Saying Goodbye is Always Hard to Do (Adventures with MooReece con't)

My stay in the French Riviera has sadly come to an end. To say it was a cake walk would be a lie (it was more of a pain au chocolat walk). HAHA. Joking aside, there were some ups and downs and the first week was definitely harder than I ever imagined both physically and emotionally. I think that first week taught me more about myself and how to deal with whatever life throws at you than the 23 years leading up to it. That could explain my total emotional amnesia of back home. My first week in Antibes felt like YEARS and although time has sped up since, it still feels like THIS is REAL and HOME is a DREAM. My friends here, although I don't know them well, I feel like they've been in my life forever and this has always been our way of life. Several have seconded my sentiments on the subject. It's a REALLY weird vibe. Obviously I miss you all, every last one of you...but I'm not going to lie, it feels like you are all a figment of my imagination. I'm forgetting what you all look and sound like. Talk about living in the moment!

It hasn't hit me yet that I'm NOT going back to Antibes. I've said goodbye to everyone and yet it still doesn't seem real. This fantasy life that I am living is so incredible and so filled with experiences that it's hard to believe anything else is normal. Some days I want to fly home and go back to my real life (eventhough I don't really remember what that is like) and most of the rest of the time I stop and take a look around and appreciate the culture and the history and the beauty of where I am in that moment and I never want to leave.

I will miss Antibes and Sophia Antipolis so much. I will miss my bus driver who drove me from Sophia to Place de Gaulle after the gym every night. I will miss the endless stream of Gelaterias and Patisseries and Marchés but my waistline will not! I will miss the Sun and the perfect climate, the beach and the sea water in which I can freely float around (although I still sink a bit). I will miss the "Bedrock" our perfectly located little apartment in Vieille Antibes (26 rue du Haut Castelet) and I will miss the 3 minute walk to the Port school. I will miss saying "Bonjour" and "Merci, au revoir" everytime I walk into a store or by a shop/restaurant worker. But mostly I will miss the ease in which everything flows in the Riviera (except the traffic). Nothing is hectic, everyone goes with the flow and no matter how tired, cranky or homesick you get, nothing cheers you up like spending the afternoon eating wine and cheese with your friends on the rocks by the beach.

Pulled an all-nighter before dragging myself and my luggage (I will DEFINITELY need another suitcase to come home) to the train station for my 6:52 train to Verona which will be our temporary resting place until we move in in Paris.

VIVA ITALIA!

Et maintenant nous allons travailler l'hippopotame (Adventures with MooReece con't)

What better way to spend my last week in Antibes (and thus my last week in the Riviera) than by plastering my self in the Sun and lazing on the beach every afternoon? Yes my tan is FANTASTIC!! I finally made it to the beach and got to swim and bob around in the Mediterranean. Plans to go to Ste Marguerite (island with the Chateau where Louis XVs twin brother - Man in the Iron Mask anyone? was help captive) were delayed due to the USA World Cup game and then cancelled because of a day long strike across the country. Don't ask! So that just meant MORE time on the beach. Although dissapointed I never made it to the island, it's been REALLY REALLY hot here this last week and the beach is the #1 place to be. I even painted my fingers and toes :)

On the sad side, Wednesday was my last night in Sophia Antipolis and my last night at Fitlane. I REALLY wanted to get on stage for PUMP but started to worry because Joel was apparently running late (it must be a male instructor thing....) or not coming and I hadn't had a chance to ask him on Monday because I was running late. Happily he barged in and started setting up and I asked if I could accompany him and he was more than happy to oblige. I think I literally started to glow at that point I was soooo excited. So I set up my station on the stage next to him (on his left which is weird cause I'm always on the right at home) and he got me to do "la mise en place" avec mon accent canadien. I started to panic because I had NO IDEA what the heck he was talking about and he's urging me on and I'm like "THINK AMY THINK!!!" and it hit me...Set Position and Intro. Having been put on the spot like that made every giggle because I was trying to think of how to say my "shpeel" in french. Poitrine fiere? I have NO IDEA! Joel seemed to approve so it couldn't have been so bad...albeit I was nervous LOL. It was AWESOME! The class was PACKED - close to 40-45 people all cheering me on and laughing at my funny accent. I'm sure they're all thinking "She sure likes to WOOHOOO alot!" hahahaha

