Horsies, flamingoes, and bulls, oh my!

I know, I know, I've been a slacked on the blogging front. Lots to report so I'll start with my trip to the Carmargue. The three of us girls from Albion decided to go on a trip together to Provence. We took the train, as usual, but this one looked like it just arrived from a long sejour in inner-city Detroit. It was absolutely covered in graffiti and the inside was pretty torn up, but it was cheap so I can't complain. We were delayed for an hour, which was really annoying, but we ended up meeting a really nice guy who interpreted the garbbled PA announcements for us. He got off at Avignon though...dommage. In leaving he said "bye-bye" which is definitely an americanization of French--I hear it a lot, even between French people. When the train finally arrived in Arles, it was was about 8:30 so we dropped off our stuff at the hotel and headed out for dinner. It was absolutely dead. There was no one in the restaurants, and when I say no one, I mean no one. This was definitely a shocker because the Grenoblois don't start eating until 8, 8:30, or later, but here everyone was finished by 8. We ended up grabbing something to eat in a very famous cafe, which was painted by a very famous artist. Whoever guesses it gets a prize! We spent the next day in the Camargue which is swamp land inhabited by bulls, flamingoes, horses, and gypsies. The three of us went horseback riding for what was supposed to be a 2 hour ride, but about 5 minutes in, it started downpouring, so needless to say, the ride ended quite a bit early. Still fun, although I could literally ring the water out of my pants and shirt. Dried out in a cafe, of course, and went shopping for Christmas gifts. Sunday was spent in Arles, seeing ancient Roman amphitheaters and theaters...it's hard work, but someone's got to do it.
Arles

looking out of amphitheater

Amphitheater

Amphitheater (they still have bull fighting here!)

Amphitheater

Cafe-whoever names the painting and artist first wins something!

Cool sign

Pretty vines

Ancient theater ruins

Roman colony=lots of carvings of Caesar

Look at all the garlic!!!! It makes my breath smell just looking at it

Fountain

Costumes for festivals. Lots of Spanish influence here

The next Tuesday was a jour ferier (national holiday-yay end of WWI!) Jean-Pierre and Viviane turn 50 this year, so they decided to have a huge party to celebrate with 50 of their closest friends. It was memorable to say the least. Jean-Pierre's brother owns a restaurant that is very famous and hosts Arab emirs, Russian oil barons, and US! We arrived at Notre Dame de Bellcomb, where Jean-Pierre's family lives, at 9:30 when we started with champagne and appitizers. We sat down at 10 and had the best meal I have eaten in a long time. I can't remember all the specifics (read: champagne) but it invovled wild boar, cheese, a icecream cake doused in Chartreuse and then lit on fire, and lots of wine. So good, but we didn't finish until 2 in the morning! When the party was winding down, James (J-P's brother) gave me a glass of something and insisted that I taste it. I looked at the bottle and it had a snake in it. The others had pine needles, flowers, and various other objects intended to flavor it. I'm usually picky about animals in my drinks, but this tasted pretty darn good.

All nine of the kids slept in an apartment in the village. Woke up at 11 and headed back to the restaurant for lunch. By this point my stomach was at the bursting point, but when you are at a first-class restaurant, eating for free, you can't turn down more meat, cheese, bread, and wine. All of the kids headed back to G-town at 4 or so when we finished lunch. Mathias was driving and he was going about 50 on hair-pin turns and swerving around cars who were going to slowly. I had fun, but Sabrina looked like she was going to puke.

Friday was salsa night with Vivien. Yes, French people dance the salsa..who knew?! The first guy that I danced with was about 6 inches shorter than me and around 40-45. I wish I had a photo, but next time I guess. After that, there were some more normal partners. All in all, it was definitely a fun night.