Well, I know that I haven't finished Paris yet (see, this is where I get myself in to trouble...I get behind and can never catch up, especially since I want to be so detailed with my accounts...thanks for sticking with me through the back-and-forth memories:) ), but I only have so much time right now and really want to share about the last 36 hours.
So, back in Amberac with Sandy and Roger. The last 24 hours with them were actually really somber. We all felt sad knowing that something so good was coming to an end. I realized AGAIN that I have a hard time with goodbyes...something I want to work on in the future (especially before leaving for Thailand!) But Saturday morning was really lovely; Sandy, in all her graciousness, drove us a few villages away where we got see an authentic bric-a-brac. These French garage sales have been very popular in the past, but they have just recently been dying out since no one has the money to spend. Thankfully, this one was going in full swing with 10's of stalls set up in front a beautiful weeping-willow-lined pond.
It was really interesting to see what kinds of items people wanted to sell - anything and everything, from hat pins to old greeting cards, cuttlery, clothing, toys, etc. I guess the saying "One man's junk is another man's treasure" is true everywhere! But there were some really interesting items that I was SO tempted to buy, but then I thought of the plane ride and had to stop myself. These countryside folk really don't have much, and it was obvious from what they were selling; at the same time, though, they took great pride in what they did have. I did find some little glass rings to wear as a remembrance of our time in Amberac...haven't taken them off since :)
Saturday evening, I made "the family" chicken broccoli braid :) Rach and I wanted to give them a taste of our American food (Rach had made chicken pot-pie earlier that week), and they really enjoyed it! A few adjustments were made: pastry dough instead of croissants, different cheese (shredded cheddar is hard to find here...hmmm, wondery why), and rotisserie chicken instead of chicken breasts. It turned out well, though! Like Mom said, I never thought I'd be making that dish in the middle of France! But hey, a good recipe is a good recipe, right? :)
Sunday morning was awful. Went for my last run along the sunflower patches, had our last egg breakfast from the chickens, laughed our last funnies with Roger and Sandy. They drove us to the train station early, considering the fiasco we had on the way to Tours :) We all got teary-eyed while we said our goodbyes. After they were out of sight, Rach and I found a bench on the platform and shed a few tears together, just sitting quietly and looking at the trains. Wow. What wonderful people they are; how blessed we were to be a part of their lives for just a little while; what great friends we've made; how sad that it went by so fast. Those were the thoughts.
I felt a little bit like Anne Shirley leaving Miss Stacey, but thankfully Diana was still with me :) (Yes, we've been making quite a few references to those characters lately).
The train rides to our next host went really smoothly, for which we were grateful! We finally felt confident in using the stations and now new how to find our way around. We had a short lay-over in Bordeaux, the wine capital of the world, but we unfortunatley had to spend most of it inside the station. By the time we got off the train, figured out where the next one would be coming in, paid .50€ for a bathroom, we didn't have much time left. Still, I went wandering outside for a few as Rach watched our luggage and journaled. It seems like a lovely town, and from what I read quite the place to see. On the train ride to Angouleme from Paris, we had met a fellow who lived just outside of the city; he has his own furniture-renovation shop here and made the town sound worth seeing. Still, my venture outside was short-lived as some guy followed me and kept trying to ask my questions. After explaining that I didn't speak French, he said he spoke a little English but understood more. Well, whatever...that would get us no one. So like a little girl I quickly got back to the station and stayed with Rach, who, after hearing the story, promptly asked if my wallet was still in my purse. Thankfully, yes :)
The train ride was just beautiful...it took us from the rolling hills to the foothills of the Pyrenees. Unexpectedly, Rach and I feel quite at-home in this terrain - it's like Golden is just to the south of us. Anyways, Rach had told Sundara and David what we were wearing that day, so we were successfully located :) We walked right by David when we hopped off the train, but he didn't notice us until later because he was looking for shorter girls. LOL. They've commented several times on how surprised they are at our height. haha. (well, we're getting surprised at our height going out the other direction...geepers, the food is just too good here).
The chateau we now reside in for the next two weeks is absolutely incredible. The largest in the village, it was built in 1880 as an addition to the one-level house that now serves as a garage or "cave", which they pronounce"carve". The land it sits on was owned by the family in the smaller home, who was here in 1750. It changed hands in 1900, then again in 1979. Nazi generals actually occupied the house during the war, which I find eerie and fascinating at the same time. The house has three levels at Rach and I have our own room on the top floor. I was wearing a purple sweater yesterday, so Sundara thought it was appropriate that I get the Violet Room. YAY. Love it. Everything is purple, even the water-heater. The best part BY FAR is the view from the window: it overlooks the pool, which is surrounded by palm trees and flora of all kinds; Rach's window is directly to my right, so we get to chat out the window as we admire the landscape; to my left is a view of the church steeple and another old chateau; and directly ahead, just down the hill, is the peaceful and historic Canal du Midi. The canal is 300 years old! It was quite the sensation was it was constructed, allowing the grapes and wheat in the area to be transported en masse. Rach and I walked down the lane this afternoon and so so enjoyed the calm quite; it just exudes tranquility. Plus, the canal is lined with wildflowers and plane trees, which are now one of my favorite trees becuase of their unique bark; look it up on google - - the bark is a mixture of browns and greys and whites, all splattered together like a Monet painting or something. SADLY, they are having to cut a lot of them down b/c of a fungus in the water :(
Last night, David made a wonderful Asian dish for us and a couple other guests, Jeff and Dave. Jeff has worked with them over the last 8 years but is returning to Wales soon; his son, Dave, was here on "holiday" as well. I found out that Jeff attends a local international church where his wife interprets for this American pastor. I hope to go with him on Sunday.
I slept so soundly last night and woke up to the birds singing. Rach and I learned how to use their espresso maker this morning (actually, we made lattees). We had a yogurt, fruit, and granola breakfast - yum. The chores for the day consisted of weeding, sweeping around their large pool area, landscaping a bit with rocks and mulch, etc. After our walk down the canal, we returned to help with dinner.
Sundara's career was in theater - she was actually in one of the French soap operas back in the day! She had hope to do more, but London didn't suite her and she was raising a family at the time. She is a very eccentric woman, but full of life even at 71. David is a "retired" geo-physicist and still speaks at conferences and what not. They both love music: David plays the bass guitar and Sundara sings; they often host concerts in their home, mostly string quartets or jazz groups, for charity - - they are supporting some friends of theirs that are running a medical clinic in Morocco. Very cool! Rach has loved connecting over music and playing their piano. We both are kicking ourselves for not sticking with those music lessons...the parents were right when they said "You'll regret quitting". Dang it.
David brought out a World Atlas at dinner I showed him parts of CO that mean something to us. It was weird looking at the map of home, here in France...it kinda made me homesick, actually! Arvada was even on the map! Aw.
Well, I've officially failed at getting to bed before midnight already. lol. But "Tomorrow is another day, with no mistakes it...yet":)
Love you all!
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