After PUMP was ATTACK and this week Magali let me teach Intervals and POWER track! Not only that but she complimented me on my awesome energy and great technique! AHA!!! Made my trip COMPLETE :) "Au Canada on saute plus haut et on pousse PLUS fort, AAAALLLLLLEZZZZ les francais AAAAALLLLLEEZZZ touchez le plafond!" (and I actually did during air jacks - hit the roof I mean....the stage is really high and I'm a giant in the Riviera). I said my au revoirs to my French Pat and Jaime and said I would be back one day... who knows if they ever séjourn au Canada I told them to look me up! hahaha and THEY will be the ones with the jolie accent :)

Now I'm done working out until sometime in my first week in Paris. I'm not gaining too much weight but the excess of carbs and the major lack of protein is definitely taking a toll on my tone and definition. Can we all say CARB DETOX when I get home? Nothing but chicken breast and vegetables until Xmas!

One last WOOT WOOT for my Les Mills International performances! :D

10 Things I learned durant mon séjour à Genève...(Adventures with MooReece and Sarah con't)

We had our first entirely free weekend so Sarah and I booked a last minute trip to Geneva Switzerland! WHAT A TRIP!

1. European user friendly airports and speedy security checks make traveling in Europe EASY. HOWEVER boarding with EasyJet is nothing but. (Apparently my purse needs to be stuffed into my backpack...but it doesn't need to close?) Slowest boarding EVER!!!

2. If you drive a bus shuttle from the airport - be prepared to have to deal with know-nothing tourists. We HAVE a name and an address, I'm sorry we DON'T come from here, so NO we have NO IDEA where our hotel is. This is why we are asking YOU the BUS DRIVER! Thank goodness for ease-dropping citizens who pointed us in the right direction after over hearing our dilemna and getting off the bus way too soon!

3. Never be afraid to seek out the nearest Tourist Information office (even at 6pm on a Friday) - it could save your legs (and your sanity!) Get a map, or 2, or 3 because you never know when the town you're staying in isn't actually ON the map!

4. If traveling in teams, ALWAYS have your partner double check your route BEFORE you leave to make sure you do not wander around for 2 hours seeking out a non-existant train station. On the bright side we did see Chateau Voltaire AND found the largest SUPERSTORE yet! But by 11 (or was it 12?) our legs were already POOCHED!

5. Always and I mean ALWAYS research public transportation protocols because if you don't have a ticket, your 10 minute bus ride could cost you 58Euro! NO I was NOT going to ask the bus driver why we didn't have to pay... it was the SAME A**HOLE from the night before! Thank goodness for sincerily being DUMB TOURISTS! Cause there would have gone our food budget for the weekend!

6. Don't forget that not EVERYWHERE in Europe enjoys Rivieran climate. When going to Geneva in June, don't forget your parka (and a pair of pants!)

7. EVERYTHING is closed on Sundays! If you're hungry, pack a lunch, hit the flea market or wine and dine yourself at Mickey Ds and Starbucks! YES my FIRST Grande Caramel Macciato (yes I know I didn't spell that properly) since being in France! AND it's a REAL GRANDE!!! It sure is nice to drink something that takes more than 2 sips :) Mmmmmm

8. Getting lost over and over again is all part of the experience so don't worry about planning too much, there are always detours that lead you to cool and exciting things you never would have thought of exploring had you actually ended up where you were supposed to.

9. How AWESOME is it that we got to sit in on a performance of the Geneva Chambre Symphony in Victoria Hall for FREE and only decided to go 30 minutes before?

10. Some things are just not meant to be. Some things are. Just go with it even if everything seems to be going wrong, it always works out in the end (even if the outcome was not the intended one... it will always be the required one). And you'll always make NEW friends along the way...So Don't Stop Believin'!

p.s. Photos coming to FB soon (if not up already...)

