Kelly Holland

The summer in France only gets better and better by the day. Laure whips up a five-star gourmet meal every night in the time, and with the ease, that it takes me to nuke a frozen burrito, all while running her restaurant and caring for her two clueless Americans. A little work here and there, including that of the petite vineyard above, yields the wonders of Cevenne. I’ve been lazy on the updates, but some of the highlights from the past couple of weeks have included some impressive tractor driving by Rachael, a gorgeous tour of Cevenne via motorcycle, and a side trip to Paris/Radiohead concert….not too Shabby.

The wine cave….where magic happens…i.e. bottling wine.

The market in Ganges has a plethora of fresh French goodies….including olives. I look forward to fresh flowers every Friday.

The pool has been cleaned and is good to go…a little extra cool down during siest. Thank you Alain and David.

Alain made Rachael’s dreams come true by teaching her to drive the tractor. She drove, then hoisted me in the shovel to pick the prunes (plums) from the tree for the restaurant’s prune confiture and sorbet…it was pretty cool…we went pruning. The next day we sat cutting and pitting plums in the kitchen with Murielle….it was fun to see the fruit of our labor from tree to kitchen.

Rachael and Alain

Delphine and me…preparing to pick away at the plum tree.

 If that wasn’t cool enough, the boys at Blancardy took us for an afternoon cruise on their motos through the mountains of Cevenne. It was one cute village after another, winding through the mountains like a thread from an intricately woven tapestry….beautiful. Onion fields, farms, gorges, and rivers…it was breathtaking. At one point we stopped for an afternoon dip at the Cirque de Navacelle….a majestic swimming hole with waterfalls and crystal clear, blue-green water…could it get any better? A quick little pit stop on my dream ride….hum, okay. The Cirque de Navacelle, along the Vis River, is easily my new favorite swimming hole.

While David’s driving in the car scares the hell out of me…he was a great driver on the moto, and a great guide of Cevenne. I think I was only scared once…maybe twice.

 Rach and I stripped down to our skimmies for a quick dip at Navacelle before jumping back on the motos….I’ve learned very quickly that the french are not modest folk. No one thought twice when I was running around in white undies before taking a plunge…c’est natural.

A good view into one of several valleys within Cevenne…there’s a river somewhere down there, and some crazy narrow, European roads that brought us to the top…on motos.

 At one point our bums were in dire need of a break, the moto seat gets a little rough after a few hours, so we took another small break at an itty bitty little village and had a beer with Alain’s friend Tony and his wife….he’s a flamenco guitarist and she’s a flamenco dancer…how cool’s that?!

The last few days have been spent on a side trip to Arras for a Radiohead concert, and now Paris for two days. I hit the Louvre yesterday, and Notre Dame and the Eiffle Tower today. It’s been a short trip through Paris, but sweet. The people have been surprisingly wonderful and kind, and Rach and I have had two nights of amazing dining. So far, I’m impressed! Anyone who bitches about the attitude of the Parisians haven’t met the right ones.

Where are we?

Mcdonalds in Valance…just like home! America!

Oh, the Louvre…I feel so sophisticated. I even managed to sneak in a quick nap in the corner, amongst some of histories greatest masterpieces…somewhere between the Mona Lisa and some famous sculpture.

What a view of the Seine…on my way to Notre Dame.

Notre Dame….the line to go inside was too much for me. But the outside was magnifique! I love creepy, deeky gargoyles.

And the Eiffle Tower….what would Paris be without the Tour Eiffle? 

Tomorrow we head to Chamonix and Italy for Rachael’s birthday extravaganza on Mount Blanc.  I’m looking forward to the mountains and can’t wait to see everyone…the Alps are always amazing!

Mcdonald’s cheeseburger….count it.