Update!!!!

I’ve received messages from people about my blog….and it not being up to date. To be honest, it has been too cold here to really get out and do a whole lot. Can you believe, it is too cold to snow even! I’m just baring it and planning our trip to Venice. We leave on Sunday. So rest assure, even if it is freezing in Venice too, there will be some blog posts and pictures of the trip. I'm too excited.

But some highlights of the week include mostly food (sorry no pictures). I’ve been eating a lot of macarons. Actually it had gotten rather ridiculous, so I’m on a no macaron diet for a few days. My breaking point was eating a vanilla macaron the size of a mini birthday cake. I knew I had hit rock bottom when I wanted another right after.

I’ve had the opportunity to taste the local specialties. I have found my new favorite cheese (Ossau-Iraty) delicious. And have experienced my first 3 hour restaurant dinner (still getting used to the full course meals).

Still love it here, even with the cold! I'm torn because I want to see it actually snowing, but I know snow in the city is kind of a nuisance for everyone. We'll see!

Pics soon!

Film Festival Télérama

Today was the start of Film Festival Télérama 2010 in France. Amazing!!!! They play the best movies of 2009 for 7 days at 3 euros a film. 3 Euros is the equivalent to about $4.20 right now so its a really good deal. It bugs me that movies now a days are like $11 in theaters when they are released onto DVD or On Demand a couple months later. I guess you pay for the atmosphere. It obviously doesn't bother me too much though, Hillcrest Cinemas being one of my favorite destinations in San Diego. I love that they play foreign movies and those movies that don't get the attention they deserve (Indie movies...I guess I'll call them what they are). So the first movie we saw today was "Whatever Works", a Woody Allen film starring Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood. I'm not going to write a movie review because I'm not really a critic of movies (well I'm not at all). I like what I like....and I LIKED this movie.

Laughing Cow Encore

The newest addition to my sticker collection of two! Check out the electro mullet....Perfect. I am really trying to collect all 10 now.

Snow!!!!!

Snow is so pretty when it's white and powdered sugar looking. A lot of the snow we've been seeing lately has been in the city downtown and since its melting and trampled on its dirty and black and blah...but today we went on a little adventure in the mountains through some small villages by Saint Etienne and saw the powdered sugar looking snow. It reminded me of the olden days when we'd go to Julian and play in the snow...back when I didn't worry about how cold it was! I digress......we passed through the Parc Naturel du Pilat (Pilat Natural Park) and through some really cute small towns. I can't get over the atmosphere....simply French!

Ps. When playing out in the snow, stay on the path! I strayed and sank....I had to use my Bear insticts (Man vs. Wild) to get myself out.

Allez Les Verts

Dear readers, sorry I've been missing in action for a few days. We left Marseille on Tuesday and are now in Eric's hometown of Saint Etienne. I am so glad we have stopped here and don't have to lug around huge suitecases anymore...at least not until March.

Yesterday was the first full day in Sainté (the city nickname) and I love the area. He lives right downtown, and I love the walking streets and old French feel. There's snow everywhere and it's freezing, but every street is like a picture...I really need to go out a take some pictures of the snow.

So for the title of the post...Allez Les Verts....Lastnight we went to a football game. When in France, you must attend a football game....soccer for my friends stateside. I've been to a football game once in my life in Florence, and while it was fun, I didn't understand the excitement or interest in the sport. Lastnight I think I really got into it...in fact I was so into it, just writing about it now frustrates me...our team lost. I kept saying, they weren't being A-GG-R-E-SS-I-VE ! Reminded me of my old cheer days. Anyways, it was interesting. I wouldn't mind going to another game. I will give it to those guys though, it was freezing out there and fans were throwing snow balls on the field at players...so maybe that was their best under those conditions. I don't know. I would just like to see more fire/passion from them next game.....Now I'm getting crazy and obsessive!

Pictures of the snow tomorrow!