Encore une fois! Le DJ Sash est de retour (Adventures with MooReece con't)

First rainfall since I've been here. I wouldn't exactly call it a downpoor but a good shower - enough to get me nice and soaked on my walk to the bus station after the gym. I've been SPOILED here, I forget what cloudiness and precipitations feel like. Honestly, it's ALWAYS nice here, the Sun is always shining and it's never too hot or too cold. Nobody suffers from SADDs here that's for sure. I always want to be outside and so I keep putting off important stuff so that I can be outside. That's why I don't get to bed before 1 am everyday. Time stands still here and yet there are still never enough hours in a day. I took the opportunity today to have a power nap in between class and the Picasso museum. Yup Antibes is fully equipped with it's own Picasso museum - apparently he lived and painted here for roughly 4 months in 1946. Interesting stuff. Good thing I like museums because they seem to be a daily staple.

My friends and I hit up the movie theatre (Casino) here in Antibes yesterday. We went to see Robin de Bois! Yes a Russell Crowe movie, I know... but this isn't Silver City, the options are limited. It's not bad, takes a little while to get used to the speach patterns and learning to ignore that the mouth doesn't move with the words but definitely a MUST-TRY when studying French in a foreign country. Next time a REAL French movie.

My evenings are typical AMY ROUTINE - yes, I'm living it up in the French Riviera and I still have my ROUTINE! Keeps me sane (or as sane as I ever am at any given point in time...don't shake your head at me, at least I admit I'm batshit crazy! I should get a bumper sticker!) So I catch the 17h40 100 express bus to Gare Routiere Sophia Antipolis (if I don't move to Cannes, I will move to Sophia...it KICKS ASS up in the mountains :D Loads of trails and parks to explore...no time unfortunately). Class starts at 18h30 and I do a double. PUMP/RPM on Monday, RPM/PUMP on Tuesday and PUMP/ATTACK on Wednesday. I shower and rush to catch the 21h05 (or 21h10... I don't really know what time it comes at...I make sure I'm there before 21h00 regardless...) it's the LAST bus back home. If I don't catch it, I'm sleeping at the gym cause it's one long ass haul back to the seafront. At least it's downhill. I get the same bus driver and regulars that all catch the same bus. I feel like such a LOCAL with my routine and new gym and bus friends. Every day distances me from my real HOME and I forget what Sudbury is like. It's so hard to explain - this seems more REAL than my life back home. It's like I've been here FOREVER and everyone and everything back home is just a dream (and a very distant one at that). If it wasn't for the fact that I miss everyone, I would probably not come home.

People warned me this would happen. I have fallen in love with the beauty, charm and pace of this wonderland. The smell is an acquired taste, but you get used to it.

I will be on the ATTACK stage demain and hopefully the PUMP stage too :) I'm sooooo excited. YES I will try and get someone to take a few pictures. Wish me luck!

Salut la visite!

My name is Amy and I am Cannedian! (Adventures with MooReece con't)

After much debating MooReece and I decided to stick closer to home this weekend (as a trip to Avignon would have been mostly spent on a train). Instead we opted to spend the day in Cannes. We had only walked through it on the way from the port to the train station and with our very packed schedule (I hate going to sleep because there is still so much to do and so little time to do it in) and I really wanted to see it before I left. Can't come to the Riviera and not visit the city of the biggest movie festival in the WORLD! Did I mention there was a 16h30 Power Yoga class on the Fitlane schedule in Cannes - SOLD!

Originally the plan was to tackle it solo but I invited 2 friends from class (I got 2 free passes with my membership) to explore the city with me and hit up some Yoga and they were more than thrilled at the opportunity. What a FANTASTIC DAY! Probably one of our best days here, if not EVER! We got there just before 9 and spent the entire day exploring the city, museum de la Castre (filled with ancient artifacts from cultures all over the world from ancient greco-roman and egyptian times to more recent North American and Inuit hunting tools - best museum I've been to yet! So many amazing things...OH and a tower climb with the most breathtaking view - a 360 panoramic view of Cannes and the Mediterannean - INSANE) and EATING! We discovered 2 VERY HAPPY places: 1 charcuterie (butcher shop/prep food shop) with all these French specialties. I of course had Quiche, Ratatouille and Lentil Salad :) Best lunch of LIFE! 2 was this chocolatier/patisserie with the most BEAUTIFUL and AMAZING deserts we've EVER SEEN! (Pictures to come...) We purchased our treasures and headed to the park overlooking the port and stuffed our faces and watched people play Pétanque (Bocci). Three very happy girls and a toy cow were very much LOVING LIFE! Doesn't get ANY BETTER. Did I mention there was a market there too? There are markets ANY and EVERYDAY in any town you go to. Definitely the place to be if you're a bargain hunter :)

Yoga was next on the agenda. What a treat! What a challenge... not only have I not done Yoga in FOREVER, I really had to concentrate when she would say things like "Chien à tête renversé". I was so relaxed at the end of those 90 minutes of bliss I fell asleep during meditation. The three of us (yes MooReece sat this one out) walked out of there completely blissed out. We finished with a little shopping and all bought an item from this Rock N Roll store - a very SUCCESSFUL expedition indeed!

Sunday was hiking and seakayaking from Theoule sur Mer to La Trayas (just beyond Mandelieu La Napoule)...if that means NOTHING to you...no worries, it doesn't mean much to me other than yet ANOTHER beautiful spot along the coast. We hiked for 3 hours or so and picnicked up in the mountains. Everything here is STUNNING! I thought Canada was beautiful (and don't get me wrong - it IS and I LOVE IT!) The hike made me feel like I was back home again, in my comfort zone, doing what I love most. The only thing missing was my BFF. Next time I decide to go "find myself" in another country, I'm bringing you with me (you know who you are!) LOL! We hiked to a beach in La Trayas where we rented kayaks and I took off Adam vanKoeverden style to explore the coast. Definitely not Lac Cache let me tell you. Thank goodness I'm an avid canoe/kayaker because the waves are BIG!!! It was bumpier than the Beast at wonderland after a rainstorm! We got to go out for about an hour and about 35-40min in the seasickness started to sink in. NOT PLEASANT because now I'm like 2 miles away and the waves only seem to be getting bigger. (Note to self: next time - GRAVOL!) I was quite happy to get back to shore. Took a nap on the beach and finished off the day bobbing about in the salt water. I CAN FLOAT!! I can see why all you bobbers love it so much. What a COOL feeling.

"And look Ma! NO NOODLE!" ;)

Loving LIFE but missin' y'all (just a bit)... à bientôt!

This must be just like living in PARADISE (and I don't wanna go hoooome!) (Adventures with MooReece con't)

Ok so here is my attempt at a video blog. Camera shy of course and you might hear me whisper things here and there but this is the route I take from the corner of Rue de la République (main street) to home (aka 26 rue du Haut Castelet). I wanted you all to see it because as good as I am with words (hahaha) I could never do this justice. If this video blog is successful I might try a few more to show you the Mediterranean (and how close I am to it) and a few things around town :) Stay tuned...

"WOOHOO!" en français = "ALLER!" (Adventures with MooReece con't)

My search for a gym that has real LMI programs has finally come to an end. Last night MooReece and I took the Bus #10 upto Sophia Antipolis to go find Fitlane. I was informed that it was only a 2 minute walk from the bus depot up there (but I was not told in which direction). Of course I had 3 to pick from. So I "eenie meenie miney" it and start walkin'. In no time I'm in a town square but no gym in site and of course no map. AWESOME! So I keep going until I see someone coming towards me and ask for directions. Low and behold I was going in the right direction and Fitlane was literally around the next bend. More like 5 minutes from the bus depot.

I walk in and ask for the lady I had been in contact with but she was teaching. So I waited. I sat and read LMI pamphlets in French and learned the names of the tracks and moves en français. The colours of Fitlane are Red and White (sound familiar?) Very nice place actually - quite new I would think. So I finally meet with Magali and I get signed up for a much reduced price with the "ok" to get on stage when if I want to. WOOHOO!! PUMP wasn't until 630 so I hung around town and made my way back. They have the cool plates with handles which are SO MUCH easier to handle (except the DONS... the DONS still SUCK LOL!) The instructor taught 73 so I knew it all and it was just so nice to be back on familiar ground (even if he was calling everything out in French). Note a "single" is a "siingel" hahaha and "WOOHOO!" is "ALLER!!!" (for those of you dying to know). I followed it up with RPM! Like Sudbury PUMP and RPM seem to rule the schedule so I have LOTS to pick from...but only 2 ATTACK. I did RPM and PUMP tonight again but in reverse order. It's good to be back!!

Tomorrow I'm ATTACKING - I can't wait to hear/learn all the french lingo. Too much FUN!!! The instructors seem to look at me like I'm from a different planet though (maybe it's my Celine Dion accent.... yes they keep telling me I talk like Celine! Too bad I don't sing like her too. EESH!) The instructing is really strong, cuing and technique dominate here whereas fitness magic (fellow instructors know what I'm talking about) is seriously lacking. I will cut them some slack for now, I've only done 4 classes... stay tuned for an update!

Going back to Monaco tomorrow. Where the streets are paved with Rolls Royces and Ferraris :)

À la prochaine!

p.s. Today's cooking "class" was Ratatouille and "fleurs de courgettes". Although the flowers can only be purchased at this time of year, Ratatouille is FANTASTIC and I will definitely be making is often at home :) WOOT WOOT!

Hey Michael, aren't you supposed to be in Genoa City? (Adventures with MooReece con't)

As previously mentionned St Tropez, Ventimiglia Italy and Monaco Monte Carlo were on the menu this weekend - and what a weekend it has been. MooReece and I have been trekking all over the Cote d'Azur and now we're tired. Here are the highlights of the last few days:

For those of you who know me, most of you know I've been following the Young and the Restless for my entire life (and I mean that very LITERALLY). For those of you who know me WELL or follow Y&R yourselves you will be totally JACKED to learn that Michael Baldwin was ON MY FERRY to St Tropez :D (his real name Christian Leblanc). Michael has always been my FAVOURITE character on Y&R and I was totally taken by surprise when I realized it was him.

I was taking picutres of the scenery on the boat when this man came up from the lower deck to do the same. He politely stopped as to not get in the way of my picture, I smiled, said thank you and told him to go ahead. I then thought to myself "man, he looks just like Michael..." and never thought too much about it after that UNTIL this lady walks up to him and he takes off his shades and shakes her hand. HOLY CATFISH IT IS HIM!!!! I started freaking out (in a very subtle way of course, I surely am not about to show my geek side when my favourite actor is like 2 feet away). So I try and get a picture (the paparazzi that I am) but his back is always turned. DARN! So I tell the girls and they all encourage me to go say hi (which I don't cause I'm a CHICKEN SHIT!) He goes back down and later as we're approaching I go down to go take pictures from the lower deck (and hopefully get a picture or 2 of him to PROVE he was there and I'm not making it up) So here you have it peeps- MICHAEL BALDWIN on MY boat (to and from St Tropez - he's staying in Cannes and doing the tourist thing just like me :))

So if that wasn't excitment enough (although it really WAS the highlight of my weekend and possibly my trip) St Tropez was great too! A HUGE market that we got lost in and this "tarte tropezienne" that puts Krispy Kreme to shame! (YES I'm in France and so I'm INDULGING and I DON'T CARE! Besides I put at least 10 miles/day on these legs...) I DID step in Trozienne waters but with my blisters I didn't swim and had to "operate" when I really I got all this sand in it. GAH! The day started off overcast but when that sun comes out she's intense. All that sunshine, excitement and fresh air had me literally passed out, fully clothed on my bed by 9:30. I had intentions of going out...oh well...

Today: Ventimiglia and Monaco Monte-Carlo!

Up bright and early again to head off to the train station to meet Joanna. Off to Italia we go. At first sight we were worried (didn't look too impressive from the train station...) Luckily making our way to the water front lifted our spirits. Stores here are still closed on Sundays for the most part, so there is very little to do if you don't have a gameplan (which we didn't). The beach there is unbelievable. Rock beach with jumping fish. We stopped to watch what the people on the beach were looking at (sparkling things in the water). Fish were jumping everywhere. TOO COOL! We also decided that if in Italy, we should eat italian. So after pacing and running into some technical difficulties finding FOOD (despite the countless restaurantes along the shore) we settled for some Ravioli and eventually (after more walking) some Gelatto (in Italy = Gelatti... so MooReece asks me why the heck did WE change it to an "o"? Je n'ai aucure idée!) So now when someone asks "what did you do last Sunday?" I can say "I took the train down to Italy and had myself some Ravioli and Gelatto!" Life is GOOD!

Did I mention I set off an alarm in the italian supermarket? Like Mother, like Daughter hahahaha

Monaco Monte-Carlo (in search of some millionaires)

CARS, CARS and EXPENSIVE CARS!! Ferraris left, right and centre and Rolls Royces to drool over. $$$$$$$ Very touristy up by the palace but definitely worth the HIKE (like anything good around here it involves a very long hike UP and then back down...) We didn't pay the 8E to get in though. We made our way to the Cathedral which is hosting an exhibit of Iconographs. BEAUTIFUL! I will go back - my camera died and so I have no pictures. I'd love to go to mass there one day... the Cathedral was only built in 1853 but it's beyond words! My favourite site so far.

Of course to get to the casino we have to walk all the way back down, across town and back UP the other side of the port to get to there. At the top of the hill we are greeted by Valentino and Prada and cars that are worth more than the most expensive house in all of Sudbury. I suddendly feel like I'm in Casino Royale (and only slightly underdressed...) We poke our heads in to check out the Casino only to get as far as the grand entrance and the mini slot room. It's 10E to go in to LOSE your money in Monte Carlo. Neither of us gambles so we passed it up. The millionaires are probably in there but we gambled our chances were slim to none of actually nabbing one. Oh well...next time

Ciao ciao!

Travellin' Han SOLO style! (Adventures with MooReece con't)

Just call me the Lone Ranger (or at least that's what my roomate calls me). I've never had patience for large groups and although I feel like I'm on an alien planet over here sometimes, I still prefer to explore it toute seule (well of course Chewy..uh I mean Moo.. is always with me ;))

Maybe I'm just getting old, but I'm over the whole staying up until all hours drinking/partying only to suffer all through the next day (or 2) ESPECIALLY when there is so much to do. Yes, I have been to the beach, but with this disgusting blister that shows no sign of going away, I'm avoiding the water/sand for fear of infection. Not to worry though, there is more than enough water here for me to stare out at and contemplate philosophical theorems. WOAH - that must be why so many famous philosophers came from around here...they spent all their time staring out at the water. Hmmmm....



Yesterday we hung around town. An american friend (not from the CEA group) and I went shopping and I spent the rest of the evening at home (yes HOME) doing HOME-LY things (like cooking, cleaning and laundry). Une semaine ici and already I'm a local. Little by little I'm giving into the French accent (or should I say pronunciation). My professor keeps picking on me because she thinks I sound funny (in an endearing way) and she makes me re-say words like I was in phonetics class and I sound REDICULOUS! You all know me, I can't fake an accent to save my life - I usually just bust out laughing. Class isn't too torturous though and that's a relief. I'm REALLY rusty (and learning NEW words).

Today, when my CEA people decided to stick around instead of going to Grasse - I said "go NUTS" and packed up Moo and went on my way. No idea where I'm going - just got on a train in the right direction. Grasse isn't like the other places I've been thus far (Golfe Juan, Nice, here in Antibes) where the train station is in the centre of everything. Grasse is not a coast town either - it's in the mountains...(arrière-pays) and so it's built UPwards with the train station at the bottom. After roaming around the station for a while I figured I better take a bus in the direction of Grasse Centre-ville. Good thing because it was like 3-4 miles UPhill...and I mean WAY up.

