thinking of you

Today I am thinking about birthdays. Two reasons: today is my friend Tessa's birthday. Happiest of birthdays to you, Tess. Oh that you would ask my grandmother to make a Red Velvet cake for you! Secondly, mom, I bought your birthday present today. I traveled all over the southern part of Provence, to Avignon, the Pope's Palace, The Cathedral Images Cave which hosted the most incredible display of Van Gogh's life, Les Baux de Provence which hosts the Chateau des Baux Provence (a 13th century fort of the descendents of the Magi Balthazar), tons of little shops, an enormous and beautiful garden at the entrance to the Chateau des Baux Provence, to art galleries, and to a few Patisseries along the way. WHAT A DAY!

I thought of you who love history and to you who love useless but intelligent information today, especially, wishing that you were here to live this dream-in-real-life with me. Hollywood cannot paint the masterpiece of Europe with appropriate honor and care, and I could not help but smile with every new step on the cobblestone roads. I could only marvel at the masterpieces, all over 700 years old, and how they are still fully functional, fully intact. The life of a European is one of much more care and patience. I am totally overwhelmed with the incredible story of Van Gogh's life. Seeing his paintings plastered via projector over all of the ancient cave-like cathedral is absolutely breathtaking. I will not do justice to a proper explanation, so I will not try to explain here what happens in the Cathedral d'Images. I also have no words for the enormity of the Palais des Papes. It is 40,000 meters square on the inside. The walls laden with murals and more-than intricate detail. What's more, the massive construction still stands after 673 years!

I am thinking also of you who love cuisine today. You would have adored the little plates for serving olivesand the table cloths that are hand woven with extraordinary detail, the assortment of olive products...even chocolate-covered almonds! And, guess what's for dinner? Ratatouille, in true French fashion. Yes, the evening begins au soireé (at dusk) with tapas and small plates, amain course served after 10pm, and dessert after midnight.

To you with whom I watched counteless episodes of Gilmore Girls, snacking on only the best assortment of harmfully delicious junk foods and moving as little as possible so as to avoid exercise of any kind: I miss you. While you would not have enjoyed the organized activity of the trip, you would have loved the H&M here. I didn't go in, but I thought of you for sure.

To you who loves to travel, I can just imagine how much fun we would have together here. You would dearly love driving through the countryside as the Manheim Steamroller plays music in the background. It's the life of kings.

And most especially to you who loves golf, they golf in France. I passed by a glorious course near the Chateau Baux des Provence today, only to reassure myself that you would adore the countryside here, the little Patisseries, the muses in the streets expunging classic opera songs for all to hear. You would love it.

All minutia aside (that one's for you, Scout), I am just barely one week into the dream of a lifetime. The family is absolutely the most hospitable and gracious still. The kids? smarter every day and more fun every day. Me? Absolutely exhausted and still trying to recover from Beach Retreat but having the time of my life. Cheers to the One who always protects me and who has guided me here.