This is what our sabbatical home looks like today. I walk right by it to get to our home this week. That's Ella's room in the center top of the photo.
This is what our sabbatical home looks like today. I walk right by it to get to our home this week. That’s Ella’s room in the center top of the photo.
And here is the Bertail home, just around the corner from our sabbatical home and a block from where we are staying this week.
And here is the Bertail home, just around the corner from our sabbatical home and a block from where we are staying this week.
The front of our home for this week, along with the car Melinda rented for our trip to Normandy.
The front of our home for this week, along with the car Melinda rented for our trip to Normandy.
My step total so far today. We are still heading out tonight, going to Annabelle's son's, Alexandre's 18th birthday party.
My step total so far today. We are still heading out tonight, going to Annabelle’s son’s, Alexandre’s 18th birthday party.

22 July 2016 : Normandy Supplement

Published on by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

We are back in Nantes today after several fabulous days in Normandy. Here are some photo highlights.

This is the back of Bernard's parents house. Pretty spectacular, eh?
This is the back of Bernard’s parents house. Pretty spectacular, eh?
I took this picture of Christine and Melinda from one of the upper windows of the house. They had been chatting with the neighbor's sheep.
I took this picture of Christine and Melinda from one of the upper windows of the house. They had been chatting with the neighbor’s sheep.
This is the barn on the property. M. Bertail , age 87, was cleaning it when we arrived. It was around 90 degrees at the time. He was wearing slacks and a button down shirt.
This is the barn on the property. M. Bertail , age 87, was cleaning it when we arrived. It was around 90 degrees at the time. He was wearing slacks and a button down shirt.
Yesterday, Bernard took a group of us on a drive. We found this antique store along the road. It was fabulous!
Yesterday, Bernard took a group of us on a drive. We found this antique store along the road. It was fabulous!
Maxime, age 20, the oldest of the Bertail children, found a new old guitar. Me, I got some Ricard drinking classes.
Maxime, age 20, the oldest of the Bertail children, found a new old guitar. Me, I got some Ricard drinking glasses.
A short drive later, we were in Deauville. Not only does Deauville have a beautiful racetrack, the city happens to be the place where Maxime was born!
A short drive later, we were in Deauville. Not only does Deauville have a beautiful racetrack, the city happens to be the place where Maxime was born!
Max snapped this and the previous picture of me. Believe me, this track is incredible.
Max snapped this and the previous picture of me. Believe me, this track is incredible.
Look at that grandstand!
Look at that grandstand!
To me, this could be a postcard. We missed seeing the last race of the day by about an hour.
To me, this could be a postcard. We missed seeing the last race of the day by about an hour.
But we did get to see several horses loaded into this van.
But we did get to see several horses loaded into this van.
Back at home, here is the Bertail family (minus Theo and plus a cousin named Manon on the left). Yes, this is the full picture from which I cropped the silly M. Bertail pretending to pour champagne on his unsuspecting wife's head. Before the night was out, M. Bertail had shared with me a taste of some very old, and very delicious, Calvados. What a treat! And in a future post I will tell you about Madame Bertail and her painting of icons.
Back at home, here is the Bertail family (minus Theo and plus a cousin named Manon on the left). Yes, this is the full picture from which I cropped the silly M. Bertail pretending to pour champagne on his unsuspecting wife’s head. Before the night was out, M. Bertail had shared with me a taste of some very old, and very delicious, Calvados. What a treat! And in a future post I will tell you about Madame Bertail and her painting of icons.

21 July 2016 : Yesterday’s Day Trip to Paris

Published on by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

So part of the overall plan for this vacation to France this year involves multiple phases, including bookend phases in London (we flew to London nearly two weeks ago and we fly back to London in just over a week). The first phase in France was our first AirBnB in Nantes which wrapped up last Friday. Our second phase was with the Boudeaus from Friday until Tuesday, and involved some wonderful day trips. We are in our third phase in France which is being in Normandy at the incredible home of Bernard’s parents. I uploaded several pictures about this home two years ago. Take a peak.

Part of this third phase includes a day trip to Paris with Bernard and Christine. Celeste was also with us for most of the day, too. It’s about a two hour drive each way from the Bertail home in Normandy to Paris. Bernard did all the driving, including through the streets of Paris, something that deserves multiple blog entries all by itself. Included below are a series of photos I took in Paris yesterday. I’ve captioned them to add some detail.

By the way, the fourth and final phase of this year’s trip to France begins tomorrow with our return to Nantes and checking in to our second AirBnB home. I’m sure I’ll have a lot of information in the upcoming days about phase four. For now, enjoy these selected highlights from many options from our day in Paris.

To prove we came by car to Paris, I offer this photo that I took out the passenger side window of the side mirror. Yes, that's the Arc de Triomphe. Yes, we are driving on the Champs-Elysees.
To prove we came by car to Paris, I offer this photo that I took out the passenger side window of the side mirror. Yes, that’s the Arc de Triomphe. Yes, we are driving on the Champs-Elysees.
Bernard explained to us how parts of the riverside in Paris are turned into "beaches" in the summer. What we didn't expect to find along one of these beaches was an outdoor bar that served Corona and gave you a hat when you bought one. I think the excitement was a little too much for Bernard.
Bernard explained to us how parts of the riverside in Paris are turned into “beaches” in the summer. What we didn’t expect to find along one of these beaches was an outdoor bar that served Corona and gave you a hat when you bought one. I think the excitement was a little too much for Bernard.
You decide if this is surprising or not. Melinda discovered a place that let her check out a paddle board for free. So there she is, in a dress, on a paddle board in Paris. She even talked Christine, Bernard, and Celeste to go with her. In fact, that's Celeste in the background in the upper left.
You decide if this is surprising or not. Melinda discovered a place that let her check out a paddle board for free. So there she is, in a dress, on a paddle board in Paris. She even talked Christine, Bernard, and Celeste to go with her. In fact, that’s Celeste in the background in the upper left.
Unfortunately, Bernard fell in and then had to borrow dry clothes from me.
Unfortunately, Bernard fell in and then had to borrow dry clothes from me.
The "star raft."
The “star raft.”

17 July 2016 : Île-aux-Moines

Published on by Andy SmallmanLeave a comment

imageYesterday, the Boudeaus took us to Île-aux-Moines, an island that is a 90 minute drive plus an hour boat ride from Nantes. Translated, Île-aux-Moines means island of monks. Learn about its history via Wikipedia.

imageIt was an absolutely fantastic day. Although we had to get up at 6:30 and move out of our first AirBnB in Nantes, the early rise only provided us more hours to enjoy the day. The weather was perfect, as was the company, which included Laurent and Sandrine Porcher, the Boudeaus good friends and rapidly becoming ours (savvy blog readers will recall that Melinda and I provided English “lessons” to a girl named Alice, the Porcher’s oldest daughter).

On the island, we rented bikes and rode every trail on it. We stopped several times, once to eat lunch and enjoy a beach, another time to go into the water (Melinda got up to her knees), and other times to just enjoy the spectacular views. For context, the islands in this area of France are very similar in look to the San Juans. image

Returning to the mainland at about 7pm, we spent an hour looking for a place for dinner that could seat the 6 of us. Once located, we sat on a balcony overlooking a marina filled with sailboats as the sun slowly set. Dinner was moules frites (look it up), complemented with cold Muscadet.

We then drove back to Nantes, arriving home at about midnight to shower and sleep.

Yes, that was a pretty good day.

Arriving at one of the beaches by bike. That's Laurent with the white hat.
Arriving at one of the beaches by bike. That’s Laurent with the white hat.