We got dropped off at museum central where I got to visit (free entry) the perfume museum (not as cheezy as it sounds actually) they had artifacts dating back to 200+ years B.C. It was pretty cool (although the smell was making me a little high). I then went to the Museum of Art and History of Provence which also had some really cool, really old furniture, paintings and artifacts from Louis XV among others. Still having no idea where to go or what there is left to see Moo and I stop for a bite to eat and this cute little roof-top cafe and rest a while. (Side note: does anyone know how to order a bloody coffee in France? They keep giving me Espresso!!! Not that I care - it's hot out so I guess I don't need the 50oz of coffee/day that I normally gulp down). We then ventured off again wandering aimlessly for several hours taking loads of pictures and getting to see some pretty cool sites including a XI century cathedral and a look out point showing me how REALLY high up we actually were. Glad I conquered my fear of heights :)

There is a CASINO is Grasse, but I'm going to Monaco - so why waste my luck here. I did peak inside though. Grasse was interesting and I'm glad I tackled it alone because I could stop and snoop and read and explore everything I wanted to see. Getting back to the train station was a little stressful as I could not find a bus stop to save my soul. When I finally found one I thought I missed the bus - pheww...nope.

I've always been the Lone Ranger type but I wasn't too sure how I would like travelling solo. I LOVE IT! It builds confidence and you have no one else to depend on but yourself to get you out of situations (i.e. getting lost). You have to make your own fun and that's not too hard if you know where to look - and most of the time getting there is 99% of the fun.

Word to the wise though... dont pack a bottle of wine if you plan of trekking for several hours - it gets HEAVY!

St Tropez tomorrow, Monaco and Ventimiglia on Sunday! Yes you read that correctly.

À bientôt!

Move over TUTTI FRUTTI this girl can make CRÈPES :) (Adventures with MooReece con't)

French cuisine is quite something. It is all over the map, from raw seafood to super thin pancakes covered in nutella. The Rivièra has a really strong Italian presence (being so close to the border and all - like Sudbury to Verner close) and that comes through in alot of the menu options found here in Antibes and the surrounding areas.

As a part of my program we have weekly cooking sessions with Kristin (our program director) who introduces us to a famous French dish and teaches us how to make it and allows us to cook it ourselves. This week was CRÈPES and GALETTES! I could hear MooReece cheering from inside my purse. So after class we made our way over the the CEA office where we spent the afternoon making galettes (buckwheat crèpes filled with anything savory - we had ham, eggs, tomatoes and cheese at our disposal) and crèpes (typical sweet pancake-like treat filled with anything sweet at your disposal - we had bananas, strawberries, nutella and ice cream (or glace en français)). It should be noted that galettes and crèpes are about the only things that aren't automatically served with wine here in France. They are served with Cider which still has some alcohol in it, but very little. Did I mention you can drink ANYWHERE here? Public intoxication is frowned upon and yet you can walk down the street with a beer in your hand? Do I really have to come home?

There WAS a twist to Kristin's treat however. In order for us to get to make and eat our yummy French concoctions, we had to try ESCARGOT! *GASP* Now of course MooReece is laughing and obviously grateful he doesn't actually have to eat. I put up a fight (sort of) but Kristin said NO CRÈPES sans qu'on essaye l'escargot. So I sucked it up Princess and went for it. Then I had 2 or 3 more. THAT'S RIGHT!!! If you don't think about it - they are really quite good. And NOT slimey which is what I was most afraid of.

Today we ventured with Kristin to Nice and were treated to Socca a specialitè niçoise. It's another pancake, this time made with chickpea flour. Quite delicious at first but very oily and heavy. In other words - good at first, not so much after the fact. But definitely worth trying. Must be high in protein right?

One thing is certain, you can't get sick of eating the 'same' thing here in France. There are so many restaurants it's impossible to know where to start. Of course there are many different international cuisines around as well. Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese, British to name a few... And yet I still can't find a coffee à emporter. Can I get a large black to go ANYWHERE? I should have stopped at McDonalds today when we walked by....hahaha NOT! Maybe I'll kick my habit while I'm here. Unlikely...

À la prochaine...