To Cassis We Go

Today we took a break from our lazy days of tv watching and hiding from the cold and went out on a nice little adventure. Eric's sister took us to the beautiful town of Cassis a 20 minute drive from the center of Marseille. This village is famous for its cliffs and little inlets and picturesque views.... so it was the perfect destination for some serious photo taking. I think I've found my summer home...for when I become wealthy enough to have seasonal homes! The only downer of the day was the freezing weather. I'm from San Diego....is it ever below 70 degrees?! I felt it might as well have been snowing....and can't imagine anything colder....but I'm told Saint Etienne (our next destination for the remainder of my stay) is far colder than this. AHHHH. We've been back inside for an hour and I'm still trying to defrost. San Diego, you really have not done enough to prepare me for seasons!

Enjoy the gorgeous pictures of Cassis. Eric took some. He wants everyone to know his skills. Ahem.

I'm still defrosting. xx

French Breakfast

Where's the bacon, the eggs, oatmeal and french toast! Normally in the U.S. we save this large menu for weekends, buuuuut today is Saturday. HMMM.

I actually can't complain because we've been eating "feasts" (as Eric calls them) since I got here. I don't think I've ever sat down for a 3 course meal plus bread and cheese for lunch and dinner....and that's everyday. I have to be rolled away from the table.

A huge breakfast just sounds really good right now!

Soldes Soldes Everywhere

Yesterday was the debut of Soldes! In France sales or soldes are only allowed twice in a year...winter and summer. Everything is between 30-70% off....And they don't scrimp on the 70% offers. I definitely came at the right time. The only problem is that it is exactly like Black Friday in the U.S. (as in there are way too many people out shopping). Who can blame them though. Soldes last pretty long so hopefully the craziness dies down. Going out again today to take advantage before everything gets picked over.

Wish us Bon Courage! xx

View from the Top

Yesterday Eric and I went to Notre-Dame de la Garde .... it's a church situated on the highest natural point in Marseille. We got some really good shots from above the city and took some amazing panoramic pics with the new camera. I'll put a picture of a panoramic shot up, but I think it may be really small so you'd have to click on it to enlarge it....actually I just tried to click on the panoramic one, but it's not enlarging....I'll try to figure it out.

Love this City. xx

The art of crossing French streets

There is a skill one must possess when crossing streets in France, I obviously haven't acquired that skill yet......You must have good depth perception....Quick feet....Sense of direction and You MUST BE FEARLESS! I feel like tourists only wait for the little green man to tell them it's okay to cross. For fear of my life, I have no problem looking like a tourist.

Plus Belle la Vie

Apparently "Plus belle la vie" is one of the most popular soap operas in France (as Eric has told me about a million times today). We walked around the area where the show takes place in Marseille called Le Panier (literally means the basket). It's their old town and it's gorgeous. Everything is a photo....from the tiny streets and store fronts to the laundry drying from people's windows. Today Eric was the photographer (must give credit when credit is due)!

Oh also....we celebrated Ephiphany yesterday with the Gâteau des Rois. It's pretty much the same concept of Kings cake during Mardi Gras, in which baked within the cake is a little trinket (in this case a bean) and whoever gets that piece of the cake is "king for the day". I think Eric cheated.....anyways, it was soooooo good. I think I'll have another piece now!

xx.

The Laughing Cow

It's no secret that I loooove cheese. But with the hundreds of thousands of amazing cheese varieties in France, I have returned to a familiar friend (who seems to also be a friend of the French under a different name). Who would have thought The Laughing Cow would be here. I don't know think I've ever gotten a prize though with my little treat, but apparently you get them with your purchase of La Vache qui Rit! The prize is just a sticker, but collect all 10 and well.....you have 10 stickers.

Bonne Année à Tous. xx

Marseille Je t'aime....so far.

Before arriving to Marseille, even before arriving my first time in France 2 years ago, I heard or read (don't remember) that this city is a bit "iffy"....and by iffy I mean a bit sketchy. I am happy to report that so far it has been everything but. I love the old time feel of this place. It's an old port city, so the smell of fish and sea life is not as appealing, but all in all, c'est bon. It reminds me of Nice a little....Memories! Now if only the wind would chill out a bit, I think Marseille and I would be a perfect match.